"Hey." Willow replied.
"How are you feeling Buffs?" Xander asked concerned. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really. I had a lot of weird nightmares." she replied tiredly.
"Well, we'll make you forget them because us three are going to the Bronze tonight." Xander admitted.
"The what?" Buffy asked trying to comprehend.
"The Bronze. It's the local club. Actually the only club." Willow informed. "Angel will probably be there." Willow was hoping to get that silly grin out of Buffy that she always got when his name was mentioned and it worked.
"Really?" Buffy asked her eyes lighting up.
"Uggh." Xander groaned at the mention of Angel's name, but Willow elbowed him quietly telling him to shut up.
"Probably." Willow smiled.
"Great, I need to get to class." Buffy happily replied. "See you later."
"We'll meet in the library after school." Willow called to Buffy's retreating form.
"Ok." she called back.
"Now we know she's lost her memory. Buffy willingly going to class. My world's all askew. Again." Willow observed.
"Even with no memory, she's hung up on the undead." Xander interjected. "It's real sad when a girl would choose a walking corpse over me."
Willow was real tired of hearing they same thing from Xander day after day. "Xander give it up, and lay off Angel." she replied harshly. She didn't mean for it to come out like it did, but once it was said she felt a little better. Xander didn't answer or even acknowledge. Instead of continuing the argument they headed to class.
"Well, this is the Bronze." Xander informed as the three entered the dark and murky nightclub.
"It's nice." Buffy replied looking at her surroundings. Xander and Willow gave her a look. "In a-a dismal sort of way." she added.
"Come on, let's get a table." Willow offered. While the trio made their way to an empty table they didn't see the dark figure lurking in the shadows. Spike just finding out that Buffy lost her memory decided to confirm this for himself. He was pleasantly pleased that the Slayer was finally going to meet the fate she kept denying. He silently watched the group until he saw Angel walk in.
"Damn." he muttered. "At least I can put my plan into action. Operation kill the Slayer is looking better and better." he murmured and backed deeper into the shadows and left.
Willow looked up to see Angel approaching, and wanting to give him and Buffy some time alone nudged Xander, "Why don't we go get some drinks." Willow suggested.
Xander also seeing Angel was more reluctant to leave the two alone. "I'm not really thirsty." he replied.
"Well, I am and I'm sure Buffy is as well." Willow gritted her teeth.
"Yeah, a water would be great." Buffy supplied.
"Great. We'll go get it." Willow answered while grabbing Xander by the arm and dragging him towards the counter.
"Hi." Angel greeted Buffy as he approached the table.
Buffy swiveled her head towards the voice and smiled when she saw who it was. "Oh, hi." she replied. She held in her happiness at his presence.
"Are you doing all right? You look kind of tired." Angel asked concerned.
"I didn't get much sleep. Nightmares kept me up." she replied. "I really don't want to be here, but Willow and Xander asked me to come." Buffy added.
"I could walk you to Willow's if you want to go." Angel offered.
"You really don't have to do that." Buffy declared.
"I want to. I'd feel better knowing you were safe." Angel responded.
"Well, if you insist." Buffy joked, but was pleased at his concern for her.
"I insist." he finished with a small smile.
Buffy felt her knees getting all melty. "Let me just tell them I'm leaving." Buffy replied. Angel nodded. When she came back they headed out of the Bronze into the dark. They walked in silence for most of the walk, until Angel glanced sideways at her and realized she seemed distracted.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Angel asked breaking the silence.
"Huh? I'm sorry. I know I'm probably terrible company right now."
"I've always enjoyed your company." Angel replied sincerely. Buffy smiled and looked at the slowly moving sidewalk underneath her feet.
"I know this is going to sound stupid but, do you think vampires exist." she asked.
Angel began to panic. "Anything's possible." his voice cracked. Little did she know she was walking right beside one. "Why do you ask?" he prodded, curious as to why she brought up that particular subject.
"Well, that's what the nightmares are about. Never mind it's stupid." she gently shook her head.
"No it's not. It'll all come back to. You'll figure it out." Angel reassured.
"I hope." Buffy didn't seem as sure as he did.
"You will. And I'll be here if you need help." Angel informed. They stopped at the front door to Willow's house and Angel patiently waited while Buffy retrieved the house key from her pocket that Willow had given her and turned back to him.
"Thank you for walking me here." Buffy started.
"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you." Angel confessed. Buffy couldn't respond. She felt herself falling deeper into his eyes. Neither of them noticed themselves leaning closer as if they were drawn by some invisible force. Their lips met and she felt the world around her disappear. When he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss she pulled away before she wouldn't be able to.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Angel guiltily said.
"No, it's just that I don't want to start something I know nothing about. This feels so right. I-I just need some time to figure things out." Buffy wanted to take that guilty expression off his face.
"I know I didn't mean to confuse you." Angel replied.
Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Don't worry about it. It's not as if I didn't enjoy it." Buffy slyly responded with a grin.
Angel grinned as well and leaned forward and gently kissed her cheek. "Goodnight Buffy." he began. "And don't invite anybody in." he finished. Buffy looked at him confused.
"Just trust me on this one. Okay." he answered to her unspoken question. She nodded and wished him goodnight and went inside. Angel watched silently until she was safely inside with the door shut and locked and headed back into the night.
"Buffy?" Xander called this time. "I'll take the upstairs and you look around down here." Xander ordered taking control. Willow nodded her head and Xander took off up the stairs. After checking all the rooms upstairs and finding the bed in the room Buffy was staying in unmade, Xander went downstairs to tell Willow that Buffy had been here.
"Xander." Willow screeched before he reached the bottom step. He ran into the kitchen where he saw Willow clutching a piece of paper. Tears were threatening to spill over her eye lids.
"What? What's wrong?" Xander rushed out. Willow held up the piece of paper. Her hands shaking with fear.
"She left. She went out, alone, by herself. What if she's hurt or dead. She could be...."
"Shhh." Xander cut off his hysterical friend and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sure she's all right." Xander tried to seem in control, "I’m she's all right." Xander tried to seem in control, but he was inches away from losing it. What would he do if he ever lost Buffy or Willow. They're his reason for being. Before Buffy came to town it was just him and Willow, but since Buffy came their lives have been filled with adventure and danger. They were always kept on their toes. Besides of making all his nightmares come true, being possessed, or eaten Buffy brought with her new friends for him to make. Herself, Giles, and as much as he hated to admit it Angel. ‘Yeah, but how many other boy's can say they know a vampire?’ he thought to himself. ‘Don't mess with me or I'll feed you to the vampire. It did have its advantages.’ Xander laughed inwardly. He no longer saw himself as a "loser" as so many others labeled him. He felt more confident and sure of himself. All because of Buffy.
If Buffy died she wouldn't know what to do. She had given her so much. She wasn't Willow Rosenburg Geek Extradonaire anymore. At least not in her own eyes. It's more like Willow you mess with me I'll stake you Rosenburg. Since Buffy had come Willow felt more self-confident. As though what others said about her didn't matter, only what she thought of herself. She felt like she had a purpose in life, even if it frightened her. She was research girl. Looking up information or dangerous prophecies to aid Buffy in her destiny. To know you helped save the world is an overwhelming feeling. It didn't matter how much danger she put herself in or stumbled into Buffy was one of her two best friends and she wouldn't trade it for the world. If the supernatural came with Buffy's friendship, so be it. "We need to get to the library and let Giles know." Xander broke Willow out of her reverie, wiping the tears from her face. Willow nodded and they headed out towards the library running as fast as they could.
