"She asked me if I thought vampires existed." Angel answered to Giles amazed question.
"What did you say to her?" Giles continued as he got up to reshelve some books.
"What was I supposed to say. Yeah, how do I look. I told her anything's possible." Angel finished.
"If she's having the nightmares and correctly identifies the creatures as vampires, her memory may be returning." Giles reported. Suddenly the library doors burst open with a bang and Willow and Xander rushed through gasping for air.
"She's gone." Xander gushed trying to suck air into his burning lungs.
"What?" Angel asked confused. Willow stepped forward and handed Giles the note that Buffy left before going out.
"She left by herself?" Giles asked his voice cracking with fear.
Angel stood up from his seat. "Damn it. I told her not to invite anyone in. I should've told her not to go out as well." Angel said grief stricken.
"It's not your fault." Willow tried to offer comfort. "Do you think they have her?" she asked speaking to no one in particular. Before anyone could answer Willow's question the sound of broken glass turned their attention to the rock sailing their way. Angel stepped in front of the group and caught it. He removed the note attached and began reading it.
"How many times are they going to use the note tied to a rock and throw it through the window routine? It's getting soooo old." Xander asked half joking. The rest of them ignored Xander's sarcastic comment and waited patiently as Angel read the note.
"Well it looks like we're invited to a dinner party." Angel informed.
"They're going to cook us dinner?" Xander questioned. When everyone glared at him he stepped away. "Pretend I didn't say that. Again." he gulped. They turned their attention back to Angel.
"To get right to the point, they have Buffy, they're going to kill her, and I'm going to save her." Angel confirmed.
"We all are." Giles reinformed. No one argued just grabbed the weapons bag and rushed out of the library to stop Buffy from meeting her terrible fate.
When the gang arrived at the warehouse through the back entrance, seeing as how the front door had a guard, they slipped quietly into the shadows as not to be seen or heard by Spike. Buffy was chained on the far wall while Spike loomed over her with his demon face on. They listened intently to what was being said. "No ones going to save you this time, Slayer." Spike taunted. "You've cheated destiny long enough. I think it's about time I put you out of your misery."
"My misery? You're the one with birth defects. If I looked like you do I'd kill myself." Buffy quipped.
"Tut tut. You'll bruise my ego." Spike tsked. "I bet you don't say that to Angelus." Spike resumed.
"Who?" Buffy seemed confused once again.
"Oh, It's Angel now. I forgot." Spike corrected himself.
"You know Angel?" Buffy asked.
"Quite well, and he looks just like I do right now. He just hasn't showed you."
"You lie." Buffy screamed. "He's sweet and beautiful and caring."
"And a demon, might I add." Spike spoke matter-of-factly.
From their hidden spots on the other side of the warehouse the gang silently watched. "What is he doing?" Xander questioned.
"He likes toying with her. Playing with her emotions." Angel informed. They were distracted from saying anything else when two vampires unchained Buffy's wrists and brought her to stand in the center of the room. Buffy struggled and tried to break free of their grasps, but to no effort.
"I'm tired of this conversation. It looks like your friends aren't coming for you, so I'll get on with the killing." Spike bared his teeth. He grabbed Buffy's arms pinning the two vamps with a stare making them retreat in fear. "Goodbye, Slayer. Been nice fighting with you." were Spike's last words. He tilted her head to the side and slowly lowered his fangs to her neck. Buffy's life suddenly flashed before her eyes. The Harvest, killing the master, dying at his hands, training with Giles in the library, the last fight in the cemetery. It was all coming back to her. She finally knew who she was & what she had to do. Spike was inches from her neck when he heard yelling from behind him.
"NO!" screamed Angel. His demon face showing in the light as he ran towards him. Buffy didn't hesitate to take the interruption to her advantage. When Spike looked away she kneed him hard in the groin. Falling to the floor in pain, Buffy kicked him in the face sending him flying onto his back.
"Guess who's back, Spikey?" Now it was Buffy doing the taunting. He got up from the floor and he and Buffy became engaged in a fight. The gang was so busy fighting their own vamps that they didn't know Buffy regained her memory. Willow and Xander were holding back the vampire that was guarding the front door, while Giles staked it. Angel was taking on the two vamps that brought Buffy forward, which he promptly discarded in his attempts to reach her. But Buffy was successfully holding her own. She had a piece of wood she broke off from a crate in her hand, and was about to plunge it downward into Spike's unbeating heart when he rolled out of the way. Spike jumped to his feet and ran towards the door.
"This isn't over Slayer. You haven't seen the last of me." he yelled and ran out the door.
"I'm looking forward to it, scaredy cat." she yelled back. Buffy turned towards her friends.
"Buffy?" Willow asked unsure of what to think.
"That's me Wil. Buffy the Slayer, back from vacation." Buffy replied happily. She never thought she'd be so happy to be the Slayer in all her life. A huge smile spread across Willow's face and she enfolded her friend in a hug and then Xander joined in. When they separated Buffy turned to Angel and kissed him fully on the lips and hugged him to her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're ok." Angel whispered in her ear.
"So am I." she whispered back. She released him and took his hand. "So Giles, unless you want to prod me on details, I'd like to go home. I feel icky and want to take a shower and possibly get some sleep." Buffy remained hopeful."
Details can wait until tomorrow." Giles assured her. "I'm just glad you're back." Giles and Buffy shared one of those slayer/watcher smiles, and the whole gang headed towards their homes. Happy to have their Slayer back safe and sound.
"So when last night did your memory come back?" Willow asked as the trio sat in the library on their free period.
"Right when Spike was about to sink his fangs into my neck. My life like flashed before my eyes." Buffy answered.
"It seems as though your slayer senses reactivated itself when your life was put in danger." Giles informed.
"Well whatever happened, I'm glad it did. I couldn't stand being in the dark anymore." Buffy stated.
"Buffy and the dark. Two words I can't even imagine putting in the same sentence." Xander joked.
"Ha Ha very funny." Buffy quipped.
"I know. I'm a laugh a minute." Xander informed.
"Whatever you say, Xander." Willow assured.
"So, ladies are we bronzing it tonight? We can have a crazed dance party." Xander asked.
"Absolutely. Angel said he might show." Buffy confirmed.
"Oh, come on Buffy, the guys is older then dirt." Xander interjected.
"Yeah, but he sure looks good for someone whose older then dirt." Willow defended.
"Thank you, Wil." Buffy said. Before Xander could retaliate the bell rang ending their free time.
"You kids better get to class." Giles informed. "Before Snyder gives you all detention."
"Auugh. I'm seriously thinking about staking Snyder anyway." Buffy commented.
"All in favor say aye." Xander motioned and raised his hand as did Willow.
"Go to class, all of you." Giles commanded and went back into his office.
"Fine. Maybe I can catch some z's during history." Buffy stated.
"She's back." Willow and Xander replied in unison.
Giles could hear the three laughing as they exited the library. Shaking his head and chuckling he whispered to himself, "at least things are back to normal. Or as normal as things can get on the Hellmouth." He went about skimming the card catalogue being a dutiful librarian
The band playing in the Bronze was loud as usual, but not all that bad. Xander seemed to be enjoying himself, while he showed off his unique style of dancing. The girls couldn't help but laugh at him. "So how are you feeling?" Willow started.
"Much better." Buffy confirmed. "I wanted to thank you guys for sticking by me through this. It means a lot to me."
"Hey, that's what friends are for. Besides you would've done the same for us." Willow applied.
"Without a doubt." Buffy assured. The two girls shared a knowing smile conveying much more then words could.
"Hey." Angel greeted. Both girls jumped startled not realizing him appear. "Sorry." Angel apologized with a slight chuckle.
"I really wish you wouldn't do that." Buffy commented.
"I think I'll get something to drink." Willow offered herself an escape. She vacated her stool and headed towards the drink counter with a pleased smile on her face. Angel and Buffy watched her go and smiled at each other.
"So I see you are feeling better." Angel stated.
"Much better." Buffy assured him.
"Good, then can I have this dance?" he asked as a slow song started playing.
"Sure." Buffy replied and took his outstreched hand. Buffy was surprised at how casually he had asked her, but she melted into his embrace as he slowly rocked her to the music.
"I told you this felt right." Buffy broke the silence.
"So do you need more time to think things over." Angel asked.
"Not anymore." Buffy whispered as she stood on her toes to reach his lips. Very gently she pressed them to his as his arms encircled her. When they separated Angel smiled down at her as she laid her head on his chest. He kissed her on the head lightly as they continued to lose themselves in their own little world, where nothing seemed to exist but each other.
