Whatever Happens...

Know That I Love You

Partie 1
Partie 2
Partie 3
Partie 4
Partie 5

Series: Ending, part 2
Author: Joey
Feedback: Please :)
Archive: Buffy and Angel Rock!
Summary: Angel, now human, came back to tell Buffy what happened to him. But even now that they seem reunited, you never know what can happen in Sunnydale…
Spoilers: Season 4 of BtvS (parts of S5), season 1 of Ats, (parts of S2) and All New Angel
Dedication: For Hélène, 'coz we're realistic. I love you.
Rating: PG-13, like the show
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns all the characters… He's God :)

********Intro********

Buffy opened her eyes because a sunbeam was lighting her face. She closed them again a moment, just using these few seconds to listen to the silence reigning in the room and the house in general, to feel the happiness of having Angel's arm resting on her. She turned to see him, and found him awake. She smiled, finding nothing to say, and he began caressing her shoulder gently.

- "Already awake?" he whispered gently.

- "Yeah, I... the sun kinda woke me up."

- "We should have thought about closing the curtains yesterday."

- "Yeah, because, really, that was a priority, closing the curtains. I don't know how we forgot
that."

Angel smiled, a real smile as she seldom saw him wear, and Buffy felt happier than ever. She came closer to him, and held him tight. He kissed her forehead, and for a few minutes they kept a serene silence. Buffy thought that it was one of the few times where she stayed snuggled against a man in the morning; usually, they were gone, or they talked, or they got up. And after all, silence wasn't the worst.

She closed her eyes once again, then stretched. Being there was good, but they had to think about getting up.

- "Maybe... maybe we should get up," Angel said, echoing what she was thinking. Giles is probably waiting for us."

- "Yeah, right. Giles."

Angel forced himself to get up, and left the bed to put on his boxer shorts, which was laying on the floor. Then he stopped a moment, lost in thought. On her side, Buffy had slipped into her pajamas and got up too.

- "I'm gonna... I've got some clean clothes in my car," Angel explained. "I, I'm gonna get them."

- "Okay. I'm taking a shower."

She passed by him after taking some new clothes in her closet, and he had hold himself back from catching her and kissing her. He looked at her and she seemed to give the impression of being even more beautiful than she did the last evening. But this thought was knocking against loads of others. Far too many others. He quickly dressed up with his former clothes and left the room to get to his car. Why did he always have to torture himself, when he could have been the happiest man in the entire world?

The water woke Buffy up a second time. And put her ideas back in place. The previous day had been eventful, and news-full, and she knew she had been a little shattered by all that. Things with Angel weren't clear yet, what had come over her to let herself go after this forgotten day story? It had been a really bad idea to have sex with him that night; they should have waited, to know what Angel would do, to know if he'd stay or go back to L.A, also to know what Danny would do, since he clearly loved Angel as a father. But she had to admit the night had been wonderful. Why should she always give up the best? They were happy, before, even without any future, and they had broken up. Now he was back, able to offer her a future, and she wanted to accept this easily. And that was what she had done the previous night. Her twisted and a-lot-too-much-down-to-earth brain had had a bug and, oh my god, she would never despise it for that because it was worth it and she definitely loved it. But now... it was time to face reality.

When she came back to her bedroom, Angel was already there and had made her bed. He suddenly turned around when he heard the door, and smiled awkwardly when he saw Buffy.

She smiled too, desperately trying to find a way to share her feelings with him. She knew he would understand. At least, she hoped. She went put her pajamas under her pillows. She had to tell him. *Oh god, these black shirts fit him so well...*

- "Is... is Dawn up?" she asked, unable to say anything else.

- "Uh, no. I don't think so... well, she wasn't downstairs."

They stood looking at each other for a few seconds; what she feared the worst was that he would come closer and kiss her, because she wanted it so much and would do nothing to stop him. But they shouldn't. She had never felt so torn between two things to do. She felt like she had two little men on the shoulders, one saying "go for it!" and the other "you know you mustn't give up to temptation", as in the Tex Avery cartoons she used to watch when she was a kid.

In front of her, Angel was struggling against the same kind of situation. *I'm supposed to be mature here, aren't I? No, she's probably as sensible as I am now… But remember what Joyce said. 'If she can't make the hard decisions, you have to make them for her'. Don't think about that, Angel. It has nothing to do with it, that conversation was over three years ago. Just stop yourself from doing the wrong thing.* And at the moment the wrong thing was kissing her. *You have more important questions to deal with first. A kiss would lead us further, you know that. Possibly better than anyone.*

- "We have to go to Giles'," he said.

His voice sounded strict to Buffy, but she didn't realize he used this tone to convince himself.

- "Yeah. You're right. We… we have to go to Giles'. Sacred duty."

They looked one last time at each other, both pleading for a kiss.

********Buffy theme plays********

********Part 1********

Buffy and Angel had a light and fast breakfast, then Buffy left a note for Dawn on the table and used Angel's car to drive to Giles'. There, they met Tara, who had come to apologize of her hasty departure, with Willow.

- "Hey guys," Buffy said coming in. "Oh, hi Tara. How are you?"

- "Fine, thanks", she answered, then she saw Angel. "Hello. You're Angel, right?

- "Yeah, that's it. Nice to meet you."

They politely smiled at each other as Giles appeared, book in hand.

- "Oh, Buffy. Good morning. I assumed you were going to be here… later. "

- "Well..."

She was about to say, 'we came here to remove the temptation', but fortunately Angel spoke first.

- "We wanted to have information, about the Titan and all. Where has it gone?"

- "Well, I don't exactly know," Giles admitted. "Still into the woods, it appears. I think it probably found some food and nodded off. And your friend Kate called. She asked the murderer a few questions herself. About the Titan. He confessed to her he cast a spell on the Titan so it would follow him and attack whenever he wanted to. When Willow broke the spell, the Titan was freed from Castiglioni's hold, and I presume it was so violent because it had to endure submission for days. It's likely we won't hear about it again."

- "Oh, fine," Angel said.

- "And where's Xander?" Buffy asked.

- "It's Wednesday. He's working," Willow reminded.

- "Oh, yeah. Right. Children day."

- "Tara and I were about to go to the Magic Box. Which makes me observe, you could have gone there in the first place." Giles said. "Was there a need for you to come here?"

- "You got us," grinned Buffy. "We wanted to catch you in that red wardrobe -or whatever it is- of yours. But Willow and Tara have obviously doubler us there.

- "I just wanted to apologize for leaving, before showing up at the store," noted Tara with a smirk.

- "But the wardrobe could have been a bonus," smiled Willow. "Or maybe not," she added quickly when Tara glanced at her.

- "Can we please avoid this conversation?" Giles enquired, and the three women exchanged a beam. "Are you going to the store with Tara and I?" he went on for the attention of Buffy, Angel and Willow.

As Angel glanced at Buffy, and felt that if he was left alone with her, he'd... *Common. You have to do other things before.*

- "No, thanks. I... I have to see Danny and Cordelia, they're probably wondering what happened to me. Does... does it bother you?" he asked, turning towards Buffy.

- "No, not at all. I mean, I understand. Besides, I was wondering, Willow, do you want to come over to my place? Dawn would be happy to see ya."

- "Okay, no prob. I'm going with you. I'm not working till 5pm anyway."

And everybody left the house with their respective plans.

As soon as he was in his car, moving away from Giles' house, Angel picked up his cell phone and dialed Cordelia's number.

- "Hello?"

- "Cordelia? It's Angel. Why are you whispering?"

- "Danny's still asleep. What's up? Where are you? Did you spend the night at Buffy's?"

- "I'm in my car. Look, I have some things to check, then I'm joining you two. I should be there before noon. Are you still at the mansion?"

- "Yeah. Angel, did you already, y'know, sleep with Buffy?"

- "I slept at her place, it doesn't mean that we.... Cordelia, you know you're supposed to mind your own business?"

- "Yeah, well I guess the old Cordelia was back for two seconds. Anyway, you told her. You did your little crazy thing, so, are we leaving?"

- "No, I don't think I am. I mean, not today. I was thinking maybe I could take care of Danny this afternoon, coz, y'know, I haven't been there for him the last few days."

- "Yeah, that's for sure. He spent the whole evening repeating over and over that if you stayed, he was ready to lose all his toys in L.A to stay there with you."

- "He's scared." Angel frowned a little.

- "He should be. You're here for like, two days, and already you slept with your ex, whom you hadn't seen for years. You're unbelievable."

- "Cordelia, I never said I... okay, forget it. Tell Danny I promise I'll be back at the mansion before lunch, will you?"

- "I will. Don't be late, and I'm not kidding."

- "Promise. See you later, Cord."

- "Bye."

Angel hung up, took a deep breath and checked Buffy was nowhere to be seen. He then did a U-turn to head towards the magic shop.

-"So? How are things going with Angel?" Willow asked.

Buffy and she had turned in an alley to walk towards Buffy's, and Willow had looked at Angel's car, then Giles', move away in the two different directions.

- "Oh, I... we've already cleared up several things. Let's say the biggest part. Or a big part anyway."

- "Including Danny?"

- "Not really. I mean, he made it clear who the kid was, but... all the same, Angel looks like a father to him. Well, except for the cuddling part."

- "Angel a father. Funny how you think you've seen it all, huh?"

Buffy smiled with her.

- "Yeah. He's so not the type. I mean he was. He looks kinda nice to this kid."

- "Did he tell you why he decided to come back?"

- "I think... he said he thought I had the right to know what had happened."

- "Which isn't totally wrong, with you and him being the great love of all time. I mean you two were. Or… are."

- "I know, but... I'm not really sure what... I'm just a little lost."

- "You don't really want to be with him?"

- "I do. I really do, this is the worst thing. We... we made love last night, and..."

- "Was it good?" Willow asked with a grin. She was so happy to see her friend and Angel had
a new chance.

- "My god, better than I ever dared imagine," Buffy smirked, blushing slightly. "I mean, last time didn't exactly went wrong, but the fact that he became a monster right after kind of upset me... That kind of stuff sort of erases good memories, y'know? But this time... wow, that was even better than David. And you do know what I thought of the guy," Buffy said with a mischievous smile.

- "Yeah, you told me too many times for me to forget." Willow rolled her eyes. "But I have one question then. If everything is great, then, y'know, why are you lost?"

- "I don't know, I... maybe it looks a little too perfect, a little too fast." Buffy's face was serious again. "I feel something is gonna happen. And, is he gonna stay? Are we really gonna get back together? I mean, I just never thought about this, and there are so many things… What about Danny?"

- "Buffy, you're worrying too much. It's Angel. Remember, Angel? Who love you so much he'd rather see you happy with someone else than keep you from the sunlight? Who comes only because he thinks you're in danger?"

- "I know, but... what if he had changed becoming human? After those three years we spent apart? "

- "Buffy, you're not having a problem with Angel here. I think you're afraid it might not work, y'know, like it didn't with Matt, but you're forgetting something. Matt was a jerk. A poop head. Remember, the poop head principal? Okay, maybe Matt wasn't as stupid as Parker was, but still, Angel and he definitely don't play on the same level. If you can call it play."

- "I know, but... is he gonna stay? I mean, he isn't…"

- "Of course he is, if you tell him you want him to! But tell him, show him. Because he could leave believing you don't want to be with him, you know him. "

- "Yeah. Maybe."

- "Buffy, believe me... if he came back., it... it isn't to hurt you, I don't think so. Why do you think he didn't tell Kate, while he drove like two hours and a half hours to tell you?"

- "Yeah. I... I think I'm gonna talk to him about it."

- "You should. He's probably thinking a lot about it too. I mean, he's the type. You know, the 'brooding and meditating' type. Just looking at him, you see that didn't change because he's human."

Buffy slightly smiled while thinking that was so true.

- "But think before saying anything, Buffy," Willow went on. "Because otherwise... you might say things you don't really think."

- "I'm afraid of that. I mean, maybe I'm not good at showing someone that I love him. Look what happened with Riley."

- "Don't do that, Buffy. I'm sure you'll work things out. With Tara, things weren't great for a while, but now everything's better, see what I mean? You can make it better, y'know?"

- "Yeah, but... Angel hasn't been a part of my life for 3 years already. We don't know each other anymore. I'd like to know his life in Los Angeles in details, you know? Because already, when we talk, we just don't have the same background anymore... Especially not the same demon background, y'know? Like, if I refer to Adam, or to Glory, he won't understand.... you see what I mean?"

- "Yeah, I do. It's just normal things are this way at the beginning. It'll change. Just like for a new relationship. Except this one isn't new."

- "And... his redemption. His 'shanshu' as he calls it -by the way, where did he get that word from? Anyway, he must have been so happy, I mean... he was waiting for it to happen. It was his purpose in life, y'know? And I wasn't even there when he reached that purpose... I don't know what he did, if he cried from joy, if he stayed calm, if he celebrated... I don't know a thing. This is the most important thing that ever happened to him for centuries, and I wasn't there. Even Cordelia knows more about him than I do now. She was there when he woke up human, maybe she saw him laugh and be happy. I never really saw him laugh."

- "Buffy... try to be confident for a while. Just, think about it. When you met him first time, you didn't know anything about it. You learned to know him, y'know? Now you have to learn again. Maybe it'll be easier, because you two have a common past. Maybe it'll be harder. But you have to try anyway. You and Angel are like, I dunno, soul mates. You can't completely fail."

For a few seconds, Buffy kept quiet, eyes on the ground. Then she turned towards Willow and faintly smiled.

- "Will... you're the best, you know that?" Buffy said, turning towards her friend.

- "Working hard for it," Willow answered calmly, with a beam.

They had reached the Summers' doorstep, and Buffy hold Willow tightly. It meant so much for her to know she could still rely on her best friend.

That moment, the door opened and Dawn appeared, a glass of juice in hand.

- "I knew I heard something. And now you're hugging people in front of the house. As if we weren't the freak family enough already."

Buffy let go of her friend and grin to her sister.

- "Good to see you're doing fine, Dawn."

- "Oh, Will! Hi!! What's up?" Dawn asked, ignoring Buffy's sarcasm.

Willow smiled in front of the teenager's enthusiasm.

- "Well I'm doing fine, you?"

- "Great. Oh, Buffy? Thanks for the note. I mean, I was wondering where you were before I saw the note. Which was probably why you left it."

Buffy and Willow smiled as they went in, and Buffy closed the door while Willow put her jacket on the coat rack.

- "What were you guys talking about?" Dawn asked.

- "What I like about you, little sister, is that you don't even try to hide your curiosity. Maybe that's why you're so annoying." Buffy said.

- "Yeha, right, like if you weren't. Anyway, where is Angel? He spent the night, right?" Dawn went on. Nothing could stop her when she had questions. Especially not her sister's mockery. "I haven't seen him leave."

- "Yeah. Angel slept here," Buffy answered. There was no point lying to Dawn anyway, and she knew it.

- "And... you thought he was too good for a mattress. I wonder where he slept then. On the floor?" Dawn went on with a malicious smirk, apparently very proud of the thinking she'd been doing. "Because Kat' wasn't there anymore. Y'know, you could have taken the mattress."

- "Is that a little sister power or something?" Willow asks. "Like, she asks what we're talking about, we don't answer, and she begins talking about the precise topic."

- "Hey, I got powers once," Dawn exclaimed. "And... not too hard guessing what Buffy is thinking about at the moment. Especially if she didn't take the mattress."

Buffy was about to protest but Dawn cut her off.

- "I have a guess that the very old one became a very new one again, huh?" she grinned.

- "Why did I get a demonic sister?"

- "In a way, better than demonic roomate," Willow pointed out, trying hard not to laugh at the sisters game.

- "So, tell me, was it good? I mean, really? 'Cause if you want my opinion, this one is worth a shot. He's a great cooker. You really have to tell why you dropped this one," Dawn went on, happy to see Buffy smiling. Even the Angel leaving topic didn't seem to be a problem.

- "Oh, long story," Willow said. "Angel's special. And thinks Buffy's special. Bad results. For both of them. And the rest of the world."

- "Yeah. Well, we kinda figured that part out."

- "Great, cause now I won't let you, Buffy. I'll force you two to stay together. I'm good at it, y'know."

Willow and Buffy burst out laughing.

- "Is that a conspiracy or what?" Buffy exclaim.

- "Yup, but for a good cause, huh?" Willow added. Buffy and she exchanged a knowing look and smiled.

- "Hey," Dawn said, "you didn't answer... was the night good?"

- "The girl is keeping cool head, huh," Willow turned to Buffy.

- "He he," Dawn smirked. "Always. This part is the most interesting."

Angel reached the magic store short time after Giles and Tara, due to the fact he had made a detour via the city library, to see where it was and check something. When he entered, Giles looked at him, eyebrows raised.

- "Angel? Didn't you have to-"

- "Giles, I need your help. Do you have the Greek Chronicles?"

- "I-I believe so. What happened?"

- "I want to consult the Oracles, but I don't know where you get to them in Sunnydale. And if I can get them."

- "The Oracles? Who are they?" Giles asked, confused.

- "Some kind of link to The Powers That Be. They know the future."

- "I've never heard about them. I- How do you know about them?" Giles took off his glasses.

- "A friend of mine. Giles, do you have the book?"

- "Wait here. I'll be right back. How is it possible that beings of that sort exist without me knowing?"

Frowning, Giles went upstairs where he kept special books and ingredients for spells, and a couple of minutes later he was back with a old big blue manuscript.

- "Here they are.The Greek Chronicles." He handed the book to Angel, who began flipping throughout it. "I… you really think there is an access in Sunnydale? I can't believe I didn't know about this. You are positive they can tell the future?"

- "Sure. I went to them already," explained Angel without leaving the book. "They can reverse time, give you advices, hints on your future. They're pretty much omniscient. But only few people are familiar with them. They don't really like to be disturbed."

- "Remarkable. Do you realize what that means? They could help us. Envision how many things could have been avoided if I had had the information," Giles visualized. But Angel wasn't listening.

- "I got it," Angel suddenly said. "It was situated in a church but destroyed when the Master was imprisoned there. It changed places several times since, but the last one they specify is McQuinn's crypt. I hope it's still there."

- "Angel, why are you so rushed?"

- "It's about Buffy. Giles, it's pretty urgent. I'll explain it to you later, if they back up what I think. Can you help me?"

- "I-I'm rather busy with the shop. I'm waiting for a visit from some government facility. Do you have to invoke them?"

- "Yeah. Open a door of light. It's not long and not hard."

- "Do you think Tara could do it? She's a young witch, but she has power. Unless you really want me to come. If it's as serious as you say, I might want to be there."

- "Buffy, and I are the only ones able to go in their room and meet them here. I might just need someone to do the access spell. Last time I tried alone, it didn't work. Maybe it was because at the time the Oracles were dead, but I don't wanna take any risk. I think Tara'll do. I mean, it'll be okay with her."

- "So… what if you learn something important? Or if something happens to you?"

- "The Oracles aren't dangerous. And I'll be back to tell you how it went. Where's Tara?"

- "What?" she said as she went out of the back store, paper and pencil in hand.

She saw the concerned look on Angel and Giles' faces, and stepped towards them.

- "What's up?"

- "Angel needs you to perform a spell. To call upon the Oracles. Would you go with him?" asked Giles, putting back on his glasses

- "The Oracles? What are they?"

- "I'll explain that part again. Can you come with me?"

- "Hum, yeah. Sure. But I kinda miss the point."

- "I'll also explain that. We need several herbs, and a lighter," Angel said, showing her the big volume. Tara nodded and walked away to find the ingredients, as the ex-vampire turned to the Watcher. "Giles, where's McQuinn's crypt?"

- "I assume the east cemetery. Angel, there's still something concerning me in this story. Why wouldn't these Oracles be mentioned in the Watchers Diaries or in any reference book?"

- "Maybe 'cause it's too dangerous having too many people playing with the upper powers. Or maybe 'cause the Slayer is just supposed to fight and die. Or maybe they don't like the Council. Honestly, I don't know, Giles. And I don't really care, as soon as I can see them at that crypt ."

- "I got them all," Tara said as she came back towards the two men.

- "Good. We're going. Giles, we'll be back in an hour."

- "Where are we going?" Tara asked.

- "The east cemetery- which one, Giles?"

- "Oh. Uh, St Georges. On the route towards Los Angeles."

- "I know it." He headed towards the door, but turned around one last time. "Giles? Buffy doesn't know about it. Not till we're sure."

And Angel and Tara were gone, leaving Giles puzzled in the middle of the room, till one customer came tapping him slightly on the shoulder because he wanted to pay.

About ten minutes later, Tara and Angel arrived in front of McQuinn's crypt, and went down into it, using the wooden back door that Angel easily smashed in. Tara glanced at Angel as he came in, and followed him inside. He had told her the same story about the Oracles as he had done to Giles, but she was still a little confused. Angel quickly spot the door and urn, and began getting the ingredients out of the bag.

- "I have one question..." Tara said quietly. "You said only you and Buffy could go in the Oracles' room. Why?

- "Buffy's a Warrior. I'm a Link. The only difference being she's got the strength, and I got to bring no offering."

- "Oh." Angel didn't seem in mood to answer questions so Tara decided to keep quiet.

She walked to the urn and opened the book.

- "You ready?" she enquired.

He nodded, concentrating on the closed door, and she threw the herbs into the urn that stood in front of her, lighting them with her lighter.

- "We beseech access to the knowing ones..."

The door under the white stone arc lightened and when Tara looked up, Angel was already in.

Angel arrived in the Greek room that he knew well now, in front of the two new Oracles.

- "Come before us, Link," the woman began.

- "What do you dare bothering us for?"

- "I came to ask about the Slayer."

- "The Titan routed her..."

- "Retirement hour has come."

- "Retirement? She's not gonna be the Slayer anymore?"

- "She was a very useful Slayer the cause we all serve and value," the woman went on.

- "But she won't last long. Her strength is getting weaker," the man said calmly.

- "The thread of life soon won't support her anymore. It's getting thinner and thinner."

- "She's gonna die?"

- "Everybody dies, Link. Life goes on."

- "I can't let her die. How does she die?"

- "There where deficiency showed itself, it shall show again.

- "I don't understand. Is she gonna die fighting?"

But the two Oracles turned their back to Angel, and with a wave of the hand, they threw him back into the crypt through the door of light.

He landed at Tara's feet.

- "So?" she asked, a little worried it didn't work.

- "Quick. We have to go back to Giles," Angel said as he got back to his feet.

- "What did they say?"

- "The Slayer is gonna die soon."

- "But if you'd rather implore Neiha, I recommend you to use usual tarot's cards. They'll do."

- "Okay, thanks a lot. Bye."

- "Have a nice day."

Giles smiled one last time to the woman leaving the store, and bent behind the counter, looking for the sales ledger. When he heard the tiny bell, Giles stood up and his face became serious when he saw Angel and Tara coming in.

- "Well? Did you see the Oracles?"

- "Yes," Tara nodded.

- "And?"

- "They say Buffy's death is close," Angel said. His face had darkened.

- "Pardon me?"

- "I don't know... they're not very clear. They said that where the deficiency showed, it would show again."

- "The Titan?" Giles asked.

- "That's what I thought," Angel agreed. "But you said it feel asleep."

- "I couldn't find any mention of a murder or anything this morning in the newspaper. The only goal of the Titan is to feed itself. I assume that if it didn't kill anyone here, it whether left the area, or fed on some demon in the woods. But there no way to be positive about it."

- "Maybe there is," Tara said softly behind them. The two men turned around at the same time. "Willow told me about this unit lurking around Sunnydale. Maybe -maybe they could have in-information."

Giles seemed to be reluctant, so Angel raised his eyebrows.

- "Giles? How can we get in touch with this unit? And what is it?"

- "The Council. They sent several people here to have more information about the demons prowling in Sunnydale and around."

- "And you think they might have information about the Titan?"

- "Perhaps, but I…"

- "We have to call them then. Giles, I don't care if you don't get along with them or anything. We might be talking about Buffy's life here."

- "You're right," Giles concealed after a beam. "I'm going to call them. Should I mention the Oracles?"

- "I don't know. Why would you?"

As Angel asked that, a customer approached Tara, and she walked away with him.

- "I… I found a very ancient manuscript last week. One written by some members of the Council at its very beginning." Giles was speaking quietly now. He took of his glasses, but put them back almost immediately. "They mention the fact that a Slayer could retire. Not on her will, but they imply that some Slayers could earn it. As some sort of grant given by the upper powers."

- "Of course," murmured Angel to himself. "If they have the power to make me human, why couldn't they retire a Slayer?"

- "But there's only two mention of that fact. The second one says that the idea has been discarded, but they don't really explain why. Something about the Slayers not living long enough anyway, I believe. They're not patent on that fact."

- "Which means the Council doesn't do it, but has the power to," finished Angel.

- "Maybe. Or maybe this capacity is conferred to another power. I don't know anything about it, I've tried to read about it, but it's like the information has been forgotten after these two mentions. I didn't tell anything to anyone because I thought it was useless to give them a false hope, but if what the Oracles told you is true, maybe we should try to do something."

- "Maybe you can try to ask the Council first. Call that unit, ask them information about the Titan, and then you'll call the Council. Does that work?"

- "I guess so," murmured Giles.

After checking with a glance that Tara was doing okay with the store, Giles headed towards the back store, followed by Angel. He called the unit first, where he was told that the Titan had left the area soon after the fight the previous evening. While he was on the phone, Angel sat still next to him, arms crossed, thinking about the whole problem. They must find a way to avoid that. He couldn't think of Buffy dying -he never did-, even more now that he had just turned human. When Giles hung up, he summed up what the unit had told, and then dialed the Council's number. Angel looked up at the Watcher, eyebrows raised, pointing the loudspeaker and, as Giles nodded, turned it on.

After Giles gave the password and ask to talk to Quentin Travers.

- "Hello?"

- "Quentin? Good morning."

- "Rupert. How are you?"

- "I've been better. I'm calling to ask you something quite important."

- "What is it?"

Angel and Giles exchanged a look.

- "I… I want you to release Buffy from her duty."

- "I beg your pardon?"

- "Buffy's 21. She's been fighting with all her will since she was 16, even though she wasn't
under your control for a while. I today have reason to believe she will soon pass away, and that's why I'm asking you to withdraw her from her duty of Slayer."

- "Rupert, you must be kidding me. You request is ridiculous."

- "I read the Primeval Diary. I know the Council has the power to do it."

- "That's not the point. Do you have any idea how many things we could do if we appealed to the higher forces all the time?"

- "I'm aware of that. But you must understand that this a question of life or death for Buffy. If you don't do anything, she will die."

- "Everybody dies one day or another."

- "Buffy fought well for numerous years. She deserves to live and not die because of some supernatural evil."

- "Probably all the Slayers deserved that. Rupert, the idea of retiring Slayers has been thrown away almost as soon as the idea was risen. You're not going to change that because you think your Slayer is better than the others."

- "I'm not saying Buffy is better. I'm saying she is the only alive -and efficient- at the moment. If you have the possibility to prevent her death, I'm asking you to do it. You know her death is close, don't you?"

- "Indeed, we sort of know that."

- "Why won't do something then? What does it change, Quentin? You would have to call a new Slayer nevertheless, for God's sake."

Angel had clenched his jaw as he followed the conversation, and he knew Giles was also getting irritated. *How could Travers speak so calmly of Buffy's death? Of my Buffy's death?*

- "We won't do anything, Rupert, because we have no reason to do so. It never happened, and never will. You can't change that. If Buffy is fated to die soon, we can't do anything."

- "But you know how you could. How dare you? We're talking about someone's li-"

Suddenly Angel rose from his seat and grabbed the phone. He couldn't take it anymore.

- "Listen to me. You don't know anything. You don't know anything about Buffy, or her life, or all the great things she did. More than anyone here I know how much she deserves to live. I don't know what you and your damned (I'm looking for a synonym here… freaking or fucking don't do but I can't think of anything…) Council is up to, why the hell you're making a big deal out of this simple plea, but if it takes a flight to England and a good beat up, I'll personally catch the first plane and come. And I'm pretty sure-"

- "Sir, who are you?"

- "Who cares. You have to release Buffy. Aren't I making myself clear?"

- "Sir, violence and verbal abuse won't help in any way. As I said before, the request is
unacceptable, and I-"

- "And you're here to save humanity? I'm beginning to understand why Buffy quit."

Angel hung up brutally, seized with the desire to take the phone and throw it to the ground, as he used to do in Los Angeles when he felt useless in front of Wolfram & Hart. Instead he just hit the desk with his fists, clenching his teeth and lowering his head.

- "Maybe you shouldn't have done that."

Angel looked up at Giles.

- "I'm sorry. He was just so-"

- "Maybe it's good you did." Angel gazed at Giles in disbelief. "I wish I could speak my mind to them like this more often," the Watcher added.

- "I can't believe it. I mean, they don't lose anything by releasing her. She wins life." Angel let himself fall back into his chair.

- "At least the Titan has left. That means she's probably not in immediate danger. Unless her life is threatened by something else. Can't you ask that to the Oracles?"

- "They probably wouldn't be specific enough. And they don't like it when you come too often. What are we gonna tell her? I'm thinking we should say nothing."

- "I agree on that. We have to stay careful, but we don't know enough to worry her about it… I think we should stay with her and take care of her. I'll try to search for demons actually in Sunnydale, see if any could endanger her. I think it's the best we can do."

- "Right. I'm gonna protect her." Angel lowered his eyes. "Or I'll try." *Why of all the moments am I human now?*

- "Maybe you should also ask Danny. He is supposed to know if something bad is coming up, isn't he?"

- "He is. I'll talk to him as soon as I see him." He glanced at his watch. "Oh. I'd better go. He… he and Cordelia are probably waiting for me."

- "Go. Drop by tomorrow morning, I'll tell you what I found."

- "Don't you want me to help for the research?"

- "I can manage it. And Buffy would find strange if you did research with me, without her and her friends."

- "Yeah. Well… I'm going. Call- call me if you find anything," finished Angel as he stepped towards the main room of the store.

As he passed by the counter, Giles said,

- "Angel?"

- "Yeah?" He turned around.

- "I know you wanted to succeed. But you couldn't. It's not your fault."

- "Giles, I love her. I don't want her to die."

- "I know." He paused. "I know."

Part 2
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