Breathe By: spoiledsquish A/N: This is the sequel to "Life Of The Party". I`m urging you to read that before you read this because there are many references to it. You won`t get them unless you`ve read the other series. Distribution: B/A Lovers United, Fear of Dying, FF.Net, Enchanting Place, Sempiternal Beloved, Realmofbafantasy, and BA Fluff. Rating: PG-13. Pairings: Buffy/Angel, Wes/Fred, Buffy/Spike friendship (sorta). Mentions of Angel/Eve, and Buffy/Spike, and Buffy/Other (I don't want to spoil who it is!). Spoilers: Up to Angel S5 Promo of Halloween ep "Life Of The Party". Timeline: A year after "Life Of The Party". Angel has become human, and Wesley continues to worry, because Buffy was supposed to help Angel achieve his Shanshu. Summary: A year and half after catching Angel and Eve in bed together, Buffy has come back to Los Angeles to congratulate Wesley and Fred on their engagement. Will her feelings for Angel get in the way of her friendship with Spike or will she finally realize what her heart wants? A/N 2: There is a club in L.A. (according to MY version of the Buffyverse) that is called the Bronze. Let`s just say that when SunnyD crumbled, the owner of the Bronze (who won`t be in the fic, by the way) decided to rebuild it in L.A. *********************** Chapter 1: Boundaries Enter subhead content here ~Los Angeles: Spring 2005~ "Congratulations!" Gunn hugged his friends, Fred and Wesley. "Thanks, Charles." Fred giggled. "I'm just glad to see some happiness in this place." Lorne explained. "With Angel Broodaholic in bitch mode everyday...kind of depresses you, you know?" "He's still...?" Gunn motioned. "Quite." Lorne agreed. "Never knew that one person could have such an effect on someone." "You don't have any idea." Wesley spoke up. "Their relationship... When Angel decided to leave Sunnydale back then...it was bad. Faith had poisoned him, Buffy cured him and things just...There was a lot of heartache on both sides." "Understatement." Spike smirked. "I was there for a good portion of it, and trust me, mate...You have no idea what their relationship was like. What you witnessed was a small portion of it." "What are you doing here?" Wesley asked angrily. "None of your business, mate." Spike turned to Fred. "You wanna know the story, love? Cliffnotes version...?" "Some other time." Wesley interrupted. "Aww. Isn't this sweet? What's the occasion?" Eve chuckled as she walked in. "Eve." Spike growled. "Down, boy." She winked. "I just came to congratulate the happy couple on their engagement. Senior Partners couldn't be more ecstatic." "I'm sure they couldn't." Wesley muttered. "Where's Angel?" "He went to take care of something. Said it was a annual event or whatnot." Eve rolled her eyes. "Cordelia." Gunn remembered. "She was put in that coma today two years ago." "Right." Fred shook her head. "I guess we should wait for him, then? Somewhere else?" "The Bronze?" Lorne asked. "Yeah." Gunn nodded in agreement. "We'll just wait for him until he gets back." ~ The Bronze- 10:47 p.m.~ "Hey." Angel greeted his friends. "Eve said you guys wanted to talk to me?" "Yeah." Fred smiled. "Wesley and I...we're engaged." "That's--"Angel smiled sadly. "That's great. I'm happy for you." "Then what's with the cloudy face, Angelcakes?" Lorne asked. "I went to see Cordy." Angel told them. "She's awake." "That's bad?" Gunn wondered. "No, she just--she doesn't understand what's happened since she's been in a coma." Angel told them. "She thinks that things aren't as they are." "Where is she now?" Fred asked. "On a plane to Sacremento." Angel told them. "She went to see Xander." "Xander, who's that?" Gunn asked. "Her first love." Wesley eyes diverted to the ground. "So, they're all in Sacremento?" "No." Angel shook his head. "Giles is back in England, Willow's in Boston with Faith and Oz, the Potentials spread out all over the country, and she's...well, no one would tell me where she went to." "Why not?" Spike scoffed sarcastically. "After all the things you did...Who could blame them, mate?" "Why are you still here?" Angel asked. "I just love to see you squirm." Spike winked. "She's in New York, bud." "How would you know?" Angel asked. "Well, Peaches, Willow told me." Spike explained. "She wasn't too eager to give the tidbit out, but I managed. Buffy's in New York, building a life for herself, outside of the world we pulled her into. Isn't that what you wanted for her? To move on with something that was outside of lore and demonology? From what Willow says, looks like you finally got your wish." "Spike, go. Before I decide to do something really stupid." Angel growled. "Whatever." Spike rolled his eyes and left. "Oh, there's one more thing, mate. She's also seeing Riley Finn again. Guess his marriage didn't last too long, eh?" The blonde vampire disappeared out of the club. Angel stalked off, leaving the gang in shock and confusion and wondering one thing. Who in the Hell was Riley Finn? Warning: The plot has to be set up and that could be a lengthy process, so bear with me. The Eve thing is also going to take a while to set up, so just chill and stay tuned. ********************* Chapter 2: Taking Off Enter subhead content here A/N: In my fic, no one in L.A. knew about Riley other than Angel and Cordelia. ~Two Nights Later~ "You're leaving?" Fred asked Angel. "Why?" "You know why." Angel mumbled. "Oh, right. Buffy." Fred shook her head. "Look, Angel. I know it's really none of my business, but maybe you shouldn't go and see her. Willow doesn't think it's a great idea and--" "I don't really care what Willow thinks, Fred." Angel looked up at her. "And I don't care what you guys think. I need to see Buffy, Fred. Quite frankly, my relationship with her isn't anyone's business. Never was, never will be. I never understood why people were so interested in our relationship. They cared more about ours than their own. I'm only going to say this once. Butt out." "I'm sorry." Fred apologized. "I'll leave you alone." "Wait." Angel spoke. "I'm sorry that I snapped at you. I'm just frustrated that everyone is still so interested in my relationship." "I understand that." Fred nodded. "Angel?" "Yeah?" he asked. "Good luck." She winks and walks out of his apartment. Angel continues to pack for his 'trip' when Spike appears. "What?" Angel growled. "Hold on there, mate. I didn't come to stop you." Spike explained. "No?" Angel stared in disbelief. "Caught me fair and square, all right? I did come to try to knock some sense into your dense head, but I won't. You and her--both stubborn and pigheaded. Frankly, it's like talking to a wall." Spike sets a slip of paper on the dresser. "That's the address. According to Willow, they're now living together. Stupid bloke. Can't believe he's that stupid to make the same mistake twice. She'll never love him." "What makes you say that?" Angel asked. "Cuz she's still hung up on you, you idiot." Spike shook his head. "Am I the only sane one left around here? Anyway, Farmboy knows all about the two of you, even what happened the last time she came to L.A. Better watch out. Never know what those southerners can do." "Thank you." Angel said. "Yeah, well, when you hurt her again, I'm gonna be the first one with the torture. Don't think I'm doing this for you." Spike goes to leave. "I'm only doing it for her. Because she loves you." Angel finishes packing and finds Wesley, Lorne, and Gunn waiting for him in the garage. "What now?" he sighed. "We came to see you off." Gunn shrugged. "No, you didn't." Angel shook his head. "If any of you are here to try and stop me, don't. I'm going. End of story." "What happens when she decides to kick your ass, and leaves you for dead?" Wesley inquired. "I'll call you." Angel smirked and he drove off in his silver Mercedes. "Why would he put himself through that torture?" Lorne asked. "He's in love." Wesley smiled. "The things we do for love." ************************ Chapter 3: How To Deal Enter subhead content here A/N: Since Angel drove to New York, I assume it would take a week for him to get there. That is just an estimated guess. Anything in italics denotes flashbacks! ~New York City: A Week Later~ Angel watched as Riley left the apartment complex for his weekly morning ritual. Farmboy would go down the street to get breakfast, get in a cab and go to work, and be home on the dot at six o'clock in the evening. Angel shudder in disgust. Buffy was back together with this jerkoff? At least with Spike, Angel knew he had a chance. He didn't want the same thing to happen last time. Buffy choosing Riley over him. Angel made his way into the apartment building. The sky was overcast today, thank God. When Angel finally arrived outside her apartment door, he froze. What was he going to say now? Things hadn't exactly gone smooth last time... "What do you want, Angel?" Buffy snapped bitterly when she opened her hotel room door. "I need to talk to you." He replied. "Talk to me?" Buffy let him in and slammed the door angrily. "The same way you 'talked' with Eve?" "We were under a spell, Buffy." Angel reminded her. "You, of all people, should know what that's like." "Didn't mean you had to get pelvic!" Buffy retorted. "God knows when you and I were under the spirits of those dead lovers we never did." "I was EVIL." Angel sighed. "Look, just say what you have to say and get out!" Buffy yelled. "I have somewhere to be." "You're leaving?" Angel noticed her suitcase. "You didn't actually think I was going to stick around, did you?" Buffy chuckled. "Not even good ol' Wes could convince me to. So get out." "I love you, Buffy." Angel told her. "I don't." she spat. Angel shook his head. This was no time to be dwelling in the past. He knocked on the door. "Ri, did you forget--" Buffy couldn't finish her sentence when she looked up. "Oh God." "Buffy." Angel said. "What--Why--What are you doing here?" Buffy asked him, making no move to invite him in. "I...Spike told me you were here." Angel explained. "I never told him." Buffy shook her head. "Willow did." Angel admitted. "Look, I know this is a surprise." "Understatement." Buffy scoffed. "Go away, Angel." "You know I can't do that." Angel reminded her. "You have to." Buffy replied. "Just leave me alone, okay?" With that, Buffy Summers slammed the door and left her one true love standing there speechless. Groveling was such a bitch... What's Ahead: Angel does more groveling, Buffy tells Riley about Angel, and there may also be some Riley bashing (strictly in the physical sense!) ******************* Chapter 4: Admissions Of Truth A/N: Okay, I just want everyone to know that 'Breathe' is nowhere near being finished. This is just the beginning. So, if you want more, just hang tight. Also, me doing really long chapters results in a really shitty fic. My inspiration comes in short instances. 'Sides, there are more chappies when they're shorter, so QUIT hassling me! "Buffy?" Riley announced when he came home that night. "Are you here?" "Yeah, Ri." Buffy hugged him fiercely. "How was your day?" "Fine. What's wrong?" Riley saw her confused face and continued, "You never hug me fiercely and ask how my day was unless you're upset. What is it?" "It's nothing." Buffy sighed. "Just tell me." Riley replied. "Angel." Buffy countered. "He's here. I saw him earlier." "Oh.' Riley grew silent. "He's come to see you?" "No, he came to watch the Broadway shows and see the statue of Liberty." Buffy retorted sarcastically. "Of course he came to see me, Riley. Why else would he be here?" "What'd he want?" Riley asked. "What do you think?" Buffy snapped. "He wants me, Riley. He came to apologize for what happened a year and a half ago. Then there was some groveling." "Are you, you know...going back to Los Angeles with him?" Riley inquired. "No." Buffy stated. "I can't." "Why not?" Riley responded. "Just 'cuz." Buffy turned away. "How's Sam?" "She's good." Riley smiled. "She had a baby girl." "That's great!" Buffy hugged him again. "We, um, we named her Elizabeth Anne Finn." Riley beamed. "In honor of you." "You didn't need to." Buffy shook her head. "We wanted to." Riley told her. "So, Angel still thinks that you and I are together?" "Yeah." Buffy nodded. "I told Willow that you and Sam got divorced and that we had decided to give it another go again. It's amazing how fast they spill the beans." "Yeah." Riley agreed. "It is." "Thanks again for doing this, Ri." Buffy replied gratefully. "I really appreciate it." "Hey, you're my friend." Riley reminded her. "It's not a problem." "Hey, you'd better go." Buffy told him. "I--I just need to be by myself right now. Think things over." "Aren't you worried that he's going to notice I'm not here?" Riley inquired. "It's really okay." Buffy remarked. "I don't want you here when I see him. Our 'talks' never seem to be calm. You have a wife and a baby to look after, mister! Go." "Okay." Riley opened the door. "I'm really glad you're here, Buffy." "Me, too." She smiled in return. "Call me tomorrow?" "I will." Riley promised and left. T.B.C. **************** Chapter 5: It Is Done Angel watched as Farm Boy walked slowly down the street, a smirk creeping on the boy's face. The vamp growled low in his chest, his subconscious demanding to know what happened with his mate. Riley knew Angel was following him. The vampire was so predictable, and so obvious. The ex commando smiled to himself. Now he could kick some Angel ass. Riley kept on walking until he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and received a fist on his face. "Oww, fuck!" he yelled and looked up, acting surprised. "Angel, of course. What do I owe this visit? Let me guess. You've found a way to make Buffy's life more miserable, and well, you just had to see the tortured look on her face when you do it? Honestly, don't you ever get sick of the pain?" "Shut up." Angel growled and punched him again. Riley blocked it and Angel felt his arm snap. "Hurts, doesn't it, vampire?" Riley asked. "Just think. I could be pounding into Buffy right now, but instead, I have you, an obsessed vamp blocking me from my goal." Angel flipped Riley over and Riley fell to the ground, hearing his back crunch. "I should kill you." Angel growled. "But you won't." Riley smirked. "Cuz, you know she would hate you forever. I really hate you, you know." "The feeling's mutual, trust me." Angel said. "She still loves you, and honestly, I can't figure out why. I mean, you dump the girl night before her Prom, leave town after almost kill her, and then expect her to want you back when you realize your mistake?" Riley scoffed. "I would've killed you." "Zip it, Fish Boy." Angel replied, annoyed. "So...are we gonna fight now or keep making small talk?" "I'm not going to fight you." Riley shook his head. "Not because I donlt want to, because I really do, but I know that she'd hate it. If you took two seconds to think about her feelings, you'd realize that, too." Riley tossed him a set of keys. Angel looked at him oddly. "Go to her, Angel." He advised. "And if I ever find out that you hurt her again, a stake through the heart is going to be the least of your worries." Angel slowly smiled and walked off. He was finally going to get his girl back. T.B.C. A/N: I know how much you all wanted a nice ass kicking chappie of Riley versus Angel, but I was always taught that the best way to kill someone is to kill them with kindness, so I did. I know that I will get some serious flames for this, but I don't care. I have to admit that I did like Fish Boy on the series, just not as Buffy's bed buddy. I could've settled for Ri being Buffys non boyfriend who was a recurring character, but sadly, they shattered my dreams and made me want to shoot the character Riley Finn on site. I promise theres more chappies to come. And a lot of B/A goodness. Thanks to all the numerous reviews as well.