Title: Back To My Heart Author: Phoenixflame Rating: PG-13 Summary: What is love? A story about Buffy and Angel. Couples: Buffy/ Original Character, Angel/ Original Character, Buffy/ Angel, etc. Continuity: Selective continuity. Live with it. Just go with the flow. Disclaimer: I don't own the Buffy or the Angel crew. No money is being made off of this fanfic. Authors Notes: Oh goddess, I'm gonna get flamed... Sunnyvale is a different town than Sunnydale used for the purposes of this fic. Both Sunnyvale and Sunnydale will be used in this fic. Please watch out for the V, otherwise you're gonna get really confused, okay? WARNING! This is a fanfic in which Buffy and Angel are NOT a couple! (At least, for most of it) They are in love with each other. However, this fic does depict them in happy relationships with other people. If that makes you puke, then don't read this fanfic! I am taking the relationships seriously, and not doing any character bashing. Playlist: Aerosmith: Don't Wanna Close My Eyes Dave Matthews Band: Crash Into Me Dave Matthews: The Space Between Dido: Don't Think of Me Digital Pump: Legend Econoline Crush: You Don't Know What It's Like Enigma: Fear and Love Fuel: Hemmorrhage (In My Hands) Garbage: #1 Crush Lifehouse: Hanging By a Moment Sheryl Crow: Everyday Is a Winding Road Stone Temple Pilots: Sour Girl Three Doors Down: Duck and Run Train: Drops of Jupiter It was a gorgeous September afternoon and the Seaside Chapel in Sunnyvale was festooned with flowers and ribbons. Knots of people in colorful clothing made patches of satiny colors within the old white marble chapel. The air smelled like roses, and laughter floated on the breeze. And in her dressing room, Buffy sat on a stool in front of the mirror, staring into it. The woman in the mirror, she thought, didn't look like her at all. She looked like some sort of princess. She wore a long white wedding dress with pearls sewn onto random locations on it. The sleeves fitted her slim but muscular arms like a second skin, and the sweetheart neck was lined with glittering crystals the size of pebbles. Her veil was held in place by a headband of roses and baby's breath, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I can't believe today's already come. It's like a dream." she confided in her maid of honor. "Well, it's not. And my hands ache from getting this stupid veil to stay on your head. Can we get on with the wedding already?" snapped Anya. "I think what Anya means is that you look beautiful, dear." Joyce Summers said, coming over to stand behind Buffy. "Like a princess." "Thanks, Mom." Buffy stood up, and carefully hugged her mother. "You're the best." "Be careful with the veil!" Anya yelped, grabbing for Buffy's head to make sure the lacey creation stayed on. "We should have gotten Willow to make a spell to make it stick to her head. Do you think we can grab her before the ceremony?" she asked Buffy's mother, turning to her, hands placed on hips. "That's okay, Anya. I think it should be fine. You did a wonderful job." Joyce replied. "I don't think we could have done it without you." "Really? Thanks." Anya twisted around to frown at the veil. "Stay." she instructed it firmly. Turning around, she said "I'm going to go see when the ceremony is going to start. And don't touch that veil!" Hiking up her skirts, she dashed out of the room. "Wow." Buffy turned around to look in the mirror again. "Ohhh, I hope it's soon... I can't believe I'm getting married." She took a deep breath. "Okay. This is me being calm. Really calm. Soul of ice. Gonna get married. Gonna get married. Can't believe I'm gonna get married." She whirled back around again, and started to pace. "Don't hyperventilate, Buffy." her mother chided her. "Just calm down. It's not like he's going to run away." "Run away? He could run away?" Buffy said, her voice getting panicky. "Or... he could be kidnapped by demons. Or worse, killed by them! Or..." The door opened and shut. "...What about those wierd cultists?" "Your voice has aqquired an unpleasant grating sound. Please shut up. Anyway, the wedding's going to be in five minutes. Let's go." Anya was leaning against the door, her arms crossed. "Wedding! Gonna be late, gonna be late..." Buffy ran for the door. "Ack! The veil!" Anya dashed down the hallway after Buffy. "Be careful!" Joyce followed after the two girls, and picked the veil up off of the floor on her way to the main room of the chapel. *** The Seaside Chapel had been without a priest for several years. Fortunately for Buffy, Willow and Tara had volunteered to conduct the wedding ceremony, and had set up the few preperations they'd need for the relatively simple ceremony. For the sake of safety, about half of the guests were armed. Buffy was the only one who didn't carry some form of protection from the forces of darkness in the entire Sunnydale contingent. But Giles was armed with a cross, Dawn had a spring-loaded stake strapped to her arm under her dress. Xander had a stake in each of the pockets of his pants, and Anya had a spray-bottle of holy-water in her purse. Those who had bigger weapons stood, or wore trench-coats, which garnered some odd looks from those who didn't know that most of the Sunnydale inhabitants and the contingent from LA had weapons. Gunn was skulking in a corner, trying not to expose the huge axe he was holding behind his back. Kate was able to get away with a trenchcoat by wearing a nice suit. The trench-coat covered up a shortsword at her waist and several stakes. Weapons or no weapons, the wedding looked picture perfect. Dawn walked down the aisle first, strewing rose petals as she went. Upon reaching the altar, she walked around it, scattering the rose petals in a circle. Then she moved to stand on the right of Willow, and one step down. Anya and Xander's son Sheridan came next, bearing a blue velvet cushion with two golden rings on it. He stood to the left of Tara, on the same step as Dawn. And the groom stood in between Tara and Willow, looking anxious. His brown hair was slicked back, and for once it stayed firmly down. A stately march lit up on the hastily improvised sound system set up by Xander and Oz when Buffy entered through the double doors of the church. She seemed to glide down the aisle. The chapel seemed to hold its breath, until she reached the altar. "Dearly beloved, friends, relatives, and others..." Spike, hidden away in a alcove where he was at least relatively safe from the sun, snickered at the last comment. "...We are gathered here in sight of the god and goddess to witness the joining of this man and this woman in matrimony." She smiled at the couple. "They've written their own vows, so... let's get this show on the road!" Light laughter greeted that comment, and the attention returned to the couple who stood in front of the altar. "Buffy... what can I say to tell you how much I love you? You're the light of my life. You're beautiful, graceful, and so alive. When you came into my life, things seemed so dark... so hopeless. With your love, I'm redeemed, reborn. I love you, and I swear that I will, until death parts us. I love you, Buffy Summers." His dark eyes bored into hers, and she smiled. "My love... I don't know what I'd do without you. You're so strong... so wise and so brave. My love... my light... my soul." She gazed up at him, love plain to see in her eyes. "I love you, Drake. And I'll never stop." Sheridan stepped forwards. Drake picked up the first of the rings, and lifted Buffy's hand to slide the ring onto her finger. She did the same. "If there is any that object to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace." Tara said, her voice promising death to whoever would dare intrude on the moment. No one spoke. "Then I now pronounce you man and wife." Willow said. "You may now kiss the bride." Tara added, smiling at them. And the two lovers did just that. Cheering echoed through the chapel. *** One Year Later- "Honey, have you seen my new set of paintbrushes?" Drake poked his head into the kitchen where Buffy was staring dubiously at a recipe for dinner. "I thought I left them on the table in the living room, but I can't find them." He was dressed in his "Workshop Clothes", which amounted to an old t-shirt and a pair of paint-splattered blue-jeans. "Nope. Oh yeah." Buffy turned around, and pointed the wooden spoon she held at him. "Next time you spill watercolors on my white laundry, you're a dead man, got it?" "Sorry." He braved the dread spoon attack and circled around the island. Hugging her from behind he whispered "Maybe I can make it up to you?" "Mmmmm... and how do you intend to do that?" Buffy set the spoon down on the counter. "Husband mine?" She broke out of the hug and pinned him to the counter, tickling him mercilessly. The delighted laughter rang through the house, and almost drowned out the telephone. Buffy pouted and released her husband to grab the portable from the kitchen counter. "Hello?" "Buffy? We need you at the Magic Shop. Now." Giles said, his voice grim. "Yeah? What's up?" "We'll tell you when you get here. But..." "Look, let Faith handle it. This is my night off, okay? I've got dinner to fix, and a husband to punish for spilling watercolors all over my white laundry. If it's end of the world magnitude, then just send Dawn over here, okay? Sheesh." Buffy hit the off button before Giles could object. "What did they want?" "Mmmm... work wants me to work late." Buffy lied uneasily. After two years of dating, and one very happy year of marriage, Drake still didn't know about her 'night job'. "Really annoying. So. Where was I?" "Dinner!" Drake said brightly, hurrying for the door. "And I've got that... thing to work on. Hope it turns out great, honey!" "Oooh! You'll get yours!" Buffy shouted after him. "Hmmmph. Of all the nights." Moving back towards the counter, she hopped up onto one of the stools and propped her chin up in her hands on the counter. "Now how the heck do I roast something?" *** Buffy bounced into the Magic Box the next day bright and early. "So, what demon stuck its head up out of the pits of Sunnydale?" she chirped. Then she stared at the woman standing at the counter. "Err... metaphorical demon?" "Relax, Ms. Summers. I'm quite aware of what sort of hellspawn you're accustomed to dealing with." the brown-haired woman said, turning around. She was clad in khaki pants and a white cotton blouse with embroidery around the collar. She wasn't particularly pretty, but there was a calm sense of assurance to her, and her eyes had a peaceful sort of look to them. "Um, right." Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Mind telling me your name?" "Oh, I'm sorry, I assumed your friends had told you. I'm Elaine." the woman replied. "I'm the specialist they brought in for healing, and portal mechanics." She held out her hand, and they shook hands. "Huh?" Buffy released Elaine's hand. "Told me what?" "Hi Buffy!" Anya said, coming out of the back room. She turned around and yelled. "Hey everybody... Buffy's here!" "'Bout time, B." Faith said, poking her head out of the door. "What's going on?" Buffy asked, heading into the back room. Everyone was there, including the LA contingent from Angel Investigations. "What's up with ye sorceress?" "Buffy, sit down." Giles said, his voice serious. "Sitting." Buffy headed over to the table the Scoobies were gathered around and sat. "Buffy... Angel is alive." For a minute, Buffy just sat there and stared at him, then she whispered "Giles, this isn't funny." Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes were bright with tears. "He's not joking, Buffy." Willow said, her voice grave. "Angel's alive. And we've got to rescue him." *** In the end, Buffy went home for the day, and spent a very nervous afternoon bouncing around the house, continuously cleaning and cooking just for something to do. By the time Drake got home, the place was spotless. A very subdued Buffy greeted him at the door. "What's wrong?" he asked, hugging her, and kissing her lips softly. "Mmmm." Buffy relaxed against him, closing her eyes. Finally, she pulled back. "Let's take a walk, Drake." she said seriously. He looked like he wanted to argue, then nodded. Buffy led the way out the door. She led him out of their neighborhood, and into the nearest graveyard. Drake looked around, a vaguely bemused expression on his face. "Buffy? What's going on?" "You'll see." "Are you okay? You're acting really wierd." he said, peering at her face. She came to a stop in front of a newly made grave. "Drake... what would you do if you found out the world was something entirely different from what it looked like? What would you do if you found out that I wasn't what I seemed?" "Buffy, what's this about?" Drake asked, taking a step forwards. Behind Buffy, a hand pushed up out of the ground. Drake's eyes got wide, and he backed off a step. In one smooth motion, Buffy pivoted on one foot. The vampire erupted from the grave, and leapt at Drake. "Sorry, dinner plans have been cancelled." Buffy snapped, grabbing the vampire and flinging him over the tombstone. He hit the ground, and the Slayer landed on him a second later, a stake in her hand. With an efficient motion, she slammed it through his heart. The vampire exploded into dust. Buffy rose to her feet and turned around to look at Drake. He just stood there with a stunned expression on his face. He blinked, then looked from the pile of dust to Buffy, then to the stake in her hand. "Huh. Explains a lot." "You're... not shocked?" Buffy asked hopefully. "Or angry?" "Shocked, yeah. Angry, no." Drake shook his head. "Let's get inside and discuss this..." *** In the end, there was little to explain, until they got to the Magic Shop, and the issue of Angel came up. "Who's Angel?" Drake asked, leaning back in his chair. "He's... an old friend." Buffy hedged. Drake glanced at his wife, then shrugged. "More importantly, he's the only vampire with a soul. He helped us save the world after the Circle of Nocturne tried to destroy the world a few years ago." At her husband's look, she said "It's a long story." "In any case, we have more important things to worry about." Giles said, taking off his glasses. "Specifically, we need someone to stay behind and guard the portal." He looked over at Drake. "Mr. Fontaine, maybe..." "No. I'm going with Buffy." he said. "Give a can of demon mace, or something." Buffy frowned. "Drake, we're going into a demon dimension. I can't afford to be looking after you when we're being attacked." "I'll be alright. Besides, I'll drive myself crazy if I wait here for you." Drake said. Reaching out, he took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Don't worry, love. I can take care of myself." "I'll stay. If any demons show up for the Portal Express, someone needs to be able to beat the crap out of them." Faith threw in. "Can I go?" Dawn asked. "No!" Buffy replied instantly. "But I'm nineteen years old! And you taught me how to defend myself, so it's not a problem. Please?" Dawn pleaded. "Sorry, Dawnie. We can't risk it." Tara said. "You know why." Dawn subsided, resigned. She knew. She was the Key. In a demon dimension, she was a huge target for anything that wanted to open a portal and had the knowledge. "All right. Fine." She sat back, hands in her lap. "I'll stay behind with Faith." "Good." Elaine said briskly. Everyone looked at her, startled by her manner. "Then I suppose we'd best be about it, then. Everyone who's going, please come with me into the training room.