Angel found teenagers mildly frightening so he cringed as he entered the Bronze. He was less than thrilled to be back in Sunnydale for a number of reasons. His life had moved on and he was forming significant relationships in LA. He hadn't been close to anyone in Sunnydale except Buffy, and now she was the reason he wanted to run.

The memory of their last meeting was burned upon his brain. He could still feel her body welcoming him, like the phantom pain of a severed limb. Angle knew he had a message which needed delivered and he understood better than anyone its importance.

He scanned the crowd, mentally sorting through the clumps of hormone crazed young people to find Buffy. He couldn't see her but he knew she was there. He could feel her and smell her intoxicating aroma in the air. He began to move around the perimeter of the dance floor, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He didn't notice Spike until he ran into his back.

As Spike turned around he growled, "Why don't you watch where...." He stopped in mid-sentence and glared at Angel. "Oh, it's you. So what are you doing back in Sunny D? Not enough evil in LA that you had to come back here and play super-hero?" "I don't have time for you Spike." "Yeah mate, well Buffy hasn't time for you so sod off!"

The impact of what Spike's words meant made Angel laugh. "Spike, you'll never be able to touch her. No need to get all flustered over me being here though, because I have no intention of starting something." In his ever cocky and insolent manner Spike spat back, "I could do a lot more that touch her, which is more than you can say. One fantastic orgasm and you'd break her neck as she gasped for more. This chip in my head may restrict me but at least I'm not neutered mate."

Angel vamped out in his rage and picked Spike up by the throat. He growled menacingly, "I could kill you now but from what I know of that chip, my soul would make it very painful for you to hurt me. Feel luck that I don't have time for you. I need to know where Buffy is." As Spike indignantly straightened his coat he muttered, "Last I saw she was at the bar getting water."

Angel immediately headed to the bar and Spike followed like a lost puppy. Buffy turned and as she spotted Angel a smile crossed her face that was like the rising of the sun. She spotted Spike behind him and scowled, but then realized Angel might misunderstand so she said, "No Angel, I was scowling at Spike. I'm glad to see you but not him."

Spike now looked more like a puppy who had been kicked too often. He grumbled in response, "Nice Slayer. Do I tell you to bugger off every time you decide to bust down my door? No, I listen to you and tolerate your presence and then fix my door and wait for the next time you forget how to use a knob." Spike was less upset by Buffy's rejection than by her response to seeing Angel. Her radiant smile had made his heart jump to his throat. He longed for the day he could make her smile at him that way, but knew it would likely never come.

That moment had set Angel on his own thought track. He was remembering the last time he'd seen Buffy smile that way. He remembered their bodies entwined in post-coitus bliss and the way she smiled at him without a worry in the world. He shook his head and reminded himself to focus on the message he had to deliver.

The only thing Buffy was thinking about was keeping Angel in front of her as long as possible. He was what she had longed for, but now that he was there she was confused. She chose to ignore Spike and focus on Angel. As she looked at him she wished that Spike was wrong about their not being capable of friendship. She really longed to have him in her life in anyway possible. Knowing all of this in her heart, she pushed her brain to believe otherwise. "Angel, what are you doing here?," she asked pleasantly. Angel saw the confusion etched on her face and knew she was feeling the same turmoil he felt. He began, "Cordy had a vision that concerns you." "Is that all. I'm getting kinda used to it. Point me to the danger and I'll fight it," Buffy answered with all the bravado she could muster. "It isn't as easy as that. Magic is involved and we could have trouble stopping it."

Just at that moment Willow came bouncing over to them from the dance floor. She noticed the strained expressions, and the fact Angel was there, and felt panic creep up on her. "The world isn't ending again, is it? I don't think I could take that kind of pressure." Buffy smiled at Willow and answered, "Angel hasn't told me everything yet but it involves magic." Willow smiled at the mention of magic and said, "Tara and I are getting pretty good in that area." Angel asked, "Who is Tara?" Willow proudly answered, "She's my girlfriend." Angel's brow wrinkled in confusion and he began, "I thought you were," but stopped because Buffy was shaking her head in the negative. Angel then continued, "No, the world isn't ending but Buffy as we know her may be." This cryptic message made Buffy's skin crawl. "What is it?," she asked.

Angel took a deep breath and began, "Cordy's vision involved a group called the Saskatoon cult. They have a long history of powerful witchcraft according to Wesley. Their plan is to send a member back in time to prevent Buffy from receiving her calling as a Slayer. Essentially, they want to keep the Buffy we know from existing."

Spike couldn't resist blurting out, "That is bloody brilliant!" All eyes turned on him and he squirmed at the realization that once again he had put his foot in his mouth. He sputtered, "I mean..I mean it's bad, obviously. It just took some thought. Instead of trying to beat her now you prevent ever having to."

Silence covered them like a blanket, each wondering what comes next. Buffy assumed the role to which she was born. She jumped off the table on which she had settled and began designating tasks. "Willow, I need you to go to the magic shop. It is closed but you have the keys, right. Angel and I will go get Giles. Lets move." She started to leave but saw the expectant look upon Spike's face. He had stood up straight, like a soldier waiting for an assignment. Willow saw the problem. She knew Buffy would be wanting private time with Angel so they could talk. She also knew that Spike could be very stubborn. She coughed and shyly asked, "Spike, could you walk me to the magic shop? This Saskatoon cult are after Buffy so they could be after me as well." Spike hadn't completely lost his senses. He knew why Willow wanted his help but he chose to ignore it because it was better than them telling him to leave. He smiled cheerfully to let Willow know he appreciated the inclusion and said, "Well then Red, we'd better get a move on." The group went out of the Bronze together and then paired off and went in their separate directions.

Angel and Buffy walked in tense silence. Every step screamed to them what was being left unsaid, but neither knew how to begin. Strangely, the atmosphere between Willow and Spike was comfortable. Their silence felt friendly and both were happy to keep it that way. Willow shivered a little in the night air and Spike considerately draped his duster over her shoulders. She smiled in gratitude and he nodded, but neither spoke a word.

"Angel, I want to thank-you for delivering this message in person. It means a lot to me," Buffy began. Angel didn't look at her as he mumbled, "What else could I do?" Buffy thought she understood what he was feeling but it hurt that he wouldn't look at her. She didn't have the burden of the knowledge that he almost had a chance to spend forever with her and had lost it. This burden made it difficult for Angel to look her in the eyes because he was reminded of what he had lost.

Willow decided to ask something that had been bothering her for some time, even though it would spoil the mood. "Ummm...if you had that chip out would you kill me?" The question caught Spike off guard. He was tempted to put on his "I'm the big-bad" act, but that isn't how he felt. He was becoming increasingly fond of the Scoobies even if they were hostile to him. He never held an expectation that they would be welcoming considering how many times he had threatened their lives. He decided to be honest with Willow. "I'm beginning to like you Red so I can't imagine why I would hurt you. Besides, I wouldn't want that kind of trouble with the Slayer."

The last part of his answer confirmed something for Willow. She knew most of what Spike did was motivated by a need to please Buffy. She desperately wanted to show Spike that this was not the way to win Buffy's heart or redeem himself in their eyes. True change, that came from the intrinsic knowledge of the evil he had done, would be the only path leading to success. She glanced sideways at him and said, "You can't use Buffy as your moral compass. Buffy can't love you right now because you don't really feel different, you just act it." "You're wrong Red. I am changing. I feel something stirring in me that I never knew was there." "Okay, are you sorry you killed the other Slayers?" "I am a vampire and it is hard to feel regret for things like that, especially since they are in the past. " "You aren't seeing the bigger picture. All of the Slayers are part of Buffy and so by killing them, you killed her as well." Spike let that sink in and the impact of her words had an unexpected result. He got a queer twisting in his chest, like someone was rummaging around his innards. "I..never thought of it like that Red," he said in a strained voice. Willow noticed the expression and stopped him with a hand on his arm. She looked into his eyes for what seemed like minutes as if searching for something. She then said in a soft voice, "Hmmm...I wonder...," but let her comment go no further. By this time they were at the shop so Spike held the door as they entered.

Tara was inside, pulling a late night study session, so they didn't need to unlock the door first. Tara jumped out other chair and raced over to Willow, giving her a hug. Willow cautioned, "You really should lock the door after hours. This place has a long history of the owners being killed." Tara smiled, "I'm sorry sweetie. I got wrapped up in my work and forgot." Spike had sat down in a chair by the window and was contemplating things. Just as Angel, Giles, and Buffy came in he spoke up and said, "Look here Willow, what did you mean just now. What had you so curious?" Buffy greeted Tara and then turned to Spike, "What are you carrying on about. You didn't say anything to upset Willow did you?" Spike glared at her, "We had a perfectly comfortable walk." Willow didn't want to see them argue again so she jumped in and answered, "I don't know what it was Spike. It was like I should be seeing something but it was just beyond my reach. It was very odd. Anyway, we need to get focused. Giles, lets start looking through the books."

Giles and Willow picked through the books for the better part of an hour while Spike, Buffy, and Angel sat around in awkward silence. Finally Giles declared, "I think I have something. Oh my, isn't that odd." Willow and Tara came over and read the spell. They smiled sheepishly as the read the part that Giles found odd. "Well, that is a new one," Tara said with a little giggle. Buffy couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and blurted, "What is it? What is odd?" Willow looked at Angel and said, "The spell centers on you but you won't like it." Angel answered, "Whatever it involves I will do. What is it?" Willow sucked in a deep breath and started, "The spell calls for a person who was present at the moment that is being targeted for destruction. Angel was there so he will have to play the largest role in the ceremony. Now, the spell is all about intimacy. That is why it calls for someone who was at the moment that is being attacked. It requires Angel to..well to...." Buffy was itching to know exactly what she meant and urged her on, "Say it already." Willow picked up where she had left off, "He has to kiss everyone involved in the spell. Now just any kiss either, but a deep kiss."

Buffy's mouth dropped open and Spike huffed, "I don't care what the bloody spell says. I'm not kissing that nancy boy." Buffy shot him a glare to melt ice and said, "Can you go a day without being vulgar?" Giles smiled knowingly at the panic in Angel's eyes as he looked back and forth between Spike and himself. He comforted Angel by saying, "We won't have to be involved. Willow and Tara will because they are the witches and Buffy will because she is the target." Now Angel looked like a deer caught in headlights and Giles thought it strange that Angel looked more worried about kissing Buffy than Spike or him. Angel only muttered, "Lets get on with this."

Willow and Tara busied themselves with preparations by scattering powders on the floor and whispering incantations. Willow instructed, "Angel will kiss each of us and then sit in the center of the area as Tara and I recite the spell. Don't be alarmed when he disappears. He will be back within five minutes our time, though to him it will feel like he was gone a lot longer." Angel began by kissing Tara and then whispered to her, "An interesting way to meet you." She turned beet red and looked at the floor. He then apologized to Willow for having to kiss her girlfriend and kissed her. Angel knew who was next and he was desperately trying to focus his will power on remaining detached. He moved close to Buffy and she could feel him tremble as his mouth closed over hers. She found it disturbing that she felt calm and even more disturbing that her eyes had wondered over to Spike's face. She knew that she felt nothing for Spike, but she wondered if she really was over Angel. Spike was very upset, that much was obvious, but he was showing considerable restraint.

Angel sat in the center area with Willow, Tara, and Buffy forming the points of a triangle around him. He tried to steady his breathing as Willow and Tara recited the spell. All of them gasped as Angel disappeared, and the waiting began.

To be continued in Part Two which is called

"Changes: A sound where silence once Reigned"

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Part 2

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