Obsession
by Bwriter
part 21
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They had been in Sunnydale for two weeks, and Willow still hadn't seen Buffy, though not for lack of trying.
She sent Gunn by the mansion everyday to check up on her Mate, and his reports were always the same. That's where is was now, checking on Buffy before he would join her for patrol.
Her relationship with the Scoobies was strained to say the least, though Giles was coming around he still hated the idea of Gunn anywhere near his Slayer.
A tap of her shoulder startled her and too late her senses told her it was a Vampire.
Spinning, stake raised, she lowered it when she saw Angelus.
Immediately, she feared the worst.
"What's wrong?"
He sighed and sat down on the nearest headstone.
"She finally spoke today."
Willow could tell by his tone that he wasn't happy with what was said.
"And?"
"She told us she wanted us gone."
"Gone, gone where?" Willow blinked, trying to understand.
"She said she cant let us stay here. Said she wanted us to leave before sun-up, or she was staking us all." His voice broke then.
"What are you going to do?"
Angelus shivered, and Willow realised that it couldn't be from lack of warmth.
"We have two options. Stay and get bagged blood while we look for a counter spell, or we leave and look for a counter spell."
Willow stepped up beside him.
"What does Buffy think of you guys staying and looking for a counter spell?"
"She told us not to look for one. She said she wouldn't become that again."
Willow felt Gunn come up behind her and looked over her shoulder to acknowledge him.
"So what are you going to do then?"
Angelus closed his eyes and growled.
"We leave. I cant stay and see her like that."
"I'm staying."
They both turned to look at Gunn and he shrugged.
"I promised her I would protect Willow. I failed once, I wont fail again."
Angelus nodded his head and stood up.
"Right then. I'll keep in contact, see how things are going."
He walked away, only to turn at Willow's voice.
"Are you going to keep looking?"
He smirked and turned away.
"Angelus, please don't do anything I would have to stake you for." Willow called out to his retreating back.
She knew he heard her, though he gave no sign.
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Buffy watched as Angelus, Penn and Wes loaded up the limo and frowned.
"Where is Gunn?"
The three exchanged a look before Penn stepped forward.
"He decided to stay. He is looking after Willow."
Buffy flinched at the mention of her Mate and nodded
"Where will you go?"
Angelus stepped up beside her, watching as she flinched away from him.
"Far enough, but if you need us, we'll be here."
No-one said anything else after that, and even though she knew it was for the best, Buffy had tears running down her face as her family left her.
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Gunn opened the door to the butchers, grimacing at the smell.
Sunnydale wasn't L.A. He would have to make do with animal blood.
He looked up when a jolt when through him and saw his Sire, looking right at him.
He gave her a smile and told the guy behind the counter what he needed.
"Why are you still here?"
Gunn turned to his Sire and couldn't help drinking in the sight of her.
"Made a promise to a lady."
Buffy looked at him as she accepted her blood.
"Why bag it?"
Gunn looked at her before looking away again.
"Willow wouldn't like it if I hunted."
Buffy opened her mouth to say something to that, however what came out wasn't what she wanted to say.
"How is she?"
Gunn looked up and held her gaze.
"Missing you."
Buffy avoided his eyes and left him there to collect his own blood.
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Giles watched as Tara tried talking to Willow, only to have the Slayer shake her head and walk away.
He knew something had to be done, and he had a feeling it was time for him to do it.
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Buffy's head snapped towards the garden doors when her demon screamed that there was a human near by.
She stood when she saw the watcher.
Giles never took his eyes off her, or his hand away from the stake in his pocket.
He sat on the arm of the couch and looked her over. She looked like hell.
He could tell she wasn't feeding enough, and she looked like she hadn't changed clothes since she had been re-souled.
"Buffy."
She realised that he wasn't going to attack her outright and sat down on the floor, taking up her usual spot against the wall.
"Why are you here?" She wasn't to ask if Willow was okay, but couldn't.
Giles pulled out the stake he had in his pocked and laid it on the floor between them.
Buffy looked at it, before lifting her eyes to his.
"Only you truly know the evil you have committed in the past. You have to make a choice now, much like the one Angel had to make."
He paused to make sure he had her full attention, but he guessed she knew where he was going with this.
"You have to decide if you let the past define who you are, or if your strong enough to try to make amends for the crimes of your demon."
Buffy flinched and looked away.
"Nothing I do can make amends."
"I understand that-"
"You understand nothing." Buffy's harsh tone surprised him. "You cant understand what its like to hear you father's heart slow to a stop, and know that you enjoyed ever second of it. You cant understand what its like to hear your little sister beg for mercy, as you slowly killed her. You cant understand what its like to kill your mother-" Buffy's voice cracked and the tears she had been holding in fell.
Giles, of course, knew what she had done to her family and she was right.
He could never understand that.
"What would they want you to do?"
Buffy looked up at him in confusion, not even bothering to wipe her face clean.
"Make a choice Buffy."
Those were his last words to her as he left the mansion, knowing that he had given her something to think about.