Giles sat in another chair, pouring over one of his musty old books, every so often looking over at Angel with a contemplating gaze.

Nothing had changed. No one had changed.

Except for him.

He sighed as he pretended to concentrate on the book, wondering why he suddenly felt so out of place.

He was back in the mansion, forever souled, the Scooby Gang around him, Buffy in the kitchen, trying to cook something for them to eat, he should be happy as a clam.

But something wasn't right.

He hadn't known what to expect when he'd shown up on Buffy's doorstep, a hopeful smile on his face. She'd seemed surprised to see him, but invited him in anyhow. After a few awkward moments, and strained greetings, he'd suddenly burst out with the news that his soul was permanent. The look on her face was priceless.

Surprise. Shock. Joy. Confusion. Fear.

In that order.

He hadn't known what else to say, breathing a sigh of relief as Buffy had finally come over and wrapped him in her arms, holding onto him tightly as she started to cry. He'd held her close, breathing her in, amazed he was finally here, back in her arms.

Strange, she didn't feel anything like Cordelia did when he held her.

He'd paused at that thought, wondering why it had suddenly hit him now. But he'd quickly put it aside as Buffy had begun to open up to him about the state of her life. After a long discussion, they'd agreed to take things slow, to see where things led. He'd felt a sliver of pain as he listened to Buffy tell him about Riley, and how part of her truly did love her new boyfriend… but another part of her couldn't forget him. He'd reassured her, telling her he'd be there for her, whatever she decided.

However, he hadn't been able to tell her he loved her.

He wanted to, tried to even, but there hadn't been a good time. And every time the situation was conducive to revelations, he couldn't bring himself to say the words. He figured it was because he didn't want to push her into something she might not want… but deep inside, another part of him questioned that reasoning.

But he didn't want to think why he was questioning it.

"So Angel… you coming patrolling with us tonight?" Buffy's voice brought him out of his reverie as he watched her float into the room, settling down on the couch next to him. She really was beautiful, and she seemed so much more self-assured than she had in the past. Part of him wondered if that had anything to do with him being out of her life.

"Sure, I could use a good demon hunt to brush up the skills," he said, wondering for a brief moment what demons were causing problems on the streets of LA. Wondered how the gang of kids he'd helped and who'd helped him, were doing. He hadn't thought about what his leaving might do to them. He hadn't even said good-bye.

"Angel? Where'd you go, we lost you there for a moment," Willow said quietly, noticing the far away look in the vampire's eyes.

Angel came back to himself, noticing he was the focus of five pairs of eyes.

"Sorry, just wondering how the street gang I helped out in LA was doing, they're so young, but so cynical about the evils of my city," he mused, unaware of his possessive words.

The others in the room however took note.

Buffy looked at him, sensing that he wasn't quite there with them all, that he hadn't truly been there with them since he'd come back. It worried her a little. He seemed so different. Not the Angel she'd known and loved what seemed so long ago. There was a different side to him now, a side he kept private, a side no one had been able to access. She didn't like thinking there was a part of him that he couldn't, that he wouldn't share with her.

Her Angel had changed. And she wasn't sure yet if she liked it.

"Okay then, we'll hit the streets and dust a few vamps, then I can study for my history quiz," Buffy said, deciding to make light of the situation. She'd get him to open up to her tonight. She could always get Riley to talk…

She paused, wondering what Riley was up to tonight. She knew she should feel guilty, thinking about him when Angel was right there beside her, but she couldn't help it. Patrolling with Riley had been something she looked forward to. They'd always talked, killed a few vamps, and ended the night with some steamy kisses or if they were really in the mood, some hot, steamy sex.

Sex with Riley.

She closed her eyes a moment, remembering what it had been like. Totally new and exciting, nothing like it had been her one time with Angel. No fear, no pain, no uncertainty. It had just felt right. Not that it hadn't with Angel… but it was different. She wondered what Riley was up to tonight.

He'd been distancing himself from them lately, knowing Angel was back in the picture. Buffy hadn't quite known what to tell him about the reappearance of her ex, but had tried to make him understand that she hadn't made any choices yet, that she still had feelings for them both. She'd asked him to give her some time to sort things out. He'd reluctantly agreed, but she'd felt his pain as he'd turned and left her room. He'd been making himself scarce lately, and she was surprised how much she missed him.

Especially since she could tell Angel was just as unsure about where things were going as she was.

They'd been struggling to find a balance between them, not knowing quite how to do it. Angel was being patient with her, exactly as he'd said, but somehow, she got the feeling his mind was elsewhere, and not on the time she was taking to make her decision.

Part of her was glad, part of her was frustrated. After all, he was supposed to be totally in love with her. She was his destiny. He'd always promised her he'd never forget her, and he'd always love her. No matter what.

So why did she suddenly feel like that might not be enough for her, or him anymore?

Giles had been quietly watching them both, seeing how absorbed in their own thoughts, their own worlds they both were. They were sitting next to each other, but not touching. In fact, they seemed worlds apart. In the old days, they couldn't seem to be near each other without touching the other. There was also something lacking between them, he thought as he continued to watch them. The tension, sexual and otherwise, wasn't as strong between them either. That was it. In fact, they almost didn't seem attracted to each other at all. At least not in the romantic, sexually tinged way they'd always been. And the depth of emotion that had always been in the vampire's eyes when he looked at Buffy, wasn't as deep. There was affection, but not the all-consuming passion that had been there before.

Maybe time, distance and Riley had more of an effect on the relationship than anyone had thought.

Willow was also watching the vampire and her best friend, noticing the same things Giles had. They just seemed to be … well … almost brotherly and sisterly. Not the "passionate- I-want-to-pull-your-clothes-off- and-have-wild-vampire-sex-with-you" vibe she was used to sensing when she was around them.

Something had changed, and she had a feeling it wasn't just Riley's relationship and place in Buffy's life. Something had changed in Angel while he was in LA. She wondered what it was, and what she could do to find out. ********

"Actually, I have. He's back in England, happily a member of the Council and getting back into his old life. In fact, he mentioned a woman he'd been involved with in the past was expressing interest in him again, so he was quite happy in fact," Angel replied, continuing on almost as if they weren't there, lost in his memories.

"Delia would have laughed so hard if she'd heard him as he went on and on about Ramona, she wouldn't believe he was capable of a normal relationship, especially after the mess he made of the last blind date she set up for him. Although, in his favor and hers, neither of them could have had any way of knowing she was a shape-shifting demon. And when she found out, Delia did everything she could to get him out of its clutches, she almost got herself killed, but together we managed to get Wes out of its way before it could take over his body. Delia got some nasty scratches in a catfight with the woman though, but in the end, my lessons on staking demons paid off, and she staked it through the heart, although not before giving me a near fatal heart attack, even with a non beating heart," he trailed off, obviously lost in his memories.

Willow looked at Giles.

Giles looked at Willow.

Xander stared incredulously at Angel.

"Cordelia got into a catfight with a demon? We are talking about our Cordelia Chase? Former May Queen and against anything that would get her dirty or ruin her clothes? She almost got killed and you let her?"

Xander's sounded shocked and horrified.

Angel looked over at him with a strange smile.

"Cordelia was more than capable of handling herself, besides, we were right there if she needed help. In fact, she wouldn't let us help, figuring in her mind that she was responsible, so she should deal with it," he said with a slight smile that didn't go unnoticed by Willow or Giles.

"Cordelia Chase? Taking responsibility for someone other than herself?"

Xander still sounded shocked.

The smile left Angel's face as he looked straight at Xander and answered.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about Delia, ways she's changed in the two years she was away from here. Things that have happened to her you guys can't even dream about," Angel started, unaware of the intensity in his voice. "She's about as far from the Cordelia Chase of the Sunnydale High School years as you can get. In fact, I think she's a hell of a better person, stronger than almost every woman, every person, I know, or have known in my two hundred some years," he finished, trailing off, gaze locked on Xander, unaware of the looks he was receiving from the other occupants of the room.

Well, well, Giles thought to himself. So that's how things were.

Willow sighed, wondering if Buffy was truly ready to hear the truth. It was so totally obvious to her, and to Giles, if the way the watcher was staring at the vampire was any clue. She wondered when the truth would hit Angel.

"So… who's ready for dinner?"

Buffy's voice seemed to shatter the spell the room was in, as the group slowly began to move towards the table.

Angel seemed to come back to himself, looking flustered as he moved towards the table. He was still lost in his own thoughts, unaware of the looks Willow and Giles kept sending his way, or the concerned expression on Buffy's face as she noticed his distraction.

He wondered what Cordelia was doing now.

It had been more than two weeks since her audition and her commercial should have begun shooting. He found himself wondering if they were treating her well, or taking advantage of her desire to act. He wondered how Dennis was adjusting to having her around more… having her to himself. He wondered if she had had any contact with the gang members, or their ridiculous video gaming rich client.

He wondered if she missed him.

"Angel? Are you okay?"

Buffy's concerned voice brought him back to the present, this time aware that all gazes were trained on him. He smiled sheepishly, trying to get into the spirit of being home again, with all of them. But it wasn't as easy as he'd thought it would be. Things were just too different. He was just too different.

"I'm okay… just thinking," he said, hoping she'd drop it at that. He didn't feel like going into a long explanation of why he was thinking about Cordelia, especially when Buffy was right there in front of him. Besides, they wouldn't understand the woman Delia had become, because none of them had been there to see the change. He was still annoyed at Xander's disbelief about Delia's fighting abilities. He'd trained her well, and was proud that she could defend herself. He might not always like her putting herself in danger, but at least she could handle herself. She might not be a true Slayer, but she could handle herself like one when it came down to it.

He really hoped she was doing okay.

"So Angel, I heard Willow ask you about Wesley earlier, and it sounds like he's doing okay… have you heard from Cordelia lately?"

Buffy's question made Angel start in his chair, surprising him by coming directly on top of his thoughts about Cordelia. He struggled for a moment to regain his composure, noticing Buffy was involved in twirling a strand of pasta and hadn't noticed his minor start.

Everyone else at the table had however.

"I haven't heard from her, but I know she's busy shooting a commercial, and she seemed optimistic that her agent could get her more work now that she'd have one commercial under her belt. I hope it's working out, she's had to deal with a lot in her struggle to get her career kicked off, not that Angelus was any help," he muttered the last words under his breath, audible to no one but Willow, sitting next to him, who's head shot up at the mumbled name.

"Anyhow, she deserves all the breaks she can get… especially after putting up with those god awful visions she's had to endure for nearly a year and a half," Angel finished, shuddering as he remembered how much pain they'd caused her, and how helpless he'd felt holding her, unable to do anything until the vision passed.

"Do you think the visions have stopped? I mean, I don't see why they wouldn't now that there's no need for you to fight demons in LA," Xander began, not noticing the look of worry that suddenly appeared in the vampire's eyes.