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[stoic_angel_]

((Moving forward from hereI watched absently as Wesley left the office, and slowly turned around to look out of the window. It still never failed to amaze me how I could look out on the city without burning up, and see all the people, going about their daily lives, never knowing the kind of evil that filled this world

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[stoic_angel_]

"Yeah," I said vaguely, smiling at Buffy. "I didn't agree with that, either, so... no more world peace." I shrugged, even as I remembered how everything had felt so... perfect while Jasmine was around. Everything had been so... beautiful, with no pain, no hatred, no loneliness... I shook myself slightly, looking back at Buffy. Jasmine was gone; we had to deal with things the way they were now, not the past, or the way things could have been.

Silence fell between us again, and I wondered how exactly this had happened. Once upon a time, we had never had this much in the way of awkward silences between us, but then... time had happened. Other things had changed, too, so... who knew?

"So how long are you in town for?" I asked after a moment. I wasn't sure what else there was to say- too much had passed between us, and we had both moved on in our lives, at least as much as we were able to. We both had different restrictions on our lives, as to how far we could move on and such; for me, being a vampire, and running the risk of losing my soul, and for Buffy, the fact that she was the Slayer, and not every guy was accepting of the fact that vampires and demons were real. A lot of guys would never be able to accept her for that fact alone.

[mixed_berry]

"You know... it sounds bad when you say 'no more world peace'..." I commented with a sort of laugh. A half-laugh, one could say.

I paused. It's strange. This town used to feel at home and now? All I want to do is go far far away from it.

"I'll be here for about a week. Then I'm back to Italy." I shuffled, "I'll visit Dawn though... of course. I'm really going to miss her." ... as well as other things, I added silently.

[stoic_angel_]

"I know," I said. "But this wasn't the kind of world peace everyone wanted." I smiled a little at her half-laugh, then it faded as I remembered exactly what all had happened.

"Dawn will probably miss you, too," I added after a moment. "I mean, it's her first time really being away from you, isn't it? And college... kind of a big thing, isn't it? When she's ready for it, I mean."

Dawn had grown a lot since I had last seen her, I gathered... from what I had seen when I went to Sunnydale, and what I had heard from Buffy when we had last talked. It was good, that she was growing up... She didn't need Buffy looking after her anymore.

"And, you know, if you need help paying for college and all, you can call me. I mean, huge lawfirm now and all..." I offered. "It's the least I can do, you know?"

[mixed_berry]

"Guessing not," I agreed with a small smile. "I don't think you'd end world peace if it was actually good. That'd be kinda counterproductive of your mission statement."

"Yeah, I know Dawn'll miss me. As much as we do the sisterly fighting? We sort of love each other." I laughed slightly, thinking for a moment. "She'll love having her big sister off her back though. I know that."

I hated to think of my sister actually growing up. Maybe even meeting a boy even though I was younger than her when I dated. She'd hate me watching every moment. Maybe I can get Xander to do that for me.

"Oh, believe me, she's going to apply to every scholarship available. That's if she wants to go. Which I hope she does. Going to school? Actually can be fun. That's what I've learned." I replied with a nod.

[stoic_angel_]

"Unless the teachers are evil, right?" I asked, smiling slightly at her. "And Dawn'll get scholarhips, no problem..."

I looked at my hands, then up at Buffy, reminded again of how much both she and Dawn had grown over the years. I could still remember trying to get some alone time with Buffy, and dealing with Dawn petulantly barging into Buffy's room... she had been a cute kid.

"So. only sort of?" I teased after a second. "And here I thought you were into the whole family routine..." I smiled, inviting her to share the joke.

[mixed_berry]

"College professors tend to be less evil than high school teachers." I commented with a nod, "Unless... you go anywhere I go."

Dawn was a smart girl, she could do anything she put her mind too. I knew she was going to go places when she was ready to do so.

"Yeah, I only sort of love my sister." I laughed softly, "I even like her sometimes." I noticed the clock in his office. "Speaking of which, I was going to meet her and Xander late this afternoon for like an early dinner..." I was well beyond late as I looked at the clock.

I glanced up to Angel before gathering my stuff. "Um, how 'bout I check in later this week before I leave. Catch up and stuff." I gave a slight smile.

[stoic_angel_]

I smiled at her joke, and nodded slightly. "So, you only sort of love her? Is that how sisters are supposed to be?" I teased lightly. I watched as Buffy then glanced at the clock, and caught myself before I frowned. I couldn't expect her to stay here talking all day... especially since it felt like it was a tentative conversation at best. Of course she had plans...

"Yeah, catching up would be... nice," I said. I hadn't had the chance to just catch up with Buffy in a long time... and hopefully, it wouldn't end with having to kill something, as most of our meetings did, but I wouldn't gte my hopes up.

"Have a nice dinner with them," I said sincerely. "Tell them I said hey."

[mixed_berry]

I laughed softly, "I think that's the only way sisters can be. Sometimes they can be the sweetest person around and other times your enemy for some sort of competition."

It wasn't as if I really wanted to leave all to quickly. I had missed Angel. Probably more than he knew. And, on the plus side? We hadn't completely angsted at each other and/or killed something in the process.

"I will... and we will, not dinner... I mean." I started. To quote Mean Girls, that movie that Dawn was watching like constantly for a week; this was like word vomit. "I mean," I paused. "I'll see you soon and I'll have a nice dinner with Dawn and Xander."

[stoic_angel_]

I smiled slightly as Buffy stumbled over her words, trying to make sense, and I remembered how everyone got that way at one time or another. Buffy just carried it off better than most...

"Okay. It was great seeing you again, Buffy," I said quietly, walking her to the door of the office. Silence feel, and I covered it by reaching into my pocket and pulling out a business card, and I scribbled my cell phone number on it... now, if only I could figure out how to answer the damned thing. I handed it to her, paused, then repeated, "Have fun at dinner... and you can reach me at any time... well, anytime I figure out how to use the thing," I ended sheepishly. "I still don't understand it most of the time."