Author: Mystfaery
Rating: It's about kids so of course G
Disclaimer: I own the idea…that's all. BtVS and Angel belong to Joss and WB blah, blah, you know the stitch.
NB: read the others first to get the whole idea but the gist is Angel's human called Liam and he grew up with Buffy who is destined to become a slayer and was stolen by Giles from the watcher council.
Summary: Liam has some heart breaking news for Buffy
The twelve-year-old blonde opened her locker, while talking over her shoulder at her immaculately dressed brunette friend.

"So as I was saying Cord, I totally haven't got a dress for the dance, but unlike you it's not an all important event to me."

"Buffy please, it's a dance, some of us were not born knowing who we're gonna marry and it's fun. Look my mother can take us shopping now, I'm sure Giles wouldn't mind"

Buffy blushed "Sheesh, Liam and I are friends, he's like my best friend and everything." She glanced in her locker to pick up her books, " Hey, I've gotta note."

"Ohhh, who's it from? …This isn't getting you out of shopping though."

The future slayer scanned the note "Liam, he wants me to meet him in the tree hut in half an hour."

"But Buffy, you have to go shopping I mean look at you." Cordelia gestured. " You're wearing jeans and a T-shirt that says bite me, you barely have any skirts please let me make you over."

Buffy rolled her eyes "The jeans are practical and the T-shirt is comfy okay with you? I really don't need to be made over," she glanced down at her baby g watch, "hey I gotta go, get home meet Liam later."

Cordy watched her friend walk away mumbling under her breath "that girl is a fashion nightmare."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy entered her home, with the key around her neck, she was a latch key kid, Giles was still at work at the high school as a librarian and as the high school finished later he wouldn't be home until later. Humming to herself the pre-teen dumped her bag on the table and made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich then grabbing the messy snack, pushed the door open to go out the back door. She was curious as to the meaning of the note since his parents had pulled Liam out of fifth period. Eating the sandwich she made her way to the tree house. It was a labor of love by Giles who when the children were six had made it with their help, it was high in the tree and large enough for several adults to sleep in with real windows. It was sturdy and had withstood seasons of bad weather. It was Liam's and Buffy's hideaway the place where they could escape from it all. Buffy wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and began to climb the ladder, even at the age of 12 her future athletic potential was clear with Giles making her take karate (with Liam) and gymnastics (with Cordy) both of which she excelled in.

Buffy pulled herself up into the tree house and saw Liam sitting in the one dark corner "hey vampire, wassup?"

Liam smiled a weak smile and replied in the traditional manner between the two "hey slayer, I got some bad news."

Buffy sat herself down next to him, smiling "Wanna talk about it?"

He looked at her " see that's kinda it, I have to tell you this and I really don't want to be true and I tell you it's true and no just a bad dream"

Buffy punched him in the arm " C'mon Liam, how bad can it be…I mean it's not like you're moving away from Sunnydale."

"See that's it, I am." His voice was soft a full of sadness

Buffy's face crumpled "but…but you can't, I mean you have to stay here and help me for when I get called and we have to graduate together and slay all the vamps and live happily ever after, you can't leave!" her voice slowly rose and finally cracked as she cried.

Liam hugged her "Buffy, I don't wanna leave, but I don't have a choice, my dad got a job in New York and we have to go."

"Oh mi god, I don't believe this, it's like a night mare," her voice was soft "when, when do you leave?"

"Tomorrow." And He held his best friend in his arms, as she cried and silently began crying himself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The blond collected herself "I can't believe this, you've always been there."

"I know," he looked at her "Buffy, remember when we did the blood bond thing?"

"Yeah?"

'Well y'know we're linked now so I'll always have a bit of you and stuff." He brushed a lock of dirty blonde hair out of her face."

" Have you told the guys yet?"

" Nah, I'll ring Doyle and Xand tonight, but I had to tell you first."

"It just hurts so bad I can't believe you're leaving," she breathed in trying to stop herself crying again.

" I love you, y'know that right?"

"Yeah and I love ya too."

Slowly the boy leant in and kissed her salty lips, he felt her respond slightly and felt something *new* towards his best friend.

"God, I'm gonna miss ya slayer. I've gotta go" his voice stumbled "pack."

"I'll miss you too vampire."

"My family leaves tomorrow at 8, if you want to come and say goodbye."

"I'll see 'k? I dunno if I can handle seeing you drive away."

"Well then later buff." Slowly he walked out of the tree hut

She called out to him " hey watch the vamps aye? I don't wanna have to slay ya rather than have you helping me slay when I'm called got it?"

His voice was distant "Got it slayer."

Buffy curled up and cried.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liam looked around he had hoped so much she would be here for him …just to say goodbye. He turned to get into the car at the same time as a ratty tomboy figure bolted out of her house screaming "Wait"

He turned and hugged her, hugging him back Buffy said in a quiet voice trying to joke but not quite succeeding "Hey vamp couldn't just let you go." She hung her head trying to hide her tears.

He lifted her head up " hey, I'll be back and someday we'll be together again… I promise."

The girl fated to be a slayer looked at him "and I'll be waiting. It's not goodbye forever."

She watched as he entered the car and watched as it drove away, she watched as her best friend left her and then she collapsed.