Part Five

Angel and Buffy walked into the Magic Box at the same time as Gunn and Cordelia. Giles and Wesley were in the back, Anya was closing out the register for the day. Xander and Willow were no where to be seen.  

“Buffy, ah, you’re back,” Giles said.  

“Anything new?” she asked, sitting down at the table. Angel sat across from her and Cordy and Gunn took up the

remaining two chairs.  

Giles statement turned to a grimace. “Sadly, no. We’re no closer to figuring out who this tenth person is than we were before.”  

“Where are Willow and Xander?” Cordy asked.  

“Getting food, for all of us,” Wesley said, catching Angel’s eye.  

“Good! I’m just in time for dinner,” a voice came from the back of the shop. Spike wandered out from the training room.  

“Do you guys have some sort of sign posted that I didn’t see? ‘Vampire entrance—rear of the building?’” Gunn quipped.  

“Ha ha,” Spike said. “Well, well. What’s with the meeting of the minds? Another big evil afoot? Must be pretty scary if it drug you out of the Batcave, Angel.” He strutted around the table.  

“Need something, Spike?” Angel asked.  

“Well, I’m hungry. But luckily, I’ve got good timing. Also, I’ve been eavesdropping, so I know that Red and Skippy the Wonder Pup will be returning pretty soon with a vintage O positive. Thought I might join you for dinner.”  

Buffy stared at him. “Whatever,” she said, dismissively. “So, really, we’re no further than we were before. We don’t know who the tenth person is, we don’t know why Angel’s going to change, and we don’t know how to stop it.”  

“Change into what?” Spike asked. Then his eyebrows flew up. “Angel’s going to turn? Well, well. Isn’t this delightful…got your panties in a bunch there Slayer?”  

Angel rose and grabbed Spike by the jacket, lifting him several feet in the air. “Shut up, Spike,” he said sweetly, before

setting him back down on the ground.  

“Hey!” Spike said defensively, smoothing the collar of his jacket, “ No need to get all grouchy…I was just asking a question.”  

“I had a vision of Angel turning,” Cordy explained.  

“Do you sense that Spike might be the tenth person? You said the person didn’t feel human. That would be Spike all over the place,” Buffy said.  

Cordy shook her head. “I don’t think so.”  

“What’s this all about?” Spike demanded.  

Buffy stood up. “You can explain it,” she said to Cordelia. “I’m getting some coffee. Anyone want?” Everyone shook their heads and she walked behind the counter where Anya was finishing up with the books.  

“Good business today?” Buffy asked as she poured a cup of coffee.  

“Yes. Lots of people gave us their money,” Anya answered her cheerily.  

“That’s good,” Buffy said, grinning in spite of herself. She added cream and sugar and began to stir the steaming mug.  

Anya glanced up at her. “I was thinking about Angel, and Angelus, and him turning and all that. Do you think the Powers could help us?”  

Buffy stopped stirring. “I hadn’t thought of that. Wesley said they went to see the Host and he told them that the Powers were sending out some really strong signals. Maybe they can tell us more if we go to see them.”  

“I can help with that. Or Cordelia can get you in to see them. You’re lucky you have two people with connections like we do. For normal people, it would be harder than getting tickets to a Britney Spears concert.”  

“Thanks, Ahn,” Buffy said, returning to the table. She relayed Anya’s suggestion to them. “Do you think they’d see me, or see Angel?”  

Angel looked hopeful. “We could probably get in to see them, the problem is when we get there, they tend to not tell us everything we need to know.”  

Spike snorted. “Higher beings…always big on the riddles and doublespeak.”  

“When can we try? The sooner the better,” Buffy said.  

Angel stood up, “Right now is good for me.”  

Suddenly Cordelia flung herself forward, gasping. Gunn spoke up. “Or, we could just hope Cordelia has a vision...oh look!” He bent over next to her, supporting her as the vision became increasingly more powerful. Suddenly she sat up, a smile on her face.  

“I know who the other person is,” she said.  

“Who?” Angel asked.  

She opened her mouth to speak when movement caught her eye. She turned to the front door that now stood open.  

“Hi, Oz.”  

The others turned towards the door. “Hey,” Oz answered, self-consciously. As they continued to stare, he turned and looked behind him. “I know it’s a little shorter than the last time I was here, but I kinda thought it was working for me,” he said, patting his hair.  

Cordy smiled more broadly and walked over to him. “Oz!” she proclaimed to the group. “Not quite human.”  

Oz looked at her sideways. “Cordelia…completely as I remembered.”  

They walked into the shop and stood next the table. “What are you doing here?” Buffy asked. “Not that it’s not good to have you home!” she added quickly.  

He set his bag down onto the ground. “I honestly don’t know. I’ve been living in Ireland for the past couple months.  

Working with this old wizard in Ballinrobe.” Angel’s ears perked up but he remained quiet. “Then yesterday, out of nowhere, he tells me that I have to leave, to come back here.”  

“He told you to return here?” Giles asked, fascinated.  

Oz nodded. “He said, and let me see if I can get this right, ‘Eight to form, two to fight. The visionary, the saint, the wolf will gather, joined by the witch, the tin-man, the weapon. The father, and the one who watches …the champion and the chosen. You must return to where it all began.’”  

The group stood, stunned, and stared at Oz. “You’re doing that again,” he said, and their eyes immediately left his face.  

“Well, that’s a little clearer,” Cordy said. “I’m the visionary.”  

“Willow’s the witch, Oz is the wolf,” Buffy added.  

“I’m the weapon?” Gunn asked. “’Cause of the name, or ‘cause I’m so good?” he grinned, leaning back in his chair, arms behind his head.  

“I’m the saint. That’s obvious. Ex-patron saint of scorned women, you know. But Xander is…the tin-man?” Anya asked. “Why is Xander made of tin? Does that mean he’ll wear armor?!” Her eyes took on a glazed over factor as she pictured her husband decked out in silver armor.  

“Tin-man, from the Wizard of Oz?” Giles said, thoughtfully. “What was it that the tin-man wanted from the Wizard?”  

“A heart,” Buffy said. “That fits Xander to a tee. All heart.”  

“I suppose I’m the one who watches, although I’d really prefer that we don’t start calling it that,” Wesley said. “But I haven’t been a Watcher in years…”  

“You’re our Watcher,” Cordy said supportively, patting his arm.  

“Who’s left? Who’s the father?” Gunn asked, looking around.  

Buffy smiled and turned to Giles. “You are,” she told him and wrapped one of her arms behind his back, hugging him.  

He smiled softly back at her and kissed the top of her head.  

Everyone exchanged happy glances with each other, glad that even in times of trouble they always had each other. Buffy broke away from Giles and walked to Angel.  

“You’re the champion,” she said.  

He nodded. “You’re the chosen.” Their eyes held each other.  

“Hey!” Spike exclaimed. “What about me? Why don’t I get to have a crocked up nickname and be part of the ten?”  

“’Cause then there’d be eleven, and the vision only asked for ten…sorry, all sold out!” Cordy said sweetly, rolling her eyes.  

“Well…at least we know the tenth person, although now that you’re here, Oz, Angel may turn at any moment.”  

Everyone sat, staring at each other.  

Finally Angel spoke. “I should go,” he said, pushing back from the table and standing, “We need to lock me up somewhere, somewhere where I can’t get to you all, to anyone, and hurt them in case I…”  

“No, Angel. You’re staying,” Buffy said, moving to stand at his side. “I just realized something! I should have known it was Oz all along. In my dream, before the vamp attacked me, I saw a full moon and wondered about you, Oz. I wondered where you were now. And then I looked at a crypt that had angels on the door. You were in Ireland. Where Angel was born…” Buffy said, taking Angel’s hand and squeezing it.  

“You didn’t tell me about that part, Buffy. It might have helped us,” Giles chastised gently.  

“I know, I’m sorry. Oz,” she said, turning to her red-headed friend. “Can you still control the wolf?” she asked.  

He nodded. “Better than ever, actually. I haven’t been around Willow in a while, so who knows, but I should be fine. I was here, what, two years ago? No problems.”  

“I saw a full moon in my dream, which is what triggered me to think of you. The full moon isn’t for another few days. We have some time,” she told them.  

Cordy nodded. “You’re right. In my vision it’s a full moon. I didn’t even think about that, I just figured it was supposed to mean this all takes place at night.”  

Wesley clapped his hands together. “Good. That buys us some more time. The full moon is in two days, actually, so we’ll see what we can come up with in that time.”  

“And if we don’t find anything, then I’ll tie you up,” Buffy said to Angel, who raised his eyebrows at her, a smile playing on his lips. “I mean…I” she sputtered. “Never mind.” Gunn grinned at her.  

The door opened again. “We got your cheeseburgers, your double cheeseburgers, your deli sandwiches, your tuna-fish on rye, your…Oz!” Xander exclaimed, carrying in a box of food.  

“I’ll take one of me on toast,” Oz replied in greeting.  

Willow appeared behind Xander, her arms equally laden. “Oz!” she said, her voice filled with wonder and happiness.  

Oz moved forward and took the box of food from her. “Hey there,” he said, giving her a one-armed hug. “How ya doing, kid?”  

 

“What are you doing here? How was Ireland?”  

“You knew he was in Ireland?” Buffy asked, incredulously.  

Willow nodded. “I got a postcard a little while back. Didn’t I tell you? Ooh! Ooh! Ten! Oz is ten!” she exclaimed, hopping up and down, pointing to the werewolf.  

“Look, I know I’m short, but the insults are a little lacking here. I mean, first I’m not quite human, now I’m ten…” Oz looked around the room cryptically. “You guys so need to fill me in here.”  

“In a minute,” Angel said. “Cordelia, what happened in your vision? Was it painful again?”  

She shook her head. “Oh! Right! My vision…Nuh-uh, no pain. Not at all. I saw us, in the circle again, you had already changed, Angel, and you and Buffy were arguing. You tried to attack her. She couldn’t fight you. She… wouldn’t,”  

Cordelia corrected, confused.  

“Buffy wouldn’t fight back?” Xander asked. “But Buffy always fights back. That’s what she does. Hence the cool title.”  

“Why couldn’t she fight?” Gunn asked.  

Buffy looked at her wide-eyed. “I wouldn’t just let him kill me.”  

Cordelia shut her eyes, remembering. “Angelus is coming after you, chasing you. The rest of us are standing there, watching, not trying to help.”  

“No way would we leave her,” Xander said angrily.  

“I don’t think we can help her,” Cordy told him. “The spell, the circle, it can’t be broken until it’s all over.”  

“What’s all over?” Angel asked.  

Cordy cocked her head to the side, her eyes focusing on something far away in her memory. “Until there’s a winner,” she said, simply, her voice very small.  

They sat at the table, taking in this new information. “So, Buffy and Angel are going to fight, or not fight as it may seem, in the WWF ring made up of their friends and family? And I mean, ‘made up of’ literally?” Gunn asked.  

“The only problem is that there’s no big gold belt for the winner,” Xander said, “and thankfully, no Speedos,” he added.  

Angel’s hand slid across the table to where Buffy had sank into a chair. His fingers sought hers and when they locked he squeezed her hand gently, his eyes seeking hers for some feedback.  

She smiled, a false smile that said she was trying to be brave. “Well. Nothing makes me hungrier than scheduling a to-the-death duel,” she said, though eating was the last thing she wanted to do. Running away. Running away sounded good.  

The others looked at her, none of them entirely comprehending the seriousness of Cordelia’s vision, refusing to believe that one of their friends may soon be killed by the other.  

Oz broke the uncomfortable silence. “Sorry, really, I don’t mean to be all Mr. Hey Fill Me In guy, but…hey, fill me in.”  

Though no one was really hungry anymore, food was distributed while the story was rehashed. “So, to make a long story short, Angel is going to turn and apparently the nine of us have all been called together to witness it,” Cordy told him, picking at some potato chips.  

“And since Buffy’s dream and your vision both have a full moon in them we can assume this doesn’t happen for two more days,” he concluded.  

“Looks that way.”  

“Wow. You guys really know how to welcome a guy home,” Oz said, looking around at the friends he hadn’t seen in almost two years. “Next time we all get together, I vote for the Hawaiian cruise.”  

“Good old Sunnydale! Lots of death and drama, no waiting,” Cordelia muttered.  

“So, what’s the plan to stop it?” Oz asked.  

“That’s the fun part,” Buffy said, playing with her cheeseburger. “We don’t know. All the visions and the dreams have done so far are to show us who needs to be here and what will take place in two nights. We don’t know why or how to stop it.”  

Spike was digging through a box. “Hey! Where’s the blood?”  

Angel, sipping on a mug, quickly moved the second bag of blood Willow had brought him and slipped it underneath the table, out of Spikes’ sight. Buffy grinned despite herself, catching the movement out of the corner of her eye.  

“Get your own. Only active contributors get to eat,” Xander shouted to him.  

Spike looked up. “So, that’s how it is. I’m not part of your bloody group of ten and suddenly I don’t count?”  

“Spike, you’ve never counted,” Xander answered him.  

“Oh, fine. That’s how it is now. I’ve saved your mangy hide dozens of times.”  

“And you’ve tried to kill me more, so let’s just drop it.”  

Spike started to argue, realized it was true, and sat down. “Bloody wanker,” he muttered getting up quickly, and left the shop in search of his own food.  

“Food is good,” Buffy mumbled to herself. Angel heard her and looked up suddenly. “What?” she asked.  

He continued to stare. “Nothing,” he said finally, returning to his mug.  

She watched him carefully. Food is good….the feeling of déjà vu she had when at the mansion returned. Peanut butter. Ice cream…she shook her head, clearing the thoughts. You’re hungrier than you thought, she told herself, grabbing a bag of chips.  

Angel watched her from behind his lashes.  

Part Six

“So, should we still contact the Powers?” Willow asked, chomping a bite of chicken-salad.  

“I guess we can try,” Cordy said, “but Angel’s right. They aren’t usually real forthcoming with the info. I usually end up more confused. Plus, it’s really bright in there. Bring sunglasses, I mean it,” she said to Buffy.  

“We can at least try. I mean, they’ve made such a grand effort to get us all here. Angel and I can try to see them together,” Buffy decided.  

Giles and Wesley were nodding in agreement. “Yes,” Giles said, sipping a mug of tea. “It’s worth a shot. Obviously they’ve had a hand in this matter.” He stood up, “Buffy, could I talk to you a moment, in private?”  

She nodded and stood up. They walked to the training room. Before he could say anything to her she jumped into conversation. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Oz in the dream, but I didn’t tell you a little more either. A lot more, actually.”  

“More?” her Watcher asked. “What else did you dream?”  

She told him, again, about the tomb, then about her memories of Riley and Angel, and how she had thought of all of her friends, Giles included, in her dream. Anyone who had ever been important in her life. “And now, we’re all here.

To fight Angelus again,” she concluded.  

“Buffy, I didn’t bring you back here to chastise you. I appreciate you telling me this information, I’m sure it will be helpful. And I understand why you didn’t mention it earlier, though I think that each detail should be considered important on its own,” he looked at her meaningfully and she nodded. “I only asked to speak with you in private because I want you to know that I sent Olivia away. I’m sure we’ll stop Angelus before any harm can be done, but I couldn’t take that chance with her. Not after…”  

“Jenny,” she whispered. He nodded. “I won’t let him hurt anyone, Giles,” she vowed.  

Giles sighed. “I know. Olivia wanted me to tell you that she knows how strong you are, and that you can get through this. She wanted to stay and help, but I forced her to leave, to return to London until it’s safe to return.”  

“I understand. That’s the smart thing to do,” she said. “We’ll stop this, Giles. We have to. If I have to kill him…it will be for the last time. I don’t think he’ll get a third chance on earth. But the vision…it says I don’t fight back.”  

He looked at her, knowing how much this much pained her to talk about. Suddenly he hugged her. “I’m so sorry for this, Buffy.”  

She was surprised at this show of emotion from the usually stoic Giles. “I know. It’s okay. I’ve done it before,” she told him weakly.  

They broke apart and she smiled at him. “It’ll be good, no worries,” she reassured him, and they walked back into the shop together.  

“Everything groovy?” Willow asked quietly as Buffy sat back down. Buffy nodded and gave her a small smile.

Angel’s eyes sought hers and she gave him a slight nod, letting him know all was well between she and the Watcher. Angel nodded back.  

“I had forgotten you were born in Ireland, Angel. What part?” Oz asked.  

Angel looked uncomfortable. “Galway,” he answered.  

Oz look surprised. “Really? Ballinrobe is right outside Galway.”  

Angel nodded.  

“The wizard, he’s from a long line of them. His family’s been practicing there for centuries.”  

“Orin?” Angel asked.  

Oz looked more surprised. “Yeah, how did you know?”  

“Orin’s family hasn’t been practicing there for centuries. Orin has. He’s older than I am, very powerful. He was a legend in my village, a man to be reckoned with,” he told them, a bit of Irish brogue coming out as he spoke.  

“Neat,” Oz said, simply, in typical Oz fashion.  

“You know this wizard?” Buffy asked.  

“I know of him,” Angel answered.  

“He lives outside your village?” Buffy continued to ask questions, fascinated by Angel’s former life, which she knew little about.  

He nodded.  

“Have you ever been back?”  

He sighed, “No.”  

“Would you ever go back?”  

Angel pushed away from the table and stood up. “What does it matter? There’s nothing there for me now,” he said bitterly, walking to the front of the store.  

Buffy followed him. “Angel…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”  

“You didn’t,” he said after a moment.  

She stood there, not knowing what to say. Finally he broke the silence, “Buffy, do you not realize the severity of all this? In two days time we’re going to fight, to the death. One of us will kill the other.”  

She watched him, watched the angst in his facial statement. “I know,” she said.  

“How can you be so calm? How can you sit there and ask me questions about my past and eat your cheeseburger and pretend like this isn’t happening?” he barked.  

“Because it isn’t happening. Not yet. I can’t absorb all this right now. I’m choosing to believe we’ll find a way to stop this. I can’t kill you again, Angel!”  

“And I can’t kill you a first time,” he said, his voice cold.  

“It won’t be you who’s trying,” she whispered. “That’s part of what makes this a little easier. I know that nothing that’s going to happen is going to be your fault.”  

“It’s still my body…Angelus is still me, but without a conscious. You’d be the same way without a soul.”  

“That may be.”  

He turned to her, his eyes intense and dark. “We have to find a way to stop this,” he said.  

She nodded. “We will…but not tonight. We’re tired. It’s been a long day and we have nothing to go on. Wanna get out of here?”  

He looked back at the others. Cordelia was leaning on Gunn, snoozing. Willow and Oz were talking, but they each looked tired. Wesley was rubbing his eyes from exhaustion. “I think we’re spent for the evening.”  

She walked back to the table. “We’re not going to get anything done here tonight. I vote we go home and sleep. Meet back here tomorrow and cram.”  

Cordy woke and raised her hand. “I second that,” she said sleepily without lifting her head off the table.  

“Tomorrow, first thing, I’ll try to meet with the Powers,” Buffy said. The others nodded and began packing up to go home.  

“Cordy, you and Gunn can have Dawn’s old room, if that’s okay. Oz, do you have a place to stay?”  

Oz looked from Buffy to Willow. “He’s going to stay at the house with us. We want to catch up,” Will answered.  

Buffy nodded. “Okay. Wesley…”  

“Rupert has offered me his spare bedroom, but thank you, Buffy,” Wesley said.  

“Great. Sleeping arrangements settled, I’m heading out,” she said, and gathered her things. Angel followed her. The rest of the group exchanged glances, wondering what was going on between them.  

“So, anyone else think they’ll get back together?” Anya asked, just loud enough for her voice to carry to the front of the store. Buffy’s hand froze on the doorknob. She turned and looked at Angel.  

“We’ve always been together,” she said, echoing Angel’s words of so many years ago.  

Angel stared at her as she walked out of the door. So she does know, he thought, and followed her out into the streets.  

*****  

They began walking, taking the longest route possible back to Buffy’s house, which involved passing by the mansion again.  

They walked in silence, thinking over the events of the day. “What are we going to do?” she asked him after several minutes.  

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll see what the Powers can tell us tomorrow, if anything.”  

“I’m really sorry if I upset you, asking about Ireland.”  

“You didn’t, really. I’m sorry I accused you of not being upset. I’m trying to see how many times we can argue in a single day,” he joked.  

“It’s okay…I just can’t think about it. I can’t think about killing you again. The first time was hard enough.”  

“I’m sorry,” he said, knowing that the words in no way made up for the pain he had caused her.  

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know what would change you. I don’t hold you responsible for anything Angelus did. He’s not you.”  

“You have to remember that, Buffy. You may have to kill me to save yourself, to save your friends.”  

“He’s not you, but you’re the vessel he lives in. I can’t kill you knowing that there’s a way to restore you, that he’s only occupying your body!”  

“You may not have a choice. Promise me,” he said, venomously, “promise me you won’t give up if we have to fight.

That you’ll protect yourself.”  

She looked at him through eyes clouded with anger. “Promise me you won’t give up trying to prevent this from even happening,” she spit back at him.  

They stared at each other in a standoff. Moments passed. Finally, a smiled played on Angel’s lips. “We really are a mess, aren’t we?” he said, shaking his head.  

She tried to fight it but a grin broke out across her pretty face. “Hopeless,” she said, when a scream broke the calm of the evening. The looked at each other and took off running in the direction of the sound. Flying around the corner of an alley Buffy suddenly came to a halt, causing Angel to almost collide with her. In front of them was a clan of five or six vampires and three teenage girls. The girls were surrounded, backed up against a fence, terrorized.  

“Oh boy,” Buffy muttered. She did a quick count. Six vampires. “Wanna go dutch?” she asked Angel.  

“You know I fully support women’s lib,” he deadpanned and the two broke into action.  

Buffy ran up to the leader of the clan and with a flying kick knocked him flat on the ground. “So, new in town?” she asked, grabbing him by the hair and bashing his head back against the concrete street. The vampire grabbed her arms and threw her backwards, then leapt to his feet.  

“They told me a Slayer lived here,” he said.  

“Huh. It’s a shame you won’t get to tell them they were right,” she said and flipped him over as rushed at her. Grabbing a stake from her jacket she quickly dusted him and took off after his lackeys. “Run!” she shouted to the girls. But the girls just smiled at her.  

“Nah,” one said, her face morphing, “We think we’ll stay.”  

Buffy froze. “Angel!” she screamed. “It’s a trap!”  

Angel looked up. He face would have paled if it could. He quickly finished off the vamp he had been fighting and attacked two more as Buffy took on the three girls. The alley was littered with trash and Buffy used this to her advantage as one of the girls barreled straight for her. She quickly jumped up onto a trashcan and then back off as the girl ran by her. Before the vamp had a chance to turn around Buffy staked her through her back.  

The other two circled her, taunting her. “Think Angelus will cozy up to me when he’s brought forth?” one of them asked her, grinning evilly. Buffy’s eyes flew open wide.  

“What do you know about Angel?” Buffy screamed at them.  

“Enough to almost make me want you to live,” she answered. “From what I hear, Angelus is…creative when he kills.” Simultaneously the girls charged her, one coming from each side. Buffy scanned the area. Thinking quickly she jumped straight up in the air and kicked out with both legs, knocking one of the girls to the ground and the other backwards into a broken chair leg.  

Two down, one to go, not to mention the brutes left that were watching, amused, as two of them started to get the better of Angel. Two of the vamps were holding him as one punched him in the stomach. And the fourth, who had been standing off to the side, was now wielding a giant axe. Leaving the girl for a moment, Buffy ran to Angel’s aid.

Before she could do anything Angel jumped up and kicked his assailant backwards. He shook free of the other two. “Run!” he shouted to Buffy, grabbing her arm and helping her back out of the alley.  

“We’ll be here when it’s time, Angelus!” one of the vamps shouted at them as they booked out of the alley.  

Angel was leading and Buffy followed him closely, running as fast as she could. She realized they were headed to the mansion but didn’t argue with him, though her heart beat faster as she thought of being there for a second time today, alone again.  

Angel flung the door open and locked it quickly behind her as she ran inside. He peered out the window, checking to be sure no one had followed them. Satisfied, he turned to her. “Are you okay?”  

“I should ask you the same thing,” she said, walking over to the couch. Angel flipped on a few lights and lit the fire.  

“That was a set up,” he said, angrily. “There were more of them inside that building.”  

She nodded her head. “They were waiting for you. They called you Angelus. One of the girls said something about ‘when Angelus comes forth.’ She wanted to watch him kill me.” Buffy shuddered.  

Angel looked stricken. “I won’t let that happen.”  

Buffy stared at him. “It’s looking more and more like that’s what’s going to happen, Angel.” She sat on the couch, her eyes downcast, knotting her hands.  

“It’s not. It won’t. We’ll find a way,” he said angrily.  

“First, my dream. Then Cordy’s vision. Then Oz and that wizard, now this. Vamps are waiting for him. It’s not looking good,” Buffy said softly, her eyes focusing on something far away in her head.  

He lost his cool. “Damn it!” Angel shouted, knocking a vase to the ground. The sound of it shattering reverberated around the room. He moved swiftly to the couch and sat beside her, turning her towards him. Placing his hands on her face he forced her to look into his eyes. “You asked me to promise that I wouldn’t stop looking for a way out of this.

You can’t give up now,” he said. His eyes searched, hers stared blankly back at him.  

After a moment Buffy broke contact and turned back to the fire. “You wanted to talk tonight. What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked, changing the subject.  

Angel watched her for a moment, stared at the girl who, he knew, was at this moment contemplating her own death.

He cleared his throat, not prepared for the change of subject. “I just wanted you to know, you’re not alone. I know you don’t have anyone in your life…but you’re not alone. You’re always loved,” he said sincerely.  

She nodded, her eyes not moving from the fire. “I know.”  

“I hope so.”  

She remained silent. “Buffy?” he asked.  

“You’re not alone either,” she admitted. The light of the fireplace reflected on her face and he saw that tears were threatening to spill over her eyes.  

“I’m glad,” he said, smiling. He reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips. The shock of his lips on her skin brought her out of her trance and her eyes slowly moved to him. He dropped her hand. Her fingers traced the spot on her hand where his lips had touched.  

“I want to tell you something, I want you to know. Before the full moon. In case…in case you have to kill me.”  

Her gaze returned to the fireplace, her eyes fixated on the flames. “What?” she whispered.  

“Everything I said earlier, about caring for you, thinking about you, was true.”  

She smiled faintly. “I know.”  

“I’m sorry I can’t give you a life.”  

She said nothing, just concentrated on the fire. After several moments her heart took over and she said, “I’m sorry I can’t stop loving you.”  

He sucked in his breath, the weight of her words hitting him full force.  

“Do you?”  

Her eyes never left the fire; she stared, blankly, not seeing the flames. She knew if she looked at him she’d never get the words out. “You know I do,” she said, sadness ripping through her. “You’re the reason my relationships all fail. You’re the reason I’m not happy with anyone else. Every man I see is instantly compared to you and they never size up. You’re the last thing I think of before going to sleep and the first thing I think of when I wake. You’re the reason I’ll never give up hope. And you’re the reason I can’t ever kill Angelus.” Her voice broke then and tears began to fall down her face. “I don’t want to die, Angel…but I can’t kill you.” She jumped up off the couch and stumbled for the door.  

He didn’t think, he just acted. Leaping from his seat he ran to her and grabbed her arm. Spinning her around he kissed her, taking her breath away. A hand sought her cheek and a finger lifted her chin to find him better. They melted together, feeling as if rockets were exploding in their bodies. Hands reached for and found, lips gave and received. He tasted her tears and the sweetness of them made him want to cry himself. The taste of each other had never left their memories. Her hands delved into his hair, pulling him closer to her. He responded by clutching her back, dragging a leg up so it wrapped around him.  

Buffy broke away, breathless. “Angel…” she whispered, pain and love in her voice. He picked her up, one arm supporting her legs, the other holding her back. His lips sought hers once again as he held her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart slamming in her chest. He felt each beat, felt its rhythm speed up as their kiss deepened, and he rejoiced in the feel of her in his arms once again. Too many years have gone by, he thought, wildly.  

He walked her into his bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. She looked alarmed. “Angel, we can’t.”  

He placed a finger to her lips. “Shhh…I know. Just stay with me tonight. If we can’t have anything else, we have two days until the moon.”  

She stared at him, her eyes sad and full of heat at the same time from having all she wanted in front of her and not being able to indulge. Two days…in two days time I’m going to lose the love of my life, again. We never get a break, not in ten years have we ever gotten a break, she thought, weighing her options. Passion won. But he’s here now, she decided. The decision made, she nodded to him, held out her hand.  

He couldn’t get to her quickly enough. He sat down on the bed next to her and resumed his assault on her lips and on her senses. They lay back together, hands touching, exploring territory not known to each other in far too long. He stroked her hair, ran a hand up her back, sent shivers up and down her spine. She sat up, slowly, and removed the sweater she was wearing. “I didn’t bring anything to sleep in…” she whispered coyly.  

He groaned. “That’s not playing fair,” he said, and laid her out flat on her back, his body landing gently on top of hers.

She tugged at his shirt, and he propped himself up enough that she could undo the buttons. Her hands splayed his chest, feeling the tautness of his muscles, remembering how he had felt that night. They lay together, skin against skin, each knowing they could go no further, but taking all of what they could have.  

The kisses and touching lasted long into the night. Neither seemed to ever be satisfied. Slowly, in the wee hours of the night, they were content just to hold each other, tangled in the sheets.  

“This is nice,” Buffy said, her voice muffled against the side of his chest as she lay curled in the crook of his arm.  

“We can stay here all night,” he said, his fingers stroking her arm. “And tomorrow night.”  

“We just need some food,” she said, yawning. “Ice cream. I’m hungry.”  

His body stiffened, remembering the snacks they had shared in bed so many years ago, on the day his heart beat for the first time in over 240 years.  

“What?” she said, noticing the sudden ridged-ness of his body..  

He forced his body to relax and smiled at her. “Nothing,” he whispered, and kissed the top of her head.  

“Are you hungry?” she asked.  

“Just for you,” he said.  

She heard the smile in his voice. “I have a cure for that,” she told him and rolled over to face him. She planted tiny kisses on his chest and he chuckled softly in delight.  

“This works,” he said. The kisses trailed off and she lay her head on his chest. “Someday I’m going to hear your heart beat in there, Angel,” she whispered ferociously.  

“Wh-what?” This was getting a little surreal, he thought. No way this is all a coincidence. She’s repeating everything she said that day.  

“This is going to blow over. It will. We’ll find a way to stop it,” she said, not lifting her head from his chest.  

Angel stared at the ceiling, playing with her hair. “I hope so,” he said at last.  

She was silent, lost in thought. “Do you think this was a good idea?” she asked softly.  

“Us? This?”  

She nodded.  

“We’ve never been too good at doing what’s best for us, Buffy,” he said ruefully. “At least when we’re together.”  

“No, we haven’t.” Her voice sounded far away. “If we make it, if we stop Angelus from coming, what then?”  

“I don’t know,” he answered her truthfully.  

She was silent again.  

“Buffy…” he said, concern in his voice.  

She sat up abruptly. “Let’s not talk about it right now. Let’s just enjoy what we have. We’ve walked away before and that hasn’t stopped us from loving each other. This time, let’s give in and see where it takes us.”

She moved in to kiss him. “Can you be satisfied without…you know…making love?” he asked her desperately.  

She paused, her mouth inches from his. “Can you?”  

Her body hung over his, her scent filling his nostrils, obliterating his senses. “Oh, yeah,” he said huskily and devoured her mouth.  

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