The End of Days...
Rating: Pg. 13
Disclaimer: They are owned by the Evil Whedon. *GRR*
Summary: The end of days is approaching...
The Time Has Come
In Shadow, on a rooftop, he stood. Scanning the vast city. His city. The city of lost souls. Like every night, he watched as people made their
way home. It was safer there. Unnoticed to them, unimaginable horrors brewed here. They took the innocent as their victims, their pray.
He was the warrior of the darkness, the souled vampire. Angel...
He felt it. An imbalance. Something was coming, something big. A chill of death, of terror, crept through Angel's body. A pang through his
heart told him that she knew also. The chosen one, the slayer. Buffy Ann Summers. The small battles leading to the full fledged war were over. It
was beginning, the End of Days...
-Part One-
The Magic Shop
Sunnydale California
7:23 P.m.
Anya groaned. Willow sighed. Xander whimpered and, for the tenth time in the past hour, Giles cleaned his glasses.
Willow's eyes followed Giles circular motions of his fingers as he continued to clean the lends of his glasses with his shirt.
Grabbing her head in dizziness, Willow attempted to keep herself from vomiting. "OK, no more watching Giles."
Xander had to admit. It was getting annoying. Grabbing the glasses from Giles's hands, he threw them across the room so they landed square in
the trash can.
"You know Giles, if you had kept cleaning your glasses like that, you would've worn a hole right through the lends. I had to stop you man, and
plus Willow was about to throw up."
Giving the others an apologetic look, Giles went to retrieve his glasses out of the wastebasket. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe I've ever
been so incredibly board in all my life."
"No leads on why the hellmouth is so quite?" Anya asked as she continued to roll a pencil back and forth on the table.
The mysteriously quite hellmouth had the Scoobies not only out of a daily job, but left them unbelievably board.
"I don't have any idea, but a possible two or three theories." Giles answered. Even Mr. watcher was clueless.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew the door in. A lone figure stood in the door frame. The darkness out side combined with the burning lights inside
created a shadow effect. Stepping into the light, the figure took shape. It was Buffy.
Not realizing that they had been holding their breath, the others exhaled. Yes, it was Buffy, a very scared and wet Buffy.
Giles approached Buffy , withdrew his jacket from his shoulders and wrapped it around her slim ones. "Dear God Buffy, why are you all wet?"
She was shaking. Xander noted, mentally, that he'd never seen Buffy look so frightened.
Giles attempted to get Buffy to speak again. "Buffy, why are you so wet?"
She didn't make eye contact. Her bottom lip trembled. "It's raining."
Willow arched her eye brows and looked out the shop's window. It wasn't raining. "Buffy, don't take this the wrong way, but it's not raining."
Giles's jacket slipped from her shoulders as she turned to look out the window, at the door, then back at her friends. "Can't you feel it?"
Anya bit her bottom lip, trying to hold in laughter. "OK, she's a basket case."
Buffy couldn't believe the looks from her friends. "The end, it's coming. I can feel it," crying out in frustration, she grabbed Giles by the
shirt collar and forced him to make eye contact. "Tell me you feel it!"
The action took Giles by surprise. "Yes, I feel it!" He lied, he begged.
She slowly let go of his shirt . A shaky hand went through her wet hair. "It's coming."
Slowly, Giles stepped a foot closer to his slayer. "Buffy, what's coming?"
Tears of complete terror cascaded down her face. "The end... Of days."
Out side, drops of water continued to cover the streets of Sunnydale.
The headlines were buzzing. News papers and news stations through out the world were on fire. Over the past several hours, unexplainable occurrences were taking place all over the world. Sky quakes, rain of toads, mass murders (More specifically around the neck area) It screamed the work or hell, of the hellmouth.
The Angel investigation's hotel laid quite on it's calm street in
L.A...
The resent chain of events baffled Cordelia and Wesley. The twosome were up all day, researching, checking local papers and stations. Now,
almost twelve hours later, they came up empty handed. Tired and frustrated, Cordelia slammed her laptop shut and took a swing of her, now, cold
coffee.
"That's it! I'm done! I give up, the forces of hell WIN!" Cordelia declared. Moving out from behind the front desk, she plopped herself on a
chair, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and pouted.
Wesley, who was most amused by her childlike demonstration, tried to soothe Cordelia's ranting.
"Cordelia, these events could be a sign. I very important sign. It's crucial that we figure it out." Wesley reminded her, in hopes that she
would care.
Her response was to throw a paper weight from the coffee table at his shin.
Nearly dodging the weight, Wesley lost his nerve. "Cordelia, with all do respect, do NOT take your hormonal crazed time of the month ordeal
out on me."
Before she could muster up a comeback Angel, strolled through the front door.
"Get all the books you can on the End of Days, dig out the scroll with Prophecies of Aberjian, phone Sunnydale and tell them to get here as
fast as possible, weapons and all." Angel directed, as he made his way over to the weapons chest.
"What is the deal of great importance that we must phone Sunnydale?" Wesley carefully questioned. He learned, from all his years working with
Angel, not to cross judge his decision unless he felt he needed to.
Stopping mid track to stare at his coworkers, Angel care fully removed a long, sharp sword from it's black shell. Raising it above his head
to thoroughly examine it, Angel took an unnecessary intake of breath.
"Were going into war."
2:29 A.M.
Angel Investigations Hotel
The early morning dew had already settled on the ground as the group from Sunnydale arrived at the hotel. Although the others had no idea what
the cause of the unusual occurrences were, Buffy and Angel were very aware of the evil that lie ahead. As strong as they may act, they knew,
subconsciously, that what was about to come would change their lives...permanently.
The group of seven worked quickly and quietly in fear that at any given
moment, the world would perish. Slowly and cautiously, Angel was able to calm Buffy down. Despite the awkwardness between them, they
understood that what was going on right now was more important.
Giles and Wesley, being the more educated ones, did most of the book research on possible dates of the end of days, and much to their dismay
they found exactly what they were looking for, a prophecy.
At a early 7:58 A. M. The two Englishmen were able to gather enough information to start to prepare for the upcoming battles. Waking everyone
to start a new day, they noticed that Buffy was calmer and wasn't convulsing as before.
Sipping his morning tea Giles sat along with the people he considered his family and children. Opening up two books, he laid them on the
coffee table and began his explanation.
"Wesley and myself, believe that we have figured out the events that will take place in the coming weeks." Giles said as he, yet again, took
another sip of his coffee.
"Is the world going to end?" Cordelia blurted, she had no patience left. She was tired, hungry, and majority Pmsing.
Choosing to ignore her question, Giles continued. "As it states in the chronicles of the oracles, the End of days is supposed to surface in
eleven days. Now, what makes this different is that there isn''t a demon casting a ritual to open the hellmouth, it appears that every 180 years
it opens as a spontaneous reaction."
Giving Wesley a nod of his head, Giles silently told him to continue the story.
"As it says in this specific watchers diary," Wesley stated, "that from 542 AD to 611 AD there was no written history of a slayer, meaning that
the slayer sacrificed her self to close the hell mouth, and for every 180 years after this there would be an opening in the diary."
Buffy felt her stomach flip, she knew what was coming next.
"What are you saying?" Willow demanded, "that Buffy's going have to sacrifice herself to stop the hellmouth from opening? That's the only way
to stop the world from ending?"
When there wasn't a response from Wesley or Giles, except for their eyes, which bled of terror, Buffy knew it was over.
She was going to die...
-6:23 p.M-
Same day...
The omen of Buffy's death laid like a fog over the room, each person blinded by fear of another's death, rather then seeing the path of
themselves.
Buffy stood in the corner of the room, she won't cry, though her eyes and heart were burning. She won't allow her self to cry, she has to
remain calm, strong. Eyeing Angel carefully, she noticed that he was crying. Blood tears ran down his cheeks, his throat constricted as another
sob escaped chest.
The others refused to make eye contact with Buffy, fearing they may break down. They had to be strong. For themselves, the world, Buffy.
Angel.
Eleven more days and Buffy may not be on this earth. Eleven more days, the world would once again try to end and it was up to the Chosen One
to stop it, though it'll cost her life. Destiny's a Bitch
11:56 P.M
same day...
Death. It's painful, permeant. Sometimes it happens fast, sometimes you feel it coming. Stirring inside you like a virus, ready to erupt at any
moment. It's just waiting for to except it, because once you do, it becomes you...
The basement. Angel's new home. It was dark, cold, empty. It reminded him of his heart before Buffy. His Buffy.
Training wasn't relieving the pain. Hitting the punching bag several
times in a row, Angel could have sworn he was going to draw blood. The knuckles of his fingers were raw and blistered. Funny thing was, he
couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel anything except this God damn pain in his heart that wouldn't go away.
His Buffy. Dead Buffy. The very thought of it made Angel's eyes flash yellow. After all they've been through, he expected to have a fairy tale
end. Guess not. Angel felt his blood run between his fingers. Ceasing to punch the bag, Angel washed the soars on his hand with some cool
water from a near by bucket...
Turning to face the dart board, Angel released the small dagger from his hand and to the board. He missed. By a long shot.
She felt his fear. It was intoxicating. She felt drawn to him,
spiritually, mentally, physically. Opening the door to the basement, Buffy watched as he hit the punching bag. She watched as he struggled to keep
control, failing at one point when his eyes flashed yellow and his knuckles began to bleed. Slowly, he backed away from the bag and rinsed his
hands.
She felt sick. Buffy was causing Angel all this pain, her and this thing called destiny. Descending down the steps, she watched as Angel began
throwing small daggers a a dart board across the room. He missed.
Boy, did he miss.
"Stop lifting your left shoulder," Buffy instructed softly once she
made her way off the stairs. His back was towards her.
He threw the dagger again. Missed. Angel smiled, he lifted his left shoulder. Maybe intentional, maybe not.
Smiling, Buffy came around and took the dagger from his hands. She stood in front of him, facing toward the dart board. Angel watched from
behind her. Slowly, Buffy closed her eyes and concentrated on the board, not the tingling sensation of Angel.
Keeping her eyes closed, she threw the dagger. Bulls eye. Angel's hands. His hands were on her body.
Snaking his arms around her body, Angel nuzzled his face in her neck,
leaving butterfly kiss on her skin. Feeling Buffy relax under his touch, Angel pulled her closer yet, needing to be as close as possible. He
wasn't going to lose her, it wasn't an option.
Turning in his Arms, Buffy reached eye contact. As if in slow motion, Angel lowered his lips to hers. It was fire. The feeling of such lust,
love, and passion being released in that one kiss. Growly quickly out of control, Buffy clung to him. She need him, she needed his lips on hers,
his arms around her.
Screw destiny, it screwed them
-3:36 A.M.-
Next Morning...
Angel closed the book he was reading and looked at Buffy's sleeping figure in his bed. Kissing her was torture, both knowing, that's all they
can do.
Glancing out his window, Angel found his answers. They were written in the heaven's stars...
The Color Of Dawn
-Part Two-
Angel Investigations Hotel
-5:56 A.M.-
The early morning dawn lurched over the horizon as an amazing blend of colors painted the sky. * Isn't it funny how things seem prettier when
you see them for the last time? * Buffy thought to herself. She had woken early to watch the sun rise, just once more. Then again, maybe she'd
see it from heaven, but she doubted it would be as beautiful. A light wind filled the air, she felt the crisp winter wind, but also the warmth
in it, knowing that spring was right around the corner.
//I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
I don't want to move a thing
It might change my memory //
Buffy wondered how her death would effect the others. Would they cry? Would they move on? Would they forget her? Did it really matter?
//Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
but I can't hide
I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
until you're resting here with me
I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
until your resting here with me//
Heaven showed no mercy as the sun continued to rise, not that she had expected the people above to stop this day from ever happening. Well,
maybe she had hoped *a little. * But the thing that scared her most was the fact she didn't fear death. She almost welcomed it, sure she didn't
think it would end like this, but who did?
//I don't want to call my friends
they might wake me from this dream
and I can't leave this bed
risk forgetting all that's been//
She wondered what the path of destiny would give her friends. Will Willow become a powerful witch? Will Xander marry Anya? Will Cordelia
become an actress? It hurt. It hurt to know that she would not be around to see these things, and most of all experience them first hand.
//Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
but I can't hide
I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
until you're resting here with me//
Would Angel find another? A knife pierced her heart at the thought. Would he forget about her and their angst filled past? Maybe it was for
the better.
//I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
until your resting here with me//
A tear of crystal fell down her face, she finally understood the fate of a slayer...
Loneliness.
//Oh I am what I am...//
6:45 P. M
"...And a vortex shall form to swallow the earth unless prevented. The blood, body, and soul of the warrior..." Giles recited from the Oracle
Chronicles, stumbling over his words as he attempted to keep himself from breaking down.
Others in the room remained solemn, afraid to blink, breath. For they feared that Buffy may vanish into thin air.
Unlike Buffy, who maintained her cool appearance. "So that's it? There's a vortex, I jump in and The world keeps spinning. Sounds Good." Buffy
stated, trying to prove to herself more then the others that it was anything but 'Good.'
"Sounds good? Is that what you just said?" Willow sneered as she stood to face Buffy. "Have you no idea that in less then 6 hours I'm going to
lose my best friend? Does that bother you? Do you care?" Tears flowed from her small eyes.
Buffy was silent.
Slowly, she stood, turned, and walked out the front door.
The Sand felt warm beneath her feet, the ocean mist cool against her skin. Buffy watched as the last rays of the sun dipped behind the deep pacific ocean. The Sunset was much like Buffy's life, short. Buffy couldn't escape her destiny, just like the sun couldn't escape night.
She felt his presence before she saw him. Her Angel, her sweet Angel.
He was silent for a long time, not needing to say words, his presence being enough.
The midnight's stars flickered overhead and Buffy craned her head to the sky 'How can something so far away, be so beautiful?'
They stood in the awkward silence, until Angel's patience wore.
"There's a difference between acting brave and being brave, you know Buffy." Angel softly implied, stepping closer to her, "You don't have to
always be so brave or act like it."
Silence.
Angrily, Angel grabbed Buffy's arm and forced her to face him. To his surprise, her thin cheeks were marked with wet tears.
Swallowing roughly, Buffy pulled her arm out of Angel's grasp. "Do you think I'm not scared? Dammit Angel, I'm scarred out of my mind!" Buffy
snapped through gridded teeth. " Do you know what it's like to know that I'm not going to see Cordelia get married, or Giles grow old? I know
this is part of a slayer duty, but if you're going to kill me, do it, don't tell me!"
Angel took a moment to gather up his emotions and thoughts...
"How do you think it's going to be on them? On me? I'm going to lose my ONE true love tonight. Buffy after this, there's no going on or back.
I'm stuck. I'm truly dead."
Buffy rolled her eyes, as tear continued to cascade down her face. "Oh, right. That is until you fall in love again, then it's like 'Buffy,
who's that?' "
Angel chuckled at her jealousness. "Your're right, as soon as you go, I'm going to uncover my secret relationship with Cordillera."
Buffy smiled at his weak attempt of humor, but the smiled faded,"There's just nothing to fight for anymore."
Stepping closer, Angel used his thumb to wipe her tears. "There's everything to fight for."
Slowly, she leaned into his chest, inviting in his comfort, "Enlighten me."
Lifting her chin to meet eye contact, Angel meet her lips in a bittersweet kiss.
"The fire," Angel whispered, after breaking the kiss, "The fire that's
between us. Without it, I'm cold and empty, but when you're around and I kiss you, I feel that fire, burning inside me. It hurts."
With Angel's lips locked with hers, Angel gently lowered Buffy onto the warm sand...
They made love, the Powers of Be owed them this much.
11:33 P.M.
SUNNYDALE CALIFORNIA
The same night...
Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like that at any moment you were going to wake up and find that it was just a horrible nightmare, then all the sudden reality hits and you realize that this is your life? Think about it...
Buffy slowly gathered, sharpened and organized her weapons. Not that it
really mattered how hard she fought, but she wanted to look presentable when she died, not in pieces.
Her friends, family watched her in awe. It baffled them. How she remained so calm through this. Not like kicking and screaming would make the
pain go away.
They watched as Buffy slipped a stake in her sleeve, throw a crossbow over her shoulder, and stick a small knife in her sock.
Giles glanced at his watch, there wasn't much time. According to the diary's and chronicles the offending apocalypse would begin at 12:00. How
original.
Standing to face everyone, Buffy didn't know what to say. 'Hey, I'm going to die!' Wouldn't sound very forthcoming, but breaking down and
crying wouldn't look very heroic either.
She closed her eyes and welcomed the tears. Buffy knew that if she was going to say good-bye, it had to be now.
"I'm not very good at this, particularly because I've never really had to do it, so I'm just going to say it." Buffy softly said, as the taste
of salt from her tears evaded her mouth.
//the winter here's cold, and bitter
it's chilled us to the bone
we haven't seen the sun for weeks
to long too far from home//
"I'm not going to draw this out and make it anymore difficult then it has to be. You all knew that this day would come eventually, I mean it
comes with the whole chosen one, slayer package. But in any case, I'd have to say my time as a slayer was worth it. We've fallen together,
struggled, moved on."
//I feel just like I'm sinking
and I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
oh darkness I feel like letting go//
The tears that fell down her friend's faces were killing her. I know that she and destiny alone was killing her and spiritually killing her
friends. Death isn't easy, she's come to learn that, but Buffy always hoped that she would never have to say good-bye to her life, like she was
today. She'd hoped that she go quickly and quietly. No such luck.
//if all of the strength and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
full of grace
full of grace
my love//
Buffy couldn't stop the pain, or the tears. Struggling to control her burning anger, Buffy sobbed. She hated her life, the world, the Powers
That Be. What had she ever done to anyone that made her deserve this type of ending?
The stares from her friends, with eyes of sorrow and love were burning a hole through her heart. "I can't... I can't do this." Buffy whispered
as another sob caught in her throat.
Turning her back to her friends, Buffy walked out the door, out of their lives.
//so it's better this way, I said
having seen this place before
where everything we said and did
hurts us all the more//
The Room dissolved into a fit of hysteric cries. Cries for a lost friend, daughter.
//its just that we stayed, too long
in the same old sickly skin
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
oh darkness I feel like letting go//
Every step closer Buffy got to the burnt down Sunnydale High School, the more the realization hit. 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die tonight'
Buffy entered the High School library, her head flooded with lost
memories. Happy memories, Horrible memories.
She walked over to opening in the earth, where hell lay dormant for now. Glancing at her watch, Buffy realized that she had minutes to spare.
She could sit and wait for the vortex to form, or she could cry, pray that it wouldn't happen. She didn't want to die like this, she wanted
to die and old wrinkling women. In Angel's arms.
//Never had I imagined
Living without your smile
Feeling and knowing you hear me
It keeps me alive//
"You didn't think I'd let you leave me with a good-bye did you?"
Buffy's head snapped up, it was Angel. Her Angel.
His face was streaked with blood soaked tears, his eyes puffy.
"A-Angel?" Buffy managed to choke through her tight, pain filled throat.
And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day
He enveloped her in his strong arms. There was no magic ritual, no miracle, no way to stop what was coming.
His tears and cries of pain mixed with hers, as they held each other, just one more time.
The a short rumble of the earth, a small vortex formed behind them. With every passing second, it grew bigger. Spinning out of control like a
tornado.
//Although the sun will never shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day
Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray//
Buffy and Angel stood, not letting go of one another. There wasn't enough time to say a good-bye. The tears showed to end, as Buffy slowly
gave Angel one last kiss.
//Darling, I never showed you
Assumed you'd always be there
I took your presence for granted
But I always cared
And I miss the love we shared//
Stepping out of his comforting arms, Buffy faced her lover. "I love you."
'God, make this stop.' Angel begged, his face contorted in sorrow. " I love you."
The Vortex was almost full size now, seconds remained. Slowly, Buffy stepped into the swirling wind.
The gazed into each others eyes. If only fate hadn't been so hard on them, if only they weren't Slayer and Vampire. Maybe they could've been
together, maybe they would have a happy ending.
The Vortex was consuming Buffy in a flash of colors, and all Angel could do was watch.
"I'll always be with you," Buffy whispered as she laid her hand over her heart,"right here."
And she was gone.
And I know eventually we'll be together
Angel dropped to his knees, and wailed in Hysterical cries.
//One sweet day...//
Fairy Tale
-Part Three-
//What ravages of spirit
conjured this tempestuous rage
created you a monster
broken by the rules of love
and fate has lead you through it
you do what you have to do
and fate has led you through it
you do what you have to do//
It was marked on his calendar, like a plague that took over his heart. It hurt, the red underlined words piercing his heart like a knife. He
knew this day would come and the pain along with it. The angst that tore through his body was at times unbearable, but he fought, for her.
//and I have the sense to recognize that
I don't know how to let you go
every moment marked
with apparitions of your soul//
The others felt sympathy toward him, but never fully understood. They never could, never will. The death of another isn't easy, but the death
of a lover is a feeling that Buffy and Angel knew to well. He attempted to take his own life several times, but Cordelia and Wesley caught him.
They feared one day they would be too late. He seldom smiled, for his reason too, was gone.
//I'm ever swiftly moving
trying to escape this desire
the yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
the yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
but I have the sense to recognize//
He felt it as if he owed Buffy enough to be the one to tell her Mother that destiny had caught up with her, and won. Angel and Joyce grew
close over time, sharing their misery with one another. Nothing can ever compare to the love that Joyce and Giles felt towards Buffy; a daughters
love.
//that I don't know how
to let you go
I don't know how
to let you go//
Now, he sits quietly in his office, fingering her picture in his hand. A tear slips from his eye, one of many. How he goes on and pulls
through amazes him and his friends everyday.
//a glowing ember
burning hot
burning slow
deep within I'm shaken by the violence
of existing for only you//
The red writing on the calendar mocks him once again. Slowly, he stand and walks to it, staring at the unfaithful date. More tears. They won't
stop, he wonders if they ever had, ever will. He quickly packs a small bag and heads for the door, placing Buffy picture in his jacket pocket.
//I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do//
The wind blows lightly through the hotel, pulling the calendar off of it's hook on the wall to the floor. The red words blow gracefully in the
wind, but never faltering the reader: ONE YEAR.
//and I have sense to recognize but
I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go//
His car pulls out of the drive way and into the busy streets. He'll be there in two hours, back to his beloved's former town, back to the
memories.
//but I have the sense to recognize, that I don't know how to let you go//
We sit in a circle and just stare. The waves lap against the warm sand. It's peaceful, beautiful almost. It brings back memories. Makes me
wonder, will it always be this difficult? Giles sits on a piece of drift wood across from me, on his left Joyce, on his right Willow. Cody and
Wesley are next to me, and Xander and Anya are seated on the ground. A fire blazes in front of us, glowing embers. One year ago today, she died,
my reason for living. Giles arranged this get together, in memory of the one girl who stole is fatherly heart.
Buffy, she who always had a smile, she who made his dark world filled with sun. The young women who had captured his heart. Angel felt that he
in no way deserved her, but that didn't stop him from loving her, and it never will.
It made Angel happy to know that were she was now was better then this hell, also known as earth. Joyce is crying now, only to comforted by
Giles gentle gestures. 'Can't cry now, can't let my emotions go, need to be strong.' Willow and Cordy follow. Angel says or does nothing, he
can't. The pain is to strong, it weakens him.
Everything thing that Angel had ever done was for Buffy, every major choice was made with her in mind, her own good. It might have killed him,
but if it made her life easier then he would do it. He couldn't stop the sob the escaped his throat, and nor his body from slumping to the
ground, weeping bitter tears. He was the only male crying, but he didn't care. Nothing mattered. He didn't care about his pride or dignity, or
the stereotypic 'manly' appearance. He was a two hundred and fifty year old vampire, cursed with a soul. He could give a fuck about what other
people said about it, because he would rip their throat out in a minutes time.
//Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay//
"Hope those frowns aren't for me," a voice said from behind the group.
As if in slow motion, they turned to see Buffy. She was standing in front of her friends and family, just like she was a year ago. Her body
was transparent and glistened in the moonlight, her hair creating a golden waterfall as it laid on her shoulders. She was an Angel.
Angel was at a loss of words, much like everyone else. He slowly approached her, and reached out to touch her. His nimble, shaking fingers
went right through her.
"You can't touch me, I'm technically not here." She whispered, a small, sad smile gracing her face.
Angel wept once again, wanting to cling to her for dear life, her life. Her family stood and approached Buffy, tears burning their cheeks.
"Dear lord." Giles whispered, astonished.
//there's always one reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day//
"Hey," was about all that Buffy could say. Her eyes threatened to surrender to their own tears, sure enough they did.
"Oh sweetie...," Joyce cried trying to reach for her, but realizing she couldn't.
Buffy smiled through her tears," I don't have much time, so I have to do what I got to do and leave." Buffy didn't want to make this any
harder then it already was, "The powers sent me, they thought that I deserved to say good-bye."
"Damn right you do," Xander declared, holding his emotions together.
She laughed, that beautiful laugh and it broke Angel's poor, battered heart all over again.
Buffy took a deep breath, trying to control herself, failing miserably. " I just wanted to tell you that I'm OK, and somewhat happy." She was
crying. "Heaven's not so bad you know, unlimited shopping."
Cordelia's ears perked at this.
"...I have friends, a few anyway. Kendra and Jenny," Angel looked down, ashamed, " She misses all of you." Buffy persisted, looking at Angel's
teary eyes," All of you."
//I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memory seeps from my veins//
"But, there's a more important reason I'm here." Buffy struggled through her words, " I have a gift for Angel."
She slowly turned and stared in her lover's eyes. "You've earned your redemption." She spoke softly.
Angel shook his head, "No, I don't deserve it. I've done nothing this past year..."
All future protests were silenced with Buffy finger, laying gently on his lips, "Oh Angel, but you have earned it. You comforted my friends
and family when they needed it most. I watched you day after day, helping my mother. You were so kind." Her voice was cracking, she wasn't going
to be able to keep herself from crying much longer.
"I would come to you at night, when you would be sleeping. You'd toss, turn and cry. I'd whisper to you, hold you gently until you settled." A
sob caught in her throat.
Angel continued to cry, over taken by sorrow.
"...You deserve this and so much more. All my years as a slayer, you watched over me, protected me, loved me. Now it's my turn, I get to be
*YOUR* guardian Angel. Don't push it away."
//let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight//
He nodded his head ever so slightly, understanding.
A pink glow formed around Angel as a warm feeling crept through his body. He was alive. Human.
Buffy reached out and touched his chest, feeling the heartbeat underneath her small fingers. "Most beautiful sound in the world." She
whispered.
He choked on his tears again, "It's worth nothing without you."
She cupped his now warm face in her hand, "But it is worth everything to me."
He closed his eyes in bitter pain, if only he could share this gift with her.
"Angel, I need to you promise me something," Buffy pushed on, knowing her time was cutting short.
"Anything," He replied huskily, teardrops falling from his brown pools.
She stepped closer," Promise me that'll you'll move on. That you'll find love again."
He shook his head," NO, I won't. You can't ask me to do that."
Buffy was sobbing uncontrollably now, if only it knew what it felt like to be in her shoes. "Angel, PLEASE," She wailed," Find some other women
to love, make her the happiest person alive."
Angel continued to shake his head, clenching his jaw.
"...Have a child, you know name her after me? Buffy or Anne, even Summer." Buffy continued
Angel stared at her, betrayal flaring in his eyes," I can't believe you're asking me to do this."
Buffy took a deep, soothing breath," You have no idea what pleasure and happiness it would bring me to see you smiling, loving again, Please.
Angel, for me." She begged.
Her friends and family stood and watch the ill fated star-crossed lovers battle a war that they have never been able to win. If just for once,
fate allowed them to be happy.
//in the arms of an angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear//
"...But just remember, That *I'M* your soulmate, and that you'll *ALWAYS* love me." Buffy continued sternly, though her sorrow filled eyes
showed her true feelings. Love.
Angel didn't say anything. He couldn't, he didn't know how to tell his true love that he would move on. How can you?
Stepping back slightly, Buffy looked to the heavens, "I have to go, my time's up."
Angel's tears should no mercy," NO, no, please, I can't live without you."
Slowly Buffy leaned in and meet his lips in a bittersweet kiss, and although Angel couldn't feel the contact of lips on his, he felt a
familiar warmth spread through his body.
//you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort there//
She turned to face her friends, her family. She smiled one last sad smile, " I love you all."
They couldn't speak, they lost their voices in misery, but nevertheless they smiled. Buffy Anne Summers, the Chosen One, a daughter, a lover,
and so much more.
//in the arms of an angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear//
A blinding white light enveloped Buffy, as she was lifted off the ground. Souring in the air, so much like an Angel, Angel's Angel.
Suddenly, the bright light disappeared and was replaced with a soft pink, much like the one Angel experienced. Buffy was slowly lowered to the
ground, and Angel caught her before she hit the ground.
::A lone figure stood in the shadows, watching the scene in front of him::
She had a heart beat, she was alive," Buffy, can you hear me?" Angel asked frantically.
She opened her eyes, the sparkle returning once more, "I'm here, forever."
Angel clutched her, as he sunk to the ground in tears, never once releasing her from his arms.
:: The figure came into the light, smiling at his job-well-done::
"I love you," He rasped against her hair.
"I love you," She replied without hesitation.
::Whistler smiled, a tear of joy falling from his eye. 'Don't say I never did anything for you, kid' He turned and walked into the shadows.
After all, Everyone deserves a fairy tale end.
END.