Disclaimer:I do *not* own Buffy, Angel, Giles, Xander, Cordelia, or Willow. They belong to the tragic hands of Joss Whedon, himself, as well as Fox, and the WB. I am only using their characters to make myself, (as well as other Buffy/Angel shippers,) perhaps feel slightly better about Joss' evil breakup of the couple. I do, however, own the character of Allison.
Author's Note: This takes place a few years after 'Graduation'.

Rupert Giles entered his living room, his eyes falling on the worn and weak body of his former Slayer who retained her reclining position on his sofa as he held out a cup of tea to her. "Drop of milk, no sugar." Sitting down across from her in a cushioned chair, he raised his own cup to his lips to take a sip, his eyes never straying from Buffy's form. "How are you feeling lately?"

Warily, Buffy sat up enough to be able to drink, and Giles was now fully capable to take in her appearance.

The twenty-year old girl's body was slimmer than when she started her first year at Sunnydale University. Her flaxen hair hung past her shoulders but did little to frame her pale and thin face. Her greenish eyes were accented by her blue and red tinted skin that surrounded them, and her lips were a pale pink, hardly distinguishable from the color of her facial skin.

"The same. I'm so worried about Allison, Giles.I hardly have enough energy to keep track of her anymore. That can't put me in the terrific mother category."

"Buffy, this stage of your.illness well inclines the beginning of your."

"Decline?" She looked to him with dim eyes, setting down her cup. "I know. It's the end of the line as a Slayer."

Sighing, Giles shook his head. "Buffy, we aren't certain that is why you're health is fading. You remember what the medical reports said."

Buffy spoke in a dry voice, her eyes gaining a far-off look to them. "How can I forget? Well differentiated Astrocytomas.deadly if the tumors are inaccessible to surgery."

Giles remained silent for the following moments, slowly setting down his cup on the coffee table. "Buffy, I urge you to reconsider the matter of Allison."

Tears immediately filled her eyes as she looked down at her lap, her shaking hands folded upon it. "I won't, Giles. Willow and Xander will be her guardians when I-I go."

"As much as they would see it an honor to take care of Allison, I don't believe that's the final choice you should be making."

"So you'll be making my final choices for me?" Her eyes moved to Giles again. "She's only two, Giles. Allison's father is the only..the only man I have ever deeply loved. To make things worse, he's in another city.doing his own thing.as a vampire. He doesn't know about her, and I-I don't think I could handle him knowing until I'm gone."

Giles leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I know you don't wish to see him."

Buffy quickly wiped the tears away from her cheeks, sniffling as she looked away. "I can't see him, Giles.not like this. I don't want him to see me like this."

"And I understand that, but you must look to the most important factor.your daughter. I believe Angel should know about her before your illness becomes worse."

"How could it get any worse?" After a second, Buffy shook her head. "N-No, don't answer that." She slowly stood, unsteady as she took a few steps away from the couch. "What do you expect me to do, Giles? In your opinion, what's the right thing?"

Silently watching her a few moments, Giles stood, his hands going into his pockets. "I believe.that Angel should know about Allison. I also think that you two need to get everything resolved.before it's too late."

Buffy let out a sob, leaning against the wall in a hunched position as Giles moved over to her and supported her, silently holding her as she cried.

Willow looked at the slip of paper in her hand before squinting her eyes at the storied building in front of her. 'This was the place.this had to be the place, it was the address Cordelia had given her.' Taking a deep breath, the redhead walked into the building and up the short flight of stairs that led to an open office. Looking around, her eyes fell on a tall brunette shuffling through papers with an irritated look on her face.

"It's 2002, and he *still* doesn't invest in modern technology," the woman muttered, before she looked up to see Willow, a smile immediately breaking out over her face. "Willow?!" Standing quickly, the stack of papers flew to the floor, littering her path as she hurried over to her old friend, hugging her tightly. "Oh, it's been years! Or at least two. How are you? How's Xander?" She pulled back to look at her, her voice going to a low tone. "How's Buffy?"

Willow smiled slightly at Cordelia's welcome before answering her. "It has been a couple years, I'm fine, and so is Xander.still goofy. Buffy, she's.still going downhill. The doctors say it won't be long before." Willow's voice went so soft she couldn't finish the sentence, her eyes moving to the floor.

Cordelia swallowed hard, nodding a little. "Oh. Well.he's in his office, and not expecting you. I haven't told him anything, and it's been really hard."

"Thanks. I can go on in?"

"Sure." Cordelia motioned to the glass door that closed off Angel's office, returning to her desk to start and gather the papers that had fallen from her lap.

Slowly moving to the door, Willow raised a hand to knock timidly on the wood frame, turning the knob and taking a step inside when she heard Angel's invitation to come in.

As soon as Angel's eyes fell on her, he rose, a paper falling from his hand. "Willow?"

Smiling, she closed the door behind her. "It's me. How are things, Angel?"

Blinking and gathering his sense of thought, he moved out from around the desk, hugging her. "Things are good, how about with you?" He pulled out a chair in front of his desk for her to sit before moving back to his chair, paying no attention to the paperwork in front of him.

Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, she nodded. "I'm fine, my life is keeping me busy. I'm, um.an assistant for Professor Bernhard in the Psychology wing of the university while I finish up my studies."

Smiling kindly, he nodded, clasping his hands on the desk. "That's great.congratulations. How's Xander? Is he easy to live with?"

Laughing faintly, Willow shook her head. "There are times I wish I could toss him into the alley, but we're getting by. He's working at the Bronze as assistant manager, if you can believe that."

"The Bronze." Angel's eyes went distant as his thoughts drifted back to the gang meeting in the club nightly before Buffy would go slaying and the others start researching on a new evil. "Those were the days, huh?"

Willow delayed her eyes on her old friend's face, her words coming out slightly hushed. "You haven't changed at all."

"Well, unfortunately, that's somewhat of a curse for me."

"Yeah." Willow fell silent as her eyes focused on her hands, scolding herself for not having practiced how she was going to tell Angel. "Angel.I-I'm afraid I'm not just here to say 'hi'. I'm here because of Buffy."

Angel blinked, immediately tensing slightly before forcing himself to relax- the memory of her face before she left his office two years ago drifting into his mind. "Buffy."

Willow nodded. "She isn't well. A-About three months ago she started to go for the doctor for constant headaches and dizziness, which were disabling her slaying. Well, he recommended her to a neurology professional at the hospital, and they took all of these tests, it was really painful for her, and to everyone else, but especially Buffy."

"Three months ago.why didn't you contact me?"

Swallowing hard, Willow couldn't force her eyes to meet his face. "Buffy didn't want us to."

Nodding in silent understanding, his eyes moved down to the desk. "Did the tests reveal anything? Was she having migraines or seizures or anything?"

"No.it was worse. The x-rays showed a few.masses in Buffy's brain and on her brain stem. They were too close to certain nerves and cavities, so an operation to study them was out of the question.so was surgery to remove them."

"Masses.as in.tumors?" Angel's mind started to spin as his mouth went dry.

"Yes. Buffy has what's called well differentiated Gliomas Astrocytomas. It's a cancer. It's pretty far along, so there's nothing they can do "

Leaning back in his chair, Angel fought to keep an even mind. She was okay, she had to be okay.she was strong, she was the Slayer.she was his. Looking to Willow, he remained silent as he waited for her to finish what she was obviously having trouble getting out.

"Buffy's dying, Angel."

He closed his eyes, the world seeming to stand still for the next few moments. Dying..dying.no, not Buffy, it couldn't be Buffy. Not his Buffy, the Buffy that took everything head on and conquered all forms of evil and did it with such strength that no one could ever beat nor phase her.

"T-That's been diagnosed?"

"Yes.by two different specialists. They risk disabling Buffy severely if they try to remove the tumors, and they're already too far grown and spread in her brain." Tears filled the girl's eyes at the lengthy explanation to her friend's former lover. "Her mom died a year and a half ago, so all Buffy has had were me and Xander and Giles. She's getting worse, she can hardly get out of bed some mornings because the pain is too bad, a-and sometimes.she just collapses.vomiting cause of the numbing aching that won't go away." Willow looked down as a few tears slipped down her face, and she fumbled in her purse for some tissues. "It's been so hard to be around her, to be witness to what the cancer's doing to her.you have no idea.and we can't do anything to help."

His body still numb, Angel managed to lean against his desk, remaining silent a few long moments before speaking up. "What does Giles have to say?"

Sniffling, she rubbed her nose before answering. "Oh, you know Giles, he's trying to find some supernatural cause to Buffy's ailment so he can try to fight it, but he can't.he knows that, he just can't stand watching this happen to her and being helpless about it. Actually, Giles was looking through some old diaries, and found out that Buffy is the oldest living slayer ever.and he thinks that because she's so old for the Chosen One, that her body is shutting down."

"She doesn't have a normal body, that is true. A Slayer has a different physique, a different genetic makeup. I've also heard that at a certain point the body will just start to die.I just never thought about it enough to think it would happen to Buffy.she doesn't deserve this." Glancing at Willow with glazed eyes, he forced himself to ask his next question with a strained throat. "What about.Riley?"

"Riley and Buffy broke up a few months after her nineteenth birthday, Angel. She hasn't been with anyone since."

"Oh, I see." Angel stood, pacing around the room slowly before perching on the edge of the desk.

"Angel, look.there's more.a lot more, but I can't tell you. I think you need to hear it from Buffy."

He looked to her, question and confusion in his eyes. "Does she know you're here?"

"No, she thinks I came here for a TA meeting. She'd kill me if she found out, she kept fighting with Giles cause he wanted you to know about her and." Willow fell silent, realizing she almost disclosed what she promised herself she wouldn't. "Angel, can I ask you a question? And get an honest answer?"

His mind still reeling from the grief-stricken news of his beloved, he nodded. "Of course."

Trying to prepare herself for what she was going to ask, and what she was praying she heard from Angel, she leaned back a little in the chair, still clenching the tissue tightly in her hand. "When.Buffy came here.two years ago because of you being in Sunnydale.what happened? I mean, she keeps saying that nothing happened, she came, you argued, you both fought a demon, and she left.but there had to have been more."

"Why does there have to be more? Her story doesn't satisfy you?"

"Story.so there is more?"

Letting out half a sigh, he stood, deliberating internally on telling Willow the truth about that unforgettable day, or holding it inside of him.as he had for the past two years. "What Buffy told you isn't the whole story.in fact, she doesn't even remember."

Looking to him, Willow searched his face, trying to read his meaning. "What?"

"When Buffy came here that winter, after we fought the demon, there was more.but her memory doesn't know of more.only I know," he slowly said, looking to her. "The demon I killed.its blood touched my hand, and it made me human."

Blinking, she stared at him, silent a few seconds. "H-Human, as in.?"

"A pulse, hunger for food, body temperature- human. I walked out into the sun, and I didn't burn. I spoke to the Oracles, and they said it was true, I was a human again." He let a faint smile touch his lips at the memory. "Buffy and I couldn't understand it, but we didn't care. We made the most of that day, we.walked in the sun, we ate food together, we.made love.several times.she felt my heart beat."

Willow swallowed, not speaking.

"Anyway.I went back to the Oracles, knowing that I was useless as a human, and that if it ever came down to it.I wouldn't be able to save or help Buffy. They said in order to reverse it, the entire day that had passed would have to be erased.in everyone's mind, but not my own. Buffy was devastated, and so was I. We held on together, and cried with one another.before the clock stopped, and we were again in my office, facing the demon. I killed it the right way, and Buffy left.she left me, and she left the memories that I've used to live every single day of my life since."

"That.that's unbelievable."

Angel looked to her. "You don't believe me?"

"N-No, I believe you, it's just.wow.so that means." Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh.oh.it does.she was right!"

Frowning, he stood and looked at her. "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes moved back to his face as she held in her excitement. "Nothing."

He stood, moving his hand into his pocket. "When do you leave for Sunnydale?

"Tonight, actually.in a couple hours. I came by train."

Nodding a little, Angel looked out of his office window, his jaw and eyes set in resolution. "I'm coming with you."

"Dead boy? I-I mean Angel. Wow.Willow didn't say she was bringing back a walking souvenir.Will, I told you to get me a t-shirt."

A faint smile barely touched Angel's lips as he held his hand out to him. "Xander. How are things?"

Xander moved Willow's bag to his other hand, exchanging a shake with Angel. "Things are good, how about for yourself?" He guided Willow out of the depot, looking over his shoulder at Angel. "I take it you're here to see Buffy. That, or talk to Giles, but I stuck my thumb out there and guessed 'Buffy'."

"How is she?" Willow was quick to ask at her husband's mention of Buffy's name.

"Be careful sticking your thumb out there, but yes, I am," he solemnly agreed. "Where is she staying now?"

"She's doing okay..tired. I just came from her place, actually. I was off tonight, left the assisting in the hands of Devon.which I hope was a safe wager. Anyway, she was playing with Allison, and I hung out and let the kid beat me up.she has good arms." He grinned widely, taken aback by the sudden warning look from Willow. "What?" Figuring out the reason for her expression, he quickly went on. "Oh! Buffy got a dog.a German shepherd, actually, named Allison. Cute little pooch." Opening the door for Willow, he motioned to the back. "I can take you to Buffy's, Angel. No sweat."

Frowning slightly, Angel looked to him. "A German shepherd with arms?"

Xander looked to Willow for an easy out. "Well, I.I."

"Do you want to see her tonight, Angel?" Willow quickly interceded.

"Actually, I'd better wait till tomorrow. Try to pace my thoughts and how I'm going to explain my arrival here. I don't think she'd be that pleased to hear the truth."

Willow nodded in agreement. "Giles and I thought that I should go see you, Buffy has no idea. He was getting frustrated trying to rationalize with her. She doesn't want you to see her.like she is, Angel."

Xander's voice lowered slightly in more soberness. "She's not really the Buff we remember, anymore. It's like the years of slaying finally caught up with her."

"Oh, and the mansion has been renovated by the city, Angel, they've made a historical monument out of it, so you can't go there," Willow informed Angel as she got into the car and Xander started the engine.

Getting into the backseat, Angel closed the door. "I'll just go to my old apartment, I never signed over the lease."

"Sounds like a doable plan," Xander agreed as he headed towards the Bronze, where Angel's apartment was nearby.

Angel silently looked out the car window as they passed homes and closed buildings, the street lights only dimly illuminating the corners and sidewalks of town. He could not, not for even a single moment, get the thought of Buffy dying out of his mind, nor did he want to. Giles was right, there had to be some way of stopping it.some way.

"Whoops," Buffy reached her arms out long enough to keep a tipsy Allison from falling to the ground, a soft smile on her tired face. "Careful, sweetheart. Don't go so fast." Slowly letting go of her to let her stand again, she sat back against the couch silently and watched her daughter bend over to pick up her favorite stuffed dog, Scraps. The toddler turned to look at her mother, no sign of concern, fear, or understanding of her mother's failing condition as she smiled happily, her dark brown eyes shining and her as equally dark hair soft and wavy around her only slightly chubby face.

"I get Scraps!" she gleefully announced, holding up her treasure with two small fists.

Tears slowly began to form in Buffy's eyes for some reason as she nodded. "Yes you do."

Allison giggled before plopping back down on the ground and introducing her stuffed dog to one of her plush dolls. "Scraps and Dolly will have tea."

Quickly brushing tears away from her cheekbones, she tried to smile at her daughter's innocent antics. She was only two.Buffy realized she was only going to be able to watch two years of her life after giving birth to what she loved to call her 'little miracle'. And Allison was too young to understand what was happening in the harsh reality of life. Her mother was dying, and odds are, she would hardly remember Buffy when she was grown, and remember all of the things her mother did for her, and was there to see.how Buffy would have killed anything for her daughter.

Allison let out a small 'gruff' sound as she hopped Scruffy over to her doll, looking up the same time Buffy did when there was a knock on the door. Gripping the side of the couch to help her stand, which took her a few moments to do, Buffy slowly made her way to the front door. She smiled to Allison who remained seated on the floor, watching her with curiosity at the nighttime visitor who was appearing right before she went to bed.

Pushing her hair back slightly, Buffy didn't even begin to conceive whom it could be, except perhaps Xander or Giles checking up on her. As she opened the door and settled her eyes on the person on the stoop, her body went stiff in both shock and anxiety all at once. Angel's eyes stayed on hers as soon as he was able to see them, and he began to hurt inside at the weakness and pain he already sensed Buffy was going through.

Unsure of what to say, but knowing he had to break the silence, Angel spoke up. "Hello, Buffy."

Swallowing the gigantic lump rising in her throat, she still remained transfixed in the same position, her hand still on the door handle. "A-Angel."

Letting a slight smile touch his lips, his warm and empathetic brown eyes seemed to make her go soft all over, but he didn't notice it. "I heard you had a German shepherd, thought I'd stop by while I was in town and say 'hello'."

She blinked, confusion registering in her eyes at the mention of a German shepherd. "A German.I don't have a dog." Swallowing again, she silently deliberated on whether to let him in or stay standing outside as she dealt with the shock to her system of seeing her only love only a few feet away from her, and looking the same as ever, which was inevitable.

"Could I come in, Buffy?"

Parting her lips to speak, her body now slightly trembling at his presence, she turned her head when she heard the soft tone of her daughter's voice, standing a little way from the door, behind it.

"Mommy? Who's here?"

Buffy's eyes immediately went back to Angel, and she saw the instant incredulity and astonishment in his eyes. Her arm dropped away from the door and to her side as she gently took her little girl's hand in hers as Allison moved to her side, looking up at Angel with her huge chocolate eyes...exactly like his.

He stared at her, not able to take his eyes off of the toddler as soon as she came into view. 'She.she looks l-like me.I can feel something so.' Angel thought to himself, the waves of familiarity flooding over him like a tide.

Knowing that she was the one to break the ice, Buffy tried to think how to do it. She never imagined introducing Angel to his daughter, or what she always knew in her heart was Angel's child, and not Riley's or Parker's. Ever since she found out about her pregnancy up until the present moment, Buffy knew that Allison was Angel's, and no one else's. Even if she knew it to be impossible except for some miracle, she wasn't ready to disbelieve her conscious, and it was for that reason that she always thought of Allison as her 'miracle.'

"H-Honey, why don't you go back and play with Scraps and Dolly while I talk to this man? Okay?" She could no longer kneel down to her daughter's height, and resorted to squeezing her hand gently.

Allison took her eyes from Angel to her mother before nodding and heading back to the living room.

Hugging herself now at a sudden chill she felt inside of her, Buffy's eyes hesitantly met Angel's once more, and she internally prepared for the inquisition.

Angel tried to find his voice as he swallowed hard, his eyes moving back to Buffy. "You're a mother."

"Yeah.better than being a Slayer," she said in an almost hoarse voice. "Better than anything."

Blinking, he shoved his hand in his coat pocket, his eyes still on her pale and worn face. "I had no idea.why didn't you tell me?"

"And just allow you to make up some false ideal story in your head about the circumstances around her birth? I didn't want to do that."

"Can I come in?" he asked calmly, his body almost shivering at the sounds of the little girl playing with her toys in the next room.

Nodding silently, Buffy took a step back to allow Angel to come in, remembering he hadn't been uninvited from her house since the death of Miss Calendar. As Angel slowly moved past her into the hall, Buffy swallowed hard at his nearness, but managed to move forward to close the door again.

Angel kept his eyes on Allison as she played lightheartedly with her stuffed animal. His eyes moved from her to her mother, though, when Buffy started to move to the sitting room opposite the living room, obviously not wanting to worry about Allison overhearing their future conversation.

Buffy stumbled slightly when she hit the carpet, dizziness sweeping over her in an instant. Before she knew it, she felt Angel's hands balancing her on her feet, which took her breath away in a second, memories returning to sweep over her all at once.

Angel swallowed hard, not moving away after steadying Buffy, his hands still gently locked around her thin arms as her body pressed slightly against his, and emotions started to freely rise within him. Oh, god.can I take this?

Swallowing hard, Buffy didn't move a muscle as she allowed her eyes to close, almost relishing the lost-and now found- feeling of his closeness. Oh, god.what's going to happen?

Angel made the first move from their still positions, helping her the rest of the way to the small couch, not moving away from her until she was seated. Straightening, he started to move over for the chair next to the couch, before taking a chance and sitting beside her, finding his voice a few moments later. "She's beautiful, Buffy."

Rubbing her arms slightly, Buffy's eyes remained trained on the carpet a few feet in front of her. "Yes.she's the light of my life."

"That's easy to see," he gently replied, looking over at her face gently. "How old is she?"

Swallowing, Buffy was able to speak in a slightly shaky voice, "Two.she'll be three in August."

He quickly used her information to make the calculations. She'd be three that August, three.meaning that she had to have been conceived the November before.oh, god.

Finding the courage to look over at him, she analyzed his face. "What are you thinking?"

He looked back to her, meeting her eyes with his again. "Nothing. So you've been alone.in raising her?"

Buffy shook her head. "Not alone. I've had Will and Giles and Xander.they're my family now."

Angel nodded in understanding, clasping his hands together. "Yes.that's good, Buffy."

"Angel, just ask. Ask what you want to know.or else we'll be here all night."

He looked away again, trying to figure out how to begin, and silently curious as to why she didn't start in with the questions about his sudden arrival after two years.unless she already knew deep down.

"Buffy.I feel so strange for asking you this, but I have to. Who's her father?"

Buffy let out a slight laugh at his candor, looking away from him as she remained silent a few moments after her laugh had died, her voice turned hushed when she finally spoke. "Don't you know, Angel?"

Swallowing hard, Angel forced his eyes to keep steady on hers, trying to find his voice as he numbly began to think, She knows.somehow, she knows. "Buffy."

"I know!" she cried out, standing despite her condition, and moving away from the sofa as quickly as she could. "I know it's impossible, and I know we were never together like that since my seventeenth birthday, but Angel I felt something, okay?" She turned to look at him with conflicted eyes, and Angel realized that she was confronting an issue that she had never worked through out loud to anyone before, let alone having not seen him for over two years. "I felt something, a-and look at her." she points towards the living room where Allison could be heard talking for her doll. "Angel, she looks just like you.except for the female aspect."

Angel slowly stood, moving over to where Buffy was almost shaking like a leaf against the wall by the fireplace, tears filling her eyes. He stopped a couple feet from her, hesitating before reaching out his left hand to touch her shoulder without threat of more physical contact. "I know," he whispered soothingly to her. "She does look like me.except she has your mouth." He moved his fingers to her lips, only lightly touching them.

Sniffling, a shiver ran through Buffy as she moved her eyes to his face when she felt the soft touch of his fingers on her skin, but she didn't speak. Her eyes froze on his as she felt something.intimate charge between them, and she all at once realized how much she had needed him these past few years as she raised Allison by herself without a mother or a father for her child to call 'grandma' or 'grandpa'.

Sensing her sudden rush of absorbing thoughts, he brought his other hand to her face to soothe her as best he could.as best he remembered how. Touching her soft hair, his eyes took in the appearance of Buffy Summers.the Slayer.and victim of the reap of death that she was hopelessly clawing to free herself of in any way she could for her child. It was at that time, that Angel saw his Buffy break.

"I-I can't leave her, Angel.I don't know how to leave her.o-or you now that you're standing right in front of me," she started to choke out in violent sobs, her body trembling under the sudden stress of her anguish. Angel immediately moved his arms around her, gently holding her close as she cried against him. He closed his eyes, resting his chin on top of Buffy's head as he embraced her securely, but not too tightly. He had almost forgot how she had felt in his arms, and he knew at that moment that he never wanted to forget again.

"Oh, Buffy." He kissed the top of her head, his eyes still closed as he ran a hand lightly down her back. He felt her body slowly calm in his arms, and her sobs soon became quieter sniffles. They were both in the position to be caught totally off guard.

"Mommy?" a small voice spoke up from the doorway, and Buffy pulled away from Angel enough to wipe her eyes and look at her daughter.

"Y-Yes, honey?"

Allison looked to her with large, brown eyes, holding her stuffed dog in her clenched fist. "Why crying?"

Running the back of her hand across her nose, Buffy's eyes moved from her daughter to Angel, before she slowly managed to kneel in front of Allison. "Because I'm happy."

Angel looked to the little girl, the sense of electricity moving through him again just by looking at her face. Taking a step towards Buffy in concern as she fought to simply kneel in front of the toddler, his eyes moved to her when he heard her answer her child. Happy.?

"Happy?" Allison seemed to read his mind when speaking up, her eyes intent on her mother's face.

Smiling slightly, Buffy nodded. "Because of this man here." She reached out, gently taking Allison's hand in hers to pull her closer, before turning to look up at Angel.

Allison crept forward slightly, apparently undaunted by the presence of the stranger. Angel could easily see her mother's strength inside of her- her fearlessness, which was completely Buffy. She looked up at Angel with wide eyes, before looking back at Buffy's face. "Who he?"

Swallowing hard, Angel fought to let a smile touch his lips as he gazed at the child and her mother. Buffy's arm slid around Allison's back as she held her close, speaking calmly with a confident tone that struck Angel. "He's your daddy."

Almost going numb at her words, he moved his astounded eyes to Buffy's face, his body slowly lowering to the floor of it's own accord as he kneeled about a foot away from them, struck into speechlessness. Buffy had no actual memory or proof of what had happened between them, yet she was certain enough throughout this entire time without his presence, that he was indeed Allison's father.

Allison smiled a little at Angel when she heard the word, 'daddy.' She had often heard about daddies in the books her aunt Willow had read to her, and what her mother had told her about them, but never had one for her own.now she did. "My daddy?"

Fresh tears sprung to Buffy's eyes as she nodded, her eyes settled on Angel's stupefied expression. "Yes.your daddy."

Angel looked to Buffy, his eyes slowly becoming misty, even if he tried to hold it back. Buffy had told her daughter that she was his.and he was there.there was nothing to hold them back now- nothing to hold him back from his daughter.

Allison took a step away from her mother towards Angel, her eyes holding on his face as her mother's had. She whispered in such soft innocence, "You're my daddy."

Looking to Buffy for the last chance for her to hurriedly step in with something else, but he saw the softness and warmth in her eyes as she watched her daughter with her true father, and he couldn't keep his eyes away any longer from his little girl's face. He reached out a hand to touch her hair, shocked by the softness as if it were feathers, before his fingertips rested on her cheek. "If you and your mother wish it to be, Allison."

Allison looked back at Buffy for her approval, Angel's hand still on her face. "Can he, mommy?"

Smiling through her tears, Buffy nodded. "Sure.it's what I wish."

Their daughter moved her eyes to Angel again. "You my daddy." Without another word, as if knowing exactly how she was going to react in the situation she was in and had known it ever since she'd heard about 'daddies', Allison moved to Angel and tried to wrap her short arms around his neck in a hug.

Angel was stunned as he felt her so close, his arms gently moved around her as he held her against him carefully, his eyes closed when he felt tears ready to escape them. He was holding his daughter, his little girl. The result of the miraculous day he had spent with his only love, in the form of human that he could never be again. This was his miracle. A tear slipped down his cheek as he sat back slightly, Allison completely scooped up against him in his arms and against his chest as she laid her head against his shoulder. He forced his eyes to open so he could look at Buffy, seeing the emotion on her face as tears streamed down her face in trailed that reddened the pale skin of her cheeks.

Sniffling through her tears, Buffy attempted to smile as Angel's eyes met hers, but she wasn't able to do it. She was witnessing the beginning of something so surreal- something she never thought she'd see before she died, but was actually taking place in front of her very eyes at that exact moment. Her only love joined with the wonder of a child he never thought he could have. She was able to give him that, she just wished more than anything that she could remember how she had come to bore Angel's baby.then she would have the absolution she'd always craved. And now.for the first time, Allison wasn't her daughter.she was theirs.

Angel managed to move an arm out towards Buffy, and she slid over next to him, resting against his side and closing her eyes as he held onto both of his girls. He had heaven in his arms, that he knew, and he wasn't about to lose his clutch of it again.not this time.

Allison turned her head to look at her mother, touching a tiny hand to Buffy's warm and slightly moist cheek. "Mommy crying 'gain."

Buffy managed a small smile for her as she reached up to envelop her daughter's hand in hers. "I'm only happy, honey. It's okay."

A sweet smile broke out over her face again as she laid her head against Angel's chest next to her mother's, and the three remained there as long as time allowed, in silence.tranquility.and unity.

1 Week Later

Angel bent down, softly kissing Buffy's forehead before rising and heading out of the bedroom. He turned at the doorway to look at her worn, sleeping figure. She was barely hanging on and he knew it. When the time came, she didn't want to be taken to the hospital to be revived or to be given a few more hours of life.Buffy wanted to die in her bed with Angel and their daughter beside her. But as far as Angel was concerned, that wasn't going to happen while he was around. He wasn't going to let his love die.

Giles opened the front door before Angel had a chance to knock, and he was gestured inside silently. Angel walked in, his hands in his coat pockets as he looked at the living room.

"Is there.any change?" Giles solemnly inquired.

Angel silently shook his head. "Did you find anything?"

The Watcher let out a slight breath, before rubbing his forehead. "There's nothing either scientific nor mythological that can help.I must have read every volume I own three times over." He plopped down into a chair, his weariness comprehensible on his features. "We're running out of time."

"She's running out of time," Angel numbly responded.

A look of despair clouded Giles' face for a moment before it disappeared. "What do you plan to do, Angel? Turn her? Kill yourself after she dies?"

"No," Angel dryly replied. "I wouldn't do that to her or Allison."

"Understood," Giles sighed, putting his glasses back on. "I can dig deeper into the past diaries of Slayerology and portents."

"You do that." Angel opened the door to leave. "I'll call you if her condition changes." Closing the door behind him, he headed down the sidewalk to the street, a look of absolute resolution on his face.

"Buffy?" she whispered in case her friend was awake. Getting no response, she slowly rested back in the chair, her eyes staying on her best friend. For one instance, Willow felt helpless. No amount of magic or voodoo could save the former Chosen One, and even Giles' knowledge had run up short on a way to help. With those lamentable areas of uselessness, which used to be saviors in the past, there was nothing that her friends and loved ones could do except pray the pain passed quickly for Buffy.

Silently Willow rose, moving out of the room to Allison's, and looking inside to check on the little girl. She was curled up on her bed under the covers, her thumb in her mouth as she peacefully rested- oblivious to what was happening around her. A sad look passed over the redhead's face, as she looked down, moving back to the master bedroom and once again repositioning herself in the chair next to Buffy's bed, holding her book in her hands. She knew Angel went to speak to Giles, and she prayed he had found something of help, but deep down, she knew that it was pointless to pray.

Angel's eyes moved skywards and stayed there as if searching for something of a higher power above him. He stood motionless in the area outside of the town's main cemetery.where Buffy would be laid to rest come the time. If he thought hard and painfully enough, he could see the entire funeral and burial service in his mind, and those thoughts brought nothing but agony and malicious pain to his unbeating heart. He was going to find a way, he *had* to find a way.

As soon as his gaze moved back down to the ground, he felt a sensation of weightlessness take over his body before a bright light flashed in front of him. Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself standing where he had only been twice before.when he had been with Buffy.in L.A..

The ethereal woman, wearing nothing but a robe to cover herself, smiled to him, before being joined by her companion. "You summoned us again."

Confused, Angel shook his head, feeling very inferior in the Oracles presence. "No, I.I hadn't. What brings me here again?"

"The girl," the male Oracle simply replied. "The dying fighter."

"Buffy," Angel uttered, her name cracking as it left his lips. "I'm going to lose her forever."

"You made plenty of sacrifices for others. In fact, since you regained your soul, your life has been a constant contention with doing right and making amends. That is honorable. The Slayer's life was the same way after her sixteenth year. She sacrificed her own life to protect others and to fight the darkness. She is a brave one."

"The bravest girl ever.and she still is, even in the state she's in," Angel was able to agree. "But I'm helpless.I gave up my human life when she was with me in L.A. so that I could be of good and make sure she was safe. Now I can't do anything."

"For one so old, you do not have much knowledge. The fighter has made forfeiture after forfeiture, as you have. It is commendable, but at some point has to end. This is her time."

Angel became numb, fear chilling his heart. "D-Do you mean that now.she's."

"No. She is alive now.as she will be in decades to come."

Blinking, the vampire looked at the pair in mystification, staying silent as he attempted to put together what they were saying.

"He is rather slow. She will live, but no longer as a Slayer," the male Oracle explained.

"She will be able to live on as a mother, your beloved, and a strong fighter- but only in the memories of those who aided her in her battles."

"You're saying that Buffy's going to live but not be strong as a Slayer anymore," he slowly replied.

"Yes. As of this moment, her life is no longer close to the premature death that was claiming her. And along with the life of a normal girl, comes the memories."

Memories, Angel thought to himself. They were not only saving Buffy's life but also restoring her forgotten memory of the day they spent together in bliss.

As if reading his mind, they gestured to him. "This is the last you'll see of us. Live the now human life you have doing good in more family matters which are closer to your heart."

Before he could speak, or even to offer unintelligible thanks, Angel found himself lying on the ground, staring at the sky. He couldn't believe it.it was too good to be true. But.

Angel's hands moved over his heart, and his remained still as he felt the rhythmic beating. His life had completely changed in only a few minutes.and now he was able to have a life with Buffy- she once again had her own life. Without another thought or his current mortality, he stood, heading back to Buffy's side as fast as he was able for a human.

"Angel!" Buffy bolted upright in bed, quivering like a leaf.

Willow sat up in alarm, dropping her book. "What's wrong?"

"Where's Angel?" Buffy immediately inquired, looking to her friend with almost panic-stricken eyes.

"He went to see Giles, he'll be back soon. Buffy, you should lay down, you don't want to."

She heard the front door slam, and heavy breathing as she saw Angel move to the door, broken out in a sweat and sagging against the frame. He actually looked.exhausted. And he was *breathing*.

Willow stayed in her chair, still too much in confusion as to what was going on to make a move to stand. Her eyes stayed on Angel as she too noted her friend's observations about the vampire. "You don't look too good."

Angel looked at Buffy, his eyes dark but shining in a way. "How do you feel?"

Buffy kept her eyes on his face, her body going numb when she realized her head was no longer aching with the pain of a thousand pounds of pressure. Her limbs no longer ached with each moment, and she was able to sit up without help. But what dawned on her the most severe, were the detailed memories that began to cloud her mind of Angel holding her intimately and kissing her. "A-Angel.?"

He moved over to her side, sitting down next to her and immediately wrapping his arms around her securely, as if trying to soften the blow of all that his love was realizing for the first time. He closed his eyes when he felt tears sting them, and became oblivious to Willow's presence in the room. At that time it was just him and Buffy.as it should be their entire lives.

Willow sensed the extremity of the emotions in the room, as well as her own befuddled mentality, but she silently stood and left the room, closing the door to give the couple privacy.

Tears slipped down her face as she clung to him, even more wondrous memories entering her mind. She was remembering how she had conceived Allison.with Angel.in L.A.?

"I don't understand," she hoarsely muttered as she felt Angel kiss the top of her head, cradling her close.

"A part of me doesn't either, Buffy.just believe in miracles?" he gently whispered.

It was at that time, before the words even left his lips, when Buffy's own heart went still at the sensation of his own pounding against hers. It was his heart.just as she had felt it two years ago when they laid in each other's arms. She pulled away enough to look up at him with shocked eyes, not able to find any words.

Angel looked down at her face, and saw the recognition in Buffy's eyes. He touched her face, smiling gently as a tear made it's way down his cheek. "Believe in miracles," he softly replied.

"Miracles.y-you're alive," she mouthed, her hand moving to find his and feel the warmth of his skin. "Oh, god, Angel, I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand.neither of us need to understand, Buffy. That's where fate takes a hand."

Buffy's glistening eyes moved to the door as it opened and Allison came running in and jumping up onto the bed and over to them. Her hand moved to their daughter's soft curls as Angel placed a hand gently on Allison's back, happiness in his eyes.

"Mommy, what happen?" the toddler asked in her voice of pure innocence, curling up between her parents.

Buffy's eyes met Angel's, and they silently shared an exchange of loving emotion, with the joy that their daughter was going to grow up with both of her parents.in a normal family, which was more than she could ever ask for.

"Mommy's perfect now, honey."

Angel smiled softly, moving his head towards Buffy's. "We're perfect now, Buffy.we're perfect."

Tears continued to shine in her eyes as she looks up at him, noting the astuteness of more color in his skin tone and the brightness in his eyes. But deep down inside, simply by looking into her love's eyes, she knew that she was equal with him in every way, shape and form. "I'm.not a slayer anymore, am I?"

Shaking his head, Angel studied her face with apprehensive eyes, wondering if that fact was going to upset her at all. Feeling relief when she smiled back to him, he could no longer hold back from kissing her softly, his arm still around their daughter. When they broke the kiss a few moments later, their eyes moved downward, to see Allison sleeping curled up in Angel's lap. Pulling away from Buffy a little, he gently picked her up, realizing that the weight of the little girl was more noticeable then before when strength was most of his character.

He moved over to the other side of the queen-sized bed, laying her down against the pillow and staring at her face a few moments before looking back to Buffy. She swallowed hard, trying to smile against the relief and happiness in her expression, and relaxed completely when Angel took her again in his arms, and they laid back on the bed. Buffy let out a sigh, staring at the ceiling and relishing the feel of his arms- still strong- around her. His eyes moved to her face and when they met her own gaze, his heart almost started to beat harder when he recognized the love and adoration in her eyes.

We are perfect.

1 Week Later

"I want mommy," Allison sniffled, rubbing her eyes with a small fist as Willow pulled her up into her lap on the couch.

Willow pushed her hair back; her anxiety for her best friend only a little reserved in her voice as she tried to calm the little girl. "Your mommy's sleeping right now, honey, let her rest a while, okay?"

This answer was received with a soft sob as Allison wiggled against the woman. "Want mommy."

Angel swallowed hard, looking down at Buffy's ashen face, her blonde locks limp against the bleached white of the pillow as he took her hand in his, holding it against his chest. "Buffy."

She swallowed, opening her eyes to look at him, the fight and courage no longer shining in her eyes, and no longer apparent in the least as the cancer vanquished her more quickly. "Angel.Allison."

"She's downstairs with Willow. Please, please let me take you to the hospital?" he pleaded as he touched her face, sadness and fear in his dark eyes. "I can't lose you yet."

Buffy licked her dry lips, trying to find her voice. "No hospital.I don't want to go there.I want to die in my bed." Tears suddenly trickled down her face as she let out a sob. "Angel, I'm so scared."

He leaned down to kiss her softly, a tear sliding down his own cheek as he reflected the same emotions she did. There was nothing anyone could do, no magic or curse that could save his beloved from leaving him and their child. He broke the kiss to whisper to her softly, "Please hold on?"

"I-I'm trying.please, can I see Allison?" Looking to him weakly, she kept the frail grasp on his hand. "I need to see her one more time."

Nodding slightly, Angel looked up at Giles, who was standing by the door with a somber expression to mask his despair. "Could you.?"

He nodded, moving out of the room and downstairs to retrieve their daughter as Angel looked back at Buffy. "Giles is going to get her."

"Y-You're going to stay here, right.with her?"

"I wouldn't leave her for a second, Buffy." He smoothed the back of his hand across her cheek as he kept his eyes on hers. "I'll do everything I can for her.you know that."

Buffy tried to smile. "I know. Just.remember that she hates being told what to do right out. Her favorite toys are at the top of her toy trunk." her voice cracked as she spoke, fresh tears rising in her eyes.

Angel let out a faint sob, kissing her forehead. "I know, Buffy. I love you."

"I-I love you. Angel.Allison," she whispered, her fingers clinging to his sleeve. Buffy's eyes slowly opened, a sparkle in them Angel hadn't seen earlier. "I remember.I remember when we created her together."

Trying to find his voice, awe hushed his tone. "Buffy.you remember that day?"

A faint smile touched her lips as her gaze matched his. "I.do."

Angel could no longer hold back the urge to kiss her again, his hand moving to the side of her face to rest there lightly.

Holding back another sob, Buffy tried to return the kiss, the memory of that forgotten day rejuvenating her heart. But why did she have to have no knowledge of after it all this time?

Slowly breaking the kiss, Angel looked down into his love's eyes for one of the last times. He whispered softly, "I love you.always and forever, Buffy."

Her eyes turned sad as she swallowed the huge lump forming in her throat. "I love you, Angel."

Allison darted into the room and up onto Buffy's bed with Angel's help. "Mommy?" the little girl whimpered as she sat next to Buffy's still form.

Turning her head to look at her, Buffy touched her hand. "Hi, honey."

"What wrong?" Allison sniffled; sensing her mother's sickness but not understanding even half of it. Angel laid a hand gently on their daughter's back, glad she couldn't see his sorrowful eyes as he fought to keep his despondency hidden from both of them.

"You know I'm sick, sweetheart.I'm going to go on a trip, okay? Your daddy will be here with you, to take care of you." At this point Buffy could barely contain the rush of tears down the side of her face that dampened the pillow at the end of their tracks. "Promise me you'll be good for him?"

"No.mommy don't go away," Allison whimpered, curling up against Buffy as she stuck her thumb in her mouth. "Stay."

Buffy was forced to close her eyes tightly to hide the hurt in her gaze. "I can't, Alli.I'm so sorry."

Allison started to cry at her mother's words, and Angel felt like he was going to break at that point, as well. It was happening.Buffy was only going to breathe and hold onto her life for a few more minutes before it was all lost.before she was defeated. At that instant Angel despised life and every cruelty and heartache it provided to its inhabitants. Buffy had done everything she could, and without benefit, to fight the demons in the darkness- to save lives. How could life, in turn, treat her with such disrespect? Next to demon, he supposed, death was a Slayer's only enemy.and inevitably one that couldn't be thwarted.

Angel was pulled out of his aching thoughts by Buffy's weak hand trying to grasp his harder, and his name only coming out as a whisper on her lips as her eyes stayed closed. "No," Angel uttered, gently pulling Allison away from Buffy as he kept his eyes on her face. "No- Giles!"

Allison's cries turned into wails as she writhed in Angel's arms. Giles hurried into the room and took a hold of Allison, carefully ushering her out of the room, as he knew what was happening. Angel moved his hands to Buffy's shoulders, his eyes panicked. "Buffy? Buffy?!" Getting no response from her, he moved his hand over her heart, his own dying once again as he felt the stillness beneath his palm. No.

He was barely able to catch the faint breath that left Buffy's lips as she let go of life, tears now trickling down his face freely.

"I.love.y-you."

"NO!" he hollered, his arms moving under Buffy's body and holding her tightly against him. "No.no.Buffy, no." He buried his face against her hair, her body like a limp rag in his strong arms. Angel cried against her as he clung to his love, not willing to let her go. He faintly heard Willow's sobs behind him, mixed with the screaming of his daughter outside of the room, but his mind was only able to focus on what he held for the last time in his arms. God, why did I leave her in the first place? How stupid and selfish could I have been?!

Continuing to silently cry tears of pain and grief, he became aware of tiny arms moving around Buffy's middle, and weaving with Angel's own grip. Opening his eyes, he looked down and saw Allison crying out for Buffy as she tried to cling to her as her father was. Angel turned his head to look back at Giles, whose own eyes were misty with tears, and Xander, who was tightly holding a crying Willow against his side, tears slipping down his face. Giles left the room a moment later to make the phone call to the hospital as the four mourners wept for the Chosen One.

Angel turned his head, opening his eyes and blinking as he roused from his short sleep. He felt Allison in his arms, and looked down at his daughter, who was also asleep against his chest. He didn't move, as to not wake her, and let his eyes take on a dazed and weary look as his conscious thoughts immediately moved to Buffy.

It had been a day since Buffy Summers had been buried in New Rest Cemetery, the most attractive and closest grounds to Angel's apartment, which he had moved into as soon as Cordelia had come back to Sunnydale with a moving van full of his belongings. Angel, Xander, and Giles spent most of that same day after the funeral moving Allison's things into the apartment, and had finished about an hour ago, leaving Angel to rest with his daughter and try any attempt at keeping the grievous thoughts of Buffy off of his mind.

Allison hadn't seemed to let Angel out of her sight, nor her small clutches ever since Buffy's body was taken out of the Summer's home and to the ambulance. Angel hadn't been able to move far from the child, himself. The little girl had managed to cry herself to sleep a few hours later that night, but Angel's tears hadn't completely ceased and dried until after he watched Buffy's casket get lowered into the damp ground. Bending his head slightly, he kissed the top of Allison's head, only moving her slightly so he could hold her more comfortably. She stirred slightly, letting out a whimpered, "Mommy," before settling back into sleep.

Angel slowly stood, laying his daughter down on the couch with careful arms, and covering her with a fleece blanket. Watching her a few long moments, he ran a hand back through his hair, and moved towards the door. He knew he didn't have to worry about Allison waking up for a while, and he needed a breather, if you pardoned the expression. Walking outside, he looked around the darkened alley, fresh pain in his eyes at another thought about Buffy. A new Slayer was obviously called, and when they relocated to Sunnydale, what then? If he allowed himself to get killed.no, he couldn't think about that.

But that brief point-of-thought caused new questions to arise in his mind. How was he going to take care of a growing child twenty-four hours a day when he could only be outside twelve of them? That unspoken inquiry, plus many more threatened to fatigue his brain. How was he going to manage this? But ironically at that point he didn't care. All he had now was his daughter, and he'd be damned if he was going to let her go for any reason under the sun and moon.

A sudden dizzying sensation swept through Angel as he closed his eyes, opening them to see that he was no longer in the alley, that he was once again in front of the recognizable atmosphere of the Oracles. He looked to them, not speaking, something telling him that they called him there and not the other way around.

The female oracle smiled, reading his thoughts. "You are right, we brought you here. Much has happened since our last visit."

Angel swallowed. "Yes." He found himself at a lack for words, remembering conversing with them last when he was fighting with his and Buffy's destiny to be together. Now that was gone completely with no hope of return.

"You are a father since that day," the male oracle spoke up in an indifferent tone. "But you only found out at late.and then the fighter was gone."

"There's something I must know. When you took back that day I spent as a mortal, Buffy wasn't to remember. But before she died.she knew."

"She was brave.one of the bravest in her generation. It was a gift- something to quell her heart. She deserved that- her peace of mind did."

"Thank you," he managed to utter. "Thank you." He went silent a few moments before speaking up again in vain questioning. "C-Can you bring her back?" Angel managed to ask, wondering why he was summoned again, and praying that it was for that reason- that he could have his love back in his arms.

"No," the female oracle replied simply. "A life cannot be brought back.but one can be recalled to him who's worthy.and with purpose."

"What are you talking about?" Angel asked incredulously.

"You can once more become a man as you experienced years ago with the fighter.you can again become human."

Swallowing hard, Angel absorbed this information. "I-It's possible?"

"Yes. You have greater purpose than you ever did before, Angel, to raise and care for the very center of the love you shared with the girl."

"So you're letting me become human once more for my daughter? For Allison?"

The male oracle looked to the woman, as if exasperated by how slow the vampire was at understanding their means.

"For that reason, yes. And also for all that you have sacrificed for love.for others in need," the female oracle smiled softly. "You will not be helpless.you will have the strength of a fighter.to protect your daughter and yourself. But you will no longer be able to call to us, and we will no longer be able to address you. You understand this?"

"I do," Angel nodded, feeling slight hope raise his despondent soul. "And my daughter?"

"She will be protected by her mother's love and strength.and with yours."

Angel wasn't able to respond before he fell back, hitting the pavement. Blinking, he looked up, his body feeling as if it was full of confused energy. He awkwardly stood, his hand moving over his heart to feel the rhythmic beating of the vessel, and disbelief washed over him once more. Human.I am a man once more.

He moved for his apartment, getting inside and closing and locking the door behind him as he looked to his daughter. His mind was too full to the brim of overwhelming thoughts and the slight, strange feeling inside of him as he fought to get used to the fact that he was alive. Bending down, he picked up his daughter in her arms, moving to the small room off of the kitchen to lay her in her bed. Once more pulling the covers over her small body, he watched her in the darkness of the room, holding her tiny hand in his as he kneeled next to her bed and kept his eyes on her peaceful form.

He no longer had the love of his life, but now was present in this new, enriching form, to care for and protect the life of his love. Next to having Buffy help him raise their daughter, he could not think of a worthier, nor consummated, reason to breathe and live in this world of unfair woes and uncertain advantages.

Angel kissed her forehead, whispering in the softest tone to Allison, "Goodnight." His eyes moved to the ceiling, as if looking towards the heavens, which now cared for his beloved, before he whispered in the same soothed voice, "We're going to be all right.I promise, love," and it was then when Angel knew without a doubt- that it would be.

END.