They woke in the morning at nine. She was curled up on the floor, and he was curled around her. The sun came in the window and baked the apartment. He hadn't ever known it could be so intensely bright and warm.

"Buffy?" He asked as he began grazing her bare shoulders with his tongue.

"Mmmm." she was waking up.

"Come back to me. wake up love, I need you," he whispered.

"Mmmm. morning."

"Morning."

"I like the waking up part, where you are next to me. I never got to do that before, you were gone when I woke up."

"I know. I like this part too. Buffy?" he stopped, did he want to say it? He did.

"Buffy, move in with me."

"Huh?"

"OH, like you weren't waiting for that, you act so surprised. but you know. those are the things that couples do, remember? Drawers? Toothbrushes? Things like that."

"I remember, but the last time I think I scared you."

"What?"

"Well, the last time I suggested drawers you told me you were moving."

"Different circumstances, those were different circumstances, entirely different circumstances."

"I know, but you do seem to have some commitment issues." He sat up, she followed suit.

"Commitment issues?"

"Well, in 240 years you never settled down, sounds like commitment problems." She smiled and he laughed and stood up. "Where are you going?"

"Bathroom."

"Want company?"

"To pee?"

"Oh, well, you could pee and I could shower."

"Want company?"

"To shower?"

"To coin a Sunnydale High phrase, duh?"

"Sure."

"Yeah?" He was sitting at the table, having his toast and captain crunch.

"I'm leaving."

"What?"

"NO! I'm sorry, we really have to work on that. I'm going to class, I've missed like two weeks, so I should actually show up there before I flunk out of my first year of college, I mean, talk about mom having a problem with my back-from-the-undead boyfriend she's have a fit if I failed because of you. So I'm going to class, and you're wearing blue, what happened to the black?"

"I thought I'd be different, keep you on your toes."

"Oh, I like it, but I'm always on my toes with you, or my knees or the counter."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, get to class, I'll meet you later?"

"K. Love you." She walked to him smiling and put her arms around him. He leaned up and met her mouth, it was so perfect. "Ooo, captain crunch."

"This stuff is great!"

"I know. Bye."

"Bye." He resumed his breakfast and she just stood there. "You're not leaving."

"I was thinking about it, I have five minutes though, so comere."

"Buffy, to class, go."

"Going." and she left.

"Hey Buffy! How's it going?"

"Good. You?"

"Oh, it's been great, actually Oz and I were thinking of bronzing tonight for old time sake, wanna join us, we'll get the gang together?"

"Yeah, sounds great, but I guess I'll have to patrol too, but most evil doesn't come out until after eight anyway."

"Is that from the slayer rule book?"

"No, it's wishful thinking, but I think it's a good rule to petition for." They walked into class and took their seats. Dr. Ward had taken over for Dr. Walsh, he was okay, but he didn't get along with the assistants and wasn't as interesting. Class was over and Buffy and Willow were talking about the plans for that night.

"Ooo, Buffy, watch out, ex-boyfriend approaching fast." Buffy turned and Riley came up to her.

"Buffy."

"Riley, how are you?"

"You care?"

"Of course I do Riley, it's just. I want us to be friends, if we can, you helped me a lot."

"Buffy, if it's about Faith, how would I have known?" They started walking out of the room and Riley was walking with her.

"Riley, it's not you, it's me, it's that I have other things that aren't finished, that won't be. nothing having to do with Faith. We jus." She felt two hands creep around her waist. She remembered how many times Riley had done that when she had wished it had been Angel. She knew it was him this time.

"Hi Buffy. Miss me?"

"Hi Angel, I did."

"Who is HE Buffy? He's the guy from the bronze, the other night, you don't have to put on a show for me Buffy, let's just put Faith behind us, she's over, old news. And why are you kissing him?" She stopped midkiss and realized she was being mean.

"Riley," she took a deep breath, "Riley, this is Angel, my fiancé, Angel, this is Riley."

"Nice to meet you." Angel extended a hand and Riley just stood there.

"Buffy, you told me once before you were getting married, remember, to a guy named Spike who was totally old, does this ring a bell, look at my face, it's not a scared face, it's an I-love-you face, an I'm-sorry face."

Angel backed off, "Buffy, why don't I meet you at the dorm in a little while."

"Angel, you don't have t. okay. I'll see you later." She kissed him on the cheek and he left with Willow.

"Riley, I wasn't honest with you before. I never told you really about my high school years."

"No, you didn't, why don't you start. Is that guy from high school?"

"Actually, he's from 18th century Ireland."

"Huh?"

"Angel was a vampire. We met while I was in high school, our high school was on the Hellmouth, you've been there, and he came to help us, and I guess we kind of fell in love."

"You fell in love with a vampire?"

"Yes, I know, ironic, twisted, whatever. anyway."

"What do you mean, 'was'?"

"Well, when we beat Adam, the Powers That Be gave him his humanity back."

"So where was he before this?"

"He was in LA. You see, in 1898 he was cursed by gypsies because he killed one of their daughters, so they restored his soul which made him care about what he had done. In high school, he ended up loosing his soul and started killing more people again, and I had to stab him and send him to hell and he came back from hell, with his soul and he left after graduation so he wouldn't hurt me and so I could meet someone who was normal and I met you."

"So?"

"So, Riley, I do care about you, but I'll never love anyone like I love Angel, and we're getting married, now he's human, we can grow old together and have children and I want to spend my life with him. I'm sorry, I know I should have told you about him, but what could I've said, I'm in love with a vampire?"

"Oh, Riley? He's from Iowa."

"Willow, that's not what I meant." He watched her try to squirm her way out of an explanation.

"Well, Riley is a this teacher's assistant for Dr. Walsh and he's in the initiative and tha."

"And him and Buffy were lovers."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to Willow. I never thought, I mean, I wanted her to move on and find someone who could give her a normal life. I knew I wouldn't like it, but it's what I wanted, someone she could grow old with, someone who cou."

"I know Angel, but now that someone is you, and might I say that shirt looks great on you. The color works with your natural color."

"My natural color was white."

"Was, being the important word, now you're nice and tanned."

"Willow, you're avoiding the subject. Does Buffy love Riley?"

"She loves you."

"But did she, was she in love with him?"

"I don't know, there was sparkage, but I don't know if she loved him yet, but I think he loved her. I don't know, she never really talked about it. I don't think she was ready to admit that she was moving on, she didn't want to, of course she couldn't come to take the ring off, so I don't know."

"Willow, he said something about Faith?"

"Yeah, Faith woke up, switched her body with Buffy's, then slept with Riley, then a few vampires took some people at church hostage and Buffy and Faith showed up, killed the vampires and then fought and Buffy switched the bodies back with a spell and Faith took off, we don't know where to."

"Wow! Like six months goes by and so much changes, I don't even think that much changed in the 24 years before I was changed."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, I mean that whole colonization of America was a pretty big thing."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that."

"It happens."

"Willow?"

"Yeah?"

"Should I ask Buffy about him?"

"I think that's between you and Buffy."

"You feel up to a party honey? I don't want you to wear yourself out, what with the baby, I don't think that a lot of partying and demons is good, prenatal stress and all that."

She looked at him, "Xander, have you actually been reading baby books? You know way too much about this."

"Well, Anya, you are having a baby, my baby and I just needed to adjust, I mean I'd never thought about having children, not now anyway, but you're pregnant and I love you."

"I was hoping you'd say that Xander, I love you too." She kissed him. "I think one night of partying will be okay, and besides I want to get to know some of your other friends."

"No you don't."

"Why?"

"You don't want to know the mystery that is Cordelia and you don't want to make nice with dead-boy, and who else, his freak demon friend, and Oz?"

"I already know Oz a little and anyway, Angel seems really nice."

"Yeah when he's not maiming and murdering teachers."

"He's not like that anymore."

"How do you know?"

"Because he's not a vampire anymore Xander, and you shouldn't hold it against him."

"Well, I'm sorry, but you know something, he killed and tortured people I care about and he left Buffy, and."

"And Xander, I did horrible things too and you love me, so why can't you forgive him?"

"I don't know." He looked at her and she caressed his cheek. "I don't know."

"Maybe you should try, for Buffy's sake."

"Maybe."

"Spike? Time to go love."

"I know, I was just resting."

"I know, we've been busy, I'm sure she has been too. I can't wait to see my Angel."

"You weren't going to say that name again, love."

"What? I can't see my daddy?"

"I thought I was."

"Shhh, you are, but Angel is or was my daddy, and I want my daddy back."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, by the time I'm done with the slayer, he'll be begging to come back."

"Dru." he was panicking, had he wanted Angel around, he never would have gone to Buffy in the first place and the world would probably have been sucked into hell.

"Shhh. Spike. quiet love, let's go, did you find the girl?"

"Not yet, but Max will. he just needs time."

"So, where do we look for the slayer? Better yet, I'm hungry."

"I know where we will probably find all you can eat."

"A buffet? Goody."

"What?"

"Riley."

"Riley? Why?"

"Because you were lovers and I want to know if you love him."

"I love you Angel."

"I know, but do you love him?"

"Angel. let's get into this now, we have to be at the Bronze in like 20 minutes and we'll probably have to kill a few vampires on the way. so let's afford ourselves time."

"Buffy, I want to know, this is serious."

"Why?"

"Because Buffy, I'm still not normal. I've still got bag."

"Angel, you are a nice normal guy who I love and want to spend forever with."

"Buffy, I'm not normal, normal guys can't recall the powdered wig days with personal intimate knowledge of the colonization of the Americas."

"Angel, you're a guy with a past, everyone has one, I have one. we have one together and that's the way we're going to be. Riley doesn't matter."

"Does he? Do you still have feelings for him? Do you love him?"

"Angel," she walked to him, why was he pushing so much? "Angel, I care about Riley, I love you. I don't want a normal relationship, I never did, I wanted you, no matter how I had to have you."

"Buffy, I wanted that too, but I wanted you to have someone who could make love to you and give you children and a life and someone who could grow old with you and watch you hair turn gray."

"And now you can. Angel, just because you're normal now and I can have you, it doesn't mean that I don't want you now. that whole forbidden love thing, it wasn't working, I wanted you. a relationship isn't worth having if it's not with you."

"Then why would you have sex with him?"

"Angel, I was lonely, I wanted to make the pain stop anyway possible. I tried being happy Buffy. it didn't work, I tried being Anne in LA, that didn't work, nothing did, I want you and now I can. I mean it was just sex."

"Surely you must have felt something for him."

"Yeah, he's a really good friend, I mean, I love him in a friendly way."

"Buffy, tell me the truth, I don't care what it is, just tell me."

"The truth? The truth?"

"I can handle it."

"The truth? I don't know Angel. I never wanted to be unfaithful to you even though you wanted me to, you told me to, you left me and told me to find a normal life, so I tried, Parker was a mistake, I thought he cared, but he was using me, a life lesson in college, I guess everyone does it. But Riley? I guess we have something in common, he couldn't tell anyone about the initiative, I couldn't tell anyone about the slayer thing, and we had things in common, we could talk and he's funny and he's smart. and he's strong, he could fight, protect himself, he wasn't a bad kisser," his face went pale, paler than it had been in the past couple weeks. "But Angel? He wasn't you, he couldn't even begin to compare. When I'm with you Angel, it's like I can't breathe, I can't sleep without you and I can't live without knowing you're here. The past few months have torn me up inside, it's like I just wanted to give up fighting a demon, or a vampire and just let it kill me, I wanted. I wanted you to take me with you and you didn't. Angel, I wanted."

"Buffy, I'd thought about it, I won't deny that I'd never thought about it, I wanted to. but I couldn't, I hated to do that, I shouldn't have done that."

"Angel, I'm glad you did. I know I shouldn't be, but I am, it's. he's not you, he's never been you, he pales in comparison, Angel, when I'm with you, I have to remember to breathe, you kiss me and I want to die, it's just so intense, I can't be with you enough, can't be close enough to you. You don't have to worry about Riley, I have what I want, and he's right here. Okay?"

"Okay. Shall we go?"

"Yeah, we should, but we could just stand everyone up."

"No, that's not the plan."

"Don't you want to just stay here, try that wall thing again?"

"Maybe it's best when not planned."

"Just promise me you'll do it once though."

"I promise, let's go."

She was relieved as they walked toward the Bronze. She had gotten to say the things she had wanted to but never had the guts to say. She walked with a lighter load, he could feel her, less tense, holding onto his hands a little less protectively, she was beginning to believe in him.

"Buffy?"

"What?"

"Buffy, I want to tell you something."

"Tell me."

"It drove me crazy seeing him touch you at the Bronze the night I came back, and this morning when you were talking to him in the hallway, and it killed me when Willow told me you had been with him. It drove me crazy thinking of leaving you so someone else could be with you and I couldn't. I hated leaving, I didn't want to but I had no choice, you deserved someone who could kiss you, who could make love to and not worry about turning into a serial killer. And sometimes, I still think it's inside me. I was."

"Angel, you're not the same guy who killed everyone. I know that, why don't you?"

"Buffy, even before I was changed, I was worthless, I took advantage of women and drank all the time and had fights in bars. and hurt people, ignored my parents and then I killed them."

"Angel, I know you killed them, that wasn't you, it was the demon, you may have been a louse, but you weren't a killer, you're not one now and people change. Look at Cordelia, she was a bitch and now she's learning about herself. you did too. A lot of people change when they fall in love, look at me, I never looked forward to the future until I learned about my destiny, and then I met you and a future without you isn't one I wanted."

"I know. We're here."

"I know, want to talk later?"

"Yeah, let's have some fun."

"Are you going to dance with me?"

"I don't dance."

"Slow dance only, all you have to do is hold me."

"I can do that."

They walked in and everyone was there.

"Hey guys! The Scooby gang is back!" Buffy said as she hugged her best buds.

"Yeah, and look, so are the blood sucking vampires we know all too well." Cordelia said pointing in the direction of Spike and Drusilla as they danced in the middle of the dance floor.

"What are they doing here?" Willow asked. Buffy didn't know, they didn't seem to be hunting, but why were they there?

"I don't know, but I guess I should find out. I'll go ask."

"Buffy? You don't just walk up to Drusilla and Spike and ask them why they're somewhere."

"Why not Angel? I mean, it cuts to the chase, gets to the point and I'm in the mood to kick some girl ass, who's better than Dru's?"

She walked up to them and tapped Spike on the shoulder. "Eh em. May I cut in?"

"Buffy! What a pleasant surprise, I see you've brought my Angel with you."

"He's not yours Drusilla, he left you, remember? He doesn't want your kind anymore."

"Or does he?" Drusilla walked over to Angel and pressed against him.

He hadn't really seen her since before Acathla was released. He remembered her scent, the perfume she wore, the feel of her grinding against him on the floor of the mansion. Things he enjoyed, things he still thought about, things he had done with girls before he'd met Darla, things he'd never tell Buffy about, he couldn't.

"I think he remembers perfectly well Buffy, the fun times we had together don't you love?"

"Fun times? I wouldn't call them that, maybe pathetic."

"Oh, you don't mean that, you don't want to anyway, you have a lot to loose now, your life for one, I bet you can still taste the blood in your mouth, Buffy's blood, you think about it. you can't tell which you like more, the blood or her body, and it makes you sick."

"Such a great performance, but you know, if you two are going to stay in Sunnydale, you're not going to do it at the Bronze, now let's just go outside and fight."

"Oh, we're not here to fight, we thought we'd say hi, and maybe catch a little snack."

"Drusilla, I think these are the longest sentences I've ever heard, have you been seeing a therapist? I mean, you do need some help, you're not exactly all sane and everything."

"You'd be wise to remember that, Buffy." Drusilla turned toward him, growled in his ear and moved her tongue on his face from his cheek to his lips. "You would too, daddy." She turned and left with Spike.

"Jealous Spike?"

"I'm just not going to share you again, Dru."

"You won't have to. I've got plans, remember, big plans. The girl, she wants Buffy's man, she'll get him, and Buffy will be so distraught she'll wither up and die and we'll give her a proper burial." He couldn't stand it, he couldn't deal with her when she was thinking about Angel, he took off. She made no attempt to go after him.

Angel turned away from Buffy. She went to him and he couldn't let her see his eyes. She often could tell what she was thinking and he couldn't let her see what he thinking. Dru was right, she knew these things, she could tell what he was thinking, more than Buffy could. Dru had him in her, he had her in him. There existed things he couldn't ever tell Buffy, things Drusilla knew, and that's why she was dangerous. He couldn't look at Buffy, couldn't let her see that being that close to Drusilla again had affected him.

"Angel?" She spoke and tried to break his silence.

"Buffy, I." he couldn't. he just walked away. He left the Bronze where he came upon Drusilla once again, this time he didn't see Spike anywhere.

"Couldn't stand it could you Angel?" Dru said. He tried to keep walking, but it didn't work. "Angelus. why don't you just admit it, I know things. you're in my mind." She came close to him, she pressed into him, "You're warm now. it's been too long I've felt warmth Angel. come with me, let's go somewhere." she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close. "I can stop this torment Angel, I can stop it, give you peace of mind."

"Stop, get away from me."

"You tell me that, and yet you don't walk away from Angel, we're connected, more connected than your Slayer, you may have drank from her Angel, but she never drank from you, I did. You cared enough to bring me into your world.you never did that for her." Her hands were moving slowly down his back, working their way under his shirt.

"Get away from me." He tried to pull away, but she had him.

She inhaled deeply, "Your smell Angel, no fear, you know you want it, let me give you what you want, like you gave me what I wanted, what I needed, you know this wondrous hero routine is wearing thin." She began necking him, giving him love bites, he couldn't refuse, he couldn't leave. He tried, but she soon was forging her tongue into his mouth, and he tried to stop, but couldn't. He tried to pull away, but she was a part of him. He couldn't stop.

"Buffy, that's not going to solve the problem, you need to go after him. Whatever is going on, you should talk." Buffy looked at her best friend, her wisdom was unbelievable.

"You're right Will, I'm gone, catch you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, definitively."

She left the Bronze and began walking toward the apartment when she saw it. Her insides shook and twisted. She was dying inside, knowing he wasn't evil, he knew exactly what he was doing. She tried walking up to them, but she couldn't, she turn and ran.

"BUFFY!" He tried to break away, but Dru pulled him back to her.

"Angel. don't you see, you're not meant to be in this world. let m." he felt it, jus then, she stopped talking and he felt her fangs puncture deep into his neck. She had her hands twisted in his shirt and he couldn't pull away, he tried to fight it, but he couldn't, he was helpless.

He felt the blood being drained from his body, his heart getting weaker and he fell to the ground and Dru went down with him.

She walked the streets looking for him, not knowing where she could find him. She remembered the moments she'd shared with him, under him, under his strength, his power. He had said he loved her, and she couldn't admit it, but she loved him then too. It had been love at first sight. Buffy would loose everything soon, her man. She was walking the streets she had so many times, and she stopped. She saw him. He recognized her immediately. He was unsure of what to do.

"Hi."

"Hi." He said. She didn't know what to say, so she just grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her. She had her hands in his hair and could remember grabbing him, pulling him into her. She met his mouth with hers and he hesitated. She insisted and soon he was kissing her too. The kiss ended and he took her hand and they just walked in silence.

He bent over, he could hear her heart pumping away. He saw her neck, it was beautiful, he couldn't resist, he leaned closer, smelled her skin, her life, and he began kissing her neck as he put his game face on and he bent in for the drink.

"BLOODY HELL!!!!!!"

"What are you doing?"

"What was I doing? You Slayer, me vampire, what do you think I was doing?"

"So what are you just sitting there for, you have me pinned down, do it!"

"I can't."

"What?"

"I can't."

"The initiative again?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because you're here, your eyes are red, you've been crying, you're upset. What's wrong?" He changed back and let her sit up.

"You don't want to know, I don't want to know, I'm sure you don't."

"Tell me."

"Where's Drusilla?"

"I don't know, I got mad at her and I left, told her I'd see her later. Why does she have to pull that stuff? She knew I hated that, I told her if we were going to be together, she wasn't to see him."

"Well, you should have been more specific, although I told him the same thing."

"What are you talking about cutie?"

"I'm talking about your girlfriend and my boyfriend making out outside the Bronze."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me. He hands were up his shirt, his hands were all over her and there was major tongue-age going on. I was stupid for thinking that that was behind him." He sat, frozen, she could tell he was just as upset as she was.

"I can't believe it. She said she was over him, she said she just wanted to use the girl to get him and then. why am I talking to you? I HATE YOU!"

"Mutual feeling, but listen, what can we do about Dru and Angel. You want her, I want him, so how do we get her to leave him alone? Any ideas?"

"I don't know." Just then they both heard commotion and they looked toward the door.

"SPIKE? Are you home?"

"YEAH Dru! I'm in here!"

"I brought you a present." She walked in dragging a body, and she let go when she saw Buffy. "What's she doing here?"

"I'll ask the questions, why were you kissing Angel?"

"Oh, I was in the moment. Anyway, you can forgive me now, I, it's perfect Spike!" Buffy looked down at the body and recognized the clothes, she ran over to him and she turned his face.

"ANGEL!"

"Spike, I brought him so you could be sure that I'm over him. I had to get close to him."

"You didn't. he didn't. did you?"

"No Spike, I didn't, I just killed him a little, there's just more, do you want to finish him off, or shall I?"

"ANGEL!" She tried shaking him, but he was unconscious, she had to get him to the hospital, she could detect a pulse but not too much, she started doing what CPR she remembered. She felt a tapping on her shoulder.

"Deary? You know, you can get him back, there's still enough life in him, it'll be hard, but I can do it. It's your choice, think your friend could curse him again? Wanna roll the dice deary?"

"Angel?" I was walking toward him.

"I can't see, who are you?"

"You already know me, hold on." It was overkill, a little too bright. "Better?"

"Tara was it?"

"You remember."

"I couldn't forget, you saved my life, gave me a new one, so why am I here? Why would you give me something and take it all away?"

"I thought there were some things better left talked about person to person. Or rather person to me. I've been listening to you Angel."

"Not the very best place to be listening, huh?"

"Angel, you have so much good in you. I think you need to see a world with no Angel, you keep acting like you don't know what you want, when you know exactly what you want, you just need to see."

"I don't know what I want, I want Buffy to have a normal life, I don't want her to have to deal with my baggage, I can't tell her the things I've done. How can I?"

"Angel, if you want her to love you the way you love her, you have to tell her everything. She won't think less of you. Look at her, she's mourning." I put my hand down and swirled it around to allow him to see the world. "Angel, you're dying. You came to me because you needed to, but I don't have to power to send you back to her, you need to want that bad enough to go on your own Angel, only you can help her now."

He looked down, I could feel his confusion. He wanted what was best for her. "Maybe you should just erase me from her memory. Make the past few years disappear, take them back. Make her forget, destroy me, take me wherever you want, just. I cause her too much pain." His memories and thoughts began to take over the visions and we floated along the memories he'd made, the memories he relived.

We are in his old apartment and Buffy opens the door, comes in and closes it behind her. She walks over to the bed and sees it's been made. One of his shirts is laid out on it. She goes over to the bed and reaches for the shirt. Behind her Angelus steps over to a statue, picks up a necklace hanging from it and puts it on. Buffy turns and sees him.

"Angel!" Buffy runs to him and kissed him. "Oh, my God! I was so worried!"

"I didn't mean to frighten you." He says.

"Where did you go?"

"Been around."

"Ohhh. Oh, my God!" She hugs him, "I was freaking out! You just disappeared."

"What? I took off." He walks over to the bed and picks up his shirt.

Obviously confused, Buffy speaks. "But you didn't say anything. You just left."

He pulls on the shirt. "Yeah. Like I really wanted to stick around after that."

"What?"

"You got a lot to learn about men, kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night."

"What are you saying?"

"Let's not make an issue out of it, okay?" He grabs his coat and continues, "In fact, let's not talk about it at all. It happened."

"I, I don't understand. Was it m-me? Was I not good?"

"You were great. Really." He says with a chuckle, "I thought you were a pro."

"How can you say this to me?"

"Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal."

"It *is* a big deal!"

He watched, tears trickling down his face, astounded at his own cruelty. He walked to her and put his hand on her shoulder, but she could not feel it, these were memories, shadows of the past, things that would not change.

"It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies? Come on, Buffy. It's not like I've never been there before." He reaches his hand up to her face and she jerks back.

"Don't touch me."

"I should've known you wouldn't be able to handle it." He begins to leave.

"Angel!" He turns to her and with tears streaming down her face she says, "I love you."

"Love you, too." He walks out the door saying, "I'll call you."

He stood there, watching Buffy fall to the floor in tears, trying to stop her pain. "I did this to her, look at her."

"I am, and do you want to know what I see? I see a girl in love, same as I do know, Angel, every person gets hurt by love."

"Not like she did." And we travel to another time, another place.

"Buffy?" Buffy lays her right hand against the side of his face. "Is that you?" He says, as he lays on the bed, ill.

"It's me."

"I didn't want to go without seeing you." She puts her finger to his lips to stop him from talking.

"Angel, I can cure you."

"It's okay. - I'm ready."

"Angel listen to me." And she takes a hold of his shoulders. "Sit up." Angel scoots up a little higher, but he is weak and moving clearly hurts a great deal.

"You're gonna live. You have to live."

"What way?"

"Drink..." Angel frowns as Buffy takes off her jacket.

"Drink me."

"No." Angel shakes his head, appalled.

"It's the only way."

"No. - Get away." He forces himself up. Buffy takes hold of his right arm as he stands up, looking up at him.

"It'll save you."

"It'll kill you."

"Maybe not. -. Not if you don't take it all."

"You can't ask me to do that."

"I won't let you die. I can't. Angel the blood of a Slayer is the only cure."

"Faith's..."

"I tried. - I killed her."

"Then it's over." Angel stumbles into the main room. He has trouble walking straight and Buffy grabs him by the arms and pulls him up to face her.

"It is never over! I won't let you die. Drink! Please..."

Buffy looks at him, then pulls back her fist and hits left temple. His head snaps around but he stays on his feet. He turns back to look at Buffy and she hits him again. He still doesn't go down, but it takes him a little longer to come back up. Buffy hits him a third time and this time Angel spins back with a growl, vamped out. He just stands there while Buffy pulls down the shoulder strap of her shirt, then grabs him by the hair at the back of his head. She looks at him for a moment then firmly pulls his head down against her neck. For a moment they remain like this, then he suddenly bites down. Buffy gasps with the pain but holds still. Some blood begins to run out beneath his lips and down her shoulder. Buffy slowly sinks backwards to the floor. With Angel lying on top still drinking, Buffy's left hand reaches out and finds the pewter pitcher. She crushes it in her hand.

He walks over, watching everything that happened. She puts her hands against his sides as if she was going to push him off, but kicks out with her left leg instead, breaking the sofa table in half. She stares up into his eyes with a tear in the corner of her eye.

"Look at her. She's scared."

"No, she's not Angel, and that's what scares you."

"I remember, what it felt like, it hurt, it felt like you were burning inside. She's scared."

Then her eyes drift shut and her head sinks to the side just as Angel finally rolls off her, panting. His face morphs back to human and he pushes himself up looking over at Buffy. The redness around the arrow wound is gone.

"Buffy?" She lies motionless eyes closed. "Buffy!"

"She almost died."

"She didn't."

"Angel, you need to understand something very important before you have enough power to return to her."

"I shouldn't return to her, that's the point isn't it? I hurt her and it's best if I just stay away, make her forget everything, you can do that, if the Oracles can erase a day, you can surely erase a couple years."

"She would remember Angel. She would always remember, she can't get away from you, cannot escape the feelings she has and it will always draw her back to you. You need to see that she would not be better off without you."

We see Buffy wearing a long flowery dress and she is pacing Angel's apartment. Angel comes down the steps to his apartment.

"I'm guessing that expression isn't because they were all out of fresh OJ at the deli. - What happened?"

"Nothing happened. - I just.."

"Where have you been?"

"I went to see the Oracles. I asked them to turn me back."

"What? - Why?" She asks him.

"Because more then ever I know how much I love you."

"No. No, you didn't."

"And if I stayed mortal one of us would wind up dead, maybe both of us. You heard what Mohra said. He said others would come."

"They always come. And they always will. But that's my problem now, not yours, remember?"

"No, I won't just stand by and let you fight, maybe die, alone."

"Then we fight together."

"You saw what happened last night. If anything I'm a liability to you. You take chances to protect me, and that's not just bad for you, it's bad for the people we were meant to help."

"So what? You just took a whole 24 hours to weigh the ups and downs of being a regular Joe and decided it was more fun being a superhero?"

"You know that's not it. How can we be together if the cost is your life, or the lives of others?" Buffy just stares at him and after a moment he takes her into his arms "I know. I couldn't tell you. I wasn't sure - if I could do it if I woke up with you one more morning."

"I understand. - So, what happens now?"

"The Oracles are giving us back the day, turning back time, so I can kill Mohra before his blood makes me mortal."

"When?"

"Another minute." She is crying now.

"A minute? No. No, it's not enough time!"

"We don't have a choice. It's done."

"How am I supposed to go on with my life knowing what we had? What we could have had?"

"You won't. No one will know but me."

"Everything we did."

"It never happened."

"It did. It did. I know it did! I felt your heart beat."

"Buffy.." They kiss. Buffy looks over at the clock. The minute is almost up.

"No! Oh God. It's not enough time." He begins to cry and tries to quiet her.

"Shh, please. Please." The hold each other tightly both crying. "Please, please."

"No. I'll never forget. I'll never forget. I'll never forget. I'll never forget."

He watches as the memory fades. "She broke the promise."

"You know that's not true. She couldn't, even when she should have, Angel, her love for you is deeper than time, transcendent of everything that is me, more powerful than the plans I had for you. I made new ones, and you are part of that now, and you must learn. How can make you see?"

"You can't, I don't believe it, she's cried so much over me. Why did you send me back?"

"Back?"

"From hell? From what I deserve, why? She would have been better without me."

"Would she have? She doesn't believe that. Why do you?"

"She can't believe it about me, but you know the truth, I wasn't worth saving, why?"

"It wasn't I who brought you back, it was her wish for you."

"I wasn't worth it, I'm not. I never was. She wouldn't let me go."

"She wouldn't because she couldn't."

"She should have."