I thought I try my hand at something else. It's set during Season 3, after 'Lover's Walk', but before 'Amends' and it's somewhat AU. Also, it's a Buffy/Angel/Cordelia fic. Hope you enjoy

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Her heart filled with much pain and sorrow. She knew she couldn't deny herself any longer. She couldn't believe that it had all come down to this. But no matter how much it hurt, she knew it was for the best. She hoped it was for the best. The words rang in her head, over and over. And she knew them to be true. This was the only way she could think of to settle this mess. And hopefully, she would be able to move on. It was for the best. That's what she kept telling herself. She clung to that. She didn't want to do this, but it couldn't keep going. There was too much pain and hurt to sort through. Doing this was the only way she could have herself a clear mind and heart. And maybe, in the end, she could take it all back and everything would be perfect. Everything would be fine, but this had to happen first

"I'm sorry, Angel," Buffy said, trying to hold the tears back, "But what we have can't keep happening. I can fool my friends, my Mom, but I can't fool myself"

"Buffy, what are you saying?" Angel asked, his dead heart hammering in his chest, afraid of what was coming next

"It's over, Angel. I'm sorry. We can't keep seeing each other"

Afraid of the tears spilling over, Buffy turned on her heel and quickly left the mansion. Angel stood rooted to the spot, a thousand thoughts flashing through his mind as it tried to come to grips with what had just happened. Buffy had left him. She didn't want to be with him anymore. Angel slowly sat down next to the fireplace, feeling the pain well up in his heart and the tears in his eyes. He still couldn't believe it. The love of his life had just left him. Possibly forever. He couldn't exactly blame her. He had tried to kill her the previous year, granted it was his evil half, but it was still him all the same. He had gone to hell and back and was trying to give their relationship another try, but it had been difficult due to the curse

Buffy arrived back to her home about an hour later, walking slowly from the mansion, her mind numb from what she had done. A vampire had tried to take her for easy pickings, but Buffy staked him and moved on. When she reached her bedroom, she simply collapsed on the bed, curling up into a ball and letting the tears fall

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Angel was still seated next to the fireplace, a numb look on his face. What had just happened came as a shock to him. Who is he kidding? He knew their relationship wouldn't last, no matter what he told himself. And it all came down to him, what he had done the previous year. It was the loss of his soul that led to their break-up. They could try all they want to keep their relationship alive, but it was his curse that was holding them back. His curse that had ruined everything

"Buffy, are you okay?" came Joyce's voice

"I'm fine, Mom. Just tired," Buffy replied

She didn't want her mother to see her tear-stained face. Didn't want to talk about what she had just done, even if she felt it was for the better until such a time they could be together again. She allowed herself some comfort when she remembered that she wouldn't be seeing Angel much during the day and hardly at all at night

"Did you want anything?" Joyce continued

"No, thanks, Mom, I'll be right"

Buffy heard her mother walk away and collapsed her head back onto the wet pillow. She had cried all of her tears out, so she could only just sniffle as she thought about earlier, how broken Angel looked when she told him the news. How broken his heart must have been. Just like hers and she was the one who broke it. She didn't like the feeling very much as she continued to lie there, heartbreak aching throughout her

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"Buffy, is everything alright?"

Buffy looked up at her Watcher, before looking at her friends. They all had a concerned look on their faces, a look she didn't want to see from her friends. She didn't want any pity or sympathy. She didn't want any of that. She wanted them all to go away and leave her alone to wallow in her misery. But she couldn't do that. All she could do right now was deflect them away from her sorrow

"I'm fine. What were we talking about?"

"Are you sure you're alright?" Giles asked

"Yes, I'm fine. Now, can we please continue?"

"Yes, very well then…"

Buffy tuned out as Giles droned on about something or other. She wasn't interested in listening. She had lost a part of herself. More like she cut out a piece of her heart and tossed it to the wolves. The piece that contained Angel. She couldn't be with him now. Couldn't see him anymore. Can't think about him. Well, she was trying to keep her mind off him, but it was difficult. He had been her first love, possibly her soul mate. But she couldn't be with him, no matter how hard she tried. She wanted him now, but she had thrown that away. Thrown their relationship away

"You look like you've lost your best friend," Xander said as they were leaving the library, "It's not me, Willow or Oz, so you haven't lost your best friend"

"More like a favourite puppy," Willow said, "But you don't have a puppy"

"So, why the long face, Buff?"

"It's nothing, guys. I'll be fine, really. Just had a bad night"

"Slaying?" Willow asked

"More or less," Buffy said, "Well, I'm hungry. Let's go"

"We all Bronzing tonight?" Xander asked, "Cause I'll be there"

Maybe a night out at the Bronze wouldn't be so bad. Might lift her spirits. Just a night out with her friends. No Angel. It would be good. Everything would work out

"Yeah, sure," Buffy said with a small smile, "Count me in"

"Oz is playing tonight," Willow said, "And being the dutiful girlfriend that I am"

"Three's a company," Xander said, "I like. I'll be out with the coolest girls in town"

Buffy and Willow smiled as Xander slung his arms around their shoulders and headed with them to the cafeteria

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The Bronze was packed. Dingoes Ate My Baby was currently playing, as Buffy, Willow and Xander made their way to their usual table. The Slayer was looking forward to having a good night with her friends. She didn't want to worry about Angel or slaying tonight. Tonight, she just wanted to have some fun

"Cordelia is here," Willow said, pointing the brunette out, "Should we hide?"

"What for?" Buffy asked, "It's just Cordelia. Who cares about her?"

"Well…actually, never mind," Xander said, "Who wants to dance? I do"

"I'll come with," Willow agreed, "Wanna dance, Buffy?"

"Nah, I'm good. I'll just sit here and sit here"

Xander and Willow headed out onto the dance floor with the other patrons, as Buffy stayed at the table and watched them enjoy themselves. She felt a little bit lonely. Usually, she would be out on patrol with Angel or Faith, but since she had broken up with Angel, she couldn't bear to see him for a while yet. And as for Faith, well, she would be out there on patrol anyway, enjoying her slaying

Just then, she felt a presence and looked over her shoulder. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Angel was here at the Bronze. He was currently sitting at the bar, a drink in his hands. None of the other patrons were bothering him. Buffy swallowed, unsure of what to do. So far, he hadn't noticed her or he already had, but was simply ignoring her. She wanted him to look over his shoulder at her, but at the same time, she didn't. This was very different for her. She had no idea how to handle this. He was sitting across the Bronze from her. All he had to do was look around and she would feel like a deer caught in the headlights. Buffy felt like she was trapped and needed to get out. She quickly left the table; heading towards the door, making sure that Angel didn't see her and ended up running into Cordelia

"What's your damage?" Cordelia demanded

"Sorry, Cor, didn't see you there," Buffy said

"Pfft, whatever"

Cordelia stepped around Buffy and headed off towards the dance floor, as Buffy left the Bronze, took a few deep breathes and headed off towards the nearest cemetery

"Where did Buffy go?" Xander asked

"She got this worried look and then took off," Willow said

She scanned the Bronze, before finally seeing the cause of Buffy's departure

"I think its Angelitis," Willow said to Xander, "He's here"

"Dead boy at the Bronze? Never thought that would happen," Xander said, "But then again, what do I care? Tell me again why we can't stake him?"

Angel slowly drank his whiskey, thoughts running through his mind. He was trying to get over Buffy, but it was difficult. She was all he could think about. He couldn't get his mind off her, even though she had broken his heart. Without Buffy in his life now, what was his purpose? Did he even have a purpose anymore? Even a life?

"So, what brings the 'scourge of Europe' down to the bar with the mortalfolk?"

Angel sighed and placed his whiskey back on the bar, before facing the person

"Hello, Cordelia"

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