By: Sleeves of Satin
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: All and everything goes.
Disclaimer: All I have is a Vespa and 30 DVDs to my name. Don't bother suing.
Feedback: Drop me a line! AngelzBufi@aol.com
Summary: Angst, ahoy. This is my interp of how the huge crossover finale we've all been hearing about could end.
Distribution: Post me anywhere, I love free press. Give me a buzz if you'd like, I love finding new FF websites.
Author's Note: I realize this is very vague and fuzzy, but I like it that way. I was thinking of writing the back-story to this, and if you'd like it then email me or R&R. I know the quote Buffy uses in the flashback is from something I've seen but I can't remember so I can't give credit! Sorry!
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Buffy was dying. After centuries of being with the near dead, Angel could detect it instantly. The fight just never seemed to end. Minions of all and any kind had been summoned by the First and were pouring out of the Hellmouth. They had gotten separated during the fray and yet Angel had managed to always keep her in his peripheral vision. Many times he had seen her take a blade or talon, and each time he had tried to get back to her. It was useless though. There were too many demons and too few warriors.
An odd sort of peace came over the scene as the demons parted and let their master through. A tiny girl in white stockings and red dress gingerly stepped out of the Hellmouth. Buffy clutched at her shoulder that was bleeding profusely as she watched. All the demons and evil followers had bowed their heads in awe as the little girl walked through her path. Angel instantly recognized the figure and knew exactly what to do. Just as he stepped behind the illusion of innocence, ready to swing his sword, it produced a small dagger from thin air in its hand.
Without hesitation, the child threw it flawlessly, hitting Buffy square in the stomach. She instantly doubled over, gasping with pain. Angel faltered, but would not be diverted from what needed to be done. With a swinging blow, he cut the girls head off and stabbed the location of the heart in a human on the fallen evil. Immediately, a deafening shriek reverberated throughout the ruins that were once Sunnydale. The Hellmouth instantly sealed itself and every bowing minion's corpse fell to the ground.
Angel felt the change begin instantaneously. He felt like a blanket of heat had been wrapped around his entire body. It was covering every inch of him, overpowering him, bringing him to his knees. Finally, it passed. He struggled as every muscle in him sang in pain from the earlier trials. He had only one thought coursing through his mind though.
Find Buffy.
He stumbled his way over to her fallen form, quickly dropping next to her still figure. She had pulled the dagger out, and her costly blood was pooling around her. Angel slowly picked up his lost love by the shoulders, cradling her form to his chest. Without his vampiric senses, he couldn't detect how far gone she was. How slow her heart had begun to beat. A well of hope sprang inside him as he felt a tiny hand caress his brow.
"Buffy…"
He could see a heart wrenching sadness in her eyes as she gingerly touched his face, smiling as she laid a hand on his cheek. She swallowed difficultly and opened her split lips to speak.
"I've waited so long to feel you warm. It's some kind of horrible irony that when I get to feel you warm…you have to feel me cold, huh?"
Angel let out a small sob disguised as a laugh for her sake. He had to keep her going… somehow she could survive.
"Don't worry," he tried to reassure her, "I'm warm enough for both of us."
In an instant, Angel was transported back to a night that had changed both of them forever. They had just lain down on the bed, still kissing passionately and desperately, not wanting to let each other go. Buffy had tugged the edges of his sweater over his head, and pulled him back on to her. She raised a trembling hand to where his heart lay. He felt guilt then, and tried to tell her.
"I wish it could beat for you."
Buffy looked in his eyes with such trust; he felt he could drown in it. She gave a small smile as she picked up his hand in her own and placed it over her chest. Feeling her pulse race beneath his palm, he felt desire overtake him. She kept his gaze and quietly replied,
"Mine is beating fast enough for the both of us."
He had smiled broadly then, and leaned in to shower her with kisses. Now, he lay with his beloved, clutching desperately to the past and hoping for the future. She had smiled at his comment, obviously reliving the original sentiment with him. Finally, her façade broke, and her face contorted with tears as she began to cry.
"I'm so sorry, Angel", she took a gulp of oxygen as she continued to sob, "I've wanted nothing more than to be with you and now that I finally can… I've ruined it."
Angel quickly shushed her, placing a gentle finger on her lips.
"Stop it, Buffy. You haven't ruined anything. I'm still with you. I never left."
Buffy let the tears roll down her face as she brought her hand to his cheek again. She ran her hand all along his face, as if trying to memorize every indent, imperfection and contour. As she lightly trailed her fingers over his lips, Angel answered with a small kiss to the pads of her fingers. She let her hand trail down his neck, past his collarbone and onto his chest. Letting her hand rest on his heart, Buffy breathed what seemed to be a sigh of relief.
"I've wanted to feel that since I was 16," she said in fulfillment, letting her eyes drift close.
Angel breathed a sigh with her and quickly turned his head as a light appeared in the distance. Not wanting her to miss this, he tenderly nudged for her eyes to open. They did. Making eye contact with her, he began to speak.
"Look, Buffy," as he gestured to the sky, "It's our first sunrise."
Buffy's head turned to watch the bright colors of morning splash over everything surrounding the couple. They were bathed in light and free from the darkness, finally. The fallen slayer took pride in seeing her love covered in sunlight. Watching the sun and white spots dance in front of her vision, she gave a sad smile and replied.
"Our first, and last."
And with that, her eyes drifted shut for the final time.
Angel tore his gaze from the sun and downward towards his essence which now lay lifeless in his lap. He stared in disbelief that her light had been extinguished, that only a few days ago he had gotten the message to return…
TBC?
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I'm thinking of writing the backstory a la' Memento and going from end to beginning, if a few people are interested in knowing the how and why. Email me or R&R if you'd like to see it!