Title: Angel's Gift
Author: Maeve Bran
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I don't own Angel or Buffy or anyone else; I'm just borrowing them and will return them to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy when I'm done.
Summary: Post "You're Welcome" (AtS5.12) Angel sends a very belated birthday gift to Buffy.
Notes: SPOILERS for Angel through season 5. Set in the same universe as "From the Angel File" and "Tea and Sympathy". Betaed by my wonderful husband Earc.
Angel was back in the Hyperion Hotel for the first time in months. He didn't really want to be there, but he didn't really want anyone else to sort through Cordelia's stuff. He had called and told Mrs. Chase about Cordy's death. Mrs. Chase had asked that Cordy's stuff be sorted, the things that her friends would want to keep be given to them, and the rest donated to charity. Angel knew that there was stuff that Wes would want and photos that Buffy might like.
He was right. There were two huge shoe boxes full of photos. He sorted them into two piles: one of Angel Investigations and one of Sunnydale. The first he intended to keep, the latter to send to Buffy. When he saw the pictures of Cordelia and baby Connor he almost broke down and cried, but instead he picked up the photos and left. The sorting could wait.
Back at Wolfram and Hart, Angel sat behind his desk. He sat thinking for a few minutes, then pulled out an off-white half sheet of fine cotton stationery with an A monogramed on it. He picked up an old fashioned fountain pen and began to write in his aristocratic handwriting.
Dear Buffy,
I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it. Cordy died Tuesday. She never woke up from her coma. The weird thing is (and there always is a weird thing) that Cordy was in the room with me when the phone rang to tell me she was dead.
I told her Mom. She wanted me to sort out Cordy's stuff. Anyway, I thought that you or some of the Scoobies might want these photos.
Always,
Angel
Angel blotted the ink and let it dry, then put the sheet in the matching envelope. He pulled out a stick of red sealing wax, lit it, let a few drops pool on the envelope, then blew out the wax stick. The brass stamp he pressed in the wax was an angel; the seal had been a Christmas gift from Buffy the year they had been dating. He only ever used it in his correspondence with Buffy.
Angel put the envelope in the box with the photos, then wrapped it with brown paper and addressed it. Then he took the package to the mail room. If any one of the workers were surprised to see the Big Boss Man in their domain no one said anything after seeing the sad look on his face. That task done, Angel went up to his apartment and wept for his lost loves. The one who had died and the one whom he had had to leave.
(end)