Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen! And welcome to the third volume of my Bangel story. This story will be season 6 of Buffy, and I'm happy to say I have added some excitement to their relationship for this year. But first, of course, Buffy must be brought back from the dead. A recap of the past two years:
At the end of season 4, Angel asked Buffy to marry him. She said yes.
Angel and Oz are friends, so Oz still appears once and a while, even though he no longer lives in Sunnydale and Willow is with Tara now.
Angel also has friends in L.A. (Doyle, Cordelia, Wesley, Gunn, Lorne, and starting in this story, Fred) who also appear sometimes.
Dawn and Angel get along pretty well. Angel thinks of her as a little sister and she reminds him of his sister from when he was human, Kathy. Likewise, Dawn thinks of Angel as an older brother.
Spike is not in love with Buffy. He does have a sort of love/hate friendship with both her and Angel, however.
Buffy and Angel were engaged all through season five and were planning a nice wedding. Buffy died at the end of the story to save Dawn, though, before the wedding.
Chapter/episode 1: Bargaining, Part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel turned to look at the dark sky, knowing it was becoming lighter every moment, waiting for the sun to appear. "Please, Buffy. I have to do this."
Buffy stood behind him, crying. "What about me?" she screamed. "I love you so much…and I tried to make you go away…I killed you and it didn't help. And I hate it! I hate that it's so hard…and that you can hurt me so much. I know everything that you did, because you did it to me! Oh, god!" she sobbed. "I wish that I wished you dead. I don't. I can't."
"Please!" Angel shouted suddenly. "Please, just this once, let me be strong."
Buffy looked at him, her eyes angry and sad. "Strong is fighting!" she shouted. "It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together. But if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn. If I can't convince you that you belong in this world, then I don't know what can. But do not expect me to watch. And don't expect me to mourn for you, because…" she trailed off and looked around. Angel did the same. It was snowing. It had been warm a few minutes before, but now snow was falling. The sun wasn't coming.
Angel looked at her, tears in his eyes. She smiled at him and took his hand. "I told you that you belonged here." She whispered. They held hands and walked down the hill. They walked together, hand in hand, into town and watched the snow fall around them. It was perfect. Buffy turned to him and kissed him.
Angel opened his eyes. It was still dark outside. He was lying in bed in Buffy's old room, where he still slept even though she was gone. He closed his eyes again and tried to hold onto the memory he'd just been dreaming about.
It had been going on since Buffy had died. Whenever he went to sleep, he dreamed about her. Sometimes it was reliving memories, like the one he'd just been having. Other times he dreamed she came to him. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they…did something other than talking, and sometimes they did one and then the other. While they were happening, they seemed like nice dreams, because no matter what he was always with her. But once he woke up, he knew they were nightmares. Because it was just a constant reminder that he was never going to have that again. She was gone forever, and he'd never get to spend time with her ever again.
He sighed, tears in his eyes, rolled over, and tried to go back to sleep.
00000000ooooooo000000000
Willow, Tara, and Giles were in the kitchen of the Summers house. They were making breakfast. Someone knocked on the door. "Probably Xander and Anya." Tara said, going to answer the door. Sure enough, she returned at moment later with Xander and Anya.
"Morning." Giles said.
"Have you seen Dawn or Angel yet today?" Xander asked.
"Nope." Willow replied. "Probably soon, though."Xander nodded and went to help Willow.
"Willow, how is the Buffybot doing?" Giles asked.
"Good. I think I've almost worked out all the kinks." Willow replied. "Angel still doesn't like it."
"Well can you blame him?" Xander asked. "I don't really like it either."
Suddenly the back door was thrown open and something smoking ran inside. Spike tossed off the cover blanket he was wearing. "Bloody Hell." He gasped.
"What are you doing here?" Xander asked.
"Same thing you are." Spike answered. "We all know why today is different."
"Hey guys." Dawn walked into the kitchen. "I see everybody showed up today."
"Morning Dawnie." Willow said, handing her a plate of breakfast. "Did you see Angel up there?"
"No." Dawn replied.
"He never sleeps this late." Tara said.
"Yes but…today is…well it's today." Willow pointed out.
"Yeah." Dawn said quietly. "It's today. To think just a couple of months ago we expected today to be really happy."
"Well it's different now." Spike said.
"Angel's going to need us today." Tara said.
Then Anya spoke up, "But seriously, what makes it different from any other day of mourning he's had since she died?"
They all stared at her. "Anya," Xander said. "Think about it. Today was supposed to be the wedding. Wouldn't that make you just a little bit more depressed than usual?"
00000000ooooooo00000000
Buffy and Angel were in the cemetery. They were supposed to be patrolling and looking for a demon but they weren't doing anything of the sort. They were making out. "We really should be fighting vampires." Angel mumbled.
"Probably." Buffy agreed, finally pulling away. "Actually, I should probably go home. We're doing this stupid project in health class. We have to carry around an egg and pretend it's a baby. Like I'll ever have kids. I mean, it's not like I've never thought about it…"
Angel was uncomfortable. "I can't."
"Oh." Buffy said. "Oh. Well, I knew there were some things vampires can't do…but whatever. I don't care."
"Don't you ever think about the future?"
Buffy looked him in the eyes. "Angel, when I look into the future, all I see is you. All I want is you."
"I know the feeling." Angel replied.
Angel woke up again. He didn't want to go back to sleep. He didn't want to dream again. It was late enough. He got out of bed.
00000000ooooooo00000000
"Hey guys." Angel said, walking into the kitchen, which was still full of people.
"Morning Peaches." Spike said.
"We got you some blood." Tara said, handing him the cup of pigs blood she'd warmed up.
"Thanks Tara." Angel said.
"How are you Angel?" Willow asked.
"Isn't it a nice day?" Xander asked. Then he frowned. "I mean, not too nice, of course, because today is sad-" Willow elbowed him "But we shouldn't be all depressed or anything, because Buf-uh, I mean…I'll shut up now." He sighed.
"Guys, I know what you're doing." Angel said. "Buffy and I were supposed to get married today. And it's hard…but I'm going to be fine."
"Are you sure?" Spike asked.
Angel stared at him. "Since when do you care?"
Spike shrugged. "I know you loved the girl, and I know today was supposed to be the best day of your life. Even I know that's going to hurt you."
Angel shook his head. "Miracles do happen." He said.
"Just remember that we're all here for you." Tara said.
Angel was about to respond when there was a knock on the door. "Who's here?" Spike asked. "You don't know anyone who's not in this room." Tara shook her head and went to answer the door.
"Hello?" she said as she opened it. She was surprised by who she found. "Oz?"
"Hi Tara." Oz said.
"What are you doing here?"
"I thought Angel might need a friend today." Oz answered. Tara smiled and let him in.
"Look who's here!" she called.
"Oz?" Angel said when he saw him.
"Hey Angel." Oz said. "Hey guys."He hugged Willow and sat down next to Angel. "I thought maybe you would need me today."
Angel sighed. "Seriously guys, I'll be fine." He insisted. But deep down he knew it wasn't true.
The last few months had been awful. It was hard for Angel to get through a day without her. Everything seemed to remind him of her and how she was gone forever. He was trying to keep his promise to her, to protect everyone like he said he would. He was training harder and patrolling longer. He often beat his victims to a bloody pulp, but that was really just how he expressed his feelings. He refused to patrol with the Buffybot. He hated it. It was a fake Buffy, a copy of his girl. Buffy would always be his girl, and the Buffybot was a fake, an insult. But he knew it was necessary, so he allowed it. But he refused to patrol with it.
On top of it all, they'd had to cancel everything for the wedding. The hardest part had been getting the word out to the guests. Luckily, they hadn't invited that many people, but it still been hard to have to explain to everyone they'd invited what happened. The others had helped Angel out however they could.
At first, Angel had pretty much closed off. He rarely spoke to anyone, and when he did, it was brief and flat, emotionless. He had stayed in his and Buffy's room most of the time, and only left to eat, train, and patrol. The others had started to worry. Then, Willow put her foot down. It was after it had been her turn to patrol with Angel (he always took one person with him, they took turns) and they had found a nest of demons. It hadn't been a huge nest, and they were stupid demons, so they hadn't been hard to kill. Willow had gotten a whole bunch, and then turned to see Angel beating the last demon senseless against the wall. He beat it until its head came off with one last punch, and then he slide to his knees, crying. Willow had known then that he was being affected more than he showed.
Truthfully, it had scared her. She had never seen Angel completely lose control like that. She had taken him home and from that point on, they all checked on him. They forced him to talk, to open up a little. He had made a small improvement, though he still had a long way to go.
Today was the almost-wedding day, though, and they all knew that no matter what he said, he'd need them.
After breakfast they all scattered around the house. Angel tried to go back upstairs, but Spike and Oz had gotten him to come to the living room and talk. Angel and Spike had developed an odd sort of friendship (Spike certainly took an interest in helping Angel when Willow had asked him), though neither of them would ever admit it.
After about half an hour, someone knocked on the door again. "Who could it be now?" Tara asked. Dawn went to answer it this time.
"Hey Dawnie." Cordelia said when she opened the door. Behind Cordelia were Doyle, Wesley, Gunn, and a new girl named Fred.
"Hi." Dawn said in surprise. "Come in. Angel, I think they're here to see you."
"Guys?" Angel said.
"We don't know anyone, huh?" Tara asked, grinning at Spike, who rolled his eyes.
"Gee, Peaches," he said, "And you said you didn't have any friends."
"I never said that. What you guys doing here?" Angel asked.
"If I had to guess," Oz said "I'd say the same thing I am."
"You didn't really think we'd let you go through this alone, did you?" Wesley asked.
"No matter what you say, we know you hurt." Cordelia said. "Buffy died. You loved her, and she died, and you couldn't save her. You need your friends. We feel we qualify."
Angel gave them a small smile. "Thanks."
"What are friends for?" Gunn asked. "Oh, this is Fred, the girl we told you about."
"Hi." Fred said cautiously.
The rest of the Scoobies had wandered into the room. Cordelia looked around. "Looks like we got a party. A really depressing party."
"I think the point is to make it less depressing." Oz pointed out.
Dawn was standing in the corner. She looked at the room. Buffy would have loved sitting around talking with all her friends, just like they were now. But she was gone.
00000000ooooooo00000000
"Angel?"
Angel looked up from where he was sitting on the bed. "Buffy."
Buffy smiled and stepped forward. "Of course it's me. Were you expecting somebody else?" she sat down next to him and kissed him.
"I miss you." Angel said. "I miss you so much."
Buffy smiled sadly at him. "I miss you too, sweetie." Angel put his arm around her and let himself absorb every detail of her. She continued to talk to him. "How is everyone doing?"
"Everyone's fine. Oz and the guys from L.A. are here." He paused. "Do you remember what today is?"
Buffy gave him a look. "Please, I'm dead, not stupid. Of course I remember. Happy wedding day."
Angel had to smile. "Happy wedding day. I wish we were getting married."
"In my mind we have been for ages." Buffy sighed. They kissed again. "I can't stay, honey. You know that."
Angel ran his hand through her hair and kissed her softly on the cheek. "I know."
"I wish I could stay."
"So do I."
"I love you, Angel. I will always love you. Never forget that."
"I won't."
She kissed him one last time. "Goodbye, Angel." She whispered.
Angel woke up. It was still happening, all the time. He was in his room, and he'd only been asleep for a few minutes. Yet he still was dreaming about her.
It wasn't that he didn't want to see her. The problem was that he wanted the real her. This dream version was just torturing him. He couldn't have the real Buffy, so he didn't want the fake one.
Angel was still in his bedroom when someone knocked. "Come in." Oz entered, shutting the door behind him. "Hi Oz." Angel said.
Oz looked around. "You didn't change the room at all."
"Of course I didn't. It was her room."
Oz nodded. "I was just talking to the investigators. We're all going to stay as long as you want us."
"I appreciate the gesture, but-"
"Ah!" Oz said, cutting him off. "I know you're going to stay you don't need us. But we're going to stay anyway."
Before Buffy had died, he would've laughed. Now he couldn't even smile.
0000000ooooooo0000000
Oz came back downstairs into the living room. Tara, Spike, and Wesley were all in the living room, and looked up when he came in. "How is he?" Wesley asked.
"He could be better." Oz sighed, sitting down on the couch.
"He's in a lot of pain." Tara said quietly. "He tries to hide it, but we know he is. I think you guys are doing him a huge favor by staying for a while."
"It's no trouble at all." Wesley said. "We knew he'd need us."
"The question is," Spike spoke up, "Is this something he's going to get over? I mean, before the end of the century?"
"Well that's our goal." Oz said.
Tara sighed. Then she got up and hurried upstairs and into the room she shared with Willow. Inside she found Willow, Xander, and Anya. "Oz just talked to Angel. He's pretty upset."
"Of course he is." Willow said. "That's why we're going to help him."
"Willow," Xander said seriously, "Are you sure we can do this? I mean, this is serious stuff. We're talking about bringing someone back from the dead."
"Yes." Willow responded fiercely. "We can do this. We have to."
"Should we tell any of them?" Anya asked. "Any of the others?"
Willow shook her head. "Spike can't keep a secret, Oz and Giles will object, Cordy, Doyle, Wes, Gunn, and Fred will probably tell Angel, and I don't want to tell Angel and Dawn because…" she faltered. "Because losing Buffy is hardest on them. And we can't be 100% sure that this will work. I don't want to get their hopes up, and then have it not work, because it would feel like losing her all over again. And I don't want either of them to go through that."
The others nodded. "So we won't tell anyone." Tara said. "When can we do this?"
"Soon." Willow said. "Really soon."
00000000ooooooo00000000
A few weeks later
Buffy and Angel walked into the mansion, hand-in-hand. "I can't believe we did it." Buffy said. She was smiling broadly, and Angel had to smile too.
"It is pretty amazing. I was starting to think we'd finally met our match."
Buffy laughed. "Oh, come on. Adam was a science experiment that was barely alive for a few months. You're a vampire who's been alive…so to speak…for two-hundred and forty four years. Adam never stood a chance."
"I'm just glad we're not fighting anymore." Angel said quietly. Buffy gave him a small smile and kissed him.
"I'm sorry about everything I said." She told him.
"I'm sorry too." Angel replied. "The more I think about it, the less I can believe I actually fell for Spike's lies."
"Then stop thinking about it." Buffy said.
"Hm. I just don't like it when we fight."
"Well we're not fighting anymore, are we?" Buffy asked. She kissed him, and Angel didn't think it was possible to be happier than he was at that moment.
Angel woke up in tears again. If this didn't stop soon, he was going to go mad.
00000000ooooooo0000000
Angel walked into the magic shop. "Giles?" he called.
Giles looked up. "Angel. I was just packing up some things for my trip back to England."
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." Angel said, walking over to him. "I don't think you should go yet." Giles gave him an odd look. "I'm not saying you have to stay forever, just for a little while longer. The Scoobies…they're going to need you. Buffy wasn't the only one who looked to you for guidance. I think you should stay for a couple more weeks and make sure they're ready to do this alone." He looked at the Watcher. "It is the Hellmouth, Giles."
Giles considered this. "Perhaps you're right." He finally sighed.
"So you'll stay?"
"For a short while longer."
Angel nodded, satisfied. "I should probably…"
"How are you?" Giles asked. Angel had to think about it.
"I guess I'm ok. I take it one day at a time. The others have helped."
"Are Oz and the investigators still here?"
"Yes, believe it or not, they are."
Giles smiled a little. "They care about you. It's completely believable."
Angel nodded. "They've been helping with Dawn, too. They're coming over tonight to help me and Spike look after her. I'm not patrolling tonight."
Giles nodded slowly. "Perhaps…would you mind if I joined you?"
Angel was surprised. "No, not at all, you can come if you like."
"Thank you. I want to keep myself busy."
"Of course, come by tonight."
0000000oooooooo0000000
Angel, Giles, Dawn, Spike, Oz, Cordelia, Doyle, Wesley, Gunn, and Fred were all at the Summers's house. Willow, Xander, Anya, and Tara had gone on patrol that night.
Angel, Cordelia, and Dawn were playing cards in the living room. Wesley, Oz, and Spike were in the kitchen, eating (or in Spike's case, drinking). Doyle and Gunn were practicing in the basement, and Fred and Giles were watching TV.
"I win again." Cordelia said.
"Whatever." Dawn sighed. Cordelia frowned. She had been spending all of her energy trying to cheer up Angel and Dawn. She had made no progress. She understood what they were feeling, of course. Buffy had meant the world to both of them, and she died. Of course they were unhappy. But this was just unhealthy.
"Do you guys want to play again?" she asked.
Angel shrugged. "I guess." He said without enthusiasm.
Cordelia could see his lack of feeling for it. "Or we could join Doyle and Gunn downstairs?" No response. "Or go to the kitchen with Wes, Oz, and Spike?"
"Whatever you want to do." Angel said. Cordelia lost it.
"Damn it, Angel!" she said, standing up and slamming her fist on the table. Fred and Giles looked up. "Do you really think Buffy would want you to spend the rest of eternity brooding over her death? No, of course she wouldn't! She wanted you to keep helping people, both of you, but you just sit around all day wallowing in your misery! Well, let me tell you something, Deadboy," she leaned forward, "It ends now."
Suddenly there was a loud noise from outside. Cordy turned and looked at the door. Angel, Dawn, Fred, and Giles stood up. Wes, Spike, and Oz ran in from the kitchen. "Did you hear-" Wesley began.
"Yeah." Angel said. He stepped forward and looked out the window. Spike came up behind him and looked as well.
"Oh no." they said together.
"What?" Cordelia asked.
"Get Doyle and Gunn from downstairs." Angel said. "Now!" Cordelia ran downstairs.
"Angel, what's going on?" Wes asked. Angel pointed out the window. Wes and the others looked and saw demons on motorcycles destroying the street. Wes's eyes got big. "But the only go to places they feel are…vulnerable…" he trailed off and looked at Angel.
"They know." Angel said. Cordelia came back with Doyle and Gunn. "We have to get out of here." Angel said. "Everybody out the back door!" Everybody moved for the kitchen. Wesley was the first one there. He threw the door open and held it for everybody else to run out.
"Go, go!" he shouted, slamming the door shut when everyone was out and running after them.
A demon ran across the yard, heading straight for them. It tried to attack Angel, giving him a nasty scratch across his face. Angel kicked it away, grabbed its head, and snapped its neck. "You ok?" Oz asked. Angel nodded. They started running again. Suddenly Angel slowed down, and then stopped completely.
"Angel?" Wes asked, looking at him with concern.
"Buffy." Angel said. He suddenly had a huge urge to go to her grave. He couldn't explain it, but he knew he had to be there. He had to go now. "Keep Dawn safe, I'll catch up with you guys." He turned and started heading in the other direction.
"Angel!" Cordelia yelled. But he was already gone.
To Be Continued…
So for this story, I'm editing my updating schedule just a little. I'm going to try to update every other day. I think that should make it a lot easier to meet my deadlines. So the next chapter should be online by Tuesday. Please review!