Summary: Buffy and Angel go to a Christmas party at The Bronze.
Timeline: Set after the strolling-in-the-snow scene at Amends. And this has a slight rewrite to G2.
Author's Notes: This just popped in my mind after watching Amends and wiping my tears. It's set after the scene where Buffy and Angel walk in the snowy street holding hands, before going home, and the epilogue is set after the leaving scene at G2. And, since I adore Amends, no one better to start my rewrite series.
Genre: Big saccharine fluff, because it is good to my soul. And a little bit of angst-drama Buffy-and-Angel, because without the angst and the drama they're not really Buffy and Angel.
Disclaimer: The song is This I Promise You from NSYNC album No Strings Attached. And the show belongs to Master Joss Whedon, who I hope can give us closure in a soon-to-be future.
The Way It Should Have Been
Task #1: Promises, by Baby Bella Summers.
The Slayer and her demonic boyfriend strolled on the snowy streets of Sunnydale, holding hands tightly and once in a while smiling to each other. Angel's beautiful, chocolate-brown eyes were still haunted and fearful, but Buffy's love had found a way past the wall of guilt and pain, and managed to reach the core of his soul.
"I can't take you to my place", Buffy whispered softly. "Mom's there and so is Faith and they're gonna freak. But... There is this party going on The Bronze. Maybe we can go?" She offered weakly. "Just... Have some quality time and cuddle together?" She suggested.
Angel basked in the feeling of Buffy, her power and her presence filling his vampire's senses with pleasant warmth. She was sweet, gentle and loving; loved him even after all the pain and the living Hell that his inner demon had thrown at her, and for that he was thankful. Leaning against a corner, Angel dared to wrap his arms around her waist.
Buffy smiled and hugged him back.
"I'd love to go", he whispered.
It was a very quiet party to The Bronze's standards. Buffy and Angel sat down closely together, the Slayer comfortably topped on his lap. The old easiness around each other was slowly stirring back to life at each minute gone. A soft pop song filled the air, as Buffy pulled Angel to the dance floor.
When the visions around you
Bring tears to your eyes
And all that surround you are secrets and lies
I'll be your strength
I'll give you hope
Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call was standing here all along
The Chosen tightened her possessive grip on her Angel. The song's lyrics held such a deeper meaning that they brought tears to eyes that had cried in two years more than someone else's cry a lifetime.
That Goddamn Hell-mouth had tried to take her soul mate away from her for the second time, but now thankfully she was able to rescue him and prevent this. Tears sprung from her closed eyes; she had lost the first battle and sent him to Hell. Would the blood on the sword...?
"Stop this", she told herself. She should live on the present and not dwell on the past. Right then Angel was safe --- like he always was in her arms --- and nothing would tear them apart.
It was a promise from Buffy-the-Slayer to Buffy-the-normal-girl-in-love.
And I will take you in my arms
And hold you right where you belong
'Till the day my life is through,
This I promise you
This I promise you
Angel knew that he and his beloved had reached peace for a short time. But, even if such peace lasted a few days, a couple of hours, a random second... Damn, he was very willing to accept it. Because, if there was something that Angel had learnt during his one and something century in Hell, it was how deeply ran his love for Buffy. And, if she were happy and peaceful, then he would give his best to keep it that way.
It was a promise from Angel-the-Vampire to Angel-the-man-in-love.
He could feel her tears wetting his shirt and kissed the top of her honey-golden head softly.
I've loved you forever, in lifetimes and before
And I promise you never will hurt anymore
I give you my word
I give you my heart
This is a battle we've won
And with this vow forever has now begun
Buffy pulled back the littlest bit, staring at Angel's handsome face. She loved this man so much, Jesus she was hopelessly his, not that she didn't want to be, anyway.
Angel gave her one of his rare, shiny smiles, the kind of smile he had only for her.
"I love you so much, Angel", she told him quietly. "This time trying the friends-thing --- remember me that will never work with us --- was so goddamn hard", she paused a little, sniffling, "I wanted to run into your arms and let the feeling of you wash my pain and fears away, but I could not. I tried to believe that I could heal alone",a lonesome tear rolled down her cheek. "I was so heartbroken".
"Oh, my love. Oh, Buffy!" He spoke her name like he always did, a soft caress. "It won't happen again".
"You promise?" She whispered softly.
"I promise".
Six Months Later...Beaten, torn and heartbroken, Buffy walked in Angel's mansion, with tears prickling in her eyes. The said vampire and mansion's owner stood in front of the fireplace, the flames making his face, wet from his own silent tears, shine.
His things were all packed, his artwork carefully wrapped in newspaper and put in boxes.
"Angel promised", she spoke like Angel wasn't there --- knowing fully well that he was listening to her. "When the snow fell at Christmas, he promised I wasn't going to be heartbroken again. And Angel is not the kind of man that breaks a promise".
"Buffy..." He began.
"It's true, Angel!" She shouted. "If you wanted to leave so badly, you should have after Spike showed up. When I wanted you to go. But, no, you had to stay, and make me fall in love with you all over again, then break my heart and rip my soul out by saying you didn't want to live with me..."
"NO!" He yelled. "No, sweetheart, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that I didn't want you to spoil your life with me. You're so young, have so much to live, so much to taste. I just don't want you to wake up one day to find out what you lost because you chose to be with me".
"It's not your choice to make, Angel. It's mine. I'm eighteen, mature enough to help choose the president. So, if I choose to be with you, don't defy me, just listen to me and stay quiet".
"Sweetheart..."
Trying desperately to make him stay with her, she made the only thing she could think of: she stripped her neck to him, tilting her head a little bit so he could see the inviting, throbbing artery. Angel's eyes filled with pain.
"Turn me", she whispered. "Turn me, for Christ's sake, I'm telling you to do it! Otherwise I'll find another vamp that will be more than happy to do it itself"."No, I can't. But..."
"But?" She asked hopefully.
"I'll stay. If you really want me to, I'll stay with you. But if you ever feel like you want to live life the fullest, then you have to let me go".
"Okay", she said, then whispered, "If you love something, let it go. If it's meant to be, than shall it come back to you".
"I love you", he whispered, kissing her softly.
"I love you", she whispered back.
Just close your eyes
Each loving day
And I know this feeling won't go away
Every word I say is true
This I promise you
This I promise you
THE END
Next On The Series: My rewrite of 'Becoming'. Angel receives a pleasantly surprising visitor from Heaven. Task #2 – Surprising Angel.