Disclaimer: All BtVS and Angel characters belong to Joss Whedon, etc. Galway, Ireland and its attractions own themselves (I think.)

Author's Note: This story take place in that tragic love scene in "Becoming, Part 2. Everything up to when Buffy gets the upper hand in the battle against Angelus happened, and Angel just got his soul returned. Then . Dedicated to my adorable little cousin, Ciara. Her 6th birthday is today. Hence, that's where I got a certain name from. Author's Note 2: There is NO Faith. I wrote this when I was only holidays in the south west of Portugal at the end of August. I wrote it while I was topping up my tan (though I always have tanned skin!) by the pool. A lot of chapters, and possibly a sequel .

Chapter 1 - The Way It Should Be

"Buffy?" Buffy Summers blinked. The way he said her name, the way it held unanswered questions, but most of all, love, No, she thought, it can't be . can it? "Where are we?" Angel asked, as he got to his feet. "What's going on? I don't remember." She heard confusion in his voice, and he also sounded frightened? Angelus never let any emotions show. It had to be .

"Angel?" she asked in a quiet child-like voice, lowering the sword that she had borrowed from her sister Slayer, Kendra. Ex-sister Slayer, she reminded herself sadly.

"You're hurt," he said to her, noticing for the first time the cut in her left arm. The cut that Angelus gave me, she thought. Although he drew her nearer to inspect her wound better, it quickly turned into a hug. He hugged her so close and tight, as if he'd never let her go. She was stunned, but she relaxed into it, and hugged him just as fierce, and closed her eyes, silently thanking God for the feel of his arms around her once more. She heard him say, "Oh Buffy, God, I feel as if I haven't seen you in months. Everything's so muddled. I, oh," and felt him kiss her shoulder, and then he said her name, as if in wonder. Just as she was getting used to feeling safe again, she heard a noise behind them, and opened her eyes to find Acathala awakening. She slowly pulled away from the embrace that warmed her so, freeing a golden strand of hair that had got stuck to him during the reunion of lovers, and soul mates. "What's happening?" he asked her, not noticing the noise behind him, only the petite blonde Slayer.

"Don't worry about it," he heard her murmur. He moved to kiss her, to feel her soft, warm lips against his own cool ones, but her hand against his cheek stopped him. Hurriedly, she kissed him, not quite surprised that after all this time apart, he could still her turn her weak at the knees. She desperately clung to him as they instantly deepened the already passionate kiss, giving it their all. Reluctantly, she pulled away, panting a little. She looked sad, with tears that had yet to fall from her soulful and beautiful eyes, and he didn't know why, but what he did know was that he'd do everything in his power to make her happy again. "I love you," she whispered to him, and his heart rejoiced.

"I love you," he echoed, meaning every word. She asked quietly, looking him in the eyes,

"Close your eyes." He looked at her, slightly confused. She nodded, reassuring him, and he did as he was asked. She kissed him briefly on the lips. She was about to stab him, when she noticed the look on his face. He looked at peace, full of trust, and in love. She realized she couldn't do it, and stopped in time. Then, she noticed the vortex grow larger, and just as Angel opened his eyes and asked,

"Buffy, can I open my eyes now?", she cut a shallow wound in his leg. He howled in pain, making her almost stop what she was doing, but she knew she had to do. She jerked out the sword, and while listening to him sob softly with pain, she charged at Acathala, and pierced the demon's heart. At once, the vortex disappeared. Then she turned to Angel, who was stopping the blood flowing freely. She bent down, planted a kiss on his cheek, whispered,

"I'm sorry," in his ear, and fled from the mansion. She stopped when she was at the end of the drive, and let the tears fall down her cheeks. She was glad that Angel couldn't follow her out, because of the sunlight and his wound, as she couldn't deal with his anger, his demanding questions, but most of all, she didn't want him to see her like this. She stood from her sitting position on the cold, stone drive, and thought about where she should go. She couldn't go home, nor to school. She didn't want to deal with anyone just yet, so she went to a place she had been going secretly over the past several months. She went to Angel's apartment.