Author's Note: Because the WB and UPN were not friends at this point in the show, this is the crossover we never got to see between Buffy and Angel.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. If I did, I would not be a starving college student.
The bus ride was long, and tiring. Buffy Summers slept most of the way, eager to escape from reality and into a more pleasant oblivion. She was glad that it was dark. These days she felt better in the darkness...the light seemed so harsh and cheerful...it was almost blinding. Nobody else seemed to notice this but her. For that, she was almost grateful.
The woman next to her was staring at her again. She had been shooting Buffy curious looks ever since the bus departed from Sunnydale. It's final destination was Los Angeles, but Buffy wasn't going that far. She was getting off the bus in a remote little nowhere town somewhere in between LA and Sunnydale. That had been Angel's idea. She supposed it was easier that way. Going to LA was difficult for her, and he had never really belonged in Sunnydale.
It was depressing in a way. He had left to make her life better...to make sure she had a chance at something beautiful...something away from darkness. Although they had never stopped caring about each other, by leaving the lines had been drawn. Things were so definite now. Sunnydale was her town, LA was his. Black and white. Now, it was only the two of them that remained shades of gray. She suspected they always would.
Meeting here was easier for both of them. It was neutral ground. Kind of like their relationship. Angel would always be there, but never fully, never completely. He would always be standing at the edges, watching to catch her if she fell, but never staying to heal her wounds. She would have to do that herself. She always had to do that herself. It was harder now though....now that she had known true peace for the first time ever. It was almost worse than going to hell. At least if she were in hell, she wouldn't have to worry about playing a part for anyone. She could suffer openly. Hear on Earth she had to hide it. She couldn't bear to let the others know where she had truly been. They didn't deserve to suffer too....they had meant well.
"Grant Station, Carlesville!" The sound of the bus driver's voice and the resulting whine of the microphone he used caused her to jump slightly, jostled out of her thoughts. Grabbing for her coat and purse, she stood up, trying to ignore the stiffness in her legs caused by sitting for so long. The lady next to her smiled.
"Do you have family here dear? Is there someone coming to pick you up?"
Buffy attempted smiling back, but found it difficult and forced. Instead, she simply nodded.
"I've got someone." She said as she got off the bus and closed her eyes at the first gust of cool night air.
