DISCLAIMER: All hail Joss for these are his characters! Although if he ever
decides he wants to give away the copyright, I'll be more than happy to
help him out.
SPOILERS: None. This is a future fic that takes place about two or three years after the end of season seven (since I've heard that this season may be the last for both Buffy and Angel) (if I had my way). Spike and Buffy had their little fling and now it's over, leaving them just good friends. After Tara's death, Oz returned to Sunnydale and he and Willow got back together. He has learned to totally control the wolf.
FEEDBACK: Please! Of course, flames will be used to toast marshmallows and make s'mores. It takes me many many moons to write without feedback. Reviews are highly encouraged. PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DISTRIBUTION: If you ask first I will consider it.
Buffy's nightmares had begun again. She would wake up to find her pillow soaked with tears. A few times, Dawn had even woke her up, terrified by her screams.
She was showing up for training sessions with bags not only under her eyes but all the way around them. Tear tracks from the night before showed clearly on her face. She couldn't seem to focus on the task at hand and didn't seem to have her heart in her training anymore.
Giles was worried and Dawn was terrified. Spike was even a little scared. He had never seen any Slayer, let alone Buffy so out of it. He felt helpless to do anything but stand by her and protect her when he could.
One day, the nightmares broke something in Dawn. Buffy's screams woke Dawn up. Dawn started crying. She ran to the phone and called Giles, sobbing. "Giles, Buffy's having another nightmare! I can't deal with this anymore!"
"All right, Dawn. I'll be right there." Giles hung up and Dawn put the phone back in the cradle, turning as Spike walked through the back door. He had heard the screams from Buffy's room and thought to stop and see what was up.
Dawn's tears worried him. "What's wrong, bit?"
"I can't handle these nightmares anymore, Spike! I just can't!" Spike held his arms open to Dawn and she stepped into his embrace. He held her close and rocked her gently as he stroked her hair soothingly. She couldn't seem to stop crying which worried Spike. He was scared that she might make herself sick.
They were still standing like that when Giles arrived. He came back to the kitchen to check on Dawn. "I've got this one, Rupert. Take care of Buffy."
Giles nodded and all but flew up the stairs to Buffy's room. Wrapping his arms around the screaming, sobbing Slayer, he pulled her to him as a father comforting a tiny frightened child might. He rocked her for several long minutes before she was calm enough to talk to him.
*Maybe we should call Angel* He didn't realize that he had actually vocalized the thought until Buffy pulled away from him and glared at him.
"Giles, we can't. He made his choice. Besides, he'd be in danger if he came here."
"Yes. Well-uh-very well. What do you see in these nightmares?" Buffy had told him of prophetic dreams before but the only ones that seemed to bother her this badly before were the ones she had experienced right around her seventeenth birthday.
She looked away uncomfortably. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?" She cocked her head questioningly at him. "What are you doing here anyway? It's --" She looked at the clock and groaned. "2:30 A. M. How did you know?"
"Your screams woke Dawn. She called me, crying hysterically."
"Oh no! Where is she?" Buffy threw the covers off as if to run to her little sister. Giles stopped her and made her lay back down.
"She's ok, Buffy. The last I saw Spike was calming her down in the kitchen. She had almost stopped crying at least." Buffy leaned back against the mass of pillows on her bed. Giles smiled remembering the way things had been during the summer that Buffy had been dead. "You should have seen him with her after you died. Spike wouldn't let anyone except Tara and Willow near her the first couple of days. Then, when Angel came for the funeral, Dawn was crying and blaming him for not being here to save you. She said that if he had really loved you, he would have been here for you and you wouldn't have died. Angel and I tried to talk to her and tell her that wasn't the case but she wouldn't listen. About the time she smacked Angel across the face, Spike came in and took her upstairs to tuck her into bed. Some nights, he would even stand guard by her bed until just before dawn. Other times, we would find him on his knees in your room, crying into one of your pillows."
"He cares a lot about her. I'm glad of that. I'm also glad that she has someone to lean on when I'm not there."
After a few more minutes of inane chitchat, Buffy slid down under her covers and curled up to sleep. "Giles?"
"Yes, Buffy?"
"Don't leave. I need you."
"I won't. I'm just going to check on Dawn and then I'll be back."
"Ok." Before he had even left the room, Buffy was once again sound asleep.
Giles walked down the stairs and stopped as he looked into the living room, amazed at what he saw. Spike was sitting on the couch with a mug of blood in his hand and his feet on the coffee table. There was what appeared to be a mug of hot chocolate on the coffee table near his feet. Dawn was stretched out on the couch beside him with her head in his lap, sound asleep. Spike was still stroking her hair and murmuring to her occasionally.
When he walked into the living room, Spike sat up a little straighter without disturbing Dawn. Giles smiled at him. "How's Dawn?"
"Worried about big sis. Just got her to sleep a little bit ago." He smoothed Dawn's hair yet again. "Has Buffy talked about it yet?"
Giles shook his head and pulled off his glasses to clean them. It was a nervous habit and the vampire knew that the Watcher wasn't sure what to do to help his Slayer. "I don't know if she will talk to me about it yet." He sighed and looked at Spike as he replaced his glasses across the bridge of his nose. "I think we should call Angel."
"Give her tomorrow, Rupert. If she won't talk to anyone tomorrow, then call him. If she won't talk to any of us, maybe she'll talk to him."
"I don't know if it will be soon enough. But I'll give her tomorrow. If she hasn't said anything by the end of the day, the next morning, I call Angel."
Little did either Giles or Spike know that another of Buffy's friends was ready to call Angel the next morning.
\ \ \ \
It was only about six in the morning when the phone rang in Angel's apartment in L.A. Angel was just warming some blood in the microwave and picked up on only the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Angel?"
"Hey Willow. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Angel. It's Buffy that's not doing so well."
Angel was immediately worried. "What's wrong?"
"She's not sleeping much. She's been having awful nightmares. Waking up screaming and sometimes they're so bad, from what Dawn says that someone has to wake her up in order to stop the nightmare. She's so tired that she can barely stay awake long enough during the day to take care of what needs doing. Spike goes with her on patrol and almost always ends up carrying her home afterwards. Demons are flocking to Sunnydale because word has gotten out that the Slayer is off her game and should be easy to take out."
"How can I help?"
"Come home. She needs you. I'm afraid that if you don't come home soon, she won't live much longer. She needs her Guardian Angel. She needs you."
"Can you open up the mansion for me? I'll be leaving as soon as Gunn and Fred get here. I should be there in just about three hours."
"But the sun. . . ."
"Is not a problem. I have blankets and that's why I'm waiting for Gunn and Fred. I'll bring them with me to drive. Besides I've blacked out the windows. Buffy needs me. I'll be there. Meet me there about four this afternoon."
"Ok. I'll bring you some groceries for them and fresh blood for you."
"Thanks, Will. You truly are Buffy's best friend."
They hung up and both vampire and wicca shed many tears for the young Slayer.
"Gunn, Fred, don't get too comfortable. We are going to Sunnydale."
"I kind of figured." When he looked at her funny, Fred shrugged. "I just had a feeling that I would be taking a long trip today. I just didn't know where to."
"So, boss. What's in Sunnydale that's so important it can't wait until sundown?"
"A troubled Slayer." Gunn and Fred just looked at their boss and worried.
Later that day, Buffy and Willow went out to lunch. Willow was worried about the young lady sitting across from her at the restaurant, yawning. She had already heard about the previous night's problems and was glad that she had called Angel.
When Giles had called to tell her that he had spent a portion of the night by Buffy's side because of her nightmares, she confessed that she had already called Angel and that he would be arriving that day with two friends of his. Of course, both of them were curious as to why he wasn't bringing Cordelia or Wesley but they had no way of knowing that the Wesley they knew was not the man that went by that name now. They also hadn't been told that Cordelia had disappeared the night Connor had tried to seal his father in a box and send him to the bottom of the ocean. No one even knew about Connor. They didn't care right now about any of that. They just wanted the old Buffy back.
"Buffy, what's wrong? Everyone's worried about you. What can I do to help you?"
Smiling wanly, Buffy tried to joke. "Find a spell that Giles can put on me to allow me to stay awake all the time?"
"Buffy, that's not funny. Really. Xander and Anya want to help too but you won't tell any of us how to help you."
"Really, Will. I'm fine. Just not sleeping so good lately. That's all."
"Buffy, I'm your best friend for the majority of the past seven years or so. Please tell me what I can do to help you."
"Look, Will. I know you want to help but right now the only thing I need is about a good solid twenty or thirty hours of dreamless sleep. If you can give me that, then please do. Otherwise, there's really nothing you can do."
"Buffy, I'm sorry. I just hate to see you like this. If there's really nothing I can do, then I'll just be support gal. I know how to do that really well. I just keep doing what I'm doing now." Willow sat up a little straighter with pride. Will had always been support gal and wicca gal and so many other things to each of the Scoobies. Buffy just smiled to see her friend happy to find some way to be there for her. Suddenly, Willow's cell phone rang. "Hello?" After a brief pause, she exclaimed, "I don't care what the bug is. We pay you the money to not only find the bugs in the programs but to fix them as well." She paused again. "Ok. I'll come take a look. Be there in twenty." She closed the phone and looked at Buffy apologetically. "Sorry, Buffy. Gotta go. Not all problems are easily fixed I guess."
"Someone at work can't figure out a glitch?"
"More like a major uberbug. They need me. Don't forget. Party at the Bronze. 7:30 tomorrow night. Oz and I have actually been married for a year now." She gathered up her stuff and gave Buffy a big hug. Then she was gone.
Buffy looked on the table for her check and, when she didn't find it, called the waitress over. "Where's the other check that was supposed to be left at this table?"
"Mrs. Osborne told me when she first arrived that there was to be only one check and gave me the credit card to take care of it before you arrived, ma'am."
"Thank you. I don't suppose she at least let me take care of the tip?"
"No, ma'am. She gave me strict orders that I was not to take any money from you. She said it was a special gift from her to you."
Buffy smiled and shook her head. Willow was really getting the hang of sneaking around behind people's backs. What was next?
Gunn and Fred were sitting in the front room at the mansion when Willow arrived shortly after four that afternoon. Angel was laying down in his room after leaving them with strict orders to wake him when Willow arrived.
It only took a moment to wake him when the young wicca arrived and soon they were discussing the usual patrol route and what had been happening in Sunnydale the past two years.
Angel didn't take it very well when Willow told him about Spike and Buffy's 'extracurricular activities'. He did however appreciate the fact that Spike was now just a good friend of Buffy's and was helping her out on patrol and with Dawn. Willow was grateful that she thought to skip Spike's attempted rape of Buffy. She didn't want him dead now. Not when he was more than pulling his own weight with the group. Xander was still mad at him but was slowly coming around to a friendship with the now souled vampire. Everyone else had just accepted him back when Buffy had forgiven him for trying to rape her.
"I'll follow along on patrol tonight. Just to make sure she doesn't get hurt. I felt how weak she was almost as soon as we hit the Sunnydale sign. With her being that tired and weak, she probably won't even notice me."
"Just stay out of sight. I don't want her knowing that you're here until tomorrow night at the party." Willow had figured out that Buffy wouldn't make a scene at the party in front of all her friends. That was why she didn't want Buffy knowing yet.
"Not a problem. Unless she gets into trouble that she can't handle."
Willow rolled her eyes knowing that if tonight was a normal patrol, Angel would be hard pressed not to reveal himself to Buffy. She just hoped that Spike was on top of his game.
That night, Angel watched as Spike and Buffy took on a quartet of fairly stupid fledglings. Spike dusted two right away and was working on his third while Buffy was struggling with her first. Her strength seemed to have deserted her and her mind definitely wasn't focused on the task at hand.
Spike dusted the third vamp and turned to see Buffy finally dust hers. She straightened up just a little too fast and felt the world start to spin. Angel had all he could do to not run out of his hiding place and gather her in his arms to carry her home. As she stumbled back, Angel watched Spike hold her up. She leaned into Spike, obviously grateful for his help this time. "I'd better get you home, Slayer. You're so tired now that you can barely stand up."
"Ok, Spike. Home. Home is good. Home is bed." He led her away from the graveyard and Angel followed at a discreet distance. He had been right. She was so weak and tired that she definitely didn't know he was there.
When they got back to the house, she stumbled on the front steps, causing Spike to pick her up and carry her up to her room. He laid her down on the bed. She curled up on top of the covers, already asleep. He brushed the hair out of her face and left the room.
He walked into Dawn's room and made sure that she was actually asleep. The sound of a calm and steady heartbeat reassured him that Dawn was truly asleep and not just faking it. He walked over to her bed and brushed the hair back from her face.
Knowing that his grandsire was nearby, Spike stepped to the window. He saw Angel standing in the yard looking up at the window that belonged to Buffy's room. He looked over at Spike, who lifted a hand in acknowledgment to him. Angel nodded, knowing that his Buffy was safe for the night.
Buffy sat at the gang's usual table at the Bronze, watching everyone else having fun. Wanting to go, but wanting to stay at the same time. Everywhere she looked there were reminders of Angel. Over there was the spot where she offered him her neck after finding out that he was a vampire. Here was the spot she'd shared their second kiss with him. And over there, on the dance floor, was the spot where she'd danced with *Mated with Angel had said* Xander.
She wanted to cry but the tears just wouldn't fall. She glanced toward the door, remembering how many times she had watched for him to walk through that door, even if only to cryptically warn her of some impending danger. Her memories of those nights were so vivid that it was as if she actually saw him come through the door tonight. *That's impossible. He left me six almost seven years ago and never even wrote me. Two visits and one phone call that led me to running to him. In three years. Now I start imagining him here. I really need to get some sleep.*
Suddenly, he was there, in front of her. "Buffy?" She shook her head.
If it hadn't been for his vampire hearing, he wouldn't have heard her whispered words. "You left me."
"I'm back. Back for good this time. I'm not leaving again." She got up and tried to walk past him but he gently took her arm. "Everything's going to be ok." She collapsed against his chest, sobbing brokenly. He just held her for a moment and felt his own heart break to hear his beloved crying that way.
He led her over to a quiet corner where they sat for a while as she composed herself. "Buffy, look at me." She couldn't help it. She looked up at him, finally convinced that he was real and not just a figment of an overtired imagination. Her tears were still streaking her face. He brushed a few away with his thumb. "You haven't been sleeping much." It wasn't an accusation. It was just a statement of fact. "Why?"
"Can't stand the nightmares. They're the worst I've ever had. Even worse than the ones I had around my seventeenth birthday. I just let everyone believe that they aren't that different." She pulled away from him and turned toward the wall. "You're in danger here, Angel. You shouldn't have come."
"What kind of danger?"
"He'll make me hurt you. He hates you."
"As you would say, Buffy, drop the cryptic. Who hates me? Why?"
"He comes to me in my dreams. I've seen . . . "
"Who? Buffy, who comes in your dreams?"
"Angel, I don't know who he is. All I know is that he wants me to kill you. He keeps saying it would be easy for me. That you let your guard down around me. He wants me to hurt the others too. But you are the one he wants dead."
Angel pulled her close again. She tucked her head into his shoulder and cried again. "I don't want to hurt you. I love you, Angel. I never stopped."
"I'm back." He was trying to reassure her. "I'm not going anywhere. And I'm going to help you get through this." He mentally kicked himself for allowing everyone to convince him that it would be best for her if he left. He had even let Cordy convince him that it would be better if he didn't contact her at all. Of course, he had. He had been watching out for her on numerous occasions. Most of which were not even known to her. She had been watched by others for him.
Willow walked over to the table. "Would you guys like to dance together?"
"Only if it's a slow song, Willow. She's too tired for anything else." He bent his head and kissed hers.
"I have the perfect song." She walked over to the DJ's booth and made the request.
"Here's one from the vaults for all of you. It's dedicated to two very special friends of the anniversary couple." Angel led Buffy to the dance floor. She allowed him to pull her in close and rest his chin on her head. This song was perfect for them. It was the song "Eyes Like Twins" by Wilson Phillips.
(I recognize that smile/ Our winter was oh so cold.
You wore your mysterious cloak just like a child
No careless words were said / We spoke with eyes instead
We looked into each other like long lost friends.
But then you went away/ And I never heard
You had a summer haunt
You said the ice would kill
But you would not be caught.
We have eyes like twins
Where your last thought ends my next begins always.
Just one heartbeat away from everything I mean to say oh
Catch me I'm falling like you.
Wish for me, I'll come running to save you.
Touch me I'm calling for you
Remember me I will never betray you
We have eyes like twins.
I slept a thousand hours/ My heart felt cold as a coward's
You sent a southern breeze like a forest fire.
I heard those voices too/ I dreamed each dream with you
We breathe as one together and shed our tears.
But then I woke with you
And my dream came true
I'll never hold you here
I know when winter comes that you will disappear.)
Willow was in tears watching two of her best friends dance together. Buffy's petite form enveloped in Angel's strong and protective arms. The contrast between them was striking; her dark complexion and fair hair against his pale complexion and dark hair. They were the perfect complement to each other.
Oz wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and she leaned back into him. Oz kissed the top of Willow's head at the same time Angel kissed Buffy's. Buffy turned her head to rest her cheek against his chest. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling.
Angel just held her and rocked back and forth with his sexy yet infinitely sweet slanted smile. They both seemed so happy and calm. Suddenly, the song was over and everyone smiled, some even chuckled as Angel effortlessly lifted the sleeping Slayer into his arms and walked back to their table.
He slid Buffy in first and sat next to her, pillowing her head against his shoulder. Willow turned to talk to someone else but when she looked back, Angel's head was on Buffy's and he also seemed to be asleep.
"Oz, look." She nudge Oz and pointed at their friends. He just nodded and smiled. She looked at her watch. "We'd better wake them up and let Buffy go get some sleep."
Oz nodded and the two of them walked over to where the couple were sleeping. "I don't know how they can sleep in here."
"Angel? Angel?" When he didn't answer, Willow reached out to touch him. Oz pulled her hand back just before it reached him. "He didn't answer me."
"I'm not really asleep, Willow. I'm just resting. After all, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep yesterday and not much today."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Angel's head came snapping around to look Willow in the face. "I'm glad you called me, Willow. Maybe I can help her. Take care of her."
"I know but she didn't want us to call you. She wanted us to let her deal with this on her own. I just didn't think she was dealing with it very well. And since. . . "
"Since I told you specifically to call me if there was a need to." Willow bowed her head and immediately Angel was sorry he'd been so sharp with her. "I know you wanted her to admit to needing help before you called me. But if you had waited much longer, I may have been coming to her funeral. Please don't take it wrong. I just wish you had called me sooner."
"I wish I had too. I hated seeing her like that. But tell me, Angel, how long did you know she was in trouble?"
"I didn't. I swear. Cordelia hasn't been around for a while. No visions and no sense of danger coming from here." She had to have been trying to shield her thoughts. Especially if Angel couldn't feel her pain.
"What's been going on in your life, Angel? I mean, you were out of touch for so long and then all of a sudden you were back and then Cordy's disappeared and Wesley's . . . What really happened to Wes?"
"I'll explain it all later. Right now, I need to take care of Buffy. I think I'll take her back to the mansion. I can take care of her there. She can sleep and I can watch over her."
He stood up and picked up the love of his life. Cradling her gently in his arms, he walked out of the Bronze and headed for the mansion.
The next morning, Buffy woke up feeling fully rested for the first time in several months. At first, she was a little disoriented. What was she doing in the mansion? How did she get here?
Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist. The familiar voice rumbled in her ear, "I carried you here."
Spinning to face him, she was surprised and not surprised to see her soulmate in the bed with her. "Angel, I thought I was just dreaming. What are you doing here?"
"I got a phone call a couple of days ago. I was told that you were in danger and that you needed me. I came right away. Brought a couple of friends with me."
"Cordy and Wes?"
"Nope. Cordy's been missing for almost a month. And Wes . . . I don't even know Wesley anymore. He's changed." Buffy couldn't have missed the sad note in Angel's voice. "But, no sad stuff today. You are here to rest and be pampered."
"Angel, why did you carry me here?"
He shrugged. "Because you fell asleep while we were dancing at Willow's party."
"That is so not funny. I couldn't have fallen asleep. I would have fallen down."
"While in my arms? Do you really think I would let you fall?" He seemed a little hurt at the thought that maybe she believed that he would - -
"Never!" she exclaimed. "I know you would never let me fall. You never have. You know what I mean!"
"Why don't you just go back to sleep?"
"Maybe I should call Willow and check on Dawn while I'm up." She threw back the covers and tried to get out of bed.
Angel grabbed her and pulled her back onto the bed. He gave her an evil grin and started tickling her. She shrieked and fought him but of course he won and soon enough she was begging him to stop.
Suddenly, he stopped tickling her and pulled her close. She snuggled into his chest, content and able to forget for just one tiny moment that theirs was not a normal relationship. For just one moment in time, she was a normal girl and he was her normal boyfriend.
Thump-thump. She listened for a moment, hoping to hear it again. Nothing. Must have been her overly tired, overactive imagination. She yawned.
"Are you going back to sleep now?" he purred. She couldn't see his face. He was smiling at his love's reaction to being back in his arms. She obviously felt safe enough to sleep. Everything would be fine. She would get better quickly here. She could sleep without dreaming which would be helpful to allow her the rest she so desperately needed.
"I shouldn't. I want to though."
"Well, Willow's probably already told everyone that you're here with me. Even though I doubt there was anyone that didn't see me carry you out of the Bronze last night." She groaned. "They've all been worried about you. That's why they called me." Willow's words echoed in his mind. 'She needs her Guardian Angel. She needs you.' His arms tightened around her just a little bit without him even realizing it.
"I love you, Angel." Those were the last words he heard from her for quite a while. She was already asleep again.
"Sleep well, my love," he whispered against her hair. He got a little more comfortable and relaxed, just content to hear her heartbeat and feel her breath against his chest.
The next time Buffy opened her eyes, the room was dark and Angel was not beside her. She sat up, turning on the lamp beside the bed. Her head fell and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I WAS only dreaming."
"Now what, my dear, would make you say such a thing?" came the slightly amused voice from the doorway. Her head jerked up to see Angel, all dressed up, leaning casually against the doorjamb. The amusement left his eyes, however, when he saw the tears in hers. He straightened up and walked over to the bed.
She sniffled. "I woke up and you were gone."
"I was making dinner reservations. I wouldn't leave you like that."
"I know. With the amount of sleep, I haven't had lately, I thought that maybe last night had been just an illusion. That maybe I had walked here under my own power last night."
"Well, Willow's bringing something for you to wear. You can go take a shower if you want." Buffy got off the bed and wiped her eyes. She then kissed Angel on the cheek before running into the bathroom to shower.
Ten minutes later, Willow arrived to find Buffy pacing in the bedroom, wearing Angel's robe. "I brought this." Willow carefully unpacked the royal blue dress that her mom had never had a chance to wear.
"Will, it's gorgeous. Where did you find this?"
"In a box in the back of your mom's closet. She apparently never wore it. The tag was still on it."
Buffy's eyes started to tear up. "Oh, Will!"
"No crying. I'll cry if you cry and then Oz'll ask a whole bunch of questions when I go home." Buffy giggled as she hurriedly pulled the dress over her head. When she turned to Willow, the redhead drew a sharp breath. "Buffy, you're beautiful! I know just what to do with your hair." At Buffy's puzzled look, she laughed. "Yes. I know how to style hair. I just don't often bother with my own."
Buffy sat down in front of the mirrorless vanity and Willow swept her hair up into a loose crown. The ends of her hair, which Willow then curled into ringlets, hung over her left ear and touched her left shoulder. Willow stood back and gazed at her friend in amazement. "You are beautiful!"
Willow walked out first. Buffy waited just a moment. When she walked out of the bedroom, Angel's eyes bulged. He couldn't believe that the vision in front of him was the woman he loved. "Thank you, Will."
As the couple and their friend walked out to their cars, Willow watched the two of them constantly looking at each other and touching each other as if afraid that this whole thing was just a dream.
"See you two tomorrow." Willow got into her car and drove away.
Angel opened the car door for Buffy and asked, "Shall we go?"
After dinner, Angel and Buffy sat on a hill overlooking Sunnydale. Buffy remembered the time that she had kept Angel from immolating himself on this very hill on Christmas a few years earlier. She shivered and Angel shrugged out of his jacket, covering her with it like a blanket before pulling her a little closer.
"That's the second time you've given me your jacket."
"I know. And I don't regret either one. You are everything to me. Besides, it isn't like I feel chilled."
"I wasn't cold. I was remembering. Remembering that Christmas. . . "
"I remember. You cried so much that morning. Every time that I've wanted to die since then, I remember your tears that morning trying so hard to save me. I've never come that close since."
"And now here we are. On the same hill. Only this time, instead of me saving you, you have to save me."
"Look, Buffy! A shooting star!"
Buffy closed her eyes and made her wish. "I wish . . ." *I wish I could spend one day with Angel as a normal couple. No happiness clause. No demons, no darkness. Just a man and a woman in love.*
"Tonight has been perfect." Angel was content. He was holding the love of his life in his arms. She had experienced no nightmares in his arms. The circles around her eyes were already fading and she seemed so much happier.
Buffy felt something. She turned her head so that her ear rested against Angel's chest. There it was again. Thump-thump. She listened another second or two. Thump-thump. It got louder. She felt his chest getting warmer. The heartbeat got louder and stronger. She sat upright and looked into his face. "Angel?"
"I feel funny. My chest feels tight." He stopped and took a deep breath. She was surprised to watch him put his hand to his chest as if it hurt to breath. "It hurts, Buffy. Why does it hurt?"
"Easy, Angel. Let's get you inside and I'll call Giles." She helped him up and walked him inside. She put him on the couch and grabbed the phone. Frantically, she pushed the buttons for Giles number. When he picked up the phone, she hurriedly explained the situation. He told her he'd be right over. She hung up the phone and knelt beside her love. Angel was really warm. He felt almost fevered. She kept touching him and he seemed to be fighting to breathe. *Since when did Angel need to breathe?*
Ten minutes later, Giles ran through the door. "He's over here, Giles." Buffy sounded terrified. Giles knelt beside her and checked Angel over quickly.
"Well, I think we've found the problem. Angel has a pulse. He's having to breathe for the first time in more than 200 years. His lungs need to stretch again. Get used to breathing as it was." Buffy sat back on her heels. "He'll be fine in a while, Buffy. Just sit with him. Bring in some warm towels and drape them over his face. The heat will help open up his lungs." Before he even finished the last sentence, Buffy was in the bathroom wetting down towels. She came back with two and laid one across his face and one across his chest.
In about ten or fifteen minutes, Angel started breathing easier. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he sat up on the couch. "Thank you, Giles. Thank you for coming here and helping me."
Buffy walked Giles back to his car and gave him a hug before letting him leave. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I know you don't exactly like Angel."
"Buffy, he came to help you. That's one reason why I'm helping him. I do like Angel. It's Angelus that I don't like. But since right now, he doesn't seem to be part of the equation, I have no problems with Angel. I think that Angel has done what is known to some people as shanshu."
"What --?"
"About a year and a half ago, Wesley called me and told me of a prophecy which involved Angel becoming human. I should have told you about it before this. I just didn't want you to build up hope that it could happen before you died. I wanted you to live and not spend the rest of your life waiting for something that might not happen for fifty or sixty years if at all." Giles hung his head. "Shortly after that, Angel called me and begged me not to tell you. He didn't want you to lock yourself away for the rest of your life when he may not have succeeded in his quest for many years."
"I -- Giles, this was important information. How could you keep this from me?"
"Please forgive me. I was trying to do what was best. I didn't know it would happen this soon." He bowed his head. "I -- Take care of Angel, Buffy. He loves you."
"Buffy, Giles told you about my shanshu. Didn't he?"
"Yeah. It kind of bothers me that you didn't tell me. I just wish you had let me make my own decision on this one. I may not have made the Parker mistake. I don't hate you for it. I could never hate you. I just wish that you would let me help make decisions regarding my life and what I do with it."
"I should have told you. I didn't. I think we've established the fact that I should have told you. I don't think we need to talk about it right now. You still need sleep and right now so do I." He smiled. "This being human thing is going to take some getting used to."
"It's not so easy even when you ARE used to it." She giggled a little and curled up next to him on the couch.
"Why don't you go on into bed? I'll be there in a minute. I just need to check a couple things first."
"Ok. Don't be too long."
"I won't. I promise."
She walked into the bedroom to go to sleep. Angel walked into the kitchen and got a drink of water. He was heading for the bedroom when Gunn came downstairs.
"How were things last night, Gunn?"
"Quiet, boss. Almost too quiet. What are you doing up already?"
"Haven't been to bed yet. It appears shanshu is already happening." He shook his head. "I can't believe it. I have wanted this for so long and now that it's happening I don't know what to think." He was standing near the open bedroom door when he heard Buffy yelling in her sleep.
Both he and Gunn walked into the room to find Buffy tossing and turning on the bed."No! I can't! Don't make me! I can't hurt him! Please! Angel, run!"
Angel ran over to the bed and gathered her tightly in his arms. "Buffy! Buffy! It's alright! I'm here, love. You're safe." He stroked her hair while whispering soothingly to her. He felt her hand digging painfully into his chest.
"Angel! Run! Before I have to . . ." Suddenly, she went stiff in his arms. She didn't seem to be breathing.
"Buffy! Breathe! Buffy!" Angel shook her. She went completely limp in Angel's arms. She still didn't seem to be breathing. "No, Buffy! Buffy, please!" He turned to Gunn. "My keys are on the stand by the front door! Go start the car! You're driving us to the hospital!"
He picked up Buffy and followed close behind Gunn. The whole time he was pleading with Buffy to please just breathe.
The nurse at the emergency room triage station looked up when she heard the commotion Angel made coming in. She looked at the petite blonde in his arms who, apparently, wasn't breathing. The rather imposing man seemed to be having trouble breathing himself. But he obviously was more worried about the young woman he carried with such care. "Help me. Please. She's not breathing." The nurse hit a button on her desk. Suddenly, there was a gurney and three or four doctors around Angel, gently taking Buffy from his arms and whisking her away to work on her.
The nurse gently touched Angel's arm. "Sir, I need to ask a few questions."
"I'll try to answer them."
The nurse asked a series of questions that Angel answered to the best of his ability. "Sir, is there someone you can call to be here with you while you wait?"
Angel nodded and numbly started for the phone to call Giles and the rest of the gang.
Twenty minutes later, all of the Scoobies were assembled and anxiously awaiting word on Buffy's status. Angel was pacing through the waiting room, terrifying the nurses. Willow sat sleepily on Oz's lap just like Dawn on Spike's. Xander and Anya were holding hands and remembering the last time they had been here at this hour of the morning. The day that Tara had died.
"Angel, what happened?" Giles was the one to ask the question that everyone wanted the answer to.
"A nightmare. She went to bed a little before me. When I got to the room, she was having a nightmare and then she went stiff. A moment later, she went limp, not breathing. Gunn grabbed my keys and drove us in here."
Willow stood up from Oz's lap and walked over to her friend and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sure she's fine. She's probably awake back there right now and driving the doctor's crazy. I'm sure she's ok." Willow was trying to be the strong shoulder that Angel needed right now. She noticed that he was actually warm and had a heartbeat. She was surprised but not at the same time.
Wesley had told her about the shanshu before he told Giles. No one had found out about it from her. That was Wesley's request. She had kept her word and told no one.
Suddenly, the doctor appeared in front of them. "How is she?"
"She should be all right. We had a couple of close calls in the exam room. Almost lost her twice. She stable now but I'd like to admit her for a few days."
Angel glanced at the doctor, the anguish in his eyes plain. "Can I see her?"
"Of course. Follow me." The doctor led Angel back to Buffy's room. Angel choked back a sob when he saw her laying there. She looked so tiny. Seemed to be lost amongst all of the sensors and wires.
He ran over and sat down in the chair beside her bed. Tears streamed down his face.
"I'll be all right, Angel." The soft voice came from the tiny girl on the bed. "I just need to sleep. They'll let me out of here soon."
"Not until you're well." She looked like she was going to say something but Angel put his hand up. "I mean it. I'll stay here with you. You are not leaving here until you're completely well."
"Not a problem, Angel." Giles was backing him up. "She stays here until she's better. Will you and Oz help Spike with patrols while she's here?"
"I know I will. I'm pretty sure that Oz will too."
From behind them, they heard, "Of course I will."
"I'll sit with Buffy for you while you patrol."
"Thank you, Willow." Angel was grateful for all of the support that Buffy had around her and the fact that they were all equally worried about his love.
"No problem, Angel. I'm sure that she'll be fine before too long. Then, we can all go back to our semi-normal lives."
"We'll make sure of that, Willow. She's going to be fine." Angel kissed Buffy on the forehead. "Why don't all of you go home and we'll let Buffy get some sleep? Besides, from what I saw out in the hallway, Spike needs to get Dawn home and put in bed."
Everyone nodded and headed off. Angel sat down next to Buffy and held her hand. He slipped her Claddaugh ring on her left ring finger with the heart pointing in. "Stay with me, Angel."
"I'll be here. You'll never be alone."
"Yes. You just stay here. Watch over me. Make them keep the curtains closed. I don't want to risk waking up to a pile of ash beside the bed." She smiled a little. As she drifted off to sleep, she murmured, "Watch over me, Angel. Protect me. He'll want to kill me for not hurting you."
"No one is going to hurt you as long as I'm here." He lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed the ring on her hand. "You belong to me."
"Forever," Buffy whispered just before she fell back to sleep.
For the next sixty hours, Buffy slept fitfully, off and on. Angel barely left her side and never for very long when he did. Spike and Oz had taken care of patrol the whole time. The first night the nurses tried to chase Angel off but it didn't work. He scared them into letting him do basically what he wanted. Willow and Giles brought him food when he wanted it and watched as he actually ate human food.
After two and a half days, Buffy finally woke up. Angel was asleep in one of the chairs with his feet up on another. He looked so worn out that she just smiled. She didn't notice the remains of a fried chicken dinner on a tray on the floor next to him.
She turned her head as the door to her room opened and Willow walked in. Buffy signaled to her to be very quiet so as not to wake Angel. Will nodded and tiptoed over to the bed, not letting on to Buffy that Angel was awake and looking straight at her. "Hello, Willow." Buffy's head whipped to the other side of her bed to see Angel looking at the two of them with a smile on his face.
"Hey, Angel. I came to spell you for your walk." He stood up and stretched before giving Buffy a kiss on the cheek.
"Be back soon, my love." He softly stroked the hair away from her face.
After he left, Will sat down beside Buffy. "He hasn't left your side except for his walks. Once a day, he goes for a thirty minute walk."
"How long have I been here?"
"About two and a half days. You really had us worried for a while." She decided to answer Buffy's next question before she could ask. "Angel and Gunn brought you in. Gunn drove and Angel carried you. It was already daylight too."
"I know. The sun was just about to come up when we came in from the hill." She looked down at her hand and saw the Claddaugh ring and which hand it was on. "This is what saved me while he was gone. Will, go get Angel. Please! I need and want to tell him what's going on." Will took off out the door to find Angel.
"Giles, are there demons that specialize in driving people insane through their dreams?"
"At least two that I know of and maybe more."
"Can I fight them?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. For two reasons. The first being your condition. The second is that this thing, whatever it is, is obviously scared of Angel. That's obvious because as long as he is here or that ring is on your finger, it doesn't attack. It also seems to be quite intelligent. In order to destroy Angel, it came after you." Giles took a deep breath. "Buffy, if you decide to face this thing, especially not knowing what exactly we are dealing with, it won't be easy and Angel won't be able to be here. You should probably also take off the ring. That's the only chance we have for you to defeat this thing."
"I can go with her." Willow's strong voice took everyone by surprise. Everyone but Oz. "I have power and I have magic. I can help her."
"Of course, where Willow leads, I follow." Oz's hands lightly squeezed his wife's shoulders for support. "Even I can help. Especially since I now control the wolf."
"Will, you don't have to . . . " Buffy started to say. She didn't need to say it. They all remembered Willow's addiction to the dark magics.
"It's ok, Buffy. I can do it. I have my friends to watch over me and pull me through." She craned her neck around to look at Oz. "Plus I have Oz." Her simple statement declared the level of trust she had in his ability to keep her from going too far.
Of course, both Buffy and Oz knew that Willow wasn't really as confident as she sounded. She was merely trying to put up a brave front for Angel. After all, she hadn't used magic in almost three years.
Angel took Buffy's hand in his own. "Are you sure about this, Buffy? I won't be able to be here." He looked at the floor. "I can't protect you this time."
"Angel, there have been other times that you couldn't protect me. I came back from all of them. I have to fight this one on my own." When he didn't look at her, she took ahold of his chin and pulled him up to face her. "I will come back. I promise."
"I won't lose you again."
"Never again. You, my love, are stuck with me for life." Angel took the ring from Buffy and walked toward the door. Xander walked with him.
"I'll go with him. I don't think there's anything I can do here." The two men walked out of the room and left the three to their battle.
Buffy, Willow and Oz found themselves walking down a long, white hallway. Buffy was once again in her Spring Fling dress. "Where are we, Buffy?"
"Don't know, Wills. This is how they all start out. At the end of the hall . . ." Buffy had stopped speaking because they had already reached the end of the hall. But this time, Buffy didn't know what she would see when she opened the door.
She reached out her hand and turned the handle. As she opened the door, she saw Angel chained to the wall. She ran into the room but was frozen in place when she reached the middle of the room. "ANGEL!!" Her voice was filled with anguish. Willow and Oz were right behind her and also frozen in the middle of the room.
"You failed me."
"I never agreed to help you. I never wanted to."
"You failed me. Now you will watch him die and then you will die." A shadowy form stepped out of the corner of the room. "I see you brought some company. The witch and her faithful dog."
"Incendia!" Willow exclaimed. A fireball leapt from Willow's hand to the creature trying to separate the Warriors.
"Trying to use the magicks again? You'll fall as you fell before." With a gesture of his hand, he directed the fireball to Angel.
"By all that is pure, by all that is right. Protect my friend from hell's dark knight." Willow's quickly chanted spell did its job. Angel was surrounded by a magical shield. "Buffy, you need to feel every bit of love that you ever felt for Angel. That will strengthen the shield around Angel. You can protect him."
Buffy thought about all the times he had watched her back and all the times he had held her when she needed it. He loved her and wanted nothing more than to be with her and keep her safe. She loved that and she loved him enough to be willing to give her own life to keep him safe.
Then, she attacked. The creature in front of her was furious because she was supposed to kill Angel. How dare he try to kill her soulmate?! Who did he think he was to mess with her mind?!
The creature wailed when he realized that he couldn't hurt Angel. He turned his fury on the love of Angel's life. He threw himself at her and in short order had her pinned to the floor and was pummeling her chest. Maybe he really could kill her and then Angel would destroy himself.
She felt herself losing conciousness when she heard Willow scream. "Oz, I release you! Protect the Chosen One."
Suddenly, the creature was gone and Oz was clawing and biting at it. Willow ran to Buffy's side and chanted a small spell that sped up Buffy's already accelerated healing powers. Buffy felt rejuvenated.
Buffy joined Oz in destroying this creature that had tried to take her life and those of her friends. As the creature dissolved into a huge puddle of goo, Buffy started feeling worn out. Oz turned from Buffy and picked up Willow from where she had collapsed on the floor. Then, he helped Buffy. They went to the center of the room and waited for a moment.
Buffy's eyes fluttered open and looked around the room. Oz was laying Willow down on the floor where she could stretch out. Buffy stirred and Giles came over to her. "How do you feel, Buffy?"
"I need a drink. Some water please." Buffy's mouth felt like she had swallowed a wad of cotton. Giles held a glass of water to his Slayer's mouth and she thirstily gulped the liquid down.
Suddenly, the door to Buffy's room opened and Angel stalked in, followed by Xander. Before she could even register the look on his face, he was on his knees beside her bed with her left hand in both of his. His face was full of worry.
"I'm fine. We won." Her voice was still weak but she was aware of her surroundings. That was a good sign. "How's Willow?"
"She still seems to be pretty much out of it. She should come around soon." Angel stood up and kissed her forehead. "How are you?"
"Tired. Want to sleep. But not until I'm sure that Willow's ok."
"Relax, sweetheart. She'll be fine. Oz is taking care of her now." Just then, Willow groaned and started moving around. "She's coming around."
Buffy struggled to sit up until Angel put an arm behind her and helped her to sit up. "Will?"
Oz helped his wife sit up and she rubbed her head. "I haven't used magic in two years. Maybe I shouldn't have tried the acceleration spell. That's the one that knocked me out."
Oz helped her up to let her walk off the aftereffects of the spell. Angel sat down next to Buffy on the bed. He pulled out her Claddaugh ring and picked up her left hand. "My love." He took a deep breath. "I have loved you for a long time. I was just too stubborn to see what was right in front of me the whole time. Even when I left, I was still here. Because you were here. I know that I need to do this right this time. When I originally gave you the Claddaugh ring and placed it on your left ring finger, it meant we were married in the eyes of 1770's Ireland. It was something that I never told you. I was never sure how you would take it. I do however want to do it right this time. To give you a wedding in the sunshine." Gazing into her eyes, he slid the ring on her finger. "Buffy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Angel, it would be my honor to become your wife." Buffy looked at Angels with tears in her eyes. "I love you."
The next day, Angel wheeled Buffy out of the hospital in a wheelchair into the sunlight. He stopped next to his car and she stood up. "Do you remember the time we talked about me being jealous of Xander?"
"Yeah. You said that it bothered you that, and I quote, 'He's in your life. He gets to take your classes, eat your meals, hear your jokes and complaints. He gets to see you in sunlight.' "
"And what did you say?"
"I don't look that good in direct light."
"That's not true."
"What isn't?"
"You look fantastic in direct light." Angel bent his head and kissed her gently on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
Three months later, Buffy stood in a small tent in her backyard in a goregeous white dress. She gazed at the reflection in the mirror and almost couldn't believe the image gazing back at her. She had never thought this day would come.
Of course, she couldn't wait till later that night. She had something to tell Angel. She had found out just a week ago that she was pregnant. She hadn't told anyone yet. She actually was considering telling him just before he kissed her after exchanging vows.
"I now pronounce you man and wife." The preacher was pleased to announce.
Angel bent down and kissed his new bride. "Man and wife. Sounds really great to me."
"I know something that sounds even better," she whispered. "I'm pregnant."
He pulled back for a moment and then kissed her deeply. As he pulled back, he whispered, "That does sound better. Today is my every dream come true. And it's only getting better."
SPOILERS: None. This is a future fic that takes place about two or three years after the end of season seven (since I've heard that this season may be the last for both Buffy and Angel) (if I had my way). Spike and Buffy had their little fling and now it's over, leaving them just good friends. After Tara's death, Oz returned to Sunnydale and he and Willow got back together. He has learned to totally control the wolf.
FEEDBACK: Please! Of course, flames will be used to toast marshmallows and make s'mores. It takes me many many moons to write without feedback. Reviews are highly encouraged. PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DISTRIBUTION: If you ask first I will consider it.
Buffy's nightmares had begun again. She would wake up to find her pillow soaked with tears. A few times, Dawn had even woke her up, terrified by her screams.
She was showing up for training sessions with bags not only under her eyes but all the way around them. Tear tracks from the night before showed clearly on her face. She couldn't seem to focus on the task at hand and didn't seem to have her heart in her training anymore.
Giles was worried and Dawn was terrified. Spike was even a little scared. He had never seen any Slayer, let alone Buffy so out of it. He felt helpless to do anything but stand by her and protect her when he could.
One day, the nightmares broke something in Dawn. Buffy's screams woke Dawn up. Dawn started crying. She ran to the phone and called Giles, sobbing. "Giles, Buffy's having another nightmare! I can't deal with this anymore!"
"All right, Dawn. I'll be right there." Giles hung up and Dawn put the phone back in the cradle, turning as Spike walked through the back door. He had heard the screams from Buffy's room and thought to stop and see what was up.
Dawn's tears worried him. "What's wrong, bit?"
"I can't handle these nightmares anymore, Spike! I just can't!" Spike held his arms open to Dawn and she stepped into his embrace. He held her close and rocked her gently as he stroked her hair soothingly. She couldn't seem to stop crying which worried Spike. He was scared that she might make herself sick.
They were still standing like that when Giles arrived. He came back to the kitchen to check on Dawn. "I've got this one, Rupert. Take care of Buffy."
Giles nodded and all but flew up the stairs to Buffy's room. Wrapping his arms around the screaming, sobbing Slayer, he pulled her to him as a father comforting a tiny frightened child might. He rocked her for several long minutes before she was calm enough to talk to him.
*Maybe we should call Angel* He didn't realize that he had actually vocalized the thought until Buffy pulled away from him and glared at him.
"Giles, we can't. He made his choice. Besides, he'd be in danger if he came here."
"Yes. Well-uh-very well. What do you see in these nightmares?" Buffy had told him of prophetic dreams before but the only ones that seemed to bother her this badly before were the ones she had experienced right around her seventeenth birthday.
She looked away uncomfortably. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?" She cocked her head questioningly at him. "What are you doing here anyway? It's --" She looked at the clock and groaned. "2:30 A. M. How did you know?"
"Your screams woke Dawn. She called me, crying hysterically."
"Oh no! Where is she?" Buffy threw the covers off as if to run to her little sister. Giles stopped her and made her lay back down.
"She's ok, Buffy. The last I saw Spike was calming her down in the kitchen. She had almost stopped crying at least." Buffy leaned back against the mass of pillows on her bed. Giles smiled remembering the way things had been during the summer that Buffy had been dead. "You should have seen him with her after you died. Spike wouldn't let anyone except Tara and Willow near her the first couple of days. Then, when Angel came for the funeral, Dawn was crying and blaming him for not being here to save you. She said that if he had really loved you, he would have been here for you and you wouldn't have died. Angel and I tried to talk to her and tell her that wasn't the case but she wouldn't listen. About the time she smacked Angel across the face, Spike came in and took her upstairs to tuck her into bed. Some nights, he would even stand guard by her bed until just before dawn. Other times, we would find him on his knees in your room, crying into one of your pillows."
"He cares a lot about her. I'm glad of that. I'm also glad that she has someone to lean on when I'm not there."
After a few more minutes of inane chitchat, Buffy slid down under her covers and curled up to sleep. "Giles?"
"Yes, Buffy?"
"Don't leave. I need you."
"I won't. I'm just going to check on Dawn and then I'll be back."
"Ok." Before he had even left the room, Buffy was once again sound asleep.
Giles walked down the stairs and stopped as he looked into the living room, amazed at what he saw. Spike was sitting on the couch with a mug of blood in his hand and his feet on the coffee table. There was what appeared to be a mug of hot chocolate on the coffee table near his feet. Dawn was stretched out on the couch beside him with her head in his lap, sound asleep. Spike was still stroking her hair and murmuring to her occasionally.
When he walked into the living room, Spike sat up a little straighter without disturbing Dawn. Giles smiled at him. "How's Dawn?"
"Worried about big sis. Just got her to sleep a little bit ago." He smoothed Dawn's hair yet again. "Has Buffy talked about it yet?"
Giles shook his head and pulled off his glasses to clean them. It was a nervous habit and the vampire knew that the Watcher wasn't sure what to do to help his Slayer. "I don't know if she will talk to me about it yet." He sighed and looked at Spike as he replaced his glasses across the bridge of his nose. "I think we should call Angel."
"Give her tomorrow, Rupert. If she won't talk to anyone tomorrow, then call him. If she won't talk to any of us, maybe she'll talk to him."
"I don't know if it will be soon enough. But I'll give her tomorrow. If she hasn't said anything by the end of the day, the next morning, I call Angel."
Little did either Giles or Spike know that another of Buffy's friends was ready to call Angel the next morning.
\ \ \ \
It was only about six in the morning when the phone rang in Angel's apartment in L.A. Angel was just warming some blood in the microwave and picked up on only the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Angel?"
"Hey Willow. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Angel. It's Buffy that's not doing so well."
Angel was immediately worried. "What's wrong?"
"She's not sleeping much. She's been having awful nightmares. Waking up screaming and sometimes they're so bad, from what Dawn says that someone has to wake her up in order to stop the nightmare. She's so tired that she can barely stay awake long enough during the day to take care of what needs doing. Spike goes with her on patrol and almost always ends up carrying her home afterwards. Demons are flocking to Sunnydale because word has gotten out that the Slayer is off her game and should be easy to take out."
"How can I help?"
"Come home. She needs you. I'm afraid that if you don't come home soon, she won't live much longer. She needs her Guardian Angel. She needs you."
"Can you open up the mansion for me? I'll be leaving as soon as Gunn and Fred get here. I should be there in just about three hours."
"But the sun. . . ."
"Is not a problem. I have blankets and that's why I'm waiting for Gunn and Fred. I'll bring them with me to drive. Besides I've blacked out the windows. Buffy needs me. I'll be there. Meet me there about four this afternoon."
"Ok. I'll bring you some groceries for them and fresh blood for you."
"Thanks, Will. You truly are Buffy's best friend."
They hung up and both vampire and wicca shed many tears for the young Slayer.
"Gunn, Fred, don't get too comfortable. We are going to Sunnydale."
"I kind of figured." When he looked at her funny, Fred shrugged. "I just had a feeling that I would be taking a long trip today. I just didn't know where to."
"So, boss. What's in Sunnydale that's so important it can't wait until sundown?"
"A troubled Slayer." Gunn and Fred just looked at their boss and worried.
Later that day, Buffy and Willow went out to lunch. Willow was worried about the young lady sitting across from her at the restaurant, yawning. She had already heard about the previous night's problems and was glad that she had called Angel.
When Giles had called to tell her that he had spent a portion of the night by Buffy's side because of her nightmares, she confessed that she had already called Angel and that he would be arriving that day with two friends of his. Of course, both of them were curious as to why he wasn't bringing Cordelia or Wesley but they had no way of knowing that the Wesley they knew was not the man that went by that name now. They also hadn't been told that Cordelia had disappeared the night Connor had tried to seal his father in a box and send him to the bottom of the ocean. No one even knew about Connor. They didn't care right now about any of that. They just wanted the old Buffy back.
"Buffy, what's wrong? Everyone's worried about you. What can I do to help you?"
Smiling wanly, Buffy tried to joke. "Find a spell that Giles can put on me to allow me to stay awake all the time?"
"Buffy, that's not funny. Really. Xander and Anya want to help too but you won't tell any of us how to help you."
"Really, Will. I'm fine. Just not sleeping so good lately. That's all."
"Buffy, I'm your best friend for the majority of the past seven years or so. Please tell me what I can do to help you."
"Look, Will. I know you want to help but right now the only thing I need is about a good solid twenty or thirty hours of dreamless sleep. If you can give me that, then please do. Otherwise, there's really nothing you can do."
"Buffy, I'm sorry. I just hate to see you like this. If there's really nothing I can do, then I'll just be support gal. I know how to do that really well. I just keep doing what I'm doing now." Willow sat up a little straighter with pride. Will had always been support gal and wicca gal and so many other things to each of the Scoobies. Buffy just smiled to see her friend happy to find some way to be there for her. Suddenly, Willow's cell phone rang. "Hello?" After a brief pause, she exclaimed, "I don't care what the bug is. We pay you the money to not only find the bugs in the programs but to fix them as well." She paused again. "Ok. I'll come take a look. Be there in twenty." She closed the phone and looked at Buffy apologetically. "Sorry, Buffy. Gotta go. Not all problems are easily fixed I guess."
"Someone at work can't figure out a glitch?"
"More like a major uberbug. They need me. Don't forget. Party at the Bronze. 7:30 tomorrow night. Oz and I have actually been married for a year now." She gathered up her stuff and gave Buffy a big hug. Then she was gone.
Buffy looked on the table for her check and, when she didn't find it, called the waitress over. "Where's the other check that was supposed to be left at this table?"
"Mrs. Osborne told me when she first arrived that there was to be only one check and gave me the credit card to take care of it before you arrived, ma'am."
"Thank you. I don't suppose she at least let me take care of the tip?"
"No, ma'am. She gave me strict orders that I was not to take any money from you. She said it was a special gift from her to you."
Buffy smiled and shook her head. Willow was really getting the hang of sneaking around behind people's backs. What was next?
Gunn and Fred were sitting in the front room at the mansion when Willow arrived shortly after four that afternoon. Angel was laying down in his room after leaving them with strict orders to wake him when Willow arrived.
It only took a moment to wake him when the young wicca arrived and soon they were discussing the usual patrol route and what had been happening in Sunnydale the past two years.
Angel didn't take it very well when Willow told him about Spike and Buffy's 'extracurricular activities'. He did however appreciate the fact that Spike was now just a good friend of Buffy's and was helping her out on patrol and with Dawn. Willow was grateful that she thought to skip Spike's attempted rape of Buffy. She didn't want him dead now. Not when he was more than pulling his own weight with the group. Xander was still mad at him but was slowly coming around to a friendship with the now souled vampire. Everyone else had just accepted him back when Buffy had forgiven him for trying to rape her.
"I'll follow along on patrol tonight. Just to make sure she doesn't get hurt. I felt how weak she was almost as soon as we hit the Sunnydale sign. With her being that tired and weak, she probably won't even notice me."
"Just stay out of sight. I don't want her knowing that you're here until tomorrow night at the party." Willow had figured out that Buffy wouldn't make a scene at the party in front of all her friends. That was why she didn't want Buffy knowing yet.
"Not a problem. Unless she gets into trouble that she can't handle."
Willow rolled her eyes knowing that if tonight was a normal patrol, Angel would be hard pressed not to reveal himself to Buffy. She just hoped that Spike was on top of his game.
That night, Angel watched as Spike and Buffy took on a quartet of fairly stupid fledglings. Spike dusted two right away and was working on his third while Buffy was struggling with her first. Her strength seemed to have deserted her and her mind definitely wasn't focused on the task at hand.
Spike dusted the third vamp and turned to see Buffy finally dust hers. She straightened up just a little too fast and felt the world start to spin. Angel had all he could do to not run out of his hiding place and gather her in his arms to carry her home. As she stumbled back, Angel watched Spike hold her up. She leaned into Spike, obviously grateful for his help this time. "I'd better get you home, Slayer. You're so tired now that you can barely stand up."
"Ok, Spike. Home. Home is good. Home is bed." He led her away from the graveyard and Angel followed at a discreet distance. He had been right. She was so weak and tired that she definitely didn't know he was there.
When they got back to the house, she stumbled on the front steps, causing Spike to pick her up and carry her up to her room. He laid her down on the bed. She curled up on top of the covers, already asleep. He brushed the hair out of her face and left the room.
He walked into Dawn's room and made sure that she was actually asleep. The sound of a calm and steady heartbeat reassured him that Dawn was truly asleep and not just faking it. He walked over to her bed and brushed the hair back from her face.
Knowing that his grandsire was nearby, Spike stepped to the window. He saw Angel standing in the yard looking up at the window that belonged to Buffy's room. He looked over at Spike, who lifted a hand in acknowledgment to him. Angel nodded, knowing that his Buffy was safe for the night.
Buffy sat at the gang's usual table at the Bronze, watching everyone else having fun. Wanting to go, but wanting to stay at the same time. Everywhere she looked there were reminders of Angel. Over there was the spot where she offered him her neck after finding out that he was a vampire. Here was the spot she'd shared their second kiss with him. And over there, on the dance floor, was the spot where she'd danced with *Mated with Angel had said* Xander.
She wanted to cry but the tears just wouldn't fall. She glanced toward the door, remembering how many times she had watched for him to walk through that door, even if only to cryptically warn her of some impending danger. Her memories of those nights were so vivid that it was as if she actually saw him come through the door tonight. *That's impossible. He left me six almost seven years ago and never even wrote me. Two visits and one phone call that led me to running to him. In three years. Now I start imagining him here. I really need to get some sleep.*
Suddenly, he was there, in front of her. "Buffy?" She shook her head.
If it hadn't been for his vampire hearing, he wouldn't have heard her whispered words. "You left me."
"I'm back. Back for good this time. I'm not leaving again." She got up and tried to walk past him but he gently took her arm. "Everything's going to be ok." She collapsed against his chest, sobbing brokenly. He just held her for a moment and felt his own heart break to hear his beloved crying that way.
He led her over to a quiet corner where they sat for a while as she composed herself. "Buffy, look at me." She couldn't help it. She looked up at him, finally convinced that he was real and not just a figment of an overtired imagination. Her tears were still streaking her face. He brushed a few away with his thumb. "You haven't been sleeping much." It wasn't an accusation. It was just a statement of fact. "Why?"
"Can't stand the nightmares. They're the worst I've ever had. Even worse than the ones I had around my seventeenth birthday. I just let everyone believe that they aren't that different." She pulled away from him and turned toward the wall. "You're in danger here, Angel. You shouldn't have come."
"What kind of danger?"
"He'll make me hurt you. He hates you."
"As you would say, Buffy, drop the cryptic. Who hates me? Why?"
"He comes to me in my dreams. I've seen . . . "
"Who? Buffy, who comes in your dreams?"
"Angel, I don't know who he is. All I know is that he wants me to kill you. He keeps saying it would be easy for me. That you let your guard down around me. He wants me to hurt the others too. But you are the one he wants dead."
Angel pulled her close again. She tucked her head into his shoulder and cried again. "I don't want to hurt you. I love you, Angel. I never stopped."
"I'm back." He was trying to reassure her. "I'm not going anywhere. And I'm going to help you get through this." He mentally kicked himself for allowing everyone to convince him that it would be best for her if he left. He had even let Cordy convince him that it would be better if he didn't contact her at all. Of course, he had. He had been watching out for her on numerous occasions. Most of which were not even known to her. She had been watched by others for him.
Willow walked over to the table. "Would you guys like to dance together?"
"Only if it's a slow song, Willow. She's too tired for anything else." He bent his head and kissed hers.
"I have the perfect song." She walked over to the DJ's booth and made the request.
"Here's one from the vaults for all of you. It's dedicated to two very special friends of the anniversary couple." Angel led Buffy to the dance floor. She allowed him to pull her in close and rest his chin on her head. This song was perfect for them. It was the song "Eyes Like Twins" by Wilson Phillips.
(I recognize that smile/ Our winter was oh so cold.
You wore your mysterious cloak just like a child
No careless words were said / We spoke with eyes instead
We looked into each other like long lost friends.
But then you went away/ And I never heard
You had a summer haunt
You said the ice would kill
But you would not be caught.
We have eyes like twins
Where your last thought ends my next begins always.
Just one heartbeat away from everything I mean to say oh
Catch me I'm falling like you.
Wish for me, I'll come running to save you.
Touch me I'm calling for you
Remember me I will never betray you
We have eyes like twins.
I slept a thousand hours/ My heart felt cold as a coward's
You sent a southern breeze like a forest fire.
I heard those voices too/ I dreamed each dream with you
We breathe as one together and shed our tears.
But then I woke with you
And my dream came true
I'll never hold you here
I know when winter comes that you will disappear.)
Willow was in tears watching two of her best friends dance together. Buffy's petite form enveloped in Angel's strong and protective arms. The contrast between them was striking; her dark complexion and fair hair against his pale complexion and dark hair. They were the perfect complement to each other.
Oz wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and she leaned back into him. Oz kissed the top of Willow's head at the same time Angel kissed Buffy's. Buffy turned her head to rest her cheek against his chest. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling.
Angel just held her and rocked back and forth with his sexy yet infinitely sweet slanted smile. They both seemed so happy and calm. Suddenly, the song was over and everyone smiled, some even chuckled as Angel effortlessly lifted the sleeping Slayer into his arms and walked back to their table.
He slid Buffy in first and sat next to her, pillowing her head against his shoulder. Willow turned to talk to someone else but when she looked back, Angel's head was on Buffy's and he also seemed to be asleep.
"Oz, look." She nudge Oz and pointed at their friends. He just nodded and smiled. She looked at her watch. "We'd better wake them up and let Buffy go get some sleep."
Oz nodded and the two of them walked over to where the couple were sleeping. "I don't know how they can sleep in here."
"Angel? Angel?" When he didn't answer, Willow reached out to touch him. Oz pulled her hand back just before it reached him. "He didn't answer me."
"I'm not really asleep, Willow. I'm just resting. After all, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep yesterday and not much today."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Angel's head came snapping around to look Willow in the face. "I'm glad you called me, Willow. Maybe I can help her. Take care of her."
"I know but she didn't want us to call you. She wanted us to let her deal with this on her own. I just didn't think she was dealing with it very well. And since. . . "
"Since I told you specifically to call me if there was a need to." Willow bowed her head and immediately Angel was sorry he'd been so sharp with her. "I know you wanted her to admit to needing help before you called me. But if you had waited much longer, I may have been coming to her funeral. Please don't take it wrong. I just wish you had called me sooner."
"I wish I had too. I hated seeing her like that. But tell me, Angel, how long did you know she was in trouble?"
"I didn't. I swear. Cordelia hasn't been around for a while. No visions and no sense of danger coming from here." She had to have been trying to shield her thoughts. Especially if Angel couldn't feel her pain.
"What's been going on in your life, Angel? I mean, you were out of touch for so long and then all of a sudden you were back and then Cordy's disappeared and Wesley's . . . What really happened to Wes?"
"I'll explain it all later. Right now, I need to take care of Buffy. I think I'll take her back to the mansion. I can take care of her there. She can sleep and I can watch over her."
He stood up and picked up the love of his life. Cradling her gently in his arms, he walked out of the Bronze and headed for the mansion.
The next morning, Buffy woke up feeling fully rested for the first time in several months. At first, she was a little disoriented. What was she doing in the mansion? How did she get here?
Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist. The familiar voice rumbled in her ear, "I carried you here."
Spinning to face him, she was surprised and not surprised to see her soulmate in the bed with her. "Angel, I thought I was just dreaming. What are you doing here?"
"I got a phone call a couple of days ago. I was told that you were in danger and that you needed me. I came right away. Brought a couple of friends with me."
"Cordy and Wes?"
"Nope. Cordy's been missing for almost a month. And Wes . . . I don't even know Wesley anymore. He's changed." Buffy couldn't have missed the sad note in Angel's voice. "But, no sad stuff today. You are here to rest and be pampered."
"Angel, why did you carry me here?"
He shrugged. "Because you fell asleep while we were dancing at Willow's party."
"That is so not funny. I couldn't have fallen asleep. I would have fallen down."
"While in my arms? Do you really think I would let you fall?" He seemed a little hurt at the thought that maybe she believed that he would - -
"Never!" she exclaimed. "I know you would never let me fall. You never have. You know what I mean!"
"Why don't you just go back to sleep?"
"Maybe I should call Willow and check on Dawn while I'm up." She threw back the covers and tried to get out of bed.
Angel grabbed her and pulled her back onto the bed. He gave her an evil grin and started tickling her. She shrieked and fought him but of course he won and soon enough she was begging him to stop.
Suddenly, he stopped tickling her and pulled her close. She snuggled into his chest, content and able to forget for just one tiny moment that theirs was not a normal relationship. For just one moment in time, she was a normal girl and he was her normal boyfriend.
Thump-thump. She listened for a moment, hoping to hear it again. Nothing. Must have been her overly tired, overactive imagination. She yawned.
"Are you going back to sleep now?" he purred. She couldn't see his face. He was smiling at his love's reaction to being back in his arms. She obviously felt safe enough to sleep. Everything would be fine. She would get better quickly here. She could sleep without dreaming which would be helpful to allow her the rest she so desperately needed.
"I shouldn't. I want to though."
"Well, Willow's probably already told everyone that you're here with me. Even though I doubt there was anyone that didn't see me carry you out of the Bronze last night." She groaned. "They've all been worried about you. That's why they called me." Willow's words echoed in his mind. 'She needs her Guardian Angel. She needs you.' His arms tightened around her just a little bit without him even realizing it.
"I love you, Angel." Those were the last words he heard from her for quite a while. She was already asleep again.
"Sleep well, my love," he whispered against her hair. He got a little more comfortable and relaxed, just content to hear her heartbeat and feel her breath against his chest.
The next time Buffy opened her eyes, the room was dark and Angel was not beside her. She sat up, turning on the lamp beside the bed. Her head fell and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I WAS only dreaming."
"Now what, my dear, would make you say such a thing?" came the slightly amused voice from the doorway. Her head jerked up to see Angel, all dressed up, leaning casually against the doorjamb. The amusement left his eyes, however, when he saw the tears in hers. He straightened up and walked over to the bed.
She sniffled. "I woke up and you were gone."
"I was making dinner reservations. I wouldn't leave you like that."
"I know. With the amount of sleep, I haven't had lately, I thought that maybe last night had been just an illusion. That maybe I had walked here under my own power last night."
"Well, Willow's bringing something for you to wear. You can go take a shower if you want." Buffy got off the bed and wiped her eyes. She then kissed Angel on the cheek before running into the bathroom to shower.
Ten minutes later, Willow arrived to find Buffy pacing in the bedroom, wearing Angel's robe. "I brought this." Willow carefully unpacked the royal blue dress that her mom had never had a chance to wear.
"Will, it's gorgeous. Where did you find this?"
"In a box in the back of your mom's closet. She apparently never wore it. The tag was still on it."
Buffy's eyes started to tear up. "Oh, Will!"
"No crying. I'll cry if you cry and then Oz'll ask a whole bunch of questions when I go home." Buffy giggled as she hurriedly pulled the dress over her head. When she turned to Willow, the redhead drew a sharp breath. "Buffy, you're beautiful! I know just what to do with your hair." At Buffy's puzzled look, she laughed. "Yes. I know how to style hair. I just don't often bother with my own."
Buffy sat down in front of the mirrorless vanity and Willow swept her hair up into a loose crown. The ends of her hair, which Willow then curled into ringlets, hung over her left ear and touched her left shoulder. Willow stood back and gazed at her friend in amazement. "You are beautiful!"
Willow walked out first. Buffy waited just a moment. When she walked out of the bedroom, Angel's eyes bulged. He couldn't believe that the vision in front of him was the woman he loved. "Thank you, Will."
As the couple and their friend walked out to their cars, Willow watched the two of them constantly looking at each other and touching each other as if afraid that this whole thing was just a dream.
"See you two tomorrow." Willow got into her car and drove away.
Angel opened the car door for Buffy and asked, "Shall we go?"
After dinner, Angel and Buffy sat on a hill overlooking Sunnydale. Buffy remembered the time that she had kept Angel from immolating himself on this very hill on Christmas a few years earlier. She shivered and Angel shrugged out of his jacket, covering her with it like a blanket before pulling her a little closer.
"That's the second time you've given me your jacket."
"I know. And I don't regret either one. You are everything to me. Besides, it isn't like I feel chilled."
"I wasn't cold. I was remembering. Remembering that Christmas. . . "
"I remember. You cried so much that morning. Every time that I've wanted to die since then, I remember your tears that morning trying so hard to save me. I've never come that close since."
"And now here we are. On the same hill. Only this time, instead of me saving you, you have to save me."
"Look, Buffy! A shooting star!"
Buffy closed her eyes and made her wish. "I wish . . ." *I wish I could spend one day with Angel as a normal couple. No happiness clause. No demons, no darkness. Just a man and a woman in love.*
"Tonight has been perfect." Angel was content. He was holding the love of his life in his arms. She had experienced no nightmares in his arms. The circles around her eyes were already fading and she seemed so much happier.
Buffy felt something. She turned her head so that her ear rested against Angel's chest. There it was again. Thump-thump. She listened another second or two. Thump-thump. It got louder. She felt his chest getting warmer. The heartbeat got louder and stronger. She sat upright and looked into his face. "Angel?"
"I feel funny. My chest feels tight." He stopped and took a deep breath. She was surprised to watch him put his hand to his chest as if it hurt to breath. "It hurts, Buffy. Why does it hurt?"
"Easy, Angel. Let's get you inside and I'll call Giles." She helped him up and walked him inside. She put him on the couch and grabbed the phone. Frantically, she pushed the buttons for Giles number. When he picked up the phone, she hurriedly explained the situation. He told her he'd be right over. She hung up the phone and knelt beside her love. Angel was really warm. He felt almost fevered. She kept touching him and he seemed to be fighting to breathe. *Since when did Angel need to breathe?*
Ten minutes later, Giles ran through the door. "He's over here, Giles." Buffy sounded terrified. Giles knelt beside her and checked Angel over quickly.
"Well, I think we've found the problem. Angel has a pulse. He's having to breathe for the first time in more than 200 years. His lungs need to stretch again. Get used to breathing as it was." Buffy sat back on her heels. "He'll be fine in a while, Buffy. Just sit with him. Bring in some warm towels and drape them over his face. The heat will help open up his lungs." Before he even finished the last sentence, Buffy was in the bathroom wetting down towels. She came back with two and laid one across his face and one across his chest.
In about ten or fifteen minutes, Angel started breathing easier. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he sat up on the couch. "Thank you, Giles. Thank you for coming here and helping me."
Buffy walked Giles back to his car and gave him a hug before letting him leave. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I know you don't exactly like Angel."
"Buffy, he came to help you. That's one reason why I'm helping him. I do like Angel. It's Angelus that I don't like. But since right now, he doesn't seem to be part of the equation, I have no problems with Angel. I think that Angel has done what is known to some people as shanshu."
"What --?"
"About a year and a half ago, Wesley called me and told me of a prophecy which involved Angel becoming human. I should have told you about it before this. I just didn't want you to build up hope that it could happen before you died. I wanted you to live and not spend the rest of your life waiting for something that might not happen for fifty or sixty years if at all." Giles hung his head. "Shortly after that, Angel called me and begged me not to tell you. He didn't want you to lock yourself away for the rest of your life when he may not have succeeded in his quest for many years."
"I -- Giles, this was important information. How could you keep this from me?"
"Please forgive me. I was trying to do what was best. I didn't know it would happen this soon." He bowed his head. "I -- Take care of Angel, Buffy. He loves you."
"Buffy, Giles told you about my shanshu. Didn't he?"
"Yeah. It kind of bothers me that you didn't tell me. I just wish you had let me make my own decision on this one. I may not have made the Parker mistake. I don't hate you for it. I could never hate you. I just wish that you would let me help make decisions regarding my life and what I do with it."
"I should have told you. I didn't. I think we've established the fact that I should have told you. I don't think we need to talk about it right now. You still need sleep and right now so do I." He smiled. "This being human thing is going to take some getting used to."
"It's not so easy even when you ARE used to it." She giggled a little and curled up next to him on the couch.
"Why don't you go on into bed? I'll be there in a minute. I just need to check a couple things first."
"Ok. Don't be too long."
"I won't. I promise."
She walked into the bedroom to go to sleep. Angel walked into the kitchen and got a drink of water. He was heading for the bedroom when Gunn came downstairs.
"How were things last night, Gunn?"
"Quiet, boss. Almost too quiet. What are you doing up already?"
"Haven't been to bed yet. It appears shanshu is already happening." He shook his head. "I can't believe it. I have wanted this for so long and now that it's happening I don't know what to think." He was standing near the open bedroom door when he heard Buffy yelling in her sleep.
Both he and Gunn walked into the room to find Buffy tossing and turning on the bed."No! I can't! Don't make me! I can't hurt him! Please! Angel, run!"
Angel ran over to the bed and gathered her tightly in his arms. "Buffy! Buffy! It's alright! I'm here, love. You're safe." He stroked her hair while whispering soothingly to her. He felt her hand digging painfully into his chest.
"Angel! Run! Before I have to . . ." Suddenly, she went stiff in his arms. She didn't seem to be breathing.
"Buffy! Breathe! Buffy!" Angel shook her. She went completely limp in Angel's arms. She still didn't seem to be breathing. "No, Buffy! Buffy, please!" He turned to Gunn. "My keys are on the stand by the front door! Go start the car! You're driving us to the hospital!"
He picked up Buffy and followed close behind Gunn. The whole time he was pleading with Buffy to please just breathe.
The nurse at the emergency room triage station looked up when she heard the commotion Angel made coming in. She looked at the petite blonde in his arms who, apparently, wasn't breathing. The rather imposing man seemed to be having trouble breathing himself. But he obviously was more worried about the young woman he carried with such care. "Help me. Please. She's not breathing." The nurse hit a button on her desk. Suddenly, there was a gurney and three or four doctors around Angel, gently taking Buffy from his arms and whisking her away to work on her.
The nurse gently touched Angel's arm. "Sir, I need to ask a few questions."
"I'll try to answer them."
The nurse asked a series of questions that Angel answered to the best of his ability. "Sir, is there someone you can call to be here with you while you wait?"
Angel nodded and numbly started for the phone to call Giles and the rest of the gang.
Twenty minutes later, all of the Scoobies were assembled and anxiously awaiting word on Buffy's status. Angel was pacing through the waiting room, terrifying the nurses. Willow sat sleepily on Oz's lap just like Dawn on Spike's. Xander and Anya were holding hands and remembering the last time they had been here at this hour of the morning. The day that Tara had died.
"Angel, what happened?" Giles was the one to ask the question that everyone wanted the answer to.
"A nightmare. She went to bed a little before me. When I got to the room, she was having a nightmare and then she went stiff. A moment later, she went limp, not breathing. Gunn grabbed my keys and drove us in here."
Willow stood up from Oz's lap and walked over to her friend and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sure she's fine. She's probably awake back there right now and driving the doctor's crazy. I'm sure she's ok." Willow was trying to be the strong shoulder that Angel needed right now. She noticed that he was actually warm and had a heartbeat. She was surprised but not at the same time.
Wesley had told her about the shanshu before he told Giles. No one had found out about it from her. That was Wesley's request. She had kept her word and told no one.
Suddenly, the doctor appeared in front of them. "How is she?"
"She should be all right. We had a couple of close calls in the exam room. Almost lost her twice. She stable now but I'd like to admit her for a few days."
Angel glanced at the doctor, the anguish in his eyes plain. "Can I see her?"
"Of course. Follow me." The doctor led Angel back to Buffy's room. Angel choked back a sob when he saw her laying there. She looked so tiny. Seemed to be lost amongst all of the sensors and wires.
He ran over and sat down in the chair beside her bed. Tears streamed down his face.
"I'll be all right, Angel." The soft voice came from the tiny girl on the bed. "I just need to sleep. They'll let me out of here soon."
"Not until you're well." She looked like she was going to say something but Angel put his hand up. "I mean it. I'll stay here with you. You are not leaving here until you're completely well."
"Not a problem, Angel." Giles was backing him up. "She stays here until she's better. Will you and Oz help Spike with patrols while she's here?"
"I know I will. I'm pretty sure that Oz will too."
From behind them, they heard, "Of course I will."
"I'll sit with Buffy for you while you patrol."
"Thank you, Willow." Angel was grateful for all of the support that Buffy had around her and the fact that they were all equally worried about his love.
"No problem, Angel. I'm sure that she'll be fine before too long. Then, we can all go back to our semi-normal lives."
"We'll make sure of that, Willow. She's going to be fine." Angel kissed Buffy on the forehead. "Why don't all of you go home and we'll let Buffy get some sleep? Besides, from what I saw out in the hallway, Spike needs to get Dawn home and put in bed."
Everyone nodded and headed off. Angel sat down next to Buffy and held her hand. He slipped her Claddaugh ring on her left ring finger with the heart pointing in. "Stay with me, Angel."
"I'll be here. You'll never be alone."
"Yes. You just stay here. Watch over me. Make them keep the curtains closed. I don't want to risk waking up to a pile of ash beside the bed." She smiled a little. As she drifted off to sleep, she murmured, "Watch over me, Angel. Protect me. He'll want to kill me for not hurting you."
"No one is going to hurt you as long as I'm here." He lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed the ring on her hand. "You belong to me."
"Forever," Buffy whispered just before she fell back to sleep.
For the next sixty hours, Buffy slept fitfully, off and on. Angel barely left her side and never for very long when he did. Spike and Oz had taken care of patrol the whole time. The first night the nurses tried to chase Angel off but it didn't work. He scared them into letting him do basically what he wanted. Willow and Giles brought him food when he wanted it and watched as he actually ate human food.
After two and a half days, Buffy finally woke up. Angel was asleep in one of the chairs with his feet up on another. He looked so worn out that she just smiled. She didn't notice the remains of a fried chicken dinner on a tray on the floor next to him.
She turned her head as the door to her room opened and Willow walked in. Buffy signaled to her to be very quiet so as not to wake Angel. Will nodded and tiptoed over to the bed, not letting on to Buffy that Angel was awake and looking straight at her. "Hello, Willow." Buffy's head whipped to the other side of her bed to see Angel looking at the two of them with a smile on his face.
"Hey, Angel. I came to spell you for your walk." He stood up and stretched before giving Buffy a kiss on the cheek.
"Be back soon, my love." He softly stroked the hair away from her face.
After he left, Will sat down beside Buffy. "He hasn't left your side except for his walks. Once a day, he goes for a thirty minute walk."
"How long have I been here?"
"About two and a half days. You really had us worried for a while." She decided to answer Buffy's next question before she could ask. "Angel and Gunn brought you in. Gunn drove and Angel carried you. It was already daylight too."
"I know. The sun was just about to come up when we came in from the hill." She looked down at her hand and saw the Claddaugh ring and which hand it was on. "This is what saved me while he was gone. Will, go get Angel. Please! I need and want to tell him what's going on." Will took off out the door to find Angel.
"Giles, are there demons that specialize in driving people insane through their dreams?"
"At least two that I know of and maybe more."
"Can I fight them?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. For two reasons. The first being your condition. The second is that this thing, whatever it is, is obviously scared of Angel. That's obvious because as long as he is here or that ring is on your finger, it doesn't attack. It also seems to be quite intelligent. In order to destroy Angel, it came after you." Giles took a deep breath. "Buffy, if you decide to face this thing, especially not knowing what exactly we are dealing with, it won't be easy and Angel won't be able to be here. You should probably also take off the ring. That's the only chance we have for you to defeat this thing."
"I can go with her." Willow's strong voice took everyone by surprise. Everyone but Oz. "I have power and I have magic. I can help her."
"Of course, where Willow leads, I follow." Oz's hands lightly squeezed his wife's shoulders for support. "Even I can help. Especially since I now control the wolf."
"Will, you don't have to . . . " Buffy started to say. She didn't need to say it. They all remembered Willow's addiction to the dark magics.
"It's ok, Buffy. I can do it. I have my friends to watch over me and pull me through." She craned her neck around to look at Oz. "Plus I have Oz." Her simple statement declared the level of trust she had in his ability to keep her from going too far.
Of course, both Buffy and Oz knew that Willow wasn't really as confident as she sounded. She was merely trying to put up a brave front for Angel. After all, she hadn't used magic in almost three years.
Angel took Buffy's hand in his own. "Are you sure about this, Buffy? I won't be able to be here." He looked at the floor. "I can't protect you this time."
"Angel, there have been other times that you couldn't protect me. I came back from all of them. I have to fight this one on my own." When he didn't look at her, she took ahold of his chin and pulled him up to face her. "I will come back. I promise."
"I won't lose you again."
"Never again. You, my love, are stuck with me for life." Angel took the ring from Buffy and walked toward the door. Xander walked with him.
"I'll go with him. I don't think there's anything I can do here." The two men walked out of the room and left the three to their battle.
Buffy, Willow and Oz found themselves walking down a long, white hallway. Buffy was once again in her Spring Fling dress. "Where are we, Buffy?"
"Don't know, Wills. This is how they all start out. At the end of the hall . . ." Buffy had stopped speaking because they had already reached the end of the hall. But this time, Buffy didn't know what she would see when she opened the door.
She reached out her hand and turned the handle. As she opened the door, she saw Angel chained to the wall. She ran into the room but was frozen in place when she reached the middle of the room. "ANGEL!!" Her voice was filled with anguish. Willow and Oz were right behind her and also frozen in the middle of the room.
"You failed me."
"I never agreed to help you. I never wanted to."
"You failed me. Now you will watch him die and then you will die." A shadowy form stepped out of the corner of the room. "I see you brought some company. The witch and her faithful dog."
"Incendia!" Willow exclaimed. A fireball leapt from Willow's hand to the creature trying to separate the Warriors.
"Trying to use the magicks again? You'll fall as you fell before." With a gesture of his hand, he directed the fireball to Angel.
"By all that is pure, by all that is right. Protect my friend from hell's dark knight." Willow's quickly chanted spell did its job. Angel was surrounded by a magical shield. "Buffy, you need to feel every bit of love that you ever felt for Angel. That will strengthen the shield around Angel. You can protect him."
Buffy thought about all the times he had watched her back and all the times he had held her when she needed it. He loved her and wanted nothing more than to be with her and keep her safe. She loved that and she loved him enough to be willing to give her own life to keep him safe.
Then, she attacked. The creature in front of her was furious because she was supposed to kill Angel. How dare he try to kill her soulmate?! Who did he think he was to mess with her mind?!
The creature wailed when he realized that he couldn't hurt Angel. He turned his fury on the love of Angel's life. He threw himself at her and in short order had her pinned to the floor and was pummeling her chest. Maybe he really could kill her and then Angel would destroy himself.
She felt herself losing conciousness when she heard Willow scream. "Oz, I release you! Protect the Chosen One."
Suddenly, the creature was gone and Oz was clawing and biting at it. Willow ran to Buffy's side and chanted a small spell that sped up Buffy's already accelerated healing powers. Buffy felt rejuvenated.
Buffy joined Oz in destroying this creature that had tried to take her life and those of her friends. As the creature dissolved into a huge puddle of goo, Buffy started feeling worn out. Oz turned from Buffy and picked up Willow from where she had collapsed on the floor. Then, he helped Buffy. They went to the center of the room and waited for a moment.
Buffy's eyes fluttered open and looked around the room. Oz was laying Willow down on the floor where she could stretch out. Buffy stirred and Giles came over to her. "How do you feel, Buffy?"
"I need a drink. Some water please." Buffy's mouth felt like she had swallowed a wad of cotton. Giles held a glass of water to his Slayer's mouth and she thirstily gulped the liquid down.
Suddenly, the door to Buffy's room opened and Angel stalked in, followed by Xander. Before she could even register the look on his face, he was on his knees beside her bed with her left hand in both of his. His face was full of worry.
"I'm fine. We won." Her voice was still weak but she was aware of her surroundings. That was a good sign. "How's Willow?"
"She still seems to be pretty much out of it. She should come around soon." Angel stood up and kissed her forehead. "How are you?"
"Tired. Want to sleep. But not until I'm sure that Willow's ok."
"Relax, sweetheart. She'll be fine. Oz is taking care of her now." Just then, Willow groaned and started moving around. "She's coming around."
Buffy struggled to sit up until Angel put an arm behind her and helped her to sit up. "Will?"
Oz helped his wife sit up and she rubbed her head. "I haven't used magic in two years. Maybe I shouldn't have tried the acceleration spell. That's the one that knocked me out."
Oz helped her up to let her walk off the aftereffects of the spell. Angel sat down next to Buffy on the bed. He pulled out her Claddaugh ring and picked up her left hand. "My love." He took a deep breath. "I have loved you for a long time. I was just too stubborn to see what was right in front of me the whole time. Even when I left, I was still here. Because you were here. I know that I need to do this right this time. When I originally gave you the Claddaugh ring and placed it on your left ring finger, it meant we were married in the eyes of 1770's Ireland. It was something that I never told you. I was never sure how you would take it. I do however want to do it right this time. To give you a wedding in the sunshine." Gazing into her eyes, he slid the ring on her finger. "Buffy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Angel, it would be my honor to become your wife." Buffy looked at Angels with tears in her eyes. "I love you."
The next day, Angel wheeled Buffy out of the hospital in a wheelchair into the sunlight. He stopped next to his car and she stood up. "Do you remember the time we talked about me being jealous of Xander?"
"Yeah. You said that it bothered you that, and I quote, 'He's in your life. He gets to take your classes, eat your meals, hear your jokes and complaints. He gets to see you in sunlight.' "
"And what did you say?"
"I don't look that good in direct light."
"That's not true."
"What isn't?"
"You look fantastic in direct light." Angel bent his head and kissed her gently on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
Three months later, Buffy stood in a small tent in her backyard in a goregeous white dress. She gazed at the reflection in the mirror and almost couldn't believe the image gazing back at her. She had never thought this day would come.
Of course, she couldn't wait till later that night. She had something to tell Angel. She had found out just a week ago that she was pregnant. She hadn't told anyone yet. She actually was considering telling him just before he kissed her after exchanging vows.
"I now pronounce you man and wife." The preacher was pleased to announce.
Angel bent down and kissed his new bride. "Man and wife. Sounds really great to me."
"I know something that sounds even better," she whispered. "I'm pregnant."
He pulled back for a moment and then kissed her deeply. As he pulled back, he whispered, "That does sound better. Today is my every dream come true. And it's only getting better."