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Angel is walking in the dark tunnels. Two glowing

green eyes watch him from behind. Suddenly the demon

jumps out and attacks him from behind slicing across

the palm of Angel's right hand as he spins around. Angel

looks at the blood on his hand then vamps out and attacks.

They fight. The demon slices off the head of Angel's

battle-ax, and Angel manages to knock the sword out of

the demon's hand. The demon pulls his short sword (about

the same length as what's left of the ax handle) and they

continue fighting. In the end Angel manages to grab the

demon's sword hand and turns its hand to stab it in the

heart with its own sword. The demon falls back as

Angel stares at the glowing green blood that covers

his cut right hand.

The blood swirls around and sinks into his cut, which closes

up in front of his eyes. A light races from his right hand

through his whole body as Angel collapses with a strangled

cry. Angel comes back up gasping for air while we hear the

sound of a heart beating.

Angel staring at his hand in disbelief "I'm alive."



Angel and Buffy sitting at opposite sides of his

kitchen table.

Angel pours her some tea "Would you like some more?"

"No, thank you."

"I'm really sorry I kissed you like that."

"You are?"

"Well, not for the kiss itself…"

"Good. I mean, 'cause - as far as kisses go I

thought it was well above average."

"It was incredible. I just - I-I think, maybe we'd

be asking for trouble rushing back into things. (Buffy

looks at him) Not that I don't want to - rush. Believe

me, I do."

"Right. You spoke to the Oracles and they said

you were cured for good. But how do we know that they

really speak for the Powers? I mean they could be -

pranksters."

"Or there could be another loophole."

"Exactly. And then the two of us would be in even

deeper and it's 'grr' all over again."

"It would be smart to wait a while. See if this

mortal thing takes."

"Exactly. And even if it does, it's still

complicated."

"You're still the Slayer. And I'm not sure what

I am now. I don't know what my purpose is. I can't

just wedge myself into your life back in Sunnydale. It

wouldn't be good for either of us. Not to mention the

fact that you just started college. And what about slaying.

I mean, if you had me to worry about, you might not be as

focused."

"Are you going to pull out a pie chart on me now?

Because I get it, it's not necessary."

Angel gets up with a sigh and moves to the chair next to

Her. "I'm not saying I don't want you. You know how

much.. I'm just saying it's worth the wait to be sure

this is right. I need to be sure you won't get hurt

again."

Buffy stands up. "You know it's a good thing I didn't fantasize

about you turning human only about 10 zillion times, because

today would have been a real let down. - So how does the

mature plan go? You call me? I call you? What?"

Angel gets up and steps over to her. "We stay in touch -

just not.."

"Literally. - Funny. (They stare at each other,

then Buffy walks past him) Okay, I'd better.."

"Right. Remove the temptation."

"So, we'll - talk soon."

Buffy puts her hand on top of his on the counter. They both

stare down at their hands. Angel turns his hand to grab

hers then reaches out and pulls her into a kiss. They

stumble up against the fridge and Buffy jumps up to wrap

her legs around his waist. Still kissing, Angel carries

her over to the kitchen table, sweeps the stuff on it

on the floor and lays her down on it.



Buffy is wearing a long flowery dress is pacing Angel's apartment.

Angel comes down the steps to his apartment.

"I'm guessing that expression isn't because they

were all out of fresh OJ at the deli. - What happened?"

"Nothing happened. - I just…"

"Where have you been?"

"I went to see the Oracles. I asked them to turn

me back."

"What? - Why?"

"Because more then ever I know how much I love you."

Buffy backs away from him "No. No, you didn't."

Angel follows her "And if I stayed mortal one of us would

wind up dead, maybe both of us. You heard what Mohra said."

"Mohra is dead. We killed him."

"He said others would come."

"They always come. And they always will. But

that's my problem now, not yours, remember?"

"No, I won't just stand by and let you fight,

maybe die, alone."

"Then we fight together."

"You saw what happened last night. If anything I'm

a liability to you. You take chances to protect me, and

that's not just bad for you, it's bad for the people we

were meant to help."

"So what? You just took a whole 24 hours to weigh

the ups and downs of being a regular Joe and decided it

was more fun being a superhero?"

"You know that's not it. How can we be together

if the cost is your life, or the lives of others? (Buffy

just stares at him and after a moment he takes her into

his arms) I know. I couldn't tell you. I wasn't sure

- if I could do it if I woke up with you one more morning."

"I understand. - So, what happens now?

"The Oracles are giving us back the day, turning back

time, so I can kill Mohra before his blood makes me mortal."

"When?"

Angel looks over at the clock (it's 9:00) "Another minute."

"A minute? No. No, it's not enough time!"

"We don't have a choice. It's done."

"How am I supposed to go on with my life knowing

what we had? What we could have had?"

"You won't. No one will know but me."

"Everything we did."

"It never happened."

"It did. It did. I know it did!

(Puts her hand on his heart) I felt your heart beat."

"Buffy.."

They kiss. Buffy looks over at the clock. The minute is

almost up.

"No! Oh God. It's not enough time."

"Shh, please. Please."

The hold each other tightly both crying.

"Please, please."

"No. I'll never forget. I'll never forget. I'll

never forget. I'll never forget."

White flash dissolves to Angel's office the previous day.

Angel is leaning against his desk blinking, looking around.

Buffy is standing next to the door.

"So, then let's just stick to the plan. Keep our

distance until a lot of time has passed, and given enough

time - we should be able to.."

Angel stares at her and swallows hard. "Forget."



Two months later:

Buffy's alarm buzzed but there was no one in bed to wake up. In the bathroom Buffy moaned. Her head hung above the toilet. She had just emptied herself of last nights dinner. "Oh God!" She clutched her stomach and gagged. There was nothing left in her stomach to be regurgitated. Buffy flushed the toilet then walked back into her and Willow's dorm. "What's wrong?" Willow asked her friend when she saw Buffy's pale face. "I threw up again." "That's the third time this week." "I know. I wish I knew what is wrong with me." Buffy sat down on her bed. "Are you going to class today?" Willow asked. "No, I think I am going to stay here and get some sleep. I stayed up most of the night." "Okay. Well I'll come by at noon and see how you're doing." "I'll see you then." Buffy said as Willow headed for the door. "Will." "Yeah?" The redhead turned to face Buffy. "Tell Riley I'm sorry about last night." "I will." With that Willow left for class. The night before Riley had taken Buffy out for dinner in one of the fanciest restaurants in Sunneydale but they left early because Buffy got sick in the bathroom. Buffy laid down on her soft bed and drifted off to sleep.

Three hours later:

Willow and Riley walked into the dorm room where Buffy was sprawled on her bed fast asleep. "She was up most of the night," Willow said when she saw the slayer was sleeping. "I figured she would be," Riley said as he walked over to his sleeping girlfriend and sat next to her. He brushed a hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. Buffy slowly opened her eyes. "Hey," she said when she saw Riley looking over her. "Go back to sleep," he said as he stood up. "I don't wanna. You're here now." "I have to go I just came by to check on you." "Thanks mom," Buffy responded sarcastically. "Bye." Riley kissed her and walked out. Buffy watched him go. He loved her so much but she could never bring herself to return the love. She just didn't feel that way about him. The only one she had ever felt that way about was Angel and he left her. Buffy swung her feet over the side of the bed. "Whoa," she said as she was rushed by a wave of dizziness. "What's wrong?" Willow asked worriedly. "I'm just dizzy. It's nothing." Willow looked her in the eye. "Not to jump to conclusions or anything, but are you… is there any possibility that your pregnant?"