At the cemetery, Buffy and Angel were walking quietly. Until Angel spoke, trying to strike up a conversation.
"Looks like there's no evil going on tonight huh?"
No answer. She was too devastated to speak. Angel didn't question her when she didn't answer. He knew she didn't want to talk right now. He heard her the whole time. Ever since she left the store, she had been crying. He wished he could do something that would comfort her.
"Buffy, I- I know that"
"Don't, okay. I know what you're gonna say, but you can't say that. You can't do anything about it okay. Nothing you can say is gonna help."
" I know that, but please don't cry. It hurts me so much to see you this way.
" You want me to stop crying? Why is that going to help? Huh? You're still going to go away. You're still gonna leave me," she said with tears streaming down her face.
" Buffy," he said trying to calm her down, "this is the only way for you to live. I die in place of the rest of the world."
" You don't understand. I'll die without you. I need you, Angel."
" If I go then you won't die, and you'll still have Willow and Xander and everyone else."
"Don't you get it! You're the only one who has ever let me feel.." she trailed off.
"Feel what."
"You make me feel needed, and I need you. You're the only reason that I'm living. You're my life. My soul."
She fell into Angel's tight hug and cried into his shirt. He felt her pain. It tugged at his soul and his heart shattered. He cried silently letting his tears fall on the top of her golden hair. Those stood there for half an hour then Angel spoke up.
"We should get you home."
"Angel?"
" Yeah?"
" It's tomorrow," hot tears sprung in her eyes again as the realization hit her.
" Yeah, it is," he replied in a solemn voice.
"Is there gonna be a big fight? Are you gonna be in pain?" she asked in a pain-filled voice.
" Uh, there's supposed to be this big battle. At midnight. On the hellmouth. It's supposed to open up, and to stop it I have to do this ritual right before it opens. With me standing right on top of it."
"What?" she asked in shock, "You expect me to watch that?" Her voice broke.
" I'm sorry, but someone has to be there to fight the demons that might come out."
When they reached the Summers' house, no one was home. They sat on the sofa. Neither of them broke the silence. Angel sat slouched on the sofa with Bufy's head resting on his chest. They were both crying clinging to each other as if their life depended on it.
She fell asleep on his shoulder, and Angel carried her up to her room and set her on the bed. He sat in the chair next to her nightstand. He watched her sleep. So peaceful, but in emotional turmoil. She was so beautiful and he was the only one who could make her happy yet all he did was hurt her. Over and over again. He sobbed. He couldn't take it
He couldn't bear to break her heart again.
He locked up the house and went to the magic shop. He was going to find another way even if he had to kill everyone else to do it. Besides the Scooby gang.