Chapter Six.

The car journey back to the beach was filled with silence. Neither Slayer or Vampire needed to speak. They both knew that. Silence between them was just as meaningful as words. Why did it have to be so hard? So painful?

Angel silently pulled up next to Buffy's car and turned off the engine. He didn't want to do this, didn't want to say goodbye to her again. She had only come back to him twenty four hours ago. It was unfair that she had to be wripped away from him. He looked over to her, her dirty blonde hair was tied in a messy bun and she looked weaker than ever. She hadn't bothered to apply any make-up. Angel tried to remember the Buffy that he had met five years ago, how she didn't look like her anymore. However, to him she was Buffy and she always would be. She was just a little damaged, nothing that he couldn't fix. But he knew that it was not possible, not yet anyway. He was a vampire, he couldn't give her what she needed and what she needed was light. She felt so cold and lonley that Angel was afraid that taking her away from the light would finish her. She had her emerald eyes closed tightly, pleading with the powers that be to make this day last forever, to take her back to heaven so that she and Angel could be together, so that she wouldn't feel the pain and emptiness that haunted her.

Angel didn't want to take her away from her thoughts, but he knew that this was killing her, it was killing him too.

"Buffy" he whispered into the silent air. She flinched at his words. Why did he know how to send chills down her spine and make her feel sensations that no one else was able to?

She slowly turned to him and a sad smile played on her face.

"I know." She looked toward the beach out of the windscreen.With one last look at Angel, Buffy opened the car door and stepped out into the cool air. Angel immeadiatly followed, he knew that she wanted him to. They had yet to say goodbye, something that both were fearing. He walked around the car and headed toward the beach, he held out his hand for her to follow and she interlaced her tiny hand with his larger fingers and followed his lead. They stood at the steps, Buffy leaning her head on Angels shoulder looking out toward the sea. Anyone looking on would have thought that they were a couple so in love, so happy. But what did they know?

But Buffy didn't care, the thought excited her. At least she could pretend that she and Angel were some normal couple in love, and the only worries they had was annoying parents who don't approve of their daughters choice of suitor. She smiled at the thoughts filling her head, how she wished life was as simple.

Buffy stepped away from Angel, never breaking their physical contact. She wanted to touch him for as long as she could, every moment counted. She would have to go a long time before she was able to touch him again, it was an opportunity that she just couldn't pass up.

"I think it's time for me to go. Everyone will be worried." Buffy's eyes avoided Angel's, not wanting to see the dissappointment behind them because she was afraid that if she saw it, she wouldn't have the strength to leave. She finally looked to his face after a few moments, she saw that even though the dissappointment lingered it wasn't fully there and she silently thanked Angel for making it that much easier for her to leave.

"Back to reality." She chuckled when saying this, the thoughts of her life flooded back to her. But she refused to dwell on them, she was still here with Angel even if it was only for a few more seconds.

He smiled at her and followed her lead back to her car. They stopped inches away from her car, hands still entwined.

"Thanks Angel, for tonight. For everything." He placed his hands on her cheeks and gently pulled her face toward him. The kiss was anticipated, it was short and sweet. But Buffy had never felt more electricity from anything in her life.

"I'm sorry I can't make this forever." She winced at his words, she saw the tears evident in his eyes. Tears that she knew he'd cry once she had left.

"Maybe someday." She smiled at her hope. She knew that they were meant to be, just not yet.

Buffy escaped Angels touch and slid into the drivers seat of her car. She turned on the engine, put on the headlights and reversed onto the main road. Angel stood watching his lover drive away from him.

She stopped for a brief second and smiled at him. Ensuring him that she was still his. Forever.

"Last night I dreamt of a different ending.

Everything just seemed to work out somehow.

I saw that something and I could smile again.

I was so sure I'd wake up and I wouldn't need you right now.

But here in the real world, I miss you madly. I'm coping badly with losing you, what am I to do, here in the real world without you."

"Real World", D Side.