Hey guys, I just wanted to give a quick shout out to you lot for your reviews.

Anna42hmr

Angel1969

Indieee17

Buffyfan310

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and a special thanks to Kristen12386, like we were separated at the birth of Buffyverse!!

Many thanks to those with me on story alert too, any thoughts?? Please review.

Angel sat in Buffy's old room in shock. He didn't know what to do, what to think. Buffy was dead. His Buffy gone forever. No amount of CPR would save her this time...

Juuuuust Kidding...I couldn't resist!

Oh and what did I tell you guys about that song..does it fit or what! (unless you did what I do when reading fanfic sometimes and skip the lyrics *hangs head in shame*). Now there was a number of different ways I had to continue the next few parts but this is what I've decided on.. Please review and tell me what you think...

"Been a couple of weeks since you've come to see me"

Buffy turned towards the voice, slightly shocked at its owner. She was in her hospital room looking over at herself. Angel was in the chair next to her bed, holding her left hand as machines beeped around her. She must have just come out of surgery, was she in a coma or just unconscious though? God my hair looks awful. She turned back towards the voice, there wasn't much she could do about her mental state at the moment.

"I know I'm sorry, I've just been busy you know, slaying, school.."

Letting out a chuckle the figure shook her head denying the blondes words, walking to stand next to her. "I know you're not even gonna insult me by thinking I would believe that. I'm not one of your little scoobies who can't see further than their own noses".

"I..I don't, look I didn't even know you realised I was there!"

"I can't comment, I don't really know the deal, I don't know how much time passes or anything, but I heard you when you first came and I have heard you ever since"

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry for how I acted the first few times.." Before Buffy could finish she was interrupted.

"No, look you had every right to be like that. I was pissed at first, sure. But the more you came back the more I listened and realised how wrong everything had gotten. What a mess everything is. What's the big guy doing back?"

"Giles and Wesley found a way to bind his soul, needs my blood, then he's going back to L.A."

"I dunno, he looks pretty comfy with you there, what makes you so sure he'll leave?"

"He always leaves"

Suddenly the room shifted and the two found themselves in another room.

"How did that happen?" Buffy looked around recognising the room.

"Don't ask me, it's your subconscious"

"So you're just a figment of my imagination?"

"No, I'm me, I'm not sure why I get to guest spot but still, things work in mysterious ways and all that, perhaps I'm here to help you, after being your diary for the last few months I would say I know what's going on with you, including why you haven't been by recently.."

"I've just been busy"

"You haven't suddenly become busy, you've given up, waiting for something out there to get the best of you and almost letting them do it. You need to stop before it's too late. Let them help you B"

Buffy looked round the room and then to Faith's body, lying in her bed, still in the coma Buffy put her in.

"Are you going to wake up Faith?"

"Who knows, I kind of like it here though, no pressure, no destiny, no one to live up to, I'm 5x5"

"I never asked you to be like me Faith, trust me it's not as good as you think it is"

"I know B, I know, that came from me. That's the thing about this place it gives you a lot of time to think, add that to you're 'Dear Faith' visits and I can see how wrong I was. I don't want your life or the pressures that go with it. Although by the sounds of it, you've been getting rid of them?"

"I just can't take them running my life any more, it was hard enough before, but then without Angel, it's just not worth it"

"Stop it B, stop it. You are the strong one, always doing the right thing. I need you to be there when I wake up Buffy, I can't do this without you. I went down the wrong path, I know it now and god as much as I want to go back in time I can't. All I can do is try and gain my redemption and make my peace with you"

"I made peace with you a long time ago Faith, you're like my sister, I never would have given up on you, I'm just so tired"

"So you've given up on yourself? On Angel?"

"Oh no! Don't you turn that around, HE gave up on ME!"

"Then what is he doing here?"

"I told you, we're binding.."

"His soul, yes I know, but what is he doing here"

"I..I..I don't know OK, he wants to talk"

"So talk"

"Haven't I done enough Faith? It's your turn now, mine should have been over a long time ago"

"Buffy I don't have much time left to talk to you, you're going to wake up. You have help with you, I can't tell you what's going to happen to me, I don't know, I want to come back, I do, I have a destiny to face and peace to make. I may be A slayer, but whether you want to be or not, you are the slayer. I need you there for me to do it. Please Buffy, Please don't give up" As Faith finished talking she disappeared.

Buffy stood shocked at Faith practically begging her and actually saying please. At least she had heard her when she had visited. It had started pretty soon after Angel had left. No one else knew she visited and she had planned to keep it that way. At first Buffy had been angry, mad and upset and had taken it out on the dark slayer, starting with the poison. Eventually, with Faith not able to answer back, it had turned into an escape for Buffy's feelings when she couldn't talk to anyone else, it had helped put past demons to rest for both slayers apparently. For some reason Buffy wasn't embarrassed that Faith knew all her secrets and feelings of late, if anything she felt relief. Back looking in at her own hospital room Buffy took note of the changes in her body. 'Even my body has had enough' she thought. A small part of her was trying to fight back, it had listened to Faith and had grasped on to the natural kinship she had originally felt towards Faith. That was also the part of her that wanted to jump into Angel's arms and never leave.

Buffy could see how worried Angel was and that same small part of her melted at the love and concern on his face for her. A bigger part was angry at the upset in her emotional state he had caused and was making her once again deal with hurt. She had pushed people so far away to avoid this, he had been back a day and she was struggling to keep up her façade already. She didn't deny she still loved him, there would be no point. She would only be lying to herself. Admitting it however wouldn't do any good. He would still leave and still break her heart. Again.

Still, it had been nice having him around, the fact he had her back and was there to save her, whether she wanted to be saved or not, had reminded her of times gone by. Back then she had her friends, her school, her watcher, her mother. Her Angel. She had no doubt how he felt, she believed in his words of love and his promise of forever. They hadn't known what was to come, what threat they were to face or what foe thought they could take them, but they had been together. It was all she had ever truly wanted and asked for in her tragic lifetime.

She knew she was going to wake up and took a deep breathe trying to prepare herself for the next few days and trying to think of the best possible way to keep her dignity and the tatters of her heart and soul. Visions of throwing her self at Angel's feet begging him to love her and never leave her danced in her eyes. He knelt before her telling her he loved her and never wanted to leave her and never would again.

Before the vision could continue the environment shifted once again and Buffy found herself in the middle of the cemetery watching Angel fight with a couple of men in dark army type gear. She watched in confusions as the fight progressed, they were definitely human and she could tell Angel wasn't fighting to kill. She noted a lone figure away from the fight with a gun trained on the action. She figured the bullets were to harm Angel and perhaps distract him if the assailants needed it. She began getting closer to the fight when she saw one of the men withdraw a stake from his pocket, Angel hadn't been fully focused on him before and she felt a shiver go down her spine. Her slayer senses warning her something was going to happen. Barely a second later, it did. As one of the men moved for a physical attack, the other got in a position to use his stake.

"ANGEL!"

Buffy ran full speed forward, too late remembering the gunman as she pushed the stake safely away from Angel's chest just as a gun shot rang out. She felt pain spread across her left shoulder before blackness engulfed her.

Angel had been by Buffy's bedside since they had allowed in the room. They had had to perform surgery to stop the internal bleeding but it hadn't been as bad as any of them first thought. Mostly relief had passed through him erasing his fears but they wouldn't be completely dispelled till she was awake and he could look into her eyes.

Yeh her cold empty eyes.

Angel was mildly surprised to hear Angelus. He had been quiet up until now, his own fear and worry keeping him so. Now he was getting anxious for her to wake up.

What is taking so long? What if the doctors are wrong?

The anaesthetic has to wear off. She'll wake up when she's ready, besides it looks like she could use the rest.

Don't let her hear you say that, she'll probably think you're calling her fat or something.

They both shared a smirk at that, momentarily lightening the mood, calling a truce on their usual relationship. Giles, Cordy and Gunn had been in and then gone to get refreshments as it looked like Buffy wasn't going to wake up just yet. Angel of course had stayed, even if he had needed he wouldn't have gone. He just sat vigil by her bedside, one small hand clasped in his own, trying to give her some of his own strength through the contact.

He had no idea how long had passed, an hour or two perhaps, there was still a while until sunrise. That thought shocked him, it seemed they had been in the hospital for days rather hours. He felt a twitch and looked down at the hand he was holding, his gaze soon returned to her face as she whimpered. Her eyes were closed and her heartbeat was still slower as if in sleep. She must be dreaming he thought. He could see her getting agitated and in emotional turmoil which squeezed his heart enough, if it was beating it would have stopped at her next words.

"Please Angel, don't. Don't leave me again, I couldn't take it again. I love you, I did then, I do now. I'm begging you, if you ever cared for me at all don't go. I can't survive alone"

Tears were rolling down both their faces though Buffy's eyes remained closed. Angel had stood up, sitting on the side of Buffy's bed one hand still holding hers and the other trying to hold her to him.

Sobs caught in his throat as he tried to get through to her, whether she could hear him or not.

"I love you Buffy, I do, with all my heart and soul. I never wanted to leave you and I never will again"

At his words she seemed to calm down. Her sobs and shaking ceased and he let out a breathe. Agony coursed through him as he once again recognised what his leaving had done to his mate. Before he had a chance to let his thoughts progress Buffy let out a terrified shout.

"ANGEL"

A few seconds later she shot up in her hospital bed wide awake. Buffy looked down and saw no wound and lay slowly back down. Pain had sliced through her stitches from the sharp movement. She winced and pulled her hand away from Angel's. He decided to forgo mentioning her dream for now.

"Buffy, you're awake, how are you feeling"

"Like I got shish kebabed, how do you think" Buffy ignored the his hurt and worried gaze and assessed her pain and wounds.

"They had to operate to stop the internal bleeding but apparently the wound looked worse than it was"

"It always does"

"Don't act so casual Buffy" Angel practically growled at her, angry once again at her lack of caring for her own safety. "A couple of inches a different way and it could have been a different story"

"We all have our time Angel, this obviously wasn't mine. Mind you even if it was some idiot would probably bring me back"

Angel looked at her shocked but before he had a chance to reply the door burst open and three figures walked in.

"Buffy, I'm so glad you're alright, we were so worried when you needed surgery" Giles walked into the room giving his slayer a chaste kiss on the forehead, ignoring her flinch.

"Hey B, glad you're OK, had me worried for a sec there girl"

"Hey Buff, bet you can't wait to blow this joint huh?" They all knew how much Buffy hated hospitals and could tell she wanted to get out by her shifty eyes and slightly nervous expression. Angel hoped that was her reason for her behaviour before.

"Like you wouldn't believe, so, let's go"

"I don't believe that's the best idea Buffy, at least get checked over first. We will head back to mine and let you rest. We will be back in a few hours to pick you up. We have already out stayed our welcome but we wouldn't leave until you had awoken"

All saying their goodbyes they headed for the door Buffy felt a momentary panic. She hated herself for what she was about to do but weighed up against the alternative, she swallowed her pride and did it anyway.

"Angel?"

"Yes?" He turned back from the door, the others waiting just outside, out of sight but still in hearing distance.

"Will you stay with me?" Her voice was so small an he could tell it was the last thing in the world she wanted to ask, despite this hope blossomed throughout his whole being and he turned to close the door.

"Of course" He saw the other three's wide smiles as he pushed the door shut, hiding his own.