Summary: Buffy comes back to Angel when she has been made alive again. Please R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Angel...blah blah blah...it all belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Television, and David Greenwalt. Please don't sue :).


Buffy walked into her room and looked around. She never thought she would be as grateful as she was now to be alive. She sat down on the edge of the bed and glanced at the phone number on the table.

Angel Investigations.

Angel. How much she missed him. With Riley gone, and everyone falling over themselves to help her....she knew Angel was the only one who would understand.

Without thinking, Buffy picked up the phone and dialed. Suddenly, realizing what she'd done, her heart began to race. *Ring*. *Ring*. "Angel Investigations, we help the helpless!"

Cordelia. "Hello?" Buffy tried to speak. "Cordelia?" "Buffy?!" "Hey." "Hey! Oh my - wow. How are you?" "Good. You?" "I - I'm fine, fine. You want to talk to Angel, I assume?"

Angel looked up from his desk. Cordelia turned to him and mouthed *It's Buffy*. Angel abruptly dropped his newspaper.

Buffy smiled. "That'd be nice." "Here he is." Buffy heard Cordelia leave. Then,

"Buffy?" His voice washed relief through her. "Angel." "Buffy, I - how are you?" "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore. I can't, I -" she spilled everything to him. All her thoughts, feelings and emotions from the past few weeks were vented out as she spoke. She couldn't seem to stop. Finally, she took a deep breath. "Angel, I need you. I need you here with me. Please."

Angel was quiet. Then, "I'll be over tonight."

He hung up. Buffy did the same. She sat back on her bed and thought about what she'd just done.

* * *

That night, Buffy lay sleeping on her bed when suddenly Dawn knocked on the door. "Buffy?" Buffy woke up. She yawned and stretched. "Hmmm?" "Angel's here."

Buffy stared at her. Then she got up and raced downstairs. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, she looked up.

Sure enough, it was Angel. He looked at her, his eyes seemingly more haunted than before. "Buffy." He whispered her name.

She ran to him and hugged him. He held her in his arms lovingly and comfortingly. Buffy started to cry, not so much out of sadness, but out of how much she had missed him. The emotions whirled through her.
How long they stood like that, neither of them knew. Finally Angel released her. He gently wiped a tear away. He led her to the couch, and they sat down. "I missed you," Buffy whispered. "I missed you too," Angel said. He stroked her hair softly. "I'll stay as long as you want me to." "How's forever?" Buffy said, only half-joking. "Does forever work for you?" Angel laid his head on top of Buffy's. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax.

"I - I should go." Angel said. He was afraid. Afraid for Buffy. "You should," Buffy agreed sadly. She got up slowly. Angel did the same.

She led the way to the door. Opening it, Buffy followed Angel outside. They stood silently for a moment. Then Buffy broke the silence. "Thank you. For everything." Angel smiled sadly. "Always." he said. "I'm sorry I couldn't...." "Don't be. I understand." Staring at each other in the soft light of the stars, Angel leaned in and kissed Buffy gently. "Soon," he whispered.

And with that, he was gone.