Part 8
Angel stood up to let Cordelia back in the pew. He kissed her on her forehead and whispered, "Good job."
"Thanks," Cordelia whispered back.
Angel made his way to the podium.
"Xander and I never got a long very well," Angel started. "At all actually. He always hated me because of what I am. Xander hated vampires because they took his best friend away from him, and he was the one that had to kill him. I understood how he felt. If I was in his place I would have hated vampires too."
Angel cast a side-glance towards Buffy.
"What I was wasn't always the reason we fought. While we were two different people, we both loved the same woman. I was always threatened by Xander. I always thought if Buffy found out half the things I knew he did, she'd realize how great he was."
Angel took a deep breath.
"The night Buffy was destined to die, I was brooding in my place, waiting for the world to end. But then Xander showed up and shoved a cross in my face. He told me he didn't like me, but needed my help to find the Master's lair. When I asked him if he loved her, he didn't answer straight, but I knew he did."
"I could never tell Buffy what Xander did. I always thought if I did, Buffy would leave me for him. It didn't surprise me when he showed up at my place the night I left town after graduation. I thought he was going to gloat, but boy was I wrong."
****Flashback****
Angel's Mansion…
Angel was packing a bag when he heard the door open. With his vampire senses, he knew who it was.
"What do you want," Angel asked.
"Came to talk," Xander replied.
"Really. I would think you came to help me pack so I could leave faster."
"You know we could banter and trade insults until the world ends…again…but I have to get to the get together the guys are having, so can we just do this."
"Do what?"
"Talk civilly. Have you leave on a good note…well between us anyway."
"I know she's hurting…this is just what's best. For her and us."
"I know that," Xander replied. "I know she really loves you. In time, I'm sure she'll get over you and try to move on."
"Yeah, and I'm sure you'll be here to remind her of that all summer."
"Actually I won't," Xander said.
Angel stopped packing and looked towards him.
"You're leaving?"
"Not forever…just the summer. Going on a road trip of self-discovery. After this past year, I need it."
"This year has been rough on all of us," Angel said.
"Tell me about it," Xander responded.
"I'm sorry about you and Cordelia…Never had the chance to say that."
"Well…you've had Buffy stuff to deal with."
"You still love her don't you," Angel said as he closed his suitcase.
"She's not an easy person to get over."
"I know," Angel said. "But it'll never work out between us."
"We can make it work…I know you still love me," Xander said over dramatically.
"You know, you're not THAT funny."
"Yes I am."
After an awkward silence, Angel spoke up again.
"Keep her safe," Angel said.
"What?"
"Buffy. When you get back…keep her safe. Buffy may be strong, but she still needs help."
"I'll always be there for Buff. No matter what."
"Thanks."
"I never hated you," Xander said suddenly. "I just…resented you. For being a vampire."
"I figured…Buffy told me about Jesse."
"And I guess I was always jealous Buffy chose you over me."
"She'll open her eyes one day."
"Guess you never know what's coming eh Deadboy."
"Don't call me that."
"Deadboy."
Angel glared at Xander.
"I guess I better go before they start thinking a vamp got me or something. Good luck Angel…hope you find what you're looking for."
"Thanks Xander."
They shook each others hands and parted.
****End Flashback****
"While I may not like Xander, I respect him for what he did. He fought side by side with someone he cared about without having a destiny or skills. And I admire him for it. The world has lost a true champion."
End Part 8
Angel stood up to let Cordelia back in the pew. He kissed her on her forehead and whispered, "Good job."
"Thanks," Cordelia whispered back.
Angel made his way to the podium.
"Xander and I never got a long very well," Angel started. "At all actually. He always hated me because of what I am. Xander hated vampires because they took his best friend away from him, and he was the one that had to kill him. I understood how he felt. If I was in his place I would have hated vampires too."
Angel cast a side-glance towards Buffy.
"What I was wasn't always the reason we fought. While we were two different people, we both loved the same woman. I was always threatened by Xander. I always thought if Buffy found out half the things I knew he did, she'd realize how great he was."
Angel took a deep breath.
"The night Buffy was destined to die, I was brooding in my place, waiting for the world to end. But then Xander showed up and shoved a cross in my face. He told me he didn't like me, but needed my help to find the Master's lair. When I asked him if he loved her, he didn't answer straight, but I knew he did."
"I could never tell Buffy what Xander did. I always thought if I did, Buffy would leave me for him. It didn't surprise me when he showed up at my place the night I left town after graduation. I thought he was going to gloat, but boy was I wrong."
****Flashback****
Angel's Mansion…
Angel was packing a bag when he heard the door open. With his vampire senses, he knew who it was.
"What do you want," Angel asked.
"Came to talk," Xander replied.
"Really. I would think you came to help me pack so I could leave faster."
"You know we could banter and trade insults until the world ends…again…but I have to get to the get together the guys are having, so can we just do this."
"Do what?"
"Talk civilly. Have you leave on a good note…well between us anyway."
"I know she's hurting…this is just what's best. For her and us."
"I know that," Xander replied. "I know she really loves you. In time, I'm sure she'll get over you and try to move on."
"Yeah, and I'm sure you'll be here to remind her of that all summer."
"Actually I won't," Xander said.
Angel stopped packing and looked towards him.
"You're leaving?"
"Not forever…just the summer. Going on a road trip of self-discovery. After this past year, I need it."
"This year has been rough on all of us," Angel said.
"Tell me about it," Xander responded.
"I'm sorry about you and Cordelia…Never had the chance to say that."
"Well…you've had Buffy stuff to deal with."
"You still love her don't you," Angel said as he closed his suitcase.
"She's not an easy person to get over."
"I know," Angel said. "But it'll never work out between us."
"We can make it work…I know you still love me," Xander said over dramatically.
"You know, you're not THAT funny."
"Yes I am."
After an awkward silence, Angel spoke up again.
"Keep her safe," Angel said.
"What?"
"Buffy. When you get back…keep her safe. Buffy may be strong, but she still needs help."
"I'll always be there for Buff. No matter what."
"Thanks."
"I never hated you," Xander said suddenly. "I just…resented you. For being a vampire."
"I figured…Buffy told me about Jesse."
"And I guess I was always jealous Buffy chose you over me."
"She'll open her eyes one day."
"Guess you never know what's coming eh Deadboy."
"Don't call me that."
"Deadboy."
Angel glared at Xander.
"I guess I better go before they start thinking a vamp got me or something. Good luck Angel…hope you find what you're looking for."
"Thanks Xander."
They shook each others hands and parted.
****End Flashback****
"While I may not like Xander, I respect him for what he did. He fought side by side with someone he cared about without having a destiny or skills. And I admire him for it. The world has lost a true champion."
End Part 8