It seemed like an eon had passed. She stared at him, looking deep into his eyes, searching, wondering, demanding to know what was going on. His heart bled with the knowledge of what he'd given up on that day two years, when he gave everything up and let her turn her back and leave.

She remembered.

It was clear, the pain that he knew he had felt every single day since then was written on her face. "You. you. remember what?" he stuttered, hoping that it wasn't true, knowing that they couldn't handle another blow from the Powers.

Her face burned with red, anger shaking her body, but the barest hints of sadness tinged her eyes. "You gave it up! We had it ALL! And YOU gave it UP!"

"So you could live!"

Her lip quivered, her hands clenched sporadically at her sides. "You were human." she whispered, as more memories of their time together flashed before her eyes. Eating in bed, breaking the kitchen table. being a normal girl falling asleep in the arms of her normal boyfriend. And how he hadn't lasted five seconds against the mohra demon. "You gave it up. for me."

Angel bowed his head, gave a barely perceptible nod. "Everything I do is for you," he answered, but his voice was harder, sharper. "I left for you to have a normal life. I gave up my humanity for you."

"And I have no right to be angry about it," Buffy finished tiredly.

Angel raised his head, met her eyes. "No. I don't suppose you do."

She blinked, taking it in. "You lied to me. You let me walk away. You let me walk away and you never said anything."

"And that was easy for me?" he cried. She flinched, Angel had never yelled at her. Never. "I had EVERYTHING that I wanted. And you moved on."

"Riley's nice," she defended half-heartedly. "Besides," she added, venom beginning to seep into her voice. "You were the one who told me I needed someone to take me into the light."

"Not someone like Riley. I mean, really, he has the personality of a dead potato." Angel paused, thought for a minute. "A potato that's been in the sun too long!"

"Yeah, that was a nice comeback." Buffy snapped, sarcastically.

He gave her a half-smile. "Sorry, I was on the spot."

She sighed. "Angel, what are we going to do? How am I supposed to stay away from you?"

He blinked, surprised by her confession. "I… I don't know."

****

"Rip of her clothes dumbass! Curse be damned! Who cares about the world anyways?"

"Umm. I kinda do.."

Serena burst into tears.

"Uh... oh," Darien murmered.

"It's just so sad, I don't think I can take much more of this. It's the heartbreak of all starcrossed romances."

"Aren't *we* a starcrossed romance too?" Darien queried.

"Not like them we're not! You idiot!" She paused, thinking. "I have an idea."

"Uh oh.."

***


He was walking away from her.

She couldn't believe it. He was actually walking away from her. Drop a bombshell like that, walk away. Fine. Great. He could go to hell(AGAIN)for all she cared.

Then the world began to blur, trees fading together, colours moving and mixing until it was one big splatter on the canvas of the world.

They woke up in a room. Square, tight, it was a small box. She took a deep breath, noticed that Angel was there, giving her a questioning gaze. She looked quickly around, no door, no windows. They were trapped.

And the only thing in the room was a bed. A big bed.

Buffy gulped.

Angel glanced around uncertainly. "Well, uh, this is certainly a new type of torture."

Buffy snorted. "What. do they think we're going to fall into each other's arms, start making out, and risk your soul?"

***



"Yeah, pretty much." Serena hollered.

***

Angel frowned, "Did you hear that?"

"What? New vampire trick?"

"Shhhhh," he admonished, pacing the small room with a predator's care.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Pretty sure we're the only ones here."

"No, I heard something."

"What?"

Angel looked at the ground. "Nothing," he mumbled.

"You heard nothing?"

"No," he snapped, frustrated, "it's not important."

"Oh," she said with sudden understanding, "it was something dirty."

He gave her a look. She wisely let it drop.

***

"For God's sake, you didn't hear anything, Angel, but the sweet music of Buffy calling out to you!"

"Honey...are you sure that you don't need any help? Like an insane asylum?"

"I'm a Buffy fan!" she exclaimed. like that explained everything.

He shrugged, "Yeah, I suppose that that does explain it. You guys can be pretty scary when you put your minds to it."

Serena smiled, "I know, isn't it great?"

"Well, it works for you." Darien replied.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Serena questioned.

"Nothing dear, nothing at all."

***

"There!" Angel exclaimed, "I heard it again."

Buffy sighed. "So, what's the escape plan again?"

"Now you're just being sarcastic."

"Really, I hadn't noticed." Buffy replied.

"I don't think we're in any immediate danger." Angel thought for a minute, "The voices seemed pretty busy arguing."

Buffy stared at him.

"What?" he muttered.

"It's not the danger I'm worried about." she trailed off.

Angel glanced at the bed. "It's difficult."

"Being here, like this. with you. It throws me. Inside."

Angel looked pained, just as Buffy realized what she said.

"We SO need to get out of here," she declared.

He nodded.

***

"What? Are you CRAZY? You're not leaving until you work out your problems! And have sex!"

TBC... in like, six months