"That's complete non-sense Buffy," I yelled as my frustration had finally hit me. "I won't accept that. I've traveled all around the world searching for my redemption. It took me all this time Buffy, all these centuries to do so. And now that I finally have gotten my wish, you sit there and tell me we can't be together. Well I don't accept that, not for one minute."
"Your taking this the wrong way Angel," Buffy said as she began balling in agony. She wanted to tell me, but she was so sad, that the words could barely make it out.
I was pacing angrily as I spoke at Buffy, and saw the bottle of pills sitting on the table which was directly beside Buffy who was sitting on the couch . So I quickly walked over to them, and read the label out loud, "Morphine Pills!" I then looked at Buffy and furiously raged, "I've come all this way Buffy, what the hell are these pills for? If we can't be together, than you better start being honest with me. Cause I sure as hell am not going to walk away from this. Why are you in so much pain? I love you Buffy, so you better tell me now. Tell me damn it!!"
"I'm dying Angel," Buffy fiercely bellowed out as her tears fell rapidly from her eyes.
I couldn't respond for her news had knocked me speechless. It felt as if someone was grabbing my heart and slowly ripping it from my body. I fell to the couch beside her and my face was more pale then ever before. I finally gathered myself to look at her, and noticed that she was crying uncontrollably. It made me sick knowing that I was causing this reaction. She's obviously been through so much in her life, and all I can think about is me. I then grabbed her hand, kissed it and said, as a tear trickled down my left cheek, "I'm so sorry Buffy. Forgive my stupidity. Please stop crying"
I tried to wipe away the tears which were hanging on her chin, but there were so many others which were on their way. I was about to say something to Buffy when I smelt a scent, which was coming from behind me. I quickly turned around and noticed Anne. She was sitting on the bottom of the stairs, and she was quietly crying in her hands. Quiet enough so her mother didn't notice she was there.
I kept asking myself, how can I make this better for them? What can I do to end their pain? But I couldn't think of anything. And then Buffy confirmed that I couldn't do a thing.
"Angel," Buffy began, as her tears slowly began to stop falling from her eyes. "I know what you're thinking right now. I know you're trying to find a way to make this all better, but ease your mind. There's nothing you can do."
"I can't accept that," I angrily said, as my sadness began taking control. I tried to fight my pain, but this news was to much to bear. I let a few tears trickle down, but wiped them away quickly, for I didn't want Buffy to see me cry. "I won't let you die, not without trying to do something. I have to find a way. There must be something I can..."
"NO, you can't do anything," Anne screamed from the stairs with sadness in her voice and tears in her eyes. "Mom's dying. We accepted it a long time ago. We promised ourselves that we weren't going to cry like this. Why? Why did you have to come back now? You've made it worse Angel. Leave us alone. Leave us alone." Her head dropped back in the palms of her hands and began weeping heavily. I quickly jumped up, for I noticed that Buffy had began crying as well, at the sight of her daughters pain, and went to Anne.
I hugged her, as she tried to fight me away, but finally gave in to my embrace. I then whispered in her ear, "You can't let your mom see you like this sweetheart. She needs you to be strong, so she can be strong."
I carried Anne over to the sofa and placed her in Buffy's arms, and watched as they embraced and let their sadness out together. When a little time passed, I finally said, "Buffy, I don't care what's wrong with you, well I do, but I'm not going to let that be an excuse. You've obviously accepted what's happened to you, and I don't want to come in between that. But, I'm not leaving you, or Anne. I love you, and I won't leave you again. I sought out my redemption and I've found it. Whatever time we have left, we will spend it together, as a family."