I'M BACK! Yes, it finally happened... I got a C in Geometry... YAY ME!

Disclaimer: SC1.

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AN: Ok, I'm such a Tara fan... don't hold it against me.

As always...

{{{{Story between brackets is a thing from mental institution Buffy's life.}}}}

Normal typing is The Slayer Buffy's life.

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{{{{ Buffy hates the night. At night, when she's all alone, is when she feels the most vulnerable. Sometimes she sees them. She sees the beautiful red head with her girlfriend. She sees the striking raven headed boy, the one she always looked to for a laugh. She even sees the blonde sometimes, the one who claimed to be in love with her. She also sees him.

The only reason she liked that world in the first place. Angel. He talks to her, asking her if she remembers anything if she even hears him. Sometimes he gets to so mad, he breaks whatever he had in his hand. She wanted to tell him that she was okay and happy. But she couldn't. Not without going THERE again.}}}}

*****

Angel looked down at the broken pencil he had in his hand. And sighed. He was getting nowhere fast. He hadn't slept in a week, hoping for some sign of recognition from Buffy. He wasn't getting it.

He sighed again and walked back over to the bed and picked up Buffy's hand. If only she would move, do something. Anything.

Then he heard a hesitant knock on her door. He turned around and saw the mysterious Wicca he had met just a few days ago.

"Hi," Tara whispered. "You okay?"

"I'm okay," Angel assured her.

"You don't look it," Tara said, quietly entering the room, holding a mug.

"Tired," Angel shrugged. He absentmindedly started stroking Buffy's hand.

{{{{ "Stop it," she thought. "That tickles. Don't make me want to go back there."}}}}

"And hungry," he admitted.

"I figured you would be," Tara said, holding up her mug. "I stole it from Spike."

"Ah," Angel laughed bitterly. "He didn't like that, did he?"

"He hasn't found out yet," Tara laughed.

"Oh," Angel smiled.

"So," Tara hesitated. "You're probably tired of hearing this, but any luck yet?"

"No," Angel stated.

"Oh," Tara sighed.

After a few minutes, she continued. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Angel agreed.

"What happened between you- you two?" Tara stuttered a bit. "I mean, why does Xander hate you? And Spike?"

"Spike hates me because I had everything he wanted," Angel said coldly. "Xander- Xander is more complicated. He had a crush on Buffy and I- She had chosen me. He didn't like that, I guess. Then there was when I went evil-,"

"What?" Tara asked, confused.

"They didn't tell you?" Angel asked.

"New to the gang," Tara explained.

"Oh," Angel sighed. "Buffy and I dated. She took at lot of grief for it, but I loved her even more. And I believe she felt the same about me. Well, on her seventeenth birthday, we- we took it a little to far. And we broke the curse that kept my soul intact- you do know about the curse right?"

"Yes."

"Ok, well, it broke and I went- evil. I tried to kill everyone she cared about. She sent me to hell, after willow restored my soul and then I came back and- well, I left her after she graduated. Needless to say, Xander and I have never been close. And that was the Cliff notes version, by the way."

"Hell of a story," Tara said. "Even with the Cliff notes version."

"Yeah," he agreed.

"Well, get some sleep," Tara said, touching Angel's shoulder as she stood up to leave.

"I will," Angel promised.

With that, Tara left and Angel drank the mug of blood. He was exhausted. He was also thankful for the little witch, the one who accepted him, even though she knew nothing of him before.

Angel climbed on top of the covers and pulled Buffy close to him. He fell asleep instantly. If he had stayed away a moment more, he would have felt the once motionless Buffy spoon herself in to his body, matching every curve with his body.

{{{{"One more night," she thought smiling. "It won't hurt to believe one more night, with my Angel."

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