What Could Have Been

by Tigeress419

There is what has been and what could have been. A mysterious being visits Angel and sees how things would have been if he had never lost his soul to Buffy. He went away from his love to save the world, but hell came anyway.

2. Good Bye

            Her blonde hair shone in the moonlight, he would miss that. He would miss the way her lips would quiver right before she said some of her simple but astonishing wisdom. He would miss the way her eyes-

            He stopped himself. Thinking about all of the things about her he'd miss would only make this harder, "this" meaning leaving town in order to hide the Judge's arm from Drusilla and Spike. He was the only one who could stop them from reconstructing a creature that would kill all those with humanity in their blood.

            "It's better I go alone from here on," he said, letting go of her hand.

            Soon she was crying and that tore him up inside. He gave her the Claddagh Ring, her birthday gift. It was sickenly ironic that he was leaving on her birthday that he was leaving her for some undetermined amount of time. They held each other and kissed. They parted for a moment, then she leaned in for one last kiss but he pulled away, knowing that if he kept kissing her he'd never be able to bring himself to leave. This is where what has been splits into what could have been.

            "Good-bye," he whispered, turning away. He continued walking, choking back the tears.

            As he reached the ship's entrance he felt that it seemed that he had been cold to her, like he didn't care. That was far from the truth, he knew it and she knew it. Still he wanted to make sure she knew how he felt. He turned around to take one last look at her and say one last thing.

            "Buffy, I-I…." he stuttered but then trailed off seeing that she was gone. She had run once he had turned away from her. Farther inland, she was attacked by some of Spike's minions. She took them out easily, partly because of all the wooden crates surrounding her, but mostly because she vented all her fury on the situation out on them, and the little bit of anger she had for him, for not giving her one last kiss.

            She would wait for him for weeks, which turned into months. Those months turned into years, and by then she would give up all hope.

Next time: We find out where Angel has been. Now be a nice and click the little blue "Submit Review" button at the bottom of your screen and tell me what you think!