Summary: After Buffy's death, Angel learns a sweet secret of her.

Timeline: After The Gift – what means BTVS season five and Angel's season two.

Disclaimer: The ballad My Immortal is Ben Moody and Amy Lee's, and BTVS belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Inc and a whole bunch of TV businesses.

Genre: Romance/Drama/Angst, with a twist of Spiritual.

Rate: I don't know… PG-13.

Immortal By Blood

Gone.

She is gone

She died and he was somewhere else saving Cordelia's ass.

And he was supposed to be there whenever she needed me, whatever she needed me for.

Isn't it just… Ironic?

(I'm so tired of being here

Suppressed by all of my childish fears)

When he saw Willow sitting at my sofa, looking sadly into my eyes, he knew. It just popped into his mind, the loving nickname he had given to her – beloved – slipping easily from his lips.

"She is gone, Angel", Willow told him softly when his crew left them alone. Then she literally collapsed. The redhead witch cried for hours, and he was there, rocking her back and forth, like she did to Buffy when he broke up with her.

Then she left.

And he is still processing everything she told me. He could feel Buffy around: her presence, her perfume, her power.

She is still with him. Like she will be all his life.

(And if you have to leave

I wish that you could just leave)

Angel sent everyone away. Wesley flew to London to meet Giles. Fred went to Texas; Gunn traveled to Brazil to check the females there. Cordelia is somewhere between Italy and France, on her journey through Paris, Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice.

The hotel is a shrine to Buffy, a huge one. Photos, sketches, stuff. The sweater she dressed on their first – and only – night, her Claddagh ring, one photo of them at her prom, her yearbook.

(Cause your presence still lingers here

And it won't leave me alone)

The light, signaling new messages on the answer-machine, flashes for the last two weeks. One single message since that fateful night when Willow stopped by. He presses the button and there is silence.

Awkwardly enough, the silence makes him tingle.

"Uh, hey Angel".

Her voice. A message!

"It's me. Duh… Well, see, I'm fighting this hell goddess, Glory, Glorificus, whatsoever. And only my or Dawn's blood will closs the vortex. Heard that story before… Uh… Anyways, I can't let Dawn die. She's just fifteen. She is my age when you first saw me. So, I'm gonna die. Please don't be upset with me. I'm going to Heaven, I'm sure".

A pause. Please, baby…

"I had a baby, Angel. I have a baby. We have".

What? How? When?

"Nine months after our first tête-à-tête, in Thanksgiving. I gave birth to a boy, his name is Liam. Well, you see, when I was suffering that goddamn labor-pains, this weird creature appeared to me. It was golden and blue and called me a lower being. She showed me stuff. A day, actually, where you were human. And I was with you, and we got happy. But then you gave it up. For me. Because I would die if you kept such a bliss".

(These wound won't seem to heal

This pain is just to real)

"I remember, Angel. Every sound, every taste, every aroma, everything. When I believed time was making you fade away, you proved me wrong. People who share the kind of love we do, don't just go and forget".

A sniffle. Oh baby…

"Spike was right. We'll be in love until it kills us both. But you know what? It would be the perfect death".

(There's just too much that time cannot erase)

"Oh, Buffy", he whispers. A tear rolls down him cheek.

"Don't cry, Angel. Please", her voice keeps flowing. Not as steady as it was when she first started speaking. "Liam's at my father. I sent him there when I realized what Glory was. Go get him. Take care of our son for me. When he is old enough, tell him our tale. Tell him how sworn enemies like a slayer and a vampire with a soul fell in love".

(When you cried I'd wipe away all of tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears)

"I love you, Angel. I always have".

After the message is over, I get the phone. It rings twice, then someone picks it up.

"Mr. Summers? I'm Angel. Liam's father".

(And I've held your hand through all of these years

And you still have all of me)

Hank Summers holds Liam protectively. Angel can tell, from the man's scent, that his ex. father-in-law is not believing him. But his wife looks at Liam, then at Angel, then says:

"Liam is his son, Henry", she takes the baby from him, and gives Liam to his father. "Elizabeth Anne chose rightfully the father. I can see you loved her deeply. And Liam is just like him".

"I did, ma'am", Angel smiles sadly at her. "Hey there, son".

He is so adorable. Mrs. Summers is right: he really is my son. He has my hair, eyes and nose.

(You used to captivate me by your resonating light

Now I'm bound by the life you left behind)

Liam is ten months old. He is just like his mother – strong, caring, sweet. He has so much from Buffy that Angel dream with her. In his dreams, she glows, happily waving at him in a beautiful long greenish dress.

He approaches her.

"Beloved…"

"Angel", she breathes. "Oh, God, Angel!" She hugs him tight. "I'm so glad you are with baby Liam!"

He wakes up, startled. Liam sleeps peacefully on his belly, but he is sure he puts Liam on his cradle.

(Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams

Your voice it chases away all the sanity in me)

"She is gone", Angel tells himself. "She is dead. Liam's everything I have from her".

Angel falls asleep again.

Buffy's spirit watches over son and father, caressing their cheeks, feeling the softness of their skins.

"I'll always love you, Liam", she whispers, then she looks at Angel. "You'll never be alone, Angel".

(I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gon

But till you're still with me

I've been alone all along)

THE END

Author's Note: That's not the way I planned this fic to end. I first thought it would end in a reunion, but then the ideas just kept coming and I wrote this little spiritual twist. Anyway, flames are welcome.