Chapter 13

A/N: Chapter 13 of the series. I know last chapter wasn't what many of you expected. Maybe it was. Let me know how you feel about it.

Note: This is not a happy fic. For those of you looking for a joyous story, stay away from this one. Really.

Feedback: As you wish. In case you don't want to go to the bio page, the email is: You Remember Me?

Angel stood outside the Hyperion, waiting for dawn. He felt strange. He hadn't seen the day come up for over two hundred years.

Without counting the day he had turned human and had thrown it away for the sake of the world.

He saw the first rays of light touching the top of the hotel, meaning he had just a few minutes until the sun hit him straight in the face.

He found himself missing the strange shiver that ran through his neck whenever day was approaching. His mind still screamed at him but his body showed no reaction.

Besides, he was cold. It'd been decades since the last time he'd been cold. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice when the sun bathed him completely. It was until he felt the warmth in his hands when he realized he was standing in sunlight. He closed his eyes and spread his arms.

He allowed himself to grin for a moment. After a hundred years, he'd finally gotten what he wanted. The Shanshu prophecy had been real.

Yet, something in the back of his head screamed in outrage.

Buffy was happy. Or at least as happy as someone could be in her situation. She knew things in Sunnydale were still fragile. She felt guilty, for running out of Sunnydale as soon as Angel had called. She'd been desperate to leave the tension back home that she never stopped to think about what her absence could do to Dawn or Xander.

'Comin' to his side like a bitch in heat, 'ey?'

The slayer shook her head, not wanting to hear such words again in her mind.

But was he right? She'd practically tossed everything aside when Angel called. Had she been worried about her old flame, or was she only trying to see where Spike was?

Buffy walked out of her room and down the stairs. It was still early, because no one was in the lobby. She peered inside Angel's office and noticed a cup of coffee. She approached Angel's desk and took the mug in her hands.

It was still warm, meaning that either Angel had woken up early or hadn't slept at all.

She wondered who could have slept the night before.

Angel was human.

She still couldn't grasp such concept in her head.

Angel as a human.

In all seven years she'd known him, she'd never expected to one day see him as one. She had toyed with the concept before, when she'd been madly in love with him. However, as the years went by, she dreamed about it less and less, having the memories of Angelus hovering over her.

She'd turn to think that maybe it was more probable to have him turn into Angelus permanently than him turning into a human.

And how much of a human was he?

She didn't know, and maybe she'd find out later.

"So, he's human or what?"

The question shook the slayer out of her thoughts. When turning, she noticed her younger sister standing at the threshold of the front door of the hotel.

"We think so, Dawnie." Buffy answered, "Still haven't proved it myself."

Dawn snorted and walked towards her sister.

"Looks like evil dead is not so dead anymore, huh?"

Buffy sighed and a smile covered her face.

"Enough with the cracks, Xander." The slayer greeted her friend. "His heart's beating and it seems he gets to walk in sunlight without bursting into flames."

"Great, now we'll be forced to treat him as a human being?"

Buffy smiled.

Both teams were gathered within the lobby of the Hyperion. Giles and Fred were reading again the Shanshu prophecy trying to find something that would tell them exactly what Angel was then.

The former vampire proposed that the easiest way to find out was for him to spar with Buffy. Giles seemed to agree but Buffy was reluctant to it. Xander, however, jumped immediately when he saw the chance of fighting Angel in equal terms.

The result was quite shocking. Angel seemed to have retained most of his vampiric strength, speed and most senses. He wasn't as strong as Buffy but he still could be a champion for the powers that be.

After a few hours of good mood, Angel suddenly realized one person was missing. Someone instrumental in the latest developments in his life. Someone he thought should be there with them all.

He excused himself and walked towards his office. Lorne noticed and immediately went behind him.

"What is it? I'm getting some serious sad vibes from you." Lorne asked.

"Someone's missing." Angel said.

"Oh, and I happen to know that someone?"

"Yes. I can't shake this feeling he should be here."

"And why isn't he here?"

"There are some things not clear between both of us."

"Bad blood between you two?"

Angel looked at Lorne, a fleeting flash of hurt crossed his eyes and he looked down.

"He caused me pain."

"Can he be forgiven?"

"I think so. He's been good lately. Strangely good, but good nevertheless."

"Call him, then."

"I'm not very sure where he is."

"Is he that hard to find?"

"No, I mean, I know where he is, but..."

Lorne smiled and patted the former vampire on the back.

"Call him."

"Uhm, I don't know how everyone will react to him being here."

"Who is it that you're worried about?"

"Everyone?"

Lorne chuckled and shook his head.

"They'll be glad to see him. Don't worry."

Angel smiled as well.

"He's not the same as he used to be."

"He had his reasons."

"Do you think it was her?"

"Probably."

Angel stared at Buffy, still in awe for having her, and another feeling of uncertainty crashed on him.

"Yeah, I know."

"So, Angel? What will it be?"

Angel nodded. He walked out of the office and came near the slayer.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?" She said as she turned around.

"Have to go."

"Where are you going?"

"To find someone who should be here."

"Who?"

"I owe him this much. I'm here, this day, because of him."

"Huh?"

"I have to find Wesley."

As the day went by, the party went on, reaching new heights of happiness and joy. It seemed that for once, both the A- Team and the Scoobies were having a bit of fun. Not one of them but two had found something they had longed for so much. Maybe too much.

Even though, Xander was not that thrilled to have Angel back in their lives, but he knew that for Buffy's sake he'd try his best to be happy for her.

But for the moment, he just tried to enjoy the happy looks everyone had. He even tried to ignore the fact that Cordelia was missing and Dawn seemed to be sulking and frowning in the middle of the room.

He made a mental note about it and decided he should talk to her in the morning.

Dawn was indeed sulking, because she was tired of being happy and because something was disturbing her on another level.

She had heard the story both from her sister and from Angel, and she couldn't believe she had been fooled like that.

So, she shrugged and tried to leave it behind. It wasn't worth it and he definitely wasn't worth it. She stood up and began dancing again to the music.

Across town, the calm evening was suddenly disturbed by an increasing wind from the north.

The wind sped up, focusing its might on an old, abandoned building. It seemed to be looking for something inside the place. After everything settled, the moonlight shone through the window, illuminating a small object amidst the rubble.

A shiny object surrounded by a pile of dust and burnt clothing.

A ring that held the hopes of a damned creature whose time in this earth had ended.

The wind blew once again and disturbed the pile of ashes, scattering them across the basement.

The ring rolled into a crack on the floor, slipping into it, falling in it, as unnoticed and forgotten as the dust that once was a man in love.

Light filled the room as a higher being made her appearance. Cordelia looked around and let a single tear run down her cheek when she saw the ashes.

She slowly walked towards them, and with respect knelt in front of them. She carried with her a wooden box, adorned with ancient writings, made before humans existed. She whispered some words and the ashes stirred, moved by magic forces.

Cordelia opened the box and the dust fell inside of it. She closed the lid and slowly traced the patterns.

"I'm here, Spike."

She stood up and cradled the box to her chest.

"I didn't forget." She whispered.

"I didn't forget."

End of Chapter.