When I wake it's still dark and I am being shaken awake by a large hand. Buffy, Buffy, wake up.
Buffy.
I sit bolt upright, nearly breaking Angel's nose in the process. I scrub the sleep from my eyes and try to focus them.
Angel?
C'mon, we need to go back to the hotel. Dawn's an hour away.
Dawn?
Yeah, sunrise.
Oh.
He helps me to my feet and I stumble to his car. The leather interior smells like his duster.
Oh God.
Last might crashes back down onto me.
He was here.
He was here.
Angel?
Yeah?
Who was in your office last night?
Last night?
Yeah. I heard voices and I came in and . . .and Spike was there.
Oh. You remember.
I think probably would.
Pause.
Was it really him?
Angel expels and unnecessary breath.
Yes.
Oh God. I-it can't be, I saw him burn, I saw him dust, you felt it, I knew it.
No. It can't be him. You have to be wrong.
I'm sure it's him.
You're wrong.
I'm not. I can feel him through our bond, remember? He's still my Childe.
We sit in silence for the rest of the drive. We pull up and I exit the car slowly, deliberately. I can hear loud voices in the hotel.
I push open the door to see Dawn screaming at him, her face red and him cowering. The sight would make me smile if it wasn't for the impossibility.
You bastard! You let me think you were dead! I went through all that grief and now I find out YOU'RE ALIVE!
Er, that would be undead Nibblet.
Don't interrupt me! I'm not even close to finished! Do you have any idea of what I've gone through! What I'm going through! What you've done to Buffy! She's like a freaking ghost! She is still mourning you! She comes so close to dying every night on patrol, just throws herself at an enemy and doesn't care or even NOTICE when she gets hurt ALL BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO MUCH OF A COWARD TO ADMIT YOU WERE STILL ALIVE!
Undead.
DON'T INTERRUPT ME!
I walk forward, my bare and bloodied feet dragging across the floor. I see his nose twitch and watch him inhale deeply. His head turns and he stares at me, totally disregarding Dawn's impassioned tirade.
Could this be real.
I take another step and he watches me. A tear, one I didn't know I had left in my body, trickles down my cheek. He licks his lips.
I stumble the last steps and collapse on him, babbling through tears.
Don't leave me don't leave me don't leave me never again never again I couldn't bear it I would kill me don't leave me you swore you never would don't leave me
I won't.
Those two words, so softly whispered into my ear break down any last barriers I might have and I kiss him fiercely, deeply, hungrily.
My tears are still flowing freely when he scoops me up and moves us to a nearby sofa. I twist my fingers in his platinum hair and pull it. Hard.
Hah. Made him yelp.
I stare deep into his blue, blue eyes and repeat myself.
Don't ever leave me.
Never again, he promises.
I'll never leave you.
Finis
A/N – this is my minific. Hope u like. Fact – the shard of metal is from the Sunnydale welcome sign. Any questions, send me a review with your email in it. I'll try to answer them.
