AN: That's right. 2 chappy's in the same day. I think a few people are waiting on this chapter

15:00

"Man I hate it when that happens." Buffy groaned and rubbed her head where she had hit the wall. "You know people; it's not only the patients you have to look after." She opened her eyes and all thoughts of headaches were gone. She was standing on a grassy field with a small river just to the left of her.

"Oh come off it, not even I could dream of something so clichéd."

She heard a loud and happy laugh coming from behind her,

"That what I said." Angel told her.

"Oh my God." Buffy whispered

She walked slowly over to her lover. When she got there she reached out and tenderly ran her fingers over his face.

"What are you doing?"

"Seeing if you're real."

"And what's your conclusion?"

Buffy looked at him and smiled before jumping on him, the force of which sent them both crashing to the ground, yet neither of them cared. They kissed passionately over and over, neither seeming to get enough of the other.

"I never thought I'd be able to do that again." Buffy told him between kisses.

"Wild horses baby."

Buffy held him to her with all her strength.

"Remind me to thank the higher powers…then remind me to kill them." Buffy requested as she began another pash session.

"Wish granted." Angel pulled away and helped Buffy to her feet, "Guys, how about a change of scenery."

In that moment the couple found themselves in the reaches of space.

"Wow."

"Yea I like this one better."

Buffy wasn't even blinking as she took in the sight. Angel, while still amazed was a little more concerned about why they were both on another plane of existence.

"Alright guys, you said we would meet again when a decision had been made. I take it that now is the time for that chat?"

"You are correct in your assumption."

"Hey!" Buffy exclaimed, "I know that voice. Why don't you show yourself?"

"Apparently it's not my time to see them." Angel told her.

"Weird. Well I can tell you that they have a pretty crazy tattoo design on them."

"Hmm."

Both waited…kind of impatiently for someone to speak.

"Lower beings." A voice called

"Finally." The pair muttered

"It was not only the decision of the both of you but of those in your family."

"So…What's the final verdict?" Angel asked.

"You know that answer. We gave you the choice and you wouldn't be here now if that choice had not been made."

"What choice? What's going on?" Buffy was very confused.

"They have to turn me back into a vampire, something about screwing up the time-line. I had to choose whether or not…to leave you once I had."

"Right. And your answer?" Buffy didn't like the tone of his voice.

"I, um…well Buffy think about it. I could give you a normal life. You could be happy in sunlight. You could go on picnics, you could blah blah blah. Now I know that you're going to say that you don't care about all of that but I also know that one day you will. I can't give you the life you should have…"

"But Angel, "

Angel held a hand up to stop her,

"But In saying that, I also know that it's not just me in this relationship. And while I think that m leaving would be best for you, I want you to think over everything. And I mean everything and let me know what it is you want. We're not leaving here until you do. These guys will know if you have truly thought everything out and so now it's up to you."

"Buffy looked around them and then at Angel. They held each others eye for a moment before everything faded

"Heart beat…stable. Blood pressure, normal. Half an hour, that's impossible. Well done everybody."

"Angel?"

"Ma'am? What are you doing down there?"

The doctor helped Buffy up,

"Buffy!"

Buffy's face lit up and the blood drained from the doc's face.

"No freaking way!"

Buffy rushed to the bed and kissed her lover all over, "I choose you, always you. You're not going anywhere."

"I'll stay as long as you want me. But remember, if you ever want the other life then all you have to do is tell me."

Buffy leaned back and slapped his face with all her strength. The doctor let out a small cry of alarm but Angel silenced him with a look.

"I'll never want another life!"

Finally the doctor got over his shock and went to Angel.

"You shouldn't be alive…you can't be alive."

"You're right." Angel nodded with a small frown, "Buffy. My hearts beating."

Buffy placed her head on Angels chest and listened,

"There's nothing."

"Then how…?"

"Life is illusionary." Giles stated coming into the room.

Everyone began to pile into the room again

"But the powers said that I would return to being a vampire."

"Maybe they changed their minds." Willow suggested with a grin.

"Hey Will." The two hugged and Oz nodded his hello.

"That's doubtful. I kind of want to see them."

"You just woke up from a coma, one that you shouldn't have survived. You aren't going anywhere." The doctor managed to speak.

"Yea, you aren't going anywhere." Buffy re-affirmed. Angel grinned slightly but nodded, "I'll be back." Buffy kissed him one final time before heading out.

"Xander, go with her. Keep her safe."

Xander saluted and winked at Angel before heading off. The two friends once again made their way to the Post Office.

"I think we've done this before." Xander commented. Buffy opened the portal and they stepped through, both hoping it would be the final time.

"And again you bring the Lower Being."

"Oh deal with it. Now what's going on? You said he would be a Vampire. So what's with the heart monitor telling us otherwise?"

"Your watcher explained that. Life is Illusionary."

"Yea maybe. But I don't think that's all it is. What's going on?"

"The Vampire has returned to his former self.

"Yea we got that. So he's a vampire again, but the heart monitor is saying different."

"Life is a…"

"Illusion yea we know. What's with the cryptic here?" Xander asked

The two beings looked at Buffy and Buffy at them. For the longest time neither moved. Finally Buffy's eyes widened and her features showed recognition.

"You mean life, his life is the illusion. He's a vamp but to the casual observer he's human."

"There may yet be hope for your race." Te Brother nodded.

"So tell me straight, no cryptic. What does it mean for him?"

"He has once again returned to that of a vampire and as such will require all that a vampire does. He will still need to maintain himself with blood and all the attributes of a Vampire are still with him." The brother explained patiently. He turned to his sister who continued.

"Yet he also retains all that he once was. His human form is now also a part of him. He will feel the need to consume food and drink, though it is not needed for his survival. He will be able to sustain small amounts of time in the sun though prolonged exposure will be painful. The safest time would be at the beginning and end of each day. He will also be subject to all the pains and pleasures of the human existence."

"Um, speaking of pleasure." Xander spoke up, "How's the whole soul situation?"

"The Vampires soul is present and in accordance to the human illusion it will be ever present."

"He can't lose it." Buffy clarified. In response the pair smiled.

"Now if that is everything," the pair turned.

"Wait." Buffy called. Only the sister turned.

"Your welcome. There are many things on your path that will bring both joy and pain. To alleviate one such obstacle was my pleasure."

"What of the future, can you tell me anything?" Buffy asked.

"The time line has not been altered to any major degree. There are a few changes but you were correct in our meeting before, if the events of the future are to have such an impact then they will still happen. Good Luck young warrior.'

Buffy and Xander returned to the hospital where they relayed what had happened.

"This is quite extraordinary really." Giles kept saying. Willow kept smiling and squealing for her friend's happiness. Joyce inched a little closer to the bed and finally nodded her acceptance to Buffy. Xander and Andrew stayed a little back but Xander and Angel held a small and silent conversation at the end of which, Angel smiled and nodded while Xander moved a whole lot closer to the crowd.

Eventually the doctor came in and pushed everyone out, Buffy excluded who clung rather tightly to Angel's hand.

"We took some tests while you were gone Miss Summers, the results of which may take a while, after which we will decided on the best course of action."

When he had gone Giles came in and told them that he and the other Scooby's were heading home while Joyce was going to stay as long as it took to get Angel home..

The hours leading up to the doctor's return were passed by the three occupants in the room rather quickly. Joyce regaled Angel of stories from Buffy's youth while at regular intervals she would leave the room giving the young lovers some time together.

"You know what this means?" Buffy asked on one such occasion.

"Well I can think of a few things but what's specifically on your mind?"

"Well, your dream has come true?"

"In what way?"

"Well you said that what you wanted was for me to find a guy who could take me on picnics. Could be with mein the physical sense and who could give me children."

"Buffy we don't know if I can give you kids."

"Maybe, Maybe not. But what I do know is that even if one day in the very far future I want one and you can't give it to me, I know I can adopt and that the child will have a father who loves them."

"I love you so much." Angel kissed her again and again.

"Sorry to interrupt." Joyce grinned. "What was the topic of conversation?"

"Children." Buffy smirked.

"WHAT?" Joyce looked about ready to have a heart failure, "Can you at least let me get over this weekend first."

Buffy and Angel looked at each other in amazement.

"A weekend. Forty-Eight hours." Buffy breathed.

"Well really only forty have passed but so much has happened."

At that moment the doctor came in.

"Sir I don't know what to tell you. Absolutely everything about you is normal. As far as my medical degree can affirm, you are the healthiest person alive. Now I'd like to keep you here for a while. I mean what happened…it's a medical miracle really. I would really like to conduct further tests to find out the cause of what happened."

"Actually doctor, I think I just want to go home."

The doc hesitated for a moment before smiling.

"I thought you might say that. Heck I would as well in your position. Well I need you to sign the release papers but apart from that, Sir I never want to see you in here again."

Buffy nodded her agreement and after getting a few more instructions and some medication, the trio headed outside. As they stepped into the elevator Buffy took Angel's hand.

"So what are we doing next weekend?"

8:00