1Chapter 3

Buffy walked up the empty street, in the pouring rain completely numb not even bothering to know were she was going. I'm so tired Buffy thought. Tired of fighting, tired of losing, tired of not being strong.

(Come notice me and take my hand. so why are we Strangers when our love is strong why carry on without me?)

Looking over the playground where children would play during the day hours. She remembered when she was a kid. She was careless and free. She was never the slayer and the only monsters were in her closet and under her bed. Only in my memories she thought and kept walking.

(And everytime I try to fly I fall, without my wings I feel so small I guess I need you baby. And everytime I see you in my dreams I see your face, it's haunting me I guess I need you baby)

Buffy walked past the cemetery were her and Angel often spent making out, rather then patrol. Closing her eyes Buffy felt familiar arms wrap around her, keeping her safe.

Buffy's eyes snapped open to find nobody there, causing a cold chill to freeze her blood and a lonely tear to escape her eyes. I need you Angel. Closing her eyes Buffy kept walking letting her shattered soul guide her.

(I make believe that you are here It's the only way I see clear, what have I done, you seem to move on easy. And everytime I try to fly I fall, without my wings I feel so small I guess I need you baby.)

Opening her eyes Buffy looked at the door of the mansion, first time she ever really noticed it. Funny since Angel had ground her in to it one time when the make out session went a little overboard. That was before she got the wake up call of a life time.

The door had a Celtic design on it. The irony, a beautiful religious design, welcoming you into the arms of a demon. My demon. Buffy thought, finally excepting her fate, as she opened the doors and walked in.

( And everytime I see you in my dreams I see your face, it's haunting me I guess I need you baby)

It was dark the only light came from the fire in the fireplace casting an ethereal golden-red glow to the sparsely furnished room. Crouching down by the fire Buffy observed the room.

The room had a couple pairs of steel chains hanging from the wall in the opposite corner from here, an antique couch in back of her, and a wooden chair in the corner of the room not ten feet from were she was now, with an old, beat-up looking book in it.

The room was quiet, too quiet. Buffy knew better then to let her guard down, but she did this time she wasn't here to fight. She was here for him; he was going to finish what he started. She had no want or will to fight anymore.

Why fight? He's taken everything I had left. Buffy thought letting all the emotions she'd been holding back come to the surface.

And left only him A small voicewhispered in her head.

Her mom was out of town, as usual, she'd be fine Buffy had gone home after the library and written her a letter saying everything she needed to. "Well, well what have we here? Did you get lost in the rain?" Angelus taunted from his, sudden, position on the couch.

Buffy stood and turned around letting him see the tears in her eyes as she walked to him. Buffy sat in his lap, ignoring Angelus's shocked look and wrapped her arms around Angel's naked torso and buried her head in his shoulder and sobbed brokenly.

Angelus looked down at his broken, weeping slayer smiling victoriously. Absently, he stared purring, stroking her hair and rubbing her back in slow circles, just as Angel used to. Well, some things never change He thought.

-Library-

Giles and Willow were just about done setting up the soul restoration spell ready. "You really think this will work Giles?" Willow asked. "I don't know that's why we're doing it twice." Xander sat across the room watching them in discussed. "Why are you guys helping him?" Willow and Giles looked up startled.

"We have to." Willow said. "Why? Because Buffy can't kill the bastard?" Xander asked sarcasm oozing from his voce. "Maybe she can't," Willow said cautiously. Before Xander could protest Giles's angry voice cut in.

"Have you thought about what will happen if we don't, He asked. Seeing his clueless expression Giles continued. "I thought as much, so if you can't shut your bloody mouth and help you can bloody well piss off."

Xander snorted getting to his feet, unaffected by Giles words. "Fuck this." He said and stomped out. Willow spared the swinging doors a worried glance. "You don't thing he'd," Giles cut her off mid-sentence. "I don't care what he dose at this point. We need to focus on the spell." With that they started the chant.