Title: Torn part 12

Author: Neamh

Feedback: Please

AN: Thanks to everyone for the reviews and for sticking with the story, hope you enjoy the ending to the story. x

Three months later…
The gang had all returned back to Sunnydale after six weeks, Giles in his wheelchair, Xander still on crutches and the others seemed to be fine by that time.

Faith had also returned with them back to the hell mouth. After speaking with both Buffy and Giles she realised that the council of watchers were not all they claimed to be. Joyce had agreed to have Faith stay with her for as long as she needed; Buffy had decided that she didn't want to be away from Angel for any longer than needed and so they both moved back into Angel's apartment building. They moved Angel's things from his small apartment into a much larger one on the top floor and they had been happily living there together now for four weeks. The place was newly furnished and Buffy had convinced him to use the money he had saved whilst Angelus had roamed the earth. They made a large transfer of money from Angel's account to Buffy's and used the money to buy new furniture and anything else that they needed or wanted. They figured that it would also hinder Angelus to find that his money supply had been tapped out by them. They had still yet to hear anything of him and they wondered whether he hadn't actually survived long after escaping the flaming hotel. They were in no rush to look for him but they did keep checking the word on the streets every now and again to see if anyone had seen any sign of him.

The gang had all been on edge for weeks when Buffy and Angel told them the morning after that Angelus might still be alive. The first place that Buffy and Angel checked when they returned to Sunnydale was the mansion. It had been deserted and although it was large and empty there were too many bad memories there for Buffy and Angel to claim it and so Willow and Aerias had moved in there together. During their time in L.A. the two had rarely been parted and were as close as any two people could be.
Layla had taken away the extra power from Willow which she had bestowed upon the young girl but with Aerias'
help she was quickly learning and rising to a level all of her own.

Layla had stayed for a week, wanting to perform some tests on Angel to see what exactly had gone wrong during the spell. She had found out that except for his uncanny strength and speed Angel was mortal and everything which would affect a mortal affected him.
Basically he was like a male version of the slayer,
this news allowed Buffy to sleep more soundly at night, not having to worry that Angel would get himself into trouble.

The couple had spent many days in the sun together and were rebuilding the bonds of their relationship. They had both been through a lot and had both changed in a lot of ways; although they had decided to live together they had taken things slowly at first and had only recently become fully intimate. They were now having a picnic on the hill overlooking the town; it was Buffy's favourite quiet spot.

"More wine?" Angel asked as he filled himself a flute,
Buffy held hers out and he poured some of the fruity clear liquid into her glass.
"This is just…the best day ever." She stated as she leaned back against him on their blanket.
"Really and why's that love?" Angel asked, already knowing the reason but wanting to hear her say it. The last few months had been like a dream, he still couldn't believe that he was back and everything was so great. He had a whole new future a head of him and he had Buffy at his side, what more could he ask for?
"Because I've spent the whole day with you and you spoil me too much." She said smiling, thinking of how he had made her breakfast in bed that morning, run her bath for her and joined her in there – to scrub her back of course, nothing else, or so he said. Then he had given her a gift of some new clothes and a beautiful bracelet with their names engraved on it.
And for lunch he had blindfolded her and brought her here where they could be alone and enjoy the scenery.
"Oh well if I'm spoiling you…" he said and tried to take her glass from her.
"No, I like being spoilt, it's good for me. Keeps me happy and healthy. You can spoil me anytime you want to." She said, unable to hide her smile from him.
"I'm glad I make you happy. I don't think I've ever been as content as I am right now, here with you. I want us to be together so badly Buffy, I don't ever want to see you walk away from me. I want to spend every single minute of my life with you and I want you to know how much you mean to me every single second of every day. That's why I want to give you this…Buffy Summers; will you give me the pleasure of becoming my wife?" Angel asked, holding out an expensive Claddagh diamond ring to her with a smile on his face.
Buffy was in a state of shock this was the second time she had been presented with a diamond encrusted claddagh ring, the difference of the two rings was obvious though. Where Angelus had ruby red stones encrusted in his; Angel's was pure diamonds, white and shinning and pure. It had taken weeks to get the other ring off, they had tried all sorts of spells to rid her of the thing but in the end had given up and Aerias had gone to seek of Recotrvok who he believed to have cursed the ring.
After a short uncomfortable visit from the warlock he reversed the spell and the ring came off easily.
"Buffy?" Angel asked worried that she was going to say no, he saw the pain flitting over her face and knew she was deep in memory.
She looked up at his face and saw the insecurities there, how could she refuse this man anything? A bright smile lit her face and he relaxed slightly.
"Yes I will, I love you so much Angel." She said and held out her hand to him. He slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed where it lay.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to take this one off when you like…you know, like when you're doing the dishes"
He said smirking and she swatted his arm playfully.
"In your dreams mister, you're getting us a dishwasher." She pressed her lips to his quickly before he could start moaning about what a waste of money a dishwasher was. She could mentally hear him moaning about 'modern conveniences!'.

Willow smiled as she watched her friends embrace on the hill above Sunnydale, those two had so many years of happiness left she could hardly wait to be witness to it.

The End

AN: Possible sequel but not yet, i'm working on something else right now but i would love to continue this adventure. Thanks guys! Neamh