The last of the day's light danced across the water, its rippling reflection moving across his face as he watched the sun sink towards the horizon amid a sky of salmon pinks and dusty golds.

He let the ocean swirl around his ankles as he stared. The world really was a beautiful place. Well, at least when it wasn't being sucked in to demon dimensions or Hellmouths anyway.

He sighed contentedly, not moving a muscle as he just absorbed the life around him. The children's laughter on the pier, the salty breeze, the sand between his toes, the thumping of his heart, it was all just so real. But he knew it couldn't be.

A familiar scent made him smile. He would recognise that perfume anywhere. He turned with a wide grin. All in white, Cordelia grinned right back.

"Hey Angel."

His smile faltered slightly.

"Is this…?"

He swallowed hard, cleared his throat and tried again.

"I'm dead."

Cordelia moved to his side, staring out at the ocean with wistful eyes.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I always felt a little sorry for you, you know. To live all those years, centuries even, and not being able to watch the sun set or rise, not getting to see the things that people do away from the shadows. Not being able to do the things that people do…"

Angel turned his gaze on her, watching the sunset in her eyes. She smiled, still staring out at the horizon.

"The prophecies always said that you would die today, Angel. Even The Powers That Be couldn't change that. I couldn't change that. Not that the world will ever know the sacrifices you made. As far as their concerned, LA saw the worst earthquakes and tropical storms in history. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

He nodded slowly, accepting what had happened. He'd known from the minute he had found himself stood here on this beach, the sun low in the sky and peace in his heart. For the first time in over two hundred years, Angel did not feel the pull of the monster within him. Death was his freedom.

Turning his gaze back to the ocean, he watched the sunset end in silence.

"Willow and the others? Connor? Are they ok?"

Cordelia smiled sadly.

"With the exception of Spike and Illyria, they made it through. Your son misses you."

He felt her continue watching him with that sad smile but it still took him five minutes to summon the courage to ask the question he dreaded.

"And Buffy… Is she ok?"

Cordelia nodded slowly.

"She made it through the End of Days, just like you promised her she would. As for being ok…"

Her voice tailed off and she turned to face him properly, seeing the tears in his eyes and feeling them in her own too.

"She lost the love of her life to all of this. She lost hope."

Angel didn't say a word but Cordelia could see the pleading in his eyes, the love there that he once offered up to her. She sighed heavily, a slight smile pulling at her mouth as she spoke.

"Here's a fun fact for you. Buffy grew up not that far from here, back when her parents were still together and she had no idea of the future that had already been planned for her. Back then, she was happy. She used to sit on this beach and watch the ocean, imagining what possibilities lay ahead. Now she sits on this beach and imagines what could have been."

"That's not really so much a fun fact, Cordy. If anything, it's verging on the depressing."

She gave him a knowing smile.

"Not when you really think about it. What could have been doesn't matter anymore, Angel. It's what happens next that counts."

Cordelia pointed down the beach a fair distance. There was the silhouette of a petite woman, arms folded around her, staring out to sea. He didn't need to see her face, he knew it was Buffy. And he knew she was crying.

He took a step towards her and paused, throwing his words over his shoulder as he was too scared to look Cordelia in the eye for fear of what he might find there.

"But what happens next? How can I console her, how can I make this right if I'm dead? She doesn't deserve this, Cordy! What happens next?"

He felt her hand on his arm, forcing him to turn and look at her. She was smiling that big broad grin of hers and he felt a flicker of hope.

"Next… Next, you finally get to do the things that men do."

She let go of his arm, knowing he understood.

"But the prophecies…"

"You really think I'd let you sign away your future? Can't be done, mister. You don't get out of this that easy. You've made so many sacrifices since your soul was returned. You thought you'd signed away any chance of redemption, of hope, but you still sacrificed yourself to do the right thing. I think it's safe to say you earned this."

She punched him playfully on the arm.

"I'm proud of you, big guy!"

He nodded slowly, realising death was not his freedom. Life was.

"So I'm really… I can… I'm not…"

"Yes, Pinocchio, you're a real boy."

She sighed heavily, her words sincere as he just stared at her open mouthed.

"You did a lot of bad things in your past, Angel, but that wasn't you. That's not even really part of you anymore. The demon's gone. Now, it's all down to you which way you go. You're gonna find it hard for a while. There's a lot you need to learn. But you'll get it. I know you will."

Her smile slipped slightly as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Goodbye Angel. I hopefully won't be seeing you again anytime soon."

"Cordy, I…"

He didn't know what to say so he just reached out and wiped the tear away. He paused there for a moment then pulled her into a tight embrace, his words buried in her hair.

"Thank you."

She pulled away, nodding sadly as she gently kissed him on the cheek.

"You're more than welcome. Now go. The clock is ticking. And for the first time in your un-naturally long life, that actually means something."

Angel smiled and raced away down the beach, his heart pounding so much he thought his chest was going to explode. He considered the thought for a moment.

I have a beating heart, I have air in my lungs, I have the sun on my face. I have freedom.

Looking ahead of him, his smile grew wider and brighter with every step.

I have love and hope and a mortal life.

He was facing her back, her long blonde hair tousled in the breeze that danced along with the flimsy summer dress she was wearing. He remembered the dream she had told him about, back when she had killed him, imagining he was still there and holding her. He wondered if she was still dreaming that.

Swallowing hard, Angel stepped forward and slid his arms around her waist. She jerked round, a look of shock and confusion playing on her face. He smiled and after a few moments, her emotions were replaced by disappointment.

"I'm just dreaming again. I saw you die, felt you fade in my arms. I've lost you and this time it's forever."

Angel moved around to stand in front of her, his hands still firmly placed on her waist. He couldn't bear to let her go again.

"I did die, Buffy, but nothing's forever. Who really stays dead that long around here anyway?"

Her eyes widened as she stared at him, shaking her head slightly in disbelief.

"No… I'm just dreaming! This isn't real, it can't be."

He pulled her to him, kissing her with a passion and urgency that surprised even him. After a few seconds, she relaxed into the embrace, her passion equalling his own. Eventually, they parted and saw that they were both on the verge of tears. Buffy struggled to speak.

"But this can't be… You said…"

He grinned at her.

"For once, I'm happy to admit I was wrong. Just don't get used to it…"

Buffy's hand snaked down from his shoulder to his chest, feeling the beat beneath her fingers and her own heart soared.

Looking deep into his eyes, she knew that her dreams had been realised. The tears still came but there was no sadness there now. She grabbed him and pulled him into a long embrace, burying her face into his chest and feeling him kissing the top of her head.

"I can't believe this. This is real?"

His voice was muffled in her hair.

"It's real. It's finally real."

She tilted her head up to his, their lips now only inches apart.

"You're human. We can be a normal couple. I mean, only if you want to…"

The grin on his face and the look in his eye said it all.

"I want to. For the rest of our lives, I want to."

Buffy smiled, her lips brushing against his as she spoke.

"So… What do we do now?"

He cocked an eyebrow, a glint flashing in his eye.

"Now I get to do the things that men do."

She grinned, a cheeky smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Oh really… And what exactly does that mean?"

His fingers traced the line of her jaw, his smile softening as he kissed her forehead.

"That means I finally get to be the man I always wanted to be. That means leaving the toilet seat up, watching too much sports on tv, eating a lot of junk food…"

She punched him in the arm and he flinched.

"Hey, mortal man now! Careful with the superpower stuff!"

Buffy smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"Sorry. Guess that's just one more thing I'm going to have to get used to. I just can't believe this is happening. You're here and you're human. You came back to me."

Angel sighed happily, drinking in every detail of her face with fresh eyes.

"Of course I did, Buffy. You're my girl."

She smiled and he saw something in her eyes, something beyond the tears and the love he knew was reflected in his own gaze. He saw hope again.

Buffy leaned in close, her eyes locked on his, determined that they would never leave each other again.

"Always."