A/N: Thanks to Mackenzie Creations for helping me work throught my writer's block! LOL Thanks Girl!

Chapter Thirteen

Buffy walked out of Bloomingdale's, and placed her bags in the trunk of her Mercedes.

Brian's first monthly appointment was tomorrow, and afterwards, he was taking Buffy to sunny Florida, just as he had promised New Year's.

Buffy was going to miss being able to see Angel for the two weeks she would be gone, but she also knew her time left with Brian was small. And Angel would still be here. Besides, there's always the cell or IM's.

Buffy got into her car and headed for Brian's doctor's appointment. Turning onto a street, Buffy glanced at the car's clock and realized she would be an hour early. Knowing Angel's office was not very far from the doctor's, she decided to say her goodbye's to Angel before heading out of town.

Buffy pulled up outside the brick building, and went inside. Buffy began to feel positively giddy, as she climbed the stairs to Angel's office. She had really come to count on her, daily or weekly, visits to Angel. They had not kissed since that night in Angel's hotel room, and neither one had brought up the "forgotten day", as Buffy called it, either.

Yet, their bond that they had had before Sunnydale's demise, was becoming as strong as ever.

Buffy walked through the door and found Angel in deep thought at his desk.

"Good Afternoon, Angel," Buffy said, sounding rather cheerful.

"Buffy," Angel said, without looking up from his desk.

"Whatcha looking at?" Buffy leaned over the desk, trying to read the papers Angel had strewn on his desk.

"Nothing much," he responded as he grabbed a book from one corner, "Just some research on a case I'm working on. What brings you by?"

Buffy sat on the edge of his desk. "I'm about an hour early to Brian's doctor's appointment, so I thought I would stop by for a few."

"Oh, How is Brian doing?" Angel stopped what he was doing, and looked at Buffy.

Angel noticed Buffy begin to play with her wedding ring.

"He's doing really good. Or at least I hope so."

"He is taking the medication they gave him, isn't he?"

"Oh, yeah, Angel, he's real good about doing that," Buffy said as she stood and began to pace the room. "I'm just worried that the doctor will tell him he has less time than he used to." Buffy plopped down in the chair across form Angel. "God! This is hell!"

"Or at least one form of it," Angel said, looking down at his desk.

"Look, Buffy, Brian's taking his meds like he should, and if he is doing everything you told me he is supposed to," Buffy nodded, " Then I don't see why Brian shouldn't be around for awhile."

"But even a year just feels too short. To have only months would feel like tomorrow!"

Angel walked over to where Buffy sat with her head hung, and squatted down beside her.

"Buffy, listen to me," he said taking her hand, "Brian is going to be okay."

"How can you be so sure, Angel?" Buffy sniffled.

"Because nobody would willingly leave you."

"You did," Buffy said without thinking.

Ouch, Angel thought, as he blinked back the pain it caused. You should've known she would have thrown that back in your face. So how are you going to get out of it?

Angel shifted his weight, thinking of how he could fix his slip.

"Buffy, what happened during your Graduation, we were all under a lot of stress, and I made the mistake of believing the Mayor, instead of you." Even if he was telling me what I was already thinking.

Buffy looked up at Angel and saw the truth of what he was telling her, resting in his beautiful, brown, eyes. Smiling, Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's neck. Angel soothed her back as she took comfort in his embrace.

"What time are you supposed to see the doctor," Angel asked as Buffy wiped her eyes, and looked at her watch.

"Oh no!" she said as hurriedly put on her coat. "I'm going to be late!"

Buffy grabbed her purse and darted out the door. Angel smiled to himself as he thought about how much Buffy had not changed.

Buffy came back through the doors and gave Angel a kiss on the cheek saying, "I gotta go, bye!" Buffy bolted again, but stopped as she reached the door.

"Oh, one more thing," She said as she held the door open, "Brian's taking me out of town for a couple of weeks, after we get done at the doctor's."

"Oh," Angel said, trying not to sound depressed. "When will you be back?"

"About two weeks. He has a friend in Miami, that has a beach house he's willing to loan us. It's what Brian promised to do for New Year's."

Angel maintained his composure. "Sounds great. Have fun."

"I will," she said, but then added, "I'll miss not being able to see you."

Angel and Buffy exchanged a sad smile as Buffy turned and walked out the door.

Angel sat back down at his desk and began to pick up where he left off. Angel took a deep breath as he stared at the case before him. Suddenly, Angel's temper temporarily got the better of him, and he flung the papers and pictures into the air, allowing them to land on his office floor. Then Angel leaned against the back of his chair and, with his head in his hand, turned towards the office window.

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Buffy quickly parked, and ran inside the doctor's building. Inside, she saw Brian was already there.
"Oh, Brian sweetie," Buffy said as she hugged her ailing husband. "I am so sorry I am late. I couldn't get through the traffic."
"That's okay, Buffy," Brian said as they sat down, " Dr. Preston is running a little behind today, anyway."
Buffy took a silent, grateful, breath.

"Mr. Kelly?" the nurse called and Brian and Buffy walked with her into a examination room.

After taking his vitals, the nurse then instructed them to wait for the doctor.

A few minutes passed, and Dr, Preston walked in.

"Ah, Mr. Kelly," Dr. Preston said shaking Brian's hand, "How are we feeling?"
"A little more tired than I used to be, but otherwise, fine."

"Yes, well, the fatigue is a normal reaction to the medication you are taking."

"Well, Your vitals seem to be staying normal, that's a good thing."
"Can you tell if he still only has a year left to live?" Buffy blurted out, unable to keep her fears at bay.

"Buffy!" Brain scolded.

"No, she's right to ask," Dr. Preston told Brian. "It's only natural. As long as his vitals remain where they are, and his tests continue to come back negative, then I don't see why he shouldn't live longer than a year."

Buffy smiled to herself as she heard what the doctor told her.

"So what I am going to do, is take another sample, and when the results come back, I we will set up another appointment. Say next month some time?"
Brian and Buffy nodded their heads in agreement with Dr. Preston.

"All right then," Dr. Preston said, as he made a note on Brain's chart, and shook their hands, "Then I will see you next month. Keep taking good care of him," The doctor directed his final statement at Buffy, who smiled blushingly.

After setting the next appointment with secretary, Brian and Buffy left the Dr's with Brian arm around Buffy's waist, heading towards Buffy's car. Buffy got in the driver's seat, and Brian got in on the other side. Buffy then turned on the car, and the two headed towards the airport.

Once the plane took off, Buffy suddenly became more gloomy.

"Honey," Brian rested a hand on Buffy's leg, "You okay?"
"Yeah", Buffy said blankly.

"Are you sure?"
Buffy snapped out of her dismal mood and turned to her husband.

"Yeah, Honey I'm fine. I'm just- well, I don't know. I guess I just miss home already."
"Well, you will love Jake's house." Brian said as he kissed his wife's hand. "It's right on the beach. Just what we need to relax and enjoy each other again."
Buffy faked a smile as she said "That's sounds wonderful."

I just wish Angel where there instead, is what she wanted to say, but she refrained. She didn't want to try and explain Angel's, two hundred years plus, story to Brian.

Especially now that he was gravely ill.

Buffy leaned her head against the seat's head rest, and stared out the window, watching the clouds fly by.

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When the plane landed, and Buffy and Brian exited the plane, Buffy walked over to where the postcards where kept, and grabbed two. While Brian went to use the bathroom, Buffy sat down at the lounge, and took out her pen:

Dearest Angel,

I've not even made it to where I will be staying, and already miss not having you near. I will write back soon.

Always, Buffy.

"Who are you writing to already?" Brian's voice called as he walked up to Buffy's table.

"Oh, just writing Willow," Buffy lied, as she carefully tried to slide Angel's card under the other one. "I wanted to let her know we arrived safely."
"You could have called her," Brain said as he ignored Buffy's slight of hand.

"Yeah, but this way is more fun," Buffy said. Brian smiled at Buffy and motioned if she was ready to go.

Nodding, Buffy and Brian picked up their bags, and headed for the car that would take them to their home for the next two weeks.

End Chapter Thirteen

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Yeah I know it's short! Gripe at me later! I HATE writing a thriteenth chapter! I ALWAYS get writer's block! LOL
Anyway, the next chapter WILL be longer, so don't worry!

As always, READ & REVIEW PLEASE! Tell me what you think and maybe what you would like to see happen!