Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel or any of the characters mentioned in either cannon.

Author's Note: I'll start another chapter just as soon as I can finish some school work. The next chapter might be a bit longer so the wait will be longer as well. Special thanks to frosty600 for being my Beta for this fan-fiction. (:

Chapter Three

It had been two days since Angel had shown up at her home and Angelus had left it. Her husband had found her still on the couch the following morning, and when he leaned into kiss her she jerked away. Angelus had put a fear inside of her, but there was also the guilt of hurting Angel. The combination of both was enough to send her running the opposite direction of her husband. Ignoring the look of concern on Tyler's face, Buffy had disappeared upstairs to dress and start her day with putting her little girl on the school bus.

Buffy distanced herself from her family and friends over the next two days, always lost in thought. What had she done? Angelus had taunted her before, but never to this extent. Things were far more personal. There were no more games, no toying with her. He intended to reclaim her and he had made that evident that night. It was on the second night that he was absent from her life, Buffy realized she was waiting on him. It was all she could think about.

Sitting on the balcony outside her bedroom, she cradled the hot chocolate as she remained curled up in her seat. Fingers wrapped around the mug, she could feel the heat against her skin. It reminded her of times when she used to warm up a mug of blood for Angel to drink. It had taken until the second time they had started dating for him to actually drink in front of her. Some of the shame had faded after the End of Days and Angel became less tense and withdrawn about particular things.

Raising the glass to her lips, her thoughts drifted.

It was nearly seven years prior that the End of Days had ended and life for everyone really began. Spike received the Shanshu that Wesley and Angel believed to be meant for Angel, and Angel was given a gift by Buffy. Standing in front of the Powers That Be, both Angel and Buffy held onto one another protectively and for extra-support both physically and mentally. The battle had left them both bruised, bloody, and nearly broken, but they had survived.

Death is your gift. The words had haunted her for years, but it was different. Life could be her gift to Angel. She could give him life that had sacrificed in an attempt to save her own.

"As soul mates, your souls are bound together. As mates, you are bound together. This makes your connection to one another strong. As mentioned before, together you are strong."

Buffy and Angel looked at one another, almost curiously, but Buffy was the first to speak.

"Soul mates." Something in her had always believed it to be true. Her connection with Angel had always been something more. Feeling her eyes going misty, she looked up into the chocolate soulful eyes of her soul mate. Angel squeezed her hand and gave her that crooked smile of his that made her heart flutter with affection. "Soul mates." He repeated softly.

Turning their attention back to the mystical beings, Buffy and Angel waited for them to continue.

"You are our champions and the gift you can offer one another must come from both the heart and soul. It must come from within."

Buffy's brows knitted in confusion, ideas and questions already forming in her head. What could she give Angel?

"Death is not your gift. Life … life after love is your gift."

Swallowing, Angel looked in Buffy's direction. He had given her life and he had given her all of his love. What more could he give her from within?

The curiosity became too much for Buffy and so she spoke almost impatiently. "If Angel's soul is bound to mine, can it be bound so that it cannot be taken from him? Can he be charmed instead of cursed? Something." Her eyes pleaded with them and the beings gave her a pleased smile. Their champions were not lower beings at all.

"You both have made sacrifices for the world to save lives, but can you sacrifice your life to save each other…"

Angel knew he could, and that he had, but he could not allow Buffy to do the same. Before he could protest, Buffy silenced him. She could feel his uneasiness and she was tired of him making decisions for her.

"I can." The both of them said it in unison and they were smiled upon.

"Your souls cannot be unbound, nor taken from you, for your souls will be bound together completely. You will embrace both the light and the dark, the mortality and immortality, together you are strong."

Fingers lacing together, Angel and Buffy stood before them, both listening intently. Turning to face one another, chocolate eyes met emerald ones.

A coldness seized Buffy suddenly as warmth surrounded Angel. Seconds later Angel gasped out, clutching at his chest as his heart began to beat, but Buffy could not go to him. Darkness engulfed her and light blinded Angel. Both hitting their knees, Buffy and Angel were released into their world, together.

It was then they gained the knowledge, every question answered. Every memory had between the two was shared with the other. There were no more secrets between them. Buffy had given Angel life and he had given her immorality. They shared their gifts, both dark and light. Buffy became a immortal slayer, and Angel a day-walker. Their pull to one another was stronger, the connection unbreakable. Because Angel had gained his redemption, the choice was given to him. Angelus would never be released into the world again. No one could take that from him. The choice would remain his.

Standing beneath the sunlight together, the two had smiled at one another. Angel was the first to break the silence.

"Are you finished baking?"

Buffy's amused giggle escaped her as she nodded her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"I'm ready for you to enjoy the new cookie me."

The tears the fell in the memory were ones of happiness as Angel's lips met hers passionately, but the ones that fell presently were not.

They had been so happy together, at first. And then everything had changed so suddenly...

Setting down the cup, she wiped at her tears, unaware of his presence until he spoke.

"AW, Buff, don't cry." Angelus wore a taunting smile that reached dark eyes, a crimson red silk shirt, and black leather pants to match. He walked to her looking every bit the predator haunting his prey. Squatting down in front of her he wiped the tears away again.

"I'm here now."

Buffy felt her stomach churn. It was all too much for her to handle. She had to be strong. She was the chosen one for Christ sake!

"Captain Obvious." A look of disgust covered her facial features. Looking away from him, she tried to figure out just how Angelus had been released. They promised. Angel been given the choice.

That's right lover. Soul Boy made the choice, but you gave him no other option did you...

Buffy jerked back in her chair, gasping loudly. She had not realized that Angelus shared the same connection she had with Angel. He could hear her thoughts if she left them open to him.

"Angelus." Buffy tried to warn him, but the breathy way she had his name as if it were the last word she'd ever say, only made Angelus smile. His smiles were nothing like Angel's. Angel's smiles were ones that always melted her heart, and when they had been given everything … Angel's smiles were truly a thing to witness. No longer did pain or guilt taint them. He was allowed true happiness and those smiles often reached his eyes.

Suddenly Buffy stood, but Angelus was just as quick. Together they stood, bodies dangerously close. She could not bring herself to submit, no matter how guilty she felt, but seconds later she wished she would have.

Angelus heard it first, a dangerous glint in his eyes as his growl rumbled loudly.

Buffy reached out and grabbed his wrist, clutching it tightly. "Please don't. Just …" Panic rose in her system.

Buffy could hear Tyler moving around their room and she prayed that he would leave their room and take the stairs to search the rest of the house. Her eyes held those belonging to Angelus and she noticed the way they had flashed golden in warning. Breathing a sigh of relief, she relaxed a moment too soon.

"Mommy?" The five year old had wandered into the room when she heard Tyler moving through the house calling for Buffy. With her special abilities, she had heard him and decided to look for her mommy herself. Entering her mother's bedroom, she neared the balcony doors. Her mommy always went outside to think, especially lately. She could tell her mommy was upset.

Angelus stepped forward, pulling himself out of Buffy's hold. He could smell the innocence and couldn't resist the pull Hannah had on him.

"Mommy, where are you?" The five year old clutched her teddy-bear tightly. She could feel the bad man.

Throwing herself in front of Angelus, Buffy blocked the doors leading inside of her room. "Take me with you."

Her eyes had long since filled with tears, she'd do anything to protect her little girl. Taking advantage of Buffy's weakness, Angelus pulled Buffy behind him as they left the balcony and disappeared from view. The tears fell freely at the sound of her daughter's voice after the balcony doors opened.

"Mommy!" A glimpse of red silk and blonde hair had almost escaped her view, but she had seen her mother disappear over the balcony with the bad man. Tears streamed down her face as she hid her face against her teddy.

The last scent Angelus caught was the fear from both Buffy and Hannah and the mix of vanilla and innocence.