EPILOGUE
Father Michael frowned. He was sitting in the last row of the chapel and saw only three people attending mass in the afternoon. He was sure they were all lost and just felt emabarrased leaving in the middle of the service. But what was making him cringe was the new priest he had received that day. He was supposed to be his assistant and he was babbling on with the sermon. Father Michael sighed and put his face on his hands as he the other priest babbled on. "Seems like you`re bored", a female voice said. Father Michael smiled and looked up to see Buffy. He was kind of surprised to see her at this hour and all banged up.
"Did you save your boyfriend", Father Michael asked.
Buffy smiled and pointed at the entrance. There was Angel looking unconformable at his surroundings.
"Did you see The Godfather", the priest asked.
"Yes I did", Buffy said. The priest smiled and put his stole after he kissed it.
"Well", the priest said. "Seeing that you are more than 200 years old, we will go with the traditional rite".
"Before we start", Buffy said. "I would like to say, that I really did a lot of bad. I mean real bad…".
"I know", Father Michael interrupted her. "And through your lifetime, you will have to live with the consequences of your actions. That is the price you pay"
Buffy looked down sadly. "Will she be here always?", she asked.
"Yes", Father Michael said. "But that is the beautiful part. She is there to remind you of your calling. Temptation to walk away from the path is an everlasting present. It is our will to do what is right which drives us. It will drive you"
"What if I don`t have the strength?", she asked.
Father Michael smiled and looked at Angel. He was busy drawing one of the images in chapel. He was oblivious to what was going on. "That is why you are with him", the priest said. "Together you will complement each other. When you are down he will help you. When he is down, you will help him. Together you will be unstoppable".
"Am I allowed to be happy?", Buffy asked fearing the answer.
"That is up to you", Father Michael said. "You will know the answer to that question when you are ready"
Buffy nodded and bowed her head. Father Michael made the sign of the cross "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen"
"Absolve me, pater, quia peccavi", Buffy said.
Angel drew the image of St. Michael in his sketch pad. He turned to see Buffy who was whispering something to the priest. The priest only nodded. He smiled. It is going to be a while, he thought to himself as he continued finishing the drawing.