"Where is she?" Angel sighs, leaning against a pillar inside the Bronze. The rest of the gang is standing around, awaiting the Slayer/Vampire's arrival.

"I'm sure she and Jenny are on their way," Giles tries to soothe him.

Angel puts his hands in his pockets and walks over to the Watcher. They are still uncomfortable with each other, as are the rest of the gang, but Angel senses an extra concern.

"Did she tell you about her dream?" he asks in a low voice.

"Yes," Giles nods, letting his worry seep into his posture. "She-she became slightly distraught earlier when I apparently said a phrase in a way that it transpired in her dream."

"Dreams aren't prophecies," Angel says firmly, almost as if he is trying to convince himself. "The Master-"

"Exactly. Which is what I told her," Giles sighs.

"Shh, I think I hear her coming!" Willow calls out.

The group hears grunting and blows landing and worriedly looks towards a window. Suddenly Buffy and a vampire crash through, still fighting. Angel starts to rush over to help but Buffy uses a drumstick as a stake before he reaches her.

"Surprise!" Cordelia yells, jumping from behind the pool table.

"That pretty much sums it up," Oz says, he and the rest stare at the girl, Xander shaking his head.

Angel brings his attention back to his girlfriend as she hops down from the stage.

"Buffy are you okay?" he asks in concern, walking over to her and cupping her cheek.

"Yeah, there were vamps-" she looks beyond him and takes in the decorations and cake. "What's going on?"

"Um…a surprise party," Giles says lamely, blowing a party favor.

"You guys did all this for me?" she smiles at the group before turning to Angel. "That is so sweet."

As Angel assures himself that Buffy is really is ok, Willow walks over to Oz.

"Are you okay?" she asks him worriedly.

"Yeah," he says. "Hey, did everybody else see that guy just turn into dust?"

The group looks at Oz in silence until Xander steps up and gives a very simple run down on the real Sunnydale. Oz shocks them all by not being at all surprised, but before anyone can say anything about it, Jenny walks in with the large box the vampires were trying to take. Angel and Giles take it from her and set it on a table where Buffy goes to open it.

Inside is an arm that surges up and grabs Buffy by the throat. Instantly, Angel is beside her, helping to pry it off. Together, the two vampires force it back into the box, Giles closing it securely.

"Are you okay?" everyone says in unison.

"Yeah. Good thing I don't have to breathe anymore," she says, rubbing her neck with a grimace.

"What?" Oz asks confused.

"I'll tell you later," Willow says to him, with a small quirk to her lips. He nods, accepting it for now.

"Man, that thing had major grip," Buffy says. Angel is looking at the box with horrified wonder.

"It can't be," he says to himself. "She wouldn't."

"What is it? Vamps version of snake in a can, or do you care to share?" Xander says irritably, his dislike for the vampire evident in his voice.

Angel glares at the boy, the dislike very mutual. Seeing the look, Buffy places her hand on Angel's arm, using her eyes to urge to ignore the teen. He looks down at her and sees the question so tells them what he knows, the legend of a demon that can't be destroyed by any weapon forged, whose purpose is to rid the Earth of the plague of humanity.

"The Judge?" Giles looks at the box, almost fascinated. "This is he?"

"Not all of him," Angel shakes his head. "He wasn't killed but dismembered, the pieces scattered…buried in every corner of the Earth."

"So all these pieces are being brought here?" Jenny asks, the others too scared to comment.

"By Drusilla," Buffy says softly, exchanging a meaningful glance with Angel.

"She's just crazy enough to do it," he agrees.

"We need to get this out of town," Giles says in determination. He looks straight into Angel's eyes, his meaning perfectly clear. Angel has an internal debate for a second in his head before he agrees with the Watcher. He nods, before turning to look at Buffy with an apology in his eyes.

Angel places the box down as he and Buffy stand on the dock. "I should go the rest of the way alone."

"I hate this," Buffy says, tears forming in her eyes.

"I know, I do too," he pulls her into his embrace, placing a kiss on her hair.

"I still don't understand why I cant go with you?" she complains, her voice muffled into his neck. "Who cares about school?"

"You do," he says, his voice soft to hide the emotions. "And with no slayer here, the town will be a sitting duck."

"Damn Kendra," Buffy mumbles.

Angel chuckles and pulls her back just enough to look at her face. He wipes the tears off her cheeks, his heart breaking at the thought of being separated from her.

"It's only a few months," he says, his voice shaky. "Then I'll be back."

"Are you sure you cant stay in contact?" she says, fighting back more tears knowing that it's making it harder on him. "So that when Kendra comes, I can meet up with you?"

"I have something for you," he ignores the question, both knowing he cant risk being tracked. "For your birthday. I …I was going to give it to you earlier, but…"

He releases her and digs into his pocket. Buffy wipes her face, trying to be strong. He holds out something in his hand and Buffy takes an unneeded gasp.

"It's a claddagh ring," he explains, his face and voice suddenly nervous. "My people-before I was changed- they exchanged this as a sign of…devotion. The hands represent friendship, the crown loyalty and the heart…love."

"It's beautiful," she whispers.

"It's also an…an engagement ring and-and wedding ring." His dark eyes look into hers intensely. "I love you so much Buffy. You are the purest, brightest and happiest thing that has touched my existence. I-I want to be able to call you my wife."

Buffy stares at him, tears running down her face and he becomes nervous, clearing is throat as he looks down at the silver ring.

"I know it looks…I promise I'll get you a ring with a stone when I get back," he says, not making eye contact with her.

Buffy snaps out of her shock and cant stop the bubble of laughter that rises out of her. Angel's head snaps up and Buffy lunges forward to kiss him deeply.

"Oh you big dummy," she laughs and cries happily. "I volunteered to spend eternity with you, and you're nervous about this?"

"So it's a yes?" he says, a smile crossing his face.

"Yes, yes, yes," she punctuates each word with a kiss. "I don't need another ring. But I want a wedding, got it?"

"What ever you want," he promises, hugging her tightly. Still smiling he pulls back and takes her hand to place the ring on her finger. "Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this."

He holds up his hand to show her his own ring on his finger. She leans forward and kisses it, leaning against him with her eyes close. He tilts her face up and leans his forehead against hers.

"I love you" she whispers.

"I love you," he says in Gaelic, leaning in to kiss her.

They fall into the kiss, saying goodbye without words. Suddenly, two vampires jump down, ripping the couple apart. One vampire starts to fight with Angel while Buffy rolls to her feet and starts beating the other. As the couple fights the pair, Dalton, Spike and Drusilla's minion, sneaks over to the box with the Judge's arm and starts to run away with it. Buffy sees the movement and her eyes widen as she fights the vampire.

"Angel! The Box!" she calls, ducking a swing at her head.

Angel flips the vampire and rushes to follow Dalton. He crashes into him and is about to hit him when the box is picked up and carried away by the other vampire. Angel quickly rises and begins to follow when a roar makes him glance backwards. His gut clenches when he sees the vampire dump Buffy into the water. In his fear he forgets that she no longer needs to breathe, focusing only on that Buffy can't swim and may possibly be unconscious.

"Buffy!" he yells, climbing the rail and jumping in after her.