Huge thanks to all my reviewers: SMGbest, Angellufy, angelplusbuffyequals4ever, DamonSalvatorelover789, Emma's Angel, karin, The Raider, ForeverAlways1114, Bloodypasion, Delia Winters, annekebb4ever, kimm2007, escot, BrandiIndigo, slaterbug, ba4ever2524, and Guest. Also special thanks to everyone who took the time to read this and enjoyed it.

Buffy waived happily to Willow as she walked away from her to head towards her next class at UC Sunnydale. As soon as the redhead was gone her smile fell and she allowed her posture to slump as she stared down at the sidewalk. Even after two years it was still hard to be remotely happy. Sure she acted fine around everyone to keep them from worrying but inside the pain was just as bad as it was the day she found her angel dead. Some days were of course better than others but for the most part she plastered on a fake smile and went through the motions just trying to get to the next day.

Someone bumped into her and she turned to mumble an apology but they were already gone. With a groan she turned back around but paused when she noticed a black object stuck in a bush. With instant feelings of sadness and relief she walked over and plucked a huge black feather from the shrub. She sighed heavily and fought the tears that threatened to come as she slid her fingers over the silky object from the base to the tip. It seemed whenever she was having truly bad day she would find a black feather.

She had found a small one stuck on the outside of her bedroom window after she had defeated The Master, and a down feather appeared in front of her on the sidewalk after she defeated her mom's psychotic robotic boyfriend. A large one was found sitting on a picnic table after she blew up her high school and killed the mayor who had turned into a gigantic snake and now a large one was found stuck in a bush after her stressful first day at college.

A part of her knew it wasn't Angel but the other part of her liked to think it was, that he was some how watching over her and offering silent strength when she needed it. "Angel," she whispered softly as she carefully stuck the feather in her bag to take home to put with the rest.

A sudden breeze caught her attention and she held down her hair when it began to blow harder. Her golden locks flew across her face and she fought to hold them down. When she finally pushed her hair back behind her ears her attention was grabbed by a lone figure walking down the sidewalk about a half block in front of her. Her heart started to pound at the familiar walk and broad frame but her mind warned her that it wasn't him. That for the umpteenth time in the last two years her mind was just playing tricks on her. With a heavy heart she turned away and walked back towards he dorm room.

The next day was unfortunately a repeat of the first and after a long night next to a snoring room mate her mood wasn't any better than before. Between getting yelled at, getting lost, and learning one of your professors was called the 'evil bitch-monster of death' this year was already proving to be horrible. With a heavy heart she sat down on a bench and stared up at the night sky not even worrying about vamps because at least then she would have something to do and think about. Before she realized she was even doing it she was talking. She knew the words were never received but it still felt nice sometimes to act like Angel was still there.

"Another horrible day, I don't know how I'm supposed to get through this. I'm the slayer; I fight everything evil yet I'm scared of a college campus. I guess we all have fears though, like losing the one person you care about most in the world," she finished quietly.

As she stared down at her feet she noticed a small black feather stuck under her shoe. With sudden feelings of anger she leaned down to pick it up. Why must this keep happening? Why did she have to suffer and have these feathers keep appearing that made everything better and worse at the same time. A whisper of flapping wings met her ears and with slight trepidation she looked up.

Her jaw dropped as moisture gathered in her eyes and dripped off her long eyelashes. "Angel?"

The feather she had picked up was tightly clenched in her fist as she stared at her mate who had suddenly appeared in front of her. He looked exactly like when he left, same exact black shoes, black pants, white shirt, and leather jacket. Her heart started to pound in her chest and her breaths started coming in shallow pants as he took a few hesitant steps towards her. He stopped a few feet away and stuck his hands into his pockets as he smiled cautiously. "Hey Buffy," he whispered.

More tears began to flow down her face and when she leaned to one side Angel was suddenly on the bench next to her holding her tightly. "Don't cry slayer, I'm back." She clenched her hands around the edge of his jacket and cried into his shirt, words never forming on her lips.

Figuring she wasn't going to get it together soon he wrapped his arms around her tightly and flew to her dorm room where he lied down on her bed and held her tightly. Finally after a while she lifted her head and just stared at his handsome face.

"Is this real?"

He nodded once as he took in her features, features that he thought he would never get to see so closely again.

"How?"

He lifted his head and kissed her forehead, "I remember killing my dad, then tasting blood, then nothing. Then I just seemed to wake up. I've obviously never died before so I never knew but apparently I can't die. I guess as the antichrist you just come back after you die. Would have been nice to know that before hand."

She sniffled and wiped her hands across her cheeks to push away the salty tears, "How long have you been back?"

A shadow passed over his face as he looked away, "The entire time. I was only dead for a few days."

Buffy tried to jerk away as hurt and anger flooded through her but he held her tightly to him, "Let me explain." He continued holding her firmly until she finally relaxed and he released her. "I came back but I was forbidden from seeing you. I had a task to complete and I finally did. Father didn't want me distracted."

"Where have you been?" she asked.

"Hell." Her eyes widened but he shook his head. "Not like that. With Lucifer gone someone had to run hell. The job ended up being mine until I could find a replacement. Someone who could rule but not someone who would become power hungry."

Her forehead creased in confusion, "Why aren't you just running it? Isn't it sort of your birth right?"

He pursed his lips together and shook his head, "Father thought it wouldn't be good for me to be there unattended forever. Because of… what I am… he thinks if I spend long periods of time there I'll turn into what my dad did."

"Definitely don't want that," she said with wide eyes.

"No," he agreed. "It was better to just choose someone else."

She lowered her hand and played with the side of his hair, "So who did you choose?"

"Azrael, the archangel of death. He's a neutral so it should work out nicely. Demons and angels alike respect him and his position so I don't think there should be very much retaliation. He's one of the few who can live in both worlds without the risk of corruption."

She sat up and climbed onto his lap, straddling him and meeting his dark eyes. "I can't believe you're here."

A soft smile spread across his lips, "Me either. I've wanted to see you so badly but every time I got close Father would yell at me."

"You sound like a little kid," she laughed.

A deep chuckle filled the room, "I feel like one, ever since everything happened he's tightened my leash quite a bit. I had to sneak feathers to you when he wasn't paying attention."

"So that was you, not just my imagination?" she asked as tears once again filled her eyes. "All those feathers when I was having a bad day?"

He nodded, "Every single one. I was always there watching and it killed me to not be there for you." His eyes drifted away from hers and he looked ashamed, "I'm a horrible mate."

"Don't say that. You had important things to do. But everything's done right? You don't have to leave anymore?"

He rolled her underneath him and stared down at her beautiful face, "I still have to monitor hell and help Azreal but I can visit often." He pulled off his shirt and smashed his lips to hers as his wings appeared; "Now I think that's enough talking for now."

As he kissed and nipped down her neck with his hand laid over his mark on her hip she gazed at his wings, or more specifically the streak of silver near the tip on the right one. A content smile covered her face as she threaded her fingers in her angel's thick black hair. "Angel?"

He lifted his head and her smile grew at his completely black eyes. "Hmm?"

"I love you."

He smiled brightly as his wings flapped slightly in pleasure, "I love you too. Now let me prove it to you."

You didn't really think I killed him did you? ;) So I was thinking of doing a sequel but I'm not sure if you guys would be interested, also I'm not exactly sure what the overall plot would be. Maybe Angel vs. the Initiative? Any ideas any of you have would be greatly appreciated!