This fic takes off during a scene early on in "Graduation Day, Part II" and goes from there. There's some dialogue from that episode, and a bit from others in flashbacks.

There's a third main character that isn't in the tags, and I'm not giving a dreamcast, because doing either of those would be huge spoilers. Though I do have to wonder if anyone will see it...

I first had the idea for this fic over a decade ago, lost my inspiration for it all too soon and it's been gathering metaphorical dust in my files since then. Discovering the IWRY Marathon seems to have somehow given me the push I needed to pull it out and rework a few things, be willing to post it. Hope you'll enjoy!

Amaranthine

By: Lalaith Quetzalli

A visitant that crossed all barriers of time and space to right wrongs; a decision that will defy the past and set a new path towards the future; and a bond that, once formed, will never die…

Buffy Summers, eighteen-year-old gal, about to graduate Sunnydale High, and Vampire Slayer for the last three and a half years of her life entered the apartment of the one man she loved more than life itself for what she knew could very well be the last time.

She was no fool, and as much as she'd once fantasized about having a perfect future, she knew there was no chance for her to ever have that, maybe she wouldn't even have a future at all.

She remembered the time when she had been told she would die, that a prophecy stated it; she had been completely frightened by that; she was young, and still a bit naive, a girl who just wanted to live a little bit longer. She was different now, as she took every step she knew what it was she was getting herself into, that there was a very big chance she wouldn't live to tell the tale, and she was okay with it. Why? Because even if she died, the one she loved would have been saved, and that made any sacrifice she could make worth it.

"Buffy." The delirious souled-vampire called in a whisper as Buffy laid her right hand against the side of his face. "Is that you?"

"It's me." She assured him with a soft smile.

She knew that in the past hour or so he had been hallucinating, and confusing everyone he saw with her; that's how much he wanted her with him, and that made her heart swell with joy and shrivel with grief at the same time. Joy because it meant he still loved her, even after what he had told her at the sewers; and grief because if she didn't make it he would suffer a lot.

"I didn't want to go, without seeing you." He tried to smile back at her but failed miserably.

"Angel, I can cure you," she told him softly, after preventing him from going on talking.

"It's okay," he assured her. "I'm ready."

"Angel listen to me." Buffy took hold of his shoulders as she spoke to him. "Sit up."

Angel moved to do as she wished, but he was definitely weak, more than he wanted to admit, and even the slightest movement hurt a great deal.

"You're gonna live," Buffy insisted. "You have to live."

"What way?" he asked, frowning a bit.

"Drink…" she indicated, and took her jacket off swiftly, a determined expression on her face as she tried to explain herself. "Drink me."

"No." Angel didn't doubt a moment in his answer and even shook his head in denial.

"It's the only way," she insisted.

"No." Angel shook his head and forced himself out of bed to get away from her. "Get away."

"It'll save you." She took hold of his arm, trying to make him see reason.

"It'll kill you."

"Maybe not. Not if you don't take it all."

"You can't ask me to do that." He didn't even dare look at her.

"I won't let you die. I can't. Angel, the blood of a Slayer is the only cure."

"Faith…" He knew it ought to disgust him to even consider drinking anyone at all, but at that point he was willing to compromise, as long as it meant it would not be her, not his beloved.

"I tried," she admitted quietly, obviously ashamed of herself. "I killed her."

"Then it's over," he stated, getting further away from her.

Slowly Angel stumbled into the main room; he obviously had some trouble walking straight, bumped into the wall, then stumbled and caught himself on the low table in the sitting room, knocking a pewter pitcher and plate to the floor.

Buffy went after him, grabbed him by the arms and pulled him up to face her.

"It is never over!" she cried out. "I won't let you die. Drink!"

"Please…" He was pleading with her now, to stop this madness, to get away from him before he could no longer control himself.

Buffy looked at him for a moment, considering her options, and finally came to a decision. She knew he would never agree to drink her of his free will; he was just way too noble, and stubborn, even in the face of his own death. So she had no other choice but to force him. She pulled back her fist and hit his temple. His head snapped around but he managed to stay on his feet. He turned back to look at Buffy, but before he could say anything she hit him again. He barely managed to remain on his feet then, and it took him a little longer to come back up. Buffy hit him once more and this time Angel spun back with a growl, vamped-out. He just stood there, staring at her, waiting for her next movement; Buffy pulled down the strap of her top and grabbed him by the back of his head. She looked at him for a moment then firmly pulled his head down against her neck and held him there.

For a moment nothing happened, both remained immobile until finally Angel lost control and bit down. Buffy gasped in momentary pain but held still. Angel held her to him tightly as he drank. It was a mix of feelings. There was pain, but on par with that pain was also pleasure, the likes of which Buffy had only felt once before. It was… overwhelming. There was a part of her (a part that sounded very much like Giles… or maybe Xander) that insisted she should hate what was happening in that moment, that he was taking everything from her, she knew that wasn't how things really were. He wasn't taking anything, she was giving it to him of her own free will. And she didn't regret the decision.

After what felt like an eternity Buffy sensed the end was coming. Apparently her calculations were off and Angel wouldn't be able to pull away in time. But it was okay; she had known that could happen and accepted it.

"I… love… you…" she managed to whisper with what she believed would be her last breath.

Then her eyes drifted shut and her body fell limp.

It was right then that Angel finally reacted, he rolled off her, panting. His wound was gone, as was his fever, and it was obvious from the look of his eyes that he was back into full focus; though it still took him a moment to realize where he was and what had just happened.

"Buffy?" he asked worriedly, it became worse when he realized she wasn't moving. "Buffy!"

When his brain finally accepted that she wasn't gonna wake up any time soon, Angel began to consider other ways in which he could save her; because he wouldn't let her die, he just couldn't. A possibility came to his mind, in fact, and surprisingly enough, it was his demon that suggested it, but he shook it off almost immediately. Finally a couple of minutes later, after accepting that there was nothing he could do to save her, he made a move to scoop her into his arms, deciding that her best chance now laid with the doctors in the hospital. But before he could even get back on his feet his heightened senses caught a new presence in the room, right as it materialized just a couple of feet away from him, amidst a haze of emerald-green light. Immediately he tightened his hold on Buffy and switched the weight on his feet so he would be able to move her away from harm if attacked.

"Relax," a soft, melodic voice told him. "I'm not here to hurt you, or your mate."

The visitant was a woman, covered head to toe in a forest-green cloak, very little of her face, neck and her hands could be seen: pale alabaster skin with a pale green tint in certain areas. Angel couldn't see her eyes, and no other color except for the dark red on her lips.

"My…" It almost pained Angel to admit the truth right then, for there was nothing he wished more than for what the visitant just said to be true. "She's not my mate."

"Only because you're consciously refusing to finish the last part of the ritual," the newcomer pointed out. "You know that if you did it you would save her."

"I would condemn her," Angel retorted.

"Have you stopped to think about what she would want?" she asked in return.

"There's no way for me to know what she wants, because she's unconscious and on the edge of death already, and it's all my fault."

"It isn't. What she did was by her choice."

"I'm not worth it." He didn't even know why he was arguing with her, he just felt the need to be sincere all of a sudden.

"She believed you were. And I do too."

"I don't even know who you are."

"That's true. But anyway, who I am doesn't matter, what I am doing here however…" she sighed. "I think you do know what she would choose if presented with the option of what you are refusing to do."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything." She took a deep breath and began talking, softly yet seriously. "I was sent here with a message, a message to you Liam Angel O'Connor."

That definitely caught Angel's attention. He hadn't heard his surname being said in a very long time, about two centuries to be precise; in fact, most of the time he even forgot what his family name had been. But this visitant before him seemed to know it, and that intrigued and scared him at the same time.

"Do not worry, as I said before I have no ill will towards either of you, all the opposite in fact," she assured him. "Like I told you I'm a messenger."

"What kind of messenger?" Angel asked. "Who sent you?"

"Who sent me isn't important," she replied. "Only the message in itself: 'Finish what you've begun, let the lovers join in the second that lasts forever. Let the undying bond be forged." She saw he was about to speak, but didn't give him the chance to. "You say you do not know, were she awake, if she would consent, but thus far she has, and we both know she would never refuse a chance for your love to be perpetuated. If you get her to the hospital she will survive, but for how long? How long until she goes to face the next evil? The next apocalypse? How long until it becomes too much and she gets killed? You won't be here to protect her then, she will be alone in the fight, that's something that neither you nor I can change; but will you let her be alone forever? Will you deny her and yourself the chance for your love to be true? Fate is giving you a chance now Angel… don't throw it away."

He took his eyes away from the mysterious cloaked visitant for the first time since her arrival and turned to look once again at his beloved, laying in his arms, already pretty cold; she didn't have much time left. He was still wondering what he should do when suddenly memories rushed into his mind, all in quick succession:

It was night, Buffy was making her way to the Bronze on her first party night since arriving to Sunnydale; Angel was silently following, or at least trying to. He didn't realize he had failed on his stealth until he followed her into an ally, noticed her gone, and a few seconds later found himself on the ground, with her on top of him.

"Ah, heh. Is there a problem, ma'am?" He tried to sound innocent, though wasn't sure he could hold the act long enough.

"Yeah, there's a problem," she answered, it was obvious she already didn't like him. "Why are you following me?"

"I know what you're thinking." He tried to make her a little less angry before she decided to just stake him in the spot (though technically she didn't yet know he was a vampire, but better not take any chances). "Don't worry, I don't bite."

After a moment she backed off and let him get up, though she still kept her fighting stance.

"Truth is, I thought you'd be taller, or bigger muscles and all that," Angel declared as he looked her up and down. "You're pretty spry, though." His neck still hurt a bit.

"What do you want?" It was obvious she was running out of patience.

"The same thing you do."

"Okay." She finally let down her guard. "What do I want?"

"To kill them. To kill them all."

"Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!" With that she turned and started walking away.

"Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open."

She stopped dead in her tracks, turned to him and looked at him with a wide-eyed gaze; she obviously had had no idea. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small box.

"Don't turn your back on this," Angel said as he tossed her the box. "You've gotta be ready."

"What for?" She finally sounded interested.

"For the Harvest."

"Who are you?"

"Let's just say... I'm a friend." He decided to take his leave then.

.-.

In the Bronze, Buffy and Angel stood in front of each other, right after Buffy found out Angel's status as a vampire and dealing with Darla's return.

"Look, this can't..." Angel didn't even know how to say things.

"...ever be anything. I know," she finished for him in understanding. "For one thing, you're, like, two hundred and twenty-four years older than I am."

"I just gotta... I gotta walk away from this." But even as Angel said that, he felt incapable of doing exactly that.

"I know," Buffy nodded, though she too stayed immobile. "Me, too. One of us has to go here."

"I know," he whispered back.

They looked at each other for just a moment longer and then finally closed in to kiss. Their kiss became passionate. Buffy reached her hands up to Angel's neck.

.-.

Buffy and Angel stood just a few inches away from each other, right as Angel was about to board the ship that would take him away from California, to somewhere where he could make sure the judge's remains would never be found. However, their goodbyes were temporarily halted as he handed her what he got her as a birthday present: a silver ring of intricate design.

"It's beautiful," Buffy whispered in awe of the piece of jewelry before her.

"My people, before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion," Angel began explaining as he turned the ring in his hands nervously. "It's a claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty... and the heart... Well, you know... Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this."

As he finished he raised his own hand, showing Buffy a second claddagh ring on his own finger, with the heart pointing to him.

Slowly, lovingly, she touched his hand, leaned over and kissed the ring; drowning Angel in all the emotion coming from her.

"Put it on," Angel whispered.

For all answer she just extended her hand to him, silently beckoning him to do it himself.

.-.

It was pouring outside, the rain falling hard, which was the reason why they were both wet and chilled to the bone.

Somehow, instead of going to dry themselves they ended up sitting on his bed, as they were in his apartment, and began talking softly.

"Shhh. I..." It seemed like Angel was about to say something but stopped at the last moment.

Buffy turned around to look at him, waiting…

"You what?" she prompted when he didn't finish.

"I love you," he finally confessed in a low tone. "I try not to, but I can't stop."

"Me… me too," she admitted softly, turning her face to him. "I can't either."

Ever so slowly they started to kiss; and after a few moments Angel broke off.

"Buffy, maybe we shouldn't..." He was feeling insecure, he wanted it so much, but feared it might not be the right moment, that she might not be ready yet…

"Don't…" she stopped him softly before he could even say anything more she turned to face him completely. "Just kiss me."

And that was the beginning of the most wonderful night of their lives.

The cloaked visitant remained where she was, just looking at Angel and the still unconscious Buffy, until she finally decided to speak.

"You see it, don't you?" she asked him softly. "This has been in motion for a long time, ever since you first met face to face in fact. It's not usual for a ritual such as this to take this long, but being honest the ritual in itself is so rare… And now it's up to you if you finish it, seal it once and for all, or you throw it all away."

"I can't condemn her…" he insisted in a pained voice.

"To what?" The visitant was quite persistent. "Your love?"

"My fate. I'm evil, always have been, always will be…"

"No you won't. You're not evil, you have evil in you, yes, but it's not all you are. And a day will come when the evil, the demon, inside you will be cleansed, but only if you have a reason to seek that redemption. You already have a reason, and it's lying in your arms right now, will you not take the chance?" She knelt where she stood, still a few feet away from him, but now both were eye level. "You've given me lots of excuses now, will you keep it going or will you finally do what you know is right? I just warn you, she doesn't have long."

Before Angel could think of a new excuse a final memory made its way into his mind:

The place was a beach in L.A. Waves crashed on the sand. In the far distance a pier stretched into the water. Buffy was in a pink and lilac dress, walking barefoot on the sand; after a while she stopped and looked over the ocean. Her eyes closed and she tilted her head back to just feel the sun on her face and listen to the waves coming in. Suddenly a pair of hands reached around her waist, clasping on the front and she covered them with hers. She looked back at Angel as he leaned his head over her shoulder, a peaceful expression on his face. Buffy reached up with her hand and brushed it over his cheek, content to just have him there.

"How did you find me here?" she asked in a soft voice.

"If I was blind, I would see you." he answered in an equally soft tone.

She lowered her hand to take his again at her waist and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment.

"Stay with me," she whispered after a moment.

"Forever," he answered without a doubt. "That's the whole point."

He remembered what he had told her in the sewers, of not wanting to be with her, and he knew it was all a lie; he would do anything to be able to be with her… and now he had that chance…

He hadn't yet said anything when he saw a dagger of intricate design appear in his hand with a brief green flash, the same kind that had preceded the cloaked-visitant's appearance.

And yet this time he didn't doubt, he held the dagger tightly in his right hand and proceeded to make a diagonal cut on his left palm, then on Buffy's.

"My blood… your blood…" he whispered as he went through the motions, ending with their bleeding hands joined. "Our blood… Now and forever…"

"A bond forged in love, that will last till the end of time…" the visitant whispered.

There was a flash of the purest white light, and then Angel blacked out.

xXx

She could feel how, ever so slowly, consciousness returned to her, and after making sure she wouldn't faint right away Buffy opened her eyes to the world.

Surprise was the first emotion in her brain, as she expected to find herself in the hospital, but she knew she wasn't; however, that emotion soon changed to the deepest love when she saw who laid next to her, eyes closed, and her hand tightly clasped in his. And even when while asleep there was no physical way to know he was alive (or undead), she knew, she could feel him in her.

Right then he took a deep, unnecessary breath and opened his eyes, honey and hazel locking, their eyes showing all the emotions a thousand words would have never been able to convey.

"So beautiful…" a voice suddenly interrupted them.

In a second Buffy was sitting straight on the bed, all her senses on alert, her right hand poised ready for attack, while her left remained clasped in Angel's.

"It's okay," Angel told her softly, as he too straightened next to her. "She's not evil."

"How…" As Buffy turned to look at him again it was obvious she was about to ask how he knew that, but there was no need for the question to be voiced, nor for an answer to be given, because suddenly she knew everything that had happened while she had been unconscious and on the verge of death. "I see… So does that mean that now you won't leave?"

"I'm afraid that's not how it works," the cloaked visitant interrupted.

"What do you mean?" Angel asked, clearly not expecting that.

"I took a great risk by coming here, to influence your decision," she explained in a very serious tone. "But it was a necessary risk. I come from the future, in an alternate timeline, where this bond was never sealed, you went your separate ways, and eventually learned to live without the other." She paused for a moment, it seemed that she had a hard time talking about those things. "Then the 'End of Days' came, the greatest Apocalyptic-battle of all; and you weren't together… and because of that, all was lost."

"Why would us being together or not change the outcome of a battle?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Because together you're powerful, separate you're dead," the visitant quoted. "You two are the Chosen Warriors, it doesn't matter that Angel is a vampire, or that a Slayer is supposed to have a short life-expectancy. The Powers that Be chose you to be the ones to guide the armies of the light in the last great battle for this world; a battle that will decide the future of humans and demons alike. You two will be the ones to decide the outcome, but only if you're together. You understand now?"

"I think I do," Angel nodded in a very thoughtful manner.

"But why then do you say he can't stay here with me?" Buffy asked.

"Though it is true that you're the key for the victory in this future battle, there's no way you two alone will be able to win," the visitant explained to them. "You'll need allies, powerful allies, and you won't find all of them here."

"I need to go to L.A. to find them," he reached the obvious conclusion.

The visitant nodded.

"But then how will things be different from your future?" Buffy asked. "We'll still be apart."

"Maybe physically, but never in the heart," the visitant clarified.

And Buffy knew she was right, she had been able to feel it since awakening. Now more than ever she could feel Angel in her, and it was a wonderful feeling.

"How long will this last?" Angel asked. "How long will we have to be apart?"

"Until the Primordial Evil, the Last Great Enemy makes itself known; to you and yours," the visitant said seriously. "It can't know you two are together, because that will be your trump card. You will have to keep this a secret until then. But that doesn't mean you can't see each other all this time, you just have to be discreet." She smiled sweetly at them. "And worry not, for I can assure you it will all be worth it. You will get your reward."

"It is already worth it," Buffy stated without a moment's hesitation. "Just to know that in the end we will be together… it's enough."

"What more reward can there be than this love we share?" Angel asked at the same time.

The cloaked visitant nodded, obviously satisfied with the way they both had taken the news, not only of their bond, but also of the fact that they wouldn't be able to stay together for some time. It was obvious that their love would give them the needed strength.

"May fortune be with you and love remain strong in you, always," the visitant declared in way of farewell as she got on her feet.

"Wait," Buffy told her. "What about you?"

"What about me?" the visitant asked in return, somewhat confused.

"Will we see you again?" Buffy asked.

"Maybe, the future will tell," the visitant answered. "Slán agus beannacht.*"

There was a flash of emerald-green light and then she was gone.

"What do we do now?" Angel asked aloud once they were alone.

"Now we get ready to kick some demon ass," was Buffy's simple answer.

They knew many things had changed in the last couple of hours, it would be hard to cope with everything, at least at first. But one thing they were sure of, was the love they had for each other, and that was enough.

xXx

He had walked away from her, just like they agreed he would. In his apartment all his things were packed already, so he just had to sit down on his bed and wait.

It didn't take long, less than half an hour later he heard the sound of the front door softly opening, and a moment later there she was: his beloved, his mate, his wife… Yeah, the ritual by which they had been joined wasn't exactly legal among humans, but it didn't matter, because for them it was real enough.

"Everything alright?" Angel asked as she approached him slowly.

"Yeah, just fine," she answered. "We all made it alright, Wesley was the only one really hurt, but the paramedics said he'll be alright after a night in the hospital; the rest are fine."

"You know that's not what I meant," he pointed out gently, his hand reaching for her waist.

"I know, and that's alright too," she assured him. "As far as they know you're on your way to L.A. already, leaving this town… and me."

"I'll leave this town, because that's what I'm supposed to do; but I'll never leave you, you know that right?" Angel sought to confirm, holding her close to him.

"Of course I know," she nodded, and she was sincere. "I mean, sure, I'll miss having you around, but I know you're with me in here." She pointed to her heart with the very hand on which her claddagh ring was once again shining.

"It's hard for me too," he admitted. "But we both know it's the right thing to do. And sooner or later we'll be together for good, and nothing will be able to pull us apart again."

Buffy nodded.

From then on words weren't needed, as they exchanged kisses, caresses and emotions; their love one that had never before been seen on earth, one that would change history.

It was a few hours before dawn, just long enough for Angel to make the drive to L.A. and find a place where to spend the day; and the lovers were standing at the entrance of the apartment building, having already loaded Angel's bags in his car.

He knew that had he left since the night before he'd have had more time to adjust and find a decent place; but he didn't mind, he had really enjoyed being with his beloved during that time.

"Take care…" he whispered, caressing her cheek and kissing her hair.

"I will," she assured him. "You too be careful. I don't wanna become a widow before I have the chance to really enjoy my husband."

Husband… how much joy it brought to him to hear her call him that! It was a miracle that he hadn't yet lost his soul again. But well, not a miracle, it was their bond. Their souls were now and forever bound, a bond that would never end, and thanks to that his soul could never be lost again.

"I will visit as much as I can without raising suspicions," he assured her.

"I shall be waiting," she told him. "I'm forever yours."

"And I yours…" he answered wholeheartedly. "Gráím thú, mo anam cara."

That had become a habit of his since their bond was formed the previous night, to slip into his native tongue when speaking to her; but she didn't mind. Even when she didn't exactly know Gaelic, their bond allowed her to know exactly what he was saying, and answer the right way.

"I love you too, my soulmate…" she whispered back.

Then, after one last long and tender kiss they pulled apart. He turned around, climbed into his car and drove away, never looking back, too afraid that if he did he wouldn't want to leave.

Buffy watched him leave, an air of sadness around her, but also an air of hope, this was just one more test for their love, and they would pass it; because their love was big enough to survive anything and everything. They would walk their own past, separate but not divided, and when the day came (the End of Days) they would come together, they'd be powerful and they'd win. Then… they'd be together, for good, and no force on Earth, Heaven or Hell would be separating them ever again. For theirs was an undying bond, one that would last till the end of time…

"Slán agus beannacht" is Irish Gaelic and is supposed to mean something like "Goodbye and Farewell" (or "Health and Blessings", depending on the source). It's an old, traditional farewell.

The other phrase in Gaelic Irish I did not translate as I think the story makes the meaning obvious enough.

To those wondering about it. Yes, this was originally supposed to be a much longer story (like, rewriting-at-least-three-seasons long), but I don't have the time or the inspiration to write something that long anymore, and I liked the start enough that I wanted to do something with it. If anyone would like to take this as a starting point for a story of their own, feel free, just remember to give credit where it might be due, and let me know so I can go read the story.

Likewise I, as always, give carte-blance to any and all sequels, prequels, sidestories, remixes, translations, fanarts, videos, podfics, etc. (Anything not involving AI). Same conditions as stated before apply.

Thanks so much to the marvelous creators of this IWRY Marathon, this is one of the first BtVS/Bangel fic I've ever managed to finish!