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Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story except for my evil twin, Iago. Everyone else belongs to Joss Whedon and his associates. I write only for fun and for no monetary value. Please do not sue.
The light from the office was dim and the sweet scent of tea filled the room. Alone, Rupert Giles sat, elbows upon his desk and with a tired hand pressed tightly to his forehead. He closed his eyes and then he reread the passage again, as he had read it several times before. A glimmer of hope washed across his eyes, but he had to restrain himself. He wouldn't allow himself the luxury of joy until he was absolutely certain that there were no exceptions.
There was a faint stirring from outside the office and Giles turned to see Willow walking through the door.
"Willow. Thank you for coming."
Willow smiled hesitantly, as she sat a stack of books on the shelf next to her. "I brought the books, Giles. What's wrong? Why did you sound the way you did . . . is everything okay? The world's not going to end again, is it?"
Giles raised his hands to calm her. "No, Willow, but I needed someone's interpretation of this book I recently got my hands upon . . . and despite my misgivings . . . you are the only one who can help."
"Magic?" Willow asked excitedly. "Is it scary?"
"No," Giles answered, "but it is very important. It is perhaps the greatest spell that I could have come upon."
"Greatest spell . . .is it something to save the world?"
"No," Giles smiled brightly. "It's for a friend."
Willow's eyes widened. "What is it?"
"Here," Giles handed Willow the book. "I can't tell you. I need you to solve this on your own. I hope to God I am right, Willow. Oh, Lord, how I do."
Willow took the book and sat down quietly. She read the passages with great attention. She opened the other books, cross-referencing what she was reading with her other magical guides. What seemed like an eternity later, Willow looked up slowly. "My God, Giles . . . ."
"Then I was right?" Giles took off his glasses.
Willow nodded excitedly, leaping into Giles' arms. "Giles . . . this will give Angel his life back . . . . He'll be human again."
"So what is a guy like you doing all alone on a night like this?" Buffy asked with a grin.
"Waiting for you," the voice came, followed by a deep, angry growl. The vampire leapt at Buffy with a burning desire. The Slayer, with all her gifts of reflexes and strength, sidestepped the charging demon and sent the being crashing to the ground with a forearjm to the chest. The demon's eyes went wide with horror as Buffy's stake arced slowly and rammed through his chest plate; piercing his heart. A lonely cry of desperation filled the night air and then was gone, as was the vampire, save a few remaining dust particles fluttering in the wind.
Buffy wiped her hands and glanced around "Four vamps in one night. Doesn't look good." She tucked Mr. Pointy behind her belt and proceeded to finish her patrol of the cemetary. Then something caught her eye. It had been the faint reflection of moonlight on the ground a few feet from her. Buffy bent down and picked up the object. Her legs gave way and she landed on her bottom, catatonically staring at the piece of jewelry she had found. It was her Claddaugh ring. It had slipped off her finger during the brief skirmish. Buffy sat frozen; eyes distant.
She brushed the dirt from it and held it close, thinking of Angel. Through the months, she rarely thought of Angel, no more than two or three times a day. She had thought that time would ease her pain, that she would grow to live without Angel, but she knew better now. The day he had left, a part of her had ceased to exist, a part that would never show itself again.
Buffy placed the ring on her finger; the heart toward herself. She was taken. That much was ceratin. If Angel would not have her, then she would die alone. She was the Slayer . . .she would do her job until the end, with or without her soul mate, but she would take no other.
Something moved behind her and Buffy swung, Mr. Pointy out in a flash. There was a scream and the Slayer stopped her assault inches away from its target. It was Willow.
"Buffy," Willow said, swallowing hard. Her eyes were wide and her breathing was rapid. "I'm . . . I'm sorry. It's me . . .it's Willow." Buffy sighed, thankful for her training which had probably just saved Willow's life. "Will, you need to be more careful. Next time, make more noise . . . .By the way, what are you doing here? You should be at home asleep. Chem test tomorrow, or did you forget?"
"No, I didn't forget." Then Buffy saw Giles step from the shadows a few feet behind Willow. This was unexpected. Something was wrong, that much Buffy was sure of.
"What gives?" Buffy asked.
Giles stumbled with his words. "Well, Buffy . . . ."
"Oh, God . . . is Xander alright?"
"Yes, yes. Xander is quite fine, as are Cordelia and Oz." Giles could feel his heart racing. He took a deep breath . "I've found something. It's a spell . . . an act of renewal and rebirth . . . . "
"English, Giles."
Willow's face was wide with a smile. "It's a spell to make Angel human again, Buffy."
Buffy understood the words, but could not believe what she was hearing. Tears began to form in her eyes as flashes of a possible future tore through her mind. Angel . . . human? She dropped to her knees and smiled despite the tears. The future she had longed for was within grasp. She burst into tears as a part of herself she had once believed to be dead sprung back to life with renewed vigor. Buffy looked up to Giles, eyes slick with tears. "We have to find him. Now."
*It's bright out tonight,* Angel said to himself as he observed the moon above. The night sky was clear and a cool breeze blew through the barren streets. Angel had been in Los Angeles for a short time, but he'd seen enough to know it was the same old story: different city, same demons. He felt his pockets reluctantly. He was probably the only person out who had a sharp wooden stake in his coat; he knew he was the only demon with one. It was strange: a vampire with a stake. Strange, but comforting. Comforting, because in the four months Angel had walked the streets in the City of Angels, he had put in much overtime.
Buffy. He thought of her as he made his usaul sweep of Sunset Boulevard. She had remained such an integral part of his life that he sometimes forgot she was still in Sunnydale. Tonight, though, he remembered . . . he remembered it all.
The loneliness of patrol. *What is Buffy going through?* Angel would ask himself. He had no friends, no family, yet he functioned. Buffy had some support, but he knew she suffered as he did. Perhaps more so, because she could not truly comprehend the sacrifice made on her behalf. To her, Angel was running, and for that, he felt guilty. He felt guilty because even though he had left to give Buffy as normal a future as a Slayer could have, part of his reason for leaving was selfish. He could not allow himself to stay knowing one day Buffy would discard for someone who could give her what she needed: a person to share the sunlight, to grow old with, to make love to. Angel could never be *that* man, and so he had fled, as much for himself as for her.
Whistler had told him all those years ago: the more you live in the world, the more you realize how apart from it you really are. Angel had learned that lesson the hard way. Not only did he carry a gypsy curse, but he carried a broken heart . . . such was the way of life: an endless series of ups and downs. Angel looked up at the moon again. "Well can't get any lower than this. Guess the only way to go from now on is up."
Then Angel caught a glimpse of a figure in a dark trenchcoat up ahead. The person walked uneasily, like a demon not quite sure of his next move. Angel, however, had made that decision for him in an instant. He quickened his pace until he was on top of the creature. With one swift, graceful move Angel spun his enemy and shoved him into a wall, stake drawn.
"WAIT!" the being screamed, a second before Angel knew who it was. It was Xander. "Geez, man, don't you give anyone a chance? I could have been Bruce Willis for all you know."
"Who?" Angel asked.
"Nevermind."
"What are you doing here?" Angel asked cautiously. "Is Buffy . . . ."
"Buffy's fine. I'm here for you. We've been looking for you."
Angel's face became a mask of confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I don't want to be the one to tell you. I think Buffy wants to, but let's just say I'll have to get rid of my dead boy jokes." Xander smiled, and Angel was even more confused. When he had left, Xander still had not been trustworthy of him, not that Angel blamed him. But seeing the guy excited and . . . nice was confusing. *No more dead boy jokes?*
"C'mon." Xander grabbed Angel's arm. "Let's go."
Angel and Xander had barely rounded the corner when Angel took notice of a beautiful blonde girl down the street. She looked as she had on the day he had met her, but not nearly as sad as on the day he had walked away from her . . . suppossedly for good. But here she was, running the distance between them and crashing into Angel, his arms outstretched. She bathed his face with kisses and he returned them, until he regained his senses and softly held her at bay.
"Buffy, what's going on? Why did you come here?"
Buffy had begun to cry again, but her face was lit up with joy. "Xander didn't tell you?" Angel shook his head. "Giles found it, Angel. He found your cure."
Angel didn't understand. "My cure? But I'm fine, Buffy. Angelus is forgotten."
"No, Angel!" Buffy exclaimed, caresseing his face softly. "Giles found a spell to give you back your life. The demon will be expelled . . . . You'll be human again."
Through 244 years, Angel had seen much death, he had seen miracles, he had seen transgressions, he had seen the world change. But nothing had ever brought to him the feeling of anxiety and happiness that the words Buffy had just spoken gave him. And for the first time in Angel's life, he felt his knees grow weak, and in the next instant Angel, once human, now a vampire, fainted.
Angel ran his finger across the mantle and wiped the dust it had collected. The mansion was dreary and dark, but it had been his home once. Now, as Giles and Willow prepared their spell, Angel took a long look about the main room. He had lived for so long, yet, the months in this place with Buffy had overshadowed his past life. Now he would have a chance to look forward to tomorrow, hand in hand with Buffy.
Angel glanced over at Buffy who was watching him. She had a peculiar look about her and he wondered what was going through her mind at that second. The two of them had been through so much in so short a time, but it was only now, while Angel's rebirth loomed so near, that they would have the chance to *truly* be together. It had been poetic once, the Slayer in love with a vampire, but now Buffy would have more than dramatic irony. She would have love with a man. Not a walking demon with a cursed soul, but a mortal, living being. Buffy deserved her happiness, and the fact that Angel was also rewarded by this was comforting as well.
"We're ready," Giles said softly as he watched Angel and Buffy locked in a lover's stare. "This is a difficult spell. We may not be successful, Angel."
Angel smiled. Not too long ago Giles had looked upon him with the utmost contempt, but now here the Watcher was, doing all he could to bring life back to him. Above all, he seemed genuinely concerned about Angel. "Thank you, Giles. Whether or not this works, I appreciate all you have done."
Giles appeared embarassed. "Well, let's get started." He turned to Willow who lit a candle and handed it to Angel. Giles began the incantation and Willow recited his words in Latin. At once, mysterious lights began to circle Giles, swirling faster and faster about him until they became one glowing body surrounding him. The light then became a beam of energy and ripped through Giles. His eyes went wide as he channeled the potent power through himself. The effect was momentary, for in the next second, the energy had regrouped itself into a beam and struck Angel. The strength of the blow lifted Angel from his feet.
Buffy stepped back as she watched the demon in Angel's body fighting to remain. His face morphed from his human face to his demon face and back, over and over. The cycle continued until Angel let loose a gutwrenching scream of pain and fell to the floor. At that second, the lights were gone and Giles, too, fell to the ground.
A silence fell upon all gathered in the mansion. Everyone traded looks as Willow ran to Giles and Buffy to Angel. Giles lifted himself up slowly and then all eyes were on the couple across the room. Buffy cradled Angel's head in her lap as he stirred, slowly regaining his focus. Everyone watched in awe as Angeldrew in breath and coughed uncontrollably. His anxiety subsided and with Buffy's help he got to his feet. So close to his love, Angel could already feel his cheeks becoming warm as his heart pumped a mortal's response to physical attraction. The feeling was immense ans he pulled Buffy close to him. The two fell into a deep passionate kiss to me.
Xander made his way to the window and thrust open the curtains. As the sunlight poured into the dark room, Angel reflexively ducked the fearful light. But there was no pain, no combustion. He did not turn to flames as vampires do when confronted by the deadly sun. This was his proof. Angel was human again.
Angel took Buffy's hand and walked to the garden out back. The flowers growing were bright with colors and he was in awe at the beauty surrounding him. He took off his trenchcoat, tossing it to the side and embraced the sunlight he had not seen in almost two hundred and fifty years. Angel looked down at Buffy and her eyes were full of tears despite the wide smile. He gently wiped the tears from her eyes and held the image of his one and only love, never wanting to forget her radiance in the sun light if this were just a dream.
"Buffy," Angel managed, as his own eyes filled with tears. "I never imagined that a person could be so beautiful. I swear, if I didn't know better, I would have thought you to be an angel bathing in God's brilliance. I love you."
Buffy pulled Angel close. "I love you." They kissed again, this time Buffy pulling back to admire her love. "Wow. You are a hunk in the sun."
Behind her Cordelia added her agreement, "Oh yeah." Much to Xander's disapproval. "Doesn't look that different to me."
Angel smiled, an odd feeling in his stomach. It took him a second to realize he was hungry. "Who's up for pizza? My treat."
Everyone apporoved and Xander patted Angel on the back. "Y'know, you and me might be good friends after all." Buffy smiled. The future was limitless.
The days flew by quickly.
Buffy and Angel enjoyed Weatherly Park in the mornings. They would walk for hours and then enjoy a comforatble picnic complete with plush blankets and homemade sandwiches. They found a cypress tree near a small lake and they would sit there in each other's arms talking of their future plans, their dreams and hopes. Sometimes Angel would bring a book along and would read to Buffy, sometimes they watched the birds, and other times they just cuddled, not talking, just content to be pursuing that for which they had longed for for so long: being together.
Angel's rebirth had also brought about a renewed appreciation for food. He was intent on trying every dish that had come about since his death. One day found the gang in Buffy's back yard and Angel at the grill, putting the finishing touches on the ribs and chicken he had prepared. Buffy watched with fascination. Gone was the dark trenchcoat and black clothing. Now Angel was in blue jeans and a colorful T-shirt and an apron which read: DON'T FORGET TO KISS THE COOK. Xander was being chased by Cordelia who was armed with a water balloon. Her shot went off target and drenched Angel's back. Everyone stopped as Angel turned around slowly, but in an instant he had picked up a water house and began chasing Cordelia and Xander around. Buffy laughed with a joy she could not remember having felt before. She turned to see Giles watching her. He smiled at her brightly and Buffy mouthed *thank you* to him. Giles nodded and held up his tea in acknowledgement.
The days were spent having fun, but the afternoons were reserved for Buffy and Angel alone. They would walk the beach in comfortable silence and they would watch the sunset in all its grand splendor as it disappeared into the ocean. It was truly the happiest times in their lives.
They shared intimacy without consequences and without regrets. Having lived through such difficult and trying experiences, had allowed them to better appreciate the love they were now able to physically express. They would share themselves generously and they would fall asleep in each other's arms.
One morning, Buffy awoke to find that Angel was gone. She dressed and searched for him, not quite sure how she knew where he would be. She found him on the hilltop behind the mansion, sitting and watching the city amassed before him. Buffy sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He embraced her; his arms enveloping the smaller Buffy.
"I never thought I could be this happy, Buffy."
"I know."
Angel's eyes were on the horizon. "You live for so long in the world, but not a part of it, you see what's missing. I knew that there was much I had been denied, Buffy, but I never imagined this . . . the beauty, the warmth . . .the feeling of just feeling. I never thought I'd be able to grow old or be able to see my reflection. . . .I'm sorry. I'm rambling."
"No you're not."
"I'm just so happy, Buffy."
At that second, the black sky became a shade of purple, then orange and then lighter. Life was awakened by the sunlight. Sunrise. The first one Angel had witnessed over two hundred years. Angel smiled, shedding a lone tear. He held Buffy tight. "I'm so happy."
*Just another night at the office,* Buffy said to herself as she walked the streets of Sunnydale on patrol. The air had grown cool and the city was dark. *No full moon tonight.* That was a good thing: Willow would have Oz back tonight. As Buffy passed the Bronze, she found herself thinking of Angel and how great the past weeks had been with him. She smiled at how fascinated he was when it came to the simplest of things. He was like a small child with wide eyes and curiously acknowleding all that he came across. He spent as many hours as he could out in the sun and it hadn't taken him long for him to lose the pale skin and gain color. It was welcomed wholeheartedly.
The long days had begun to take their toll on Angel and as Buffy patrolled, he slept. Since being reborn, Angel had lost , most of his strength, which had been mostly due to the fact he had been a vampire. Now, he lacked the ability to go without sleep for too long, something Buffy could still accomplish due to her Slayer attributes. Sometimes she missed having Angel with her on patrol, but she knew when she got home, he would be there. They were a couple now, able to do couple things. Angel had even shown interest in taking classes with Buffy at the University. *Wow, have things changed.*
Buffy was so lost in thought that she failed to recognize the eyes watching her from the shadows. In fact,her Slayer senses came alive long before she saw her attackers leaping form every direction. She fought off the first wave of vampires, neatly disposing of six vampires, slaying four of them with fluid strikes from her stake. Her effortless performance was overshadowed by the multiple demons flocking to take the place of those destroyed.
On one instance, Buffy blocked a kick by one vampire, then spun to strike another charging from behind while simultaneously unleashing her stake to the left in a graceful flying fatality. As those three vampires fell, she fought off two more while she pulled Mr. Pointy from its resting place, prepared to slay. Buffy fought like the warrior that she was, and many vampires never lived to take another victim. Those who survived that night acknowledged that she was the most gifted Slayer that they had ever encountered. She fought with passion, she fought with heart, but in the end she was overwhelmed. A blow to the base of her neck was what inevitably brought the Slayer down. Buffy fought to not lose consciousness as she tried to lift herself to her feet. A vampire kicked her in the gut and she collapsed, still not willing to surrender.
*This is it? This is how it ends? On a dark street . . .alone?* Thoughts raced through her head, images of her friends, her mother and Angel. No, she would not go like this. She struggled to get up as the remaining vampires circled her. They hesitated, and this made Buffy confused. She was a prime kill . . . she was a Slayer, why had no one pounced on her defenseless body?
A figure came walking through the crowd of vampires who parted ways for him fearfully. Buffy still retained her senses as she stared up into the handsome face of a man. He had a wide smile, perfect teeth and hair. He leaned over, watching Buffy with amusement.
"Are you okay, Ms. Summers?"
"Who are you?" Buffy asked.
"Never mind that . . . are you okay? Do you need some help?" The voice was kind and gentle, but Buffy's Slayer senses let her know all she needed to: this man was of the purest evil.
"Go to Hell," Buffy spat, again trying to lift herself.
The man straightened up, his smile gone and a look of a monster falling into place. "You should mind your manners little girl." He turned to one of the vampires next to him. "Take her."
The next second, a blunt object struck Buffy's head and the world went black . . . .