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Disclaimer: Except for Marion, none of these characters are mine. They belong to the WB network, the Mutant Production Company, and Joss Whedon.
Marion pushed the door open just enough to see inside, "Angel?"
No answer came, so she opened the door a little bit more. He wasn't anywhere in sight. She stepped inside and shut the door of the mansion behind her.
"Angel?" she called out a little louder.
"What are you doing here?"
She spun around. He was standing right behind her, still looking beaten.
"You came and asked me to make you a mortal last week," she took the bag off of her shoulder, "I came with an answer."
"You said it was impossible," he turned his back on her, "It was a gift only for Nosferatu."
"I lied," she followed him into another room.
He spun and looked at her, "You can change me?"
"No," she sighed, "I can't change what you are. But I have taken up your wishes with the people who can. What I have come to tell you is that I can give you a gift. One day, from sunrise to sunset."
Angel shook his head, "I don't understand."
Producing a prism from her bag she held it up so the light caught it, "Do you know the story of Cinderella?"
"Yes."
"Consider this your glass slipper," Marion held it out to him, "I can capture your demon inside this prism for twenty-four hours. You will be mortal. Your demon is what makes you what you are. Without it, you will be able to die, you will have to eat, you will be able to stand in the sun."
"This is a trick," Angel frowned.
She touched his hand, "My orders are to keep you from dying, but to do that you must remember there is something to live for. None of us expected her to touch you the way she has, half of us thought she would die at the hands of the Master. You were sent here to stop it. I can't give you a lifetime, but I can give you a day."
"Today?"
"This only works once a year," she smiled, "On this night, demons hold no power. Consider it a Christmas gift."
"Do you swear you're not lying to me?"
"Have I ever lied to you? In either lifetime?"
Angel closed his eyes. Everything he had wished for, everything he had prayed for in the last two years was being given to him. For one day to walk in the sun…to see her under the warmth of daylight. To touch her and know his touch would not be cold.
"What do I do?"
Marion started to pull thing out of her bag, "Sit down. This will hurt."
Angel gripped at his stomach, the pain was becoming unbearable. Faintly, he could hear the Nosferatu chanting behind him. His whole body burned with excruciating heat and then he shook from terrible cold. Crying out, his head split in two and his heart raced.
Then it was quiet.
Still shaking, he opened his eyes.
Marion looked down at him.
"Is it done?"
She nodded, "I was afraid you wouldn't survive it. Here, drink this."
His hands closed around a cup of warm liquid. He smelled it and winced, "What is it?"
"It's going to help your body adjust," she sat down next to him, "It will feel like the change all over again at midnight."
"When the clock strikes twelve it all returns to how it was?"
"Something like that," she pulled a piece of glass from her bag, "Here."
Angel blinked in disbelief as he looked into the mirror. His hand reached up as he felt his face, "I haven't seen my face in two hundred years. Not even a picture."
Marion looked to the window, "It will be dawn soon. I wouldn't suggest you try to watch the sunrise. Your body needs to adjust first."
"Buffy…" Angel looked away from the mirror, "I need to…"
"You have plenty of time," Marion helped him stand.
"I only have a day," he looked at her, "Even if I had a lifetime it wouldn't be enough."
Marion nodded, "Very well. I'll be back tonight to be sure there are no complications."
Angel reached out and touched her hand, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," she smiled sadly, "Your own passion for her has brought this
to you."
Early in the morning, the doorbell of the Summers residence rang.
"I'll get it," Buffy called to her mom, "It's probably Faith."
She must be more excited than she let on, Buffy thought to herself, the sun has just come up.
Buffy's heart leapt immediately into panic mode when she saw Angel standing on her front porch, barely sheltered from the sun. Grabbing his arm, she pulled, "Get inside!"
"No," he smiled and took a step back, into the light, "Come outside."
Buffy watched in horror as Angel looked up into the sunlight and smiled. She waited for him to burst into flames, but the moment didn't come. Stepping out after him, she shook her head, disbelieving what her eyes were telling her.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
"It's me," he smiled and reached out to touch her.
Tears fell from her eyes before she could even think to control them. Her knees gave out and she collapsed to the ground. Angel knelt beside her and steadied her. His hands were warm to her skin, she reached out and touched his face, his hair, and she ran her hands across his chest not believing he was real.
"How?"
He shook his head, "It doesn't matter."
"Are you…?"
"Only for a day," he ran a hand across her face, "Until sunset tonight."
"Buffy?"
Buffy turned to see Faith watching from the sidewalk.
"Faith," she looked from Angel to Faith.
"Would one of you like to explain what's going on?" Faith didn't move.
"I don't know," Buffy looked back to Angel, her heart racing, "I thought he would be dust."
"I can explain," he looked at the other Slayer, "But I only have one day. Let me explain tomorrow."
Faith shook her head, "Sunnydale's a strange place. I don't know if I want to know why…but you can explain tomorrow."
"Come inside," Buffy stood on wobbly legs.
"I'd rather spend all day out here," Angel felt the warm sun pouring down upon him.
"We will," Buffy smiled, "But it's Christmas and Mom made breakfast. Come inside with me for just a while and then we can go wherever you want."
Angel nodded.
Buffy looked at Faith, "Come on in. And Merry Christmas."
"If you don't want me around," Faith glanced sideways, "I'd understand."
"No," Buffy held out an arm to her, "Whether you believe it or not, you're my friend and I want you here."
"If you sure…"
"I'm sure," she took her arm, "Come on inside."
Joyce almost dropped her plate full of muffins when she saw Buffy walk in with Angel and Faith in tow.
"Buffy!" her eyes grew wide, "I thought…"
"I don't know either, Mom," Buffy smiled at Angel.
"I can't explain it," he held out some flowers to her, "I brought you these, Mrs. Summers."
She gingerly took them from him, "Thank you."
"Here," Faith held out a package, "I brought you something, too."
"Faith, we're really glad you decided to come," Joyce looked at Angel, "You, too. Though I don't understand how."
"How isn't important," Buffy squeezed his hand, "That we're all here together is what is important."
"Hey," Faith looked at Angel sheepishly, "I uh…want to say I'm sorry I tried to kill you. Willow and Buffy…well, they've been telling me about you. It turns out you're not such a bad guy."
"Thanks," Angel was surprised, "It means a lot."
"Don't think I wouldn't do it again if you gave me reason," she said toughly, "But you're all right."
Joyce frowned, "You tried to kill Angel? When he was bad?"
"No," Faith shrugged, "Just a couple of weeks ago."
"Don't worry about it Mom," Buffy took the plate from her, "It's all good
now."
Buffy didn't let go of Angel's hand while they sat in the swings in the park. They watched some children play nearby with their families. Words seemed unnecessary today. She turned to look at him. His cheeks were touched by a pink glow. Taking everything in, his eyes never stopped moving around.
"Things look different in the day time," he said softly, "It's all so bright."
"I want a picture," Buffy suddenly said, "I want something to remember this day forever with."
"You have your memories," he looked puzzled, "Why do you need a picture?"
"So I don't wake up tomorrow morning and wonder if this was all a dream," she pulled him out of his swing, "Come on. We're near Willow's house, I'm sure she has a camera somewhere."
He didn't protest as the short blond led him through the park. How amazing it was to pass children by and not see them run. So much time had passed since he was a mortal, he had forgotten so much.
"Hey, Buffy!"
Angel involuntarily cringed at the sound of his voice. He couldn't turn to look at the young man approaching them.
"Hey, Xander," she turned to look at her friend.
Slowly recognition settled in on Xander. He stopped dead in his tracks and his jaw fell open.
"Who is that?"
Angel turned to face him.
Xander took a step backward, "How are you doing that?"
"I can't explain now," Buffy said, "Why don't you come with us? We're on our way to Willow's house."
"This is a dream," Xander's eyes blinked, "I'm still sleeping."
"This is as real as it gets," Angel said softly.
"Nope, I'm dreaming," Xander took a step away, "I suppose if I turn around Cordy will be behind me, too."
"Xander…"
"Sorry, Buffy," he turned and ran away, "I get the feeling this is about to turn into a nightmare."
"Maybe you should go after him," Angel suggested.
"No," Buffy shook her head, "He'll calm down, think he was seeing things, and then head over to my house."
"Then what?"
"My mom will convince him he wasn't seeing things and he'll go to Giles house who'll convince him he was," Buffy smiled, "And then he'll be waiting in my room until I get home so I can convince him he wasn't."
"What will you tell him?"
"Maybe I'll tell him it was all a dream," she shook her head, "No, I'll explain. As soon as I know what to explain."
"I'll explain everything I know while we walk," he put an arm around her,
"But truthfully, I'm still not sure I understand it."
"So Marion granted you one day," Buffy shook her head, "That's amazing. I'd like to know how she did it…maybe there's a spell…"
Angel smiled grimly. He had been careful to leave out the part about the spell that brought Nosferatu back to mortality. He didn't want her to get her hopes up if there wasn't any way that he could use it.
The door opened in front of them.
"Oh my God, Buffy!" Willow exclaimed. Here eyes focused in on Angel. A shaking hand reached out towards him. When her fingers touched flesh, she stumbled backwards and let out a little yelp. Angel stepped forward to catch her.
Buffy gasped.
Angel looked at her from the other side of the doorway, "I didn't realize…"
Willow stepped away from him, "What are you?'
"I'm me," he stepped back behind Buffy, "I'm mortal."
"How?"
Oz came around the corner from the living room, "Woah."
"It's kind of hard to explain," Buffy said, "I just want to know if I can borrow your camera."
"Yeah, okay," she couldn't take her eyes off of Angel, "Uh, it's in my, uh, room."
When she didn't move to get it, Buffy prompted her, "Do you want me to get it?"
"Oh, no," Willow sounded like she was about to hyperventilate.
"I'll get it," Oz squeezed by.
The phone rang.
"I have to get that since my parents are out of town," Willow said.
The phone rang again.
Willow didn't move.
"The phone?" Buffy said.
"Oh, yeah," she slipped around the corner, "Hello?"
Buffy looked at Angel and shrugged, "I thought she'd take it better."
Angel didn't say anything. He knew how Buffy's friends felt about him and they had ever right to be afraid.
"They're here…yes, here. No, very real…I don't know, 'cause, she didn't tell me…" Willow said in the other room.
Buffy guessed she was talking to Xander.
"Here," Oz reappeared with the camera.
"Thanks," Buffy glanced around the corner at Willow who was still on the phone, "I hate to run, but it's already four. Tell Will I'm sorry we showed up just long enough to freak her out. I'll be by to explain tomorrow."
"No problem," Oz shrugged.
"Thank you," Angel said softly.
Oz frowned, "For what?"
"You're the only one who…hasn't acted like I have the plague."
"Hey," Oz shrugged, "I'm a werewolf three days out of the month. Everyone has bad days."
"But you never killed anyone."
"And I've never eaten a rabbit. Although…" Oz shuddered, "Let's just say I learned how to separate."
"Ewww," it was Buffy's turn to shudder, "Too much info there, Oz."
"Thanks again," Angel nodded to him.
"Come on, let's go," Buffy pulled Angel out the door.
Sitting on top of the hill overlooking town, Buffy and Angel watched the sunset.
"It's been a long, long time since I've watched the sun go down," Angel said softly, "I never appreciated it before now."
"Maybe someday we'll be able to watch the sunset every night," Buffy said hopefully, "If there's a way to make it last one day, maybe there's a way to make it last a lifetime."
"Maybe," he pulled her closer to him and rested his head against hers, "Either way, I remember now what I have to live for. What we have to fight for." Buffy curled her fingers around his, "I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift. But human or not, it doesn't matter to me. I'll still love you always."
He smiled sadly and kissed her cheek, "And I you."
"Do you think anyone else is watching the sun set right now?"
"I hope so," he held her tighter, "We fight evil every day. We fight for the souls of every person out there. What good would it all be if no one else could sit and watch the sunset?"
"I guess you're right," she turned to look at him and ran her fingers across his face, "I wonder sometimes if my life would be easier if I never met you. If a century ago another Slayer killed you, or if you chose not to help me when I came here. What would be different if you had walked away?"
"From the minute I saw you I knew I couldn't walk away," he kissed her. With warmth and breath, he kissed her and in that kiss showed her everything in his heart and everything in his soul.
"You and I were brought together for a reason," she told him, "I don't know what and I don't know why. But we were born more than two centuries apart, yet here we are. Impossibility was cast aside by a gypsy curse for this moment. And we weren't brought together for evil. I know I am more than an instrument to let your demon loose because you came back. Somehow Ms. Calendar found the spell and then I found the disk and then Willow somehow found the way to make it happen. And then somehow you found a way to come back to me. Now here we sit watching the sunset. There has to be a reason to it."
"I hope you're right," he looked back to the sun so low on the horizon, "I don't know what brought me back. I don't know if I ever will. All I do know is that my first thought was of you. Somewhere, deep inside of me, I knew that if I could get to you everything would be okay."
"And it will be," she leaned against his chest, "I swear to you we will find a way."
Angel held her close to him quietly. He felt the warm breeze blow against his face and the last rays of the day's sun beam gently down on him. Buffy's heart beat softly against the steady rhythm of his.
Slowly, the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
"You should go now," he said later at the mansion, "I'll change back soon." Buffy shook her head, "I'm staying."
"I don't want you to see that," he said the words, but he couldn't make himself let go of her hand.
"I'm not scared," she sat down next to him on his bed, "I know what you are, I've seen it happen before."
"But not to me."
She kissed him gently, "You can't make me go."
He brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her back, "It's very painful. I won't be able to see straight and I don't want to hurt you." "I've been hurt," she reminded him, "I can handle whatever you throw at me. I want to stay."
"You're right," he stood up, "I can't make you go."
He turned to the mirror beside his bed.
"Did you always have that?" Buffy asked.
"Marion left it here this morning," he stared into it, "I can't tell you how strange it is to look into a mirror and see my own image."
She stood behind him, "When was the last time?"
"Before I was changed. I haven't even seen a picture since then."
Buffy looked at the camera, "Never again. We have pictures now."
He turned to smile at her, "And I have my memory. Nothing will take that from me."
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you."
Suddenly, Angel's face contorted.
"What's wrong?"
"It's happening," he said, falling to his knees.
Buffy stood back and watched him crumple up on the floor. She didn't move as he spasmed again and again. He cried out, and as much as she wanted to reach out to him, she knew she couldn't. If he lost control, he could kill her. As suddenly as it started, he lay still.
Stepping towards him, she reached out a hand. His skin was still a little warm, but she couldn't feel a heartbeat. Gingerly, she pulled him up and onto the bed. Tucking covers in around him, she glanced over to the mirror. His image was no longer visible.
Walking over to the mirror, Buffy took it from the wall and laid it face down on the floor. Looking back at Angel, she knew she couldn't let him wake up alone. So she lay down beside him, not to sleep, but to watch him. Already, the afternoon they had spent in the sun seemed to be a dream.
Gently touching his face, she closed her eyes to pray that someday they would find a way. Until then, she had this one magical day to make her believe it was possible.
Kissing him lightly on the forehead, she rested her head next to his and
closed her eyes.
Marion slipped back out the front door. She knew Angel would hurt when he woke up, but it was much more important that Buffy be there than she. Looking down at the prism in her hand, she sighed. She could have granted him a lifetime today, but fate was not done using him yet. He still had much to do, if only a few years to do it in. Using him was not something she enjoyed, but there was no choice. He had been brought forth for a reason. He had been given his soul for a reason. They were together for a reason.
But what did the prophecies matter? Marion couldn't help but wonder. Already Buffy had proven so many of them false. So many prophesies, so many Slayers, so much death. Why couldn't these two souls be happy? What gave her the right to play with their lives as so many already had?
She had to hold onto the hope that someday everything would fall into balance and they would be freed. For now, they both slept in the mansion behind her and another Christmas had passed.