RATING: um…if you watch it, you can read it.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, don't sue.
DISTRIBUTION: Ask and ye shall recieve
FEEDBACK: I crave it. It's like cigarettes, you know? Just when I think I've quit.
SPOILERS: Ony very minor ones up to Graduation Day II
NOTES: I wrote this in about ten minutes because I was sick of everyone saying Buffy should be with someone normal.
SUMMARY: Angel's gone, Giles realises that they've made a terrible mistake.

Buffy's eyes were completely dead. She sat on the couch in Giles' house, seemingly unaware of her surroundings. The glow of life that had always seemed to light her from within had gone and there was nothing left but an empty shell. Looking at her Giles realised that, in leaving, Angel had finally managed something that nothing and no one else had ever been able to do. He had broken Buffy.

Angelus, the Mayor, Spike, the Master, all had tried and failed, unable to stand against the core of strength that held her firm against any adversity – until now. Her love for Angel was an obstacle that she couldn't fight because it had always been the source of that strength and when he left she had been left with nothing.

At that moment Giles knew that they had all made a terrible mistake. He had agreed with Angel's decision, thought that it would be for the best if he left and admired the vampire's strength in doing what needed to be done regardless of the pain it would cause him. He had believed that Buffy deserved to be with someone who could give her some semblance of a normal life, to be with someone who could be happy without becoming a danger but he had been wrong. Buffy needed Angel, needed him in the same way she needed air. If deprived of either one, she would die. Angel had been gone only a few hours and she was already dying.

The realisation spurred Giles into motion. He crouched down in front of Buffy, held her empty gaze and said firmly, "Angel will come back, Buffy, you have to believe that. We'll find a way to amend the curse, find a way for the two of you to be together but you have to hold it together for me. You can't break down now."

For a moment he wasn't sure if she'd even heard him, then she blinked and, for the first time since he had guided her away from the wreckage of the high school, actually seemed to see him. In a voice like that of a very small child she asked, "Why would you want to bring Angel back to me, Giles? You don't want him here, you blame him for…for what happened…for what happened to Jenny."

"No," he disagreed, "I don't" and as he spoke he suddenly realised that the words were true. He'd never known Buffy to be wrong in her judgement of anyone and, for Angel to be able to inspire such pure and unwavering love in her, he had to have a truly good soul because she could never love a monster. For the first time since Angel's return, Giles' heart saw the difference between Angel, who Buffy loved, and Angelus, the demon that everyone hated – Angel more than anyone. "I really don't!" he said again, wonderingly, "I know it wasn't his fault. We'll find a way to make the curse permanent, Buffy, we'll bring him back to you, I swear we will!

He told me he'd call in a few days and give me a number where he could be reached if there was ever an emergency and you needed his help. When he contacts me I'll tell him to come back, I'll tell him he has to come back. I know I can make him listen."

Buffy's eyes clouded, "Good luck," she said, "I tried everything and I couldn't convince him to stay!"

"Well no," said Giles, "obviously not. He believed he was doing the best thing for you. He believes that you were wrong to love him, to want him to stay nothing you said could have changed that. He'd do anything for you even live his life alone but when he talks to me, I can tell him that he was wrong. I can make him see that you need him because I don't love him. He'll believe me, he'll know that I want what's best for you and I'm sure I can make him believe me when I say that what's best for you is him."

A glimmer of hope appeared in Buffy's eyes and a tiny smile touched her lips. It was gone almost before it formed but to Giles it was the most beautiful thing that he'd ever seen. He and Angel had a lot in common, he thought suddenly; this tiny blonde girl was the most important thing in the world to both of them. Daughter to one, soulmate to the other, they would both do anything to keep her safe and happy.

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