It was strange, when Angelus had returned to his old body Buffy had wanted nothing in the world more than having Angel re-cursed whatever the conditions. They had referred to it as a cure. Now she could she see just what a curse it really was.

She might have asked Giles or Willow to research a cure but the punishment the curse inflicted was necessary, not for Angel, never for Angel but for her. Angel had already suffered so much pain and carried so many burdens that it nearly broke her heart every time she saw him. He had helped her, even when it meant going against former friends. Yet, even though he spent every hour of his life regretting actions that had been done by his body and try to redeem what he thought was a dammed soul, he was cursed.

She was the one who had risked innocent people because of her refusal of her duty. She was the one who was responsible for every danger that Willow and Xander and Oz and even Cordelia was put in. She was responsible for everything that the Anointed had done because she had cared more about going on a date than protecting people. She had sent the man she loved into Hell. She…

A gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her self-recrimination and made her turn round.

"Buffy I know what you're thinking and you're wrong. If you hadn't done such a good job and been willing to give up your life hundreds, maybe thousands of people would have died. Oz, Xander, Willow and Cordelia wouldn't have been safer, they live on a Hellmouth. At least after meeting you they have some idea of how to fight the things that hang around in the dark in Sunnydale. You've just closed the Hellmouth again and"

"Okay, okay!" Buffy laughed as she turned round to face Angel. The sight of him made her breath catch as usual. "I know it's stupid but every know and then I have all these doubts and I wonder whether I haven’t caused more pain here than I'm worth."

"Buffy you could never do that. You're the most amazing, warm and caring person I have ever met and I'm 240-odd years old."

Smiling at him Buffy wrapped her arms around him as she stood up. Angel might not be chatty but when he did speak he could make every word count. In a few sentences, he had been able to soothe fears and doubts from several years ago.

When Buffy looked up, however, she realised that something was wrong. "It looks like you need to talk as well," she said. Let's go for a walk.