Buffy Summers sat in her motel room crying. "Why did I have to kill him?" she moaned quietly. She was referring to her lover Angel who, to save the world she had to push into hell. What Buffy couldn't get over was that Angel had just got his soul restored and was back to himself when she did it. He stood there confused and disorientated as his memory still hadn't been restored and he knew nothing of the terrible things he, as Angelus, had done. He stood there trusting her completely and she had thrust a sword into his abdomen. He had no idea why she had done this and Buffy's biggest fear was that wherever he was now he hated her and could never forgive her. She lay on her king sized bed thinking of his eyes with their silent pleading for her to save him as the vortex claimed him. She wept until she fell into an uneasy sleep dreaming of her only love and the terrible thing she had done to him.
Willow Rosenburg sat at the computer in Sunnydale High's school library, a solitary tear ran down her face. She looked around at her friends; Xander, Cordelia, Oz and Giles. They were a miserable bunch, Buffy's disappearance to LA had affected them all deeply, and not least of all Willow. Rupert Giles the school librarian had spent the last week since their loss of Buffy moping. Giles was Buffy's Watcher and Buffy was his best friend though he had never told her and he couldn't stand her absence. Xander, although he had got over his romantic feelings towards Buffy still missed her as she was his best friend after Willow. Cordelia, though she wished she didn't, missed Buffy, she had never had such good friends as Buffy, Willow and Xander. Oz thought Buffy was nice and she'd helped him a lot with his whole being a werewolf thing but mainly he missed her because of what her not being there was doing to Willow, his girlfriend. Willow cried a lot and spent most of her time hiding in the library being miserable. None of them could stand her absence but they all realised that the only person who could bring her back was Angel and as he was in hell that would be slightly difficult.Willow was interrupted from her revery by a beeping noise coming from the computer, she was receiving a message. She had been in an Internet technopagan chat room searching for the answer to a question. The message consisted of four words "I have your answer". Willow jumped up and squealed in delight. Everyone turned to stare at her unused to such outbursts from the normally quiet and shy Willow.
Angel sat in a dark corner lit only by the hellish red light of a lava pit. He had tears sliding down his smooth, perfectly chiselled face. He had regained his memory since he had arrived in hell and that was probably why he was pretty much being left alone, his memories tortured him more than any physical pain possibly could. He thought of all the terrible things he had done to Buffy, his Buffy, his one true love. He had made her cry when she had come to him the night following their night of passion. He had said such cruel things and broken her heart. He then tried to kill her best friends, had killed Jenny Calendar and Theresa, and generally tried to drive her insane. When he thought about everything he had done he was devastated that he had hurt the only person who cared about him and the one person in the world who mattered to him. He knew he would never see her again but he could only hope that she could forgive him some day.
"Willow?" Oz said, "What is it? Is something wrong?". Willow ran over to her boyfriend, embraced him and started to dance a little jig whilst happily crying, "No. Everything is fantastic. It couldn't be better". Xander slowly stood up from his position on the steps, "Will, have you been eating too much sugar again. I think you're high," he said. Willow skipped over to him and playfully swatted him on the arm. Giles was quite disturbed by Willow's behaviour so he asked her if she perhaps had better go home. Willow took a deep breath and struggled to get out the information that had hyped her up so much. "I found it" she cried breathlessly, "I found the answer". Her friends looked questioningly at her and Willow realised that they didn't know the question. "I know how to get Angel back". The whole group stared at her open-mouthed until Giles broke the silence with the question on everyone 's minds, "How?"
"Well I've been leaving messages at various chat rooms asking if anyone had any information on how to return someone from Hell. And I got a reply", she showed them the message. The whole group visibly cheered up until Giles who was still quiet gravely said, "Willow, are you sure that this is a serious message and not one left by some prankster?" Willow's face dropped but Xander cried out "What if it isn't? We have to try." Xander had realised that the only way he would get his friend back was if the man he hated returned, Angel, though he didn't like it he missed Buffy and wanted her back. "We'll look into it," Giles said.
Buffy awoke to hear a banging on her door. She staggered sleepily to the door and opened it. She was greeted by the kindly face of the hotel manager's wife. "I was wondering if you'd like me to bring you some food honey?" The woman had noticed Buffy when she first checked in and seen the anguish and misery in her eyes and she'd decided to make it her mission to make the girl comfortable. To her knowledge Buffy hadn't eaten anything but a small fragment of toast each day for breakfast when the elderly woman had brought it to her insisting she ate it. Buffy smiled weakly and replied that she wasn't hungry and was trying to catch up on some sleep, she then retreated into her room. The woman, who was called Mrs Adams, shook her head slowly and whispered "Poor thing," very quietly, she walked slowly away.
Several hours later Giles was standing beside the computer's printer eagerly reading the paper it spewed out. They had confirmed that the sender of the E-mail was for real. He had told them that he knew of a ritual that would open a doorway to hell and that if they could find a personal item belonging to the one they wanted to reach they could use it as a magnet to pull him out. He was sending them the wording for the ritual and Willow was printing the information as it came. Xander and Cordelia had gone to Angel's apartment to find a personal item. When they returned it was with a worn leather bound book. Oz wandered over asking curiously, "What's that?"
"It's Angel's diary, and let me tell you it makes very interesting reading."Willow and Giles's heads both popped up looking shocked. "Well I didn't know what it was until I read it did I. Well what are you looking at let's get on and save our vampire pal." What Xander didn't tell them was that he really meant it, his feelings towards Angel had now changed, he had hated him for his closeness to Buffy and then for hurting Buffy, but after reading his diary he had realised just how deeply Angel loved Buffy and he could no longer hate him for his relationship with Buffy. He couldn't hate someone who loved his friend so much.
When everything had been set up for the ritual Giles stood up as the friends sat in a circle, the ritual called for them to think of Angel and all they knew of him to help the magnet (personal item) seek him out. Giles began chanting words from the page which no-one but Giles could understand for they were in Latin. As he began to chant a wind swept up around the library and a light began to shine from the middle of the room, it slowly began to expand and it emanated a red glow. Giles cried out one more sentence then held the diary high above his head with both hands. The friends could feel the power sweeping through them but kept thinking of Angel. They had opened their eyes and were now staring at the vortex when they heard a cry. A figure appeared in the light but they couldn't see his face, he was being pulled toward the opening. The figure was thrown by a sudden flash of light across the room and the vortex closed behind him. As soon as the wind had quietened down Willow ran to the dark crumpled form and turned him over. It was Angel. He was back.
"Willow? Is that you? What am I doing here?"Angel said struggling for breath.
"Angel, it's so good to see you and you're good, not bad I mean. Oh and we brought you back." she said. Angel smiled a smile of pure happiness and looked around. His face fell when he couldn't see Buffy.
"Where's, where's Buffy? Is she afraid of me? Or, please no, did something happen to her?" Angel looked at Willow struggling to sit up frantically. Willow looked at her friends and then back at Angel and his fear filled eyes.
"I'm sorry Angel, we don't know where she is." Angel's mouth dropped as if to protest, "She left as soon as she pushed you into hell, she loved you so much that she couldn't forgive herself for all she had done to you and she left On top of that she was expelled and her mother found out she was the Slayer and threw her out of the house and you know Kendra was killed and the police believed Buffy killed her until we came forward as witnesses and told them they were wrong, but Buffy doesn't know that. We talked to her mother though, we explained everything to her and even showed her some vamps, she's devastated about what she did. We think she probably went to LA." Willow finished taking a deep breath. Angel sat silently the shock of what he had just heard too much to take in. He couldn't believe that his love had been through so much and so many of her problems could be connected to him yet she still loved him. Even as his heart tore with the knowledge of what Buffy had been through he couldn't help but feel delight that she still loved him.
"You have to find her. You're the only one that can find her. We don't know if she's alright or not, we haven't heard from her since she left. "Giles said worriedly.
"I'll find her,"Angel vowed. "Before I go I'll have to talk to her mother and find out if she has any idea where Buffy might go. One more thing, you restored my curse but is their a danger to Buffy of me turning back to Angelus."he asked worriedly.
Giles replied glad to be back in book mode, "When the gypsies cursed you it was out of hatred, but when we cursed you it was out of love for Buffy so your curse is permanent and can't break as we never want your soul to go under any circumstances whereas the gypsies did if you were happy. So no you're of no danger to Buffy."
"Thank you. You've done so much for me and I can't thank you enough but right now I want to find Buffy." More to himself he continued "My one and only love" Angel headed for the door jogging. Buffy's friends, his friends smiled on after him.
Angel got off the bus in LA and looked around it was the day after his return from the depths of hell. He had gone directly to Buffy's house and Buffy's mother had opened the door, she looked dreadful and had obviously not been getting any sleep. At first she was shocked but then she realised it was him and invited him in.
"Buffy's friends told me exactly what has been going on for the last couple of years and about you and Buffy. What I can't understand is how I could have been such a bad mother as to have not realised something was going on."Joyce said.
"Buffy kept it a secret to protect you, you couldn't have known. Now what I need to know is where you think Buffy might be, I have connections who might help me and if not I have other ways to find her." They discussed Buffy's whereabouts for a long while, until Angel realised it was dawn. He cautiously said,
"Um, Mrs Summers you know I'm a vampire don't you?" she nodded "Well if vampires go out in the sun they combust. Could I stay here today?" Joyce said, "Angel you can only stay if you'll do one thing for me." He looked at her questioningly. "Teach me about my daughter, tell me who she is." Angel smiled and agreed. They spent most of the day talking about Buffy, after his time in hell Angel didn't seem to need any sleep. Angel would tell Joyce something and then she would come up with a story from Buffy's childhood which Angel would listen eagerly to, anything that brought him closer to his love was a good thing in his eyes. Joyce drove him to the bus stop just after dusk that night. She gave him a hug just before he got on the bus.
"Thank you for loving her Angel, you did a better job of that than me. Please bring back my baby." With a tear in both their eyes they parted though Joyce watched the bus until she could see it no more.
Buffy stood up shakily from her bed and headed to the bathroom. She decided to have a shower but as she passed the mirror in the bathroom she caught sight of herself and was shocked. Her face was gaunt and she had large dark circles under her eyes and her skin had become dreadfully pale. Buffy stared at her face and thought, "It looks like I might be joining you soon Angel."She then went to have her shower.
When Angel had reached LA he had called a couple of friends and acquaintances to see if they knew anything about Buffy's whereabouts. He found nothing so he decided to look up motel names and go door to door with Buffy's picture. He knew it would be a long job but he'd do anything for his Buffy. He checked into a motel and got out the phone book and looked up motels and began checking the addresses to see if any of them were in any of the places that Buffy's mother had said she might go to.
Three days later Angel had gone door to door checking his list of motels and he'd found nothing. He sat back thinking of what would happen if he couldn't find Buffy. Many awful thoughts flashed through his mind of Buffy dead or her spirit broken. He had been making slow progress as he could only go out at night. So he sat in his motel room waiting for the sun to set. Just as he was about to go out his phone rang. Surprised he answered it on the second ring.
"Hello"
"Yes hello, is this the man who came round to my motel last night with the picture of that girl," the wavering voice asked.
"Yes that was me Mrs..?"
"Adams, Mrs Adams. I've been thinking about the photo you showed me and I think that she is staying here. I didn't realise before as she looks terribly thin and I haven't seen her smile like in that photo."
"I've been around a lot of motels in the past couple of days Mrs Adams could you tell me which yours was?"
"Yes of course. But first, you're not going to hurt her are you?"
"No. I could never hurt her I love her too much."
Mrs Adams was impressed by the sincerity in his voice and she told him all he needed to know including the room number. Angel left as soon as he could.
Buffy heard a knocking at the door. She decided it was probably Mrs Adams coming to try and make her eat something again. She liked the old woman and was grateful for her kindness but she really didn't want to talk to anyone so she shouted.
"I'm sorry Mrs Adams but I just got out of the shower and can't come to the door at the moment."
The banging on the door continued. Buffy realised that she was going to have to tell the old woman that she wanted to be left alone to her face. She grabbed the door handle and flung the door open. Expecting to see Mrs Adams face she started saying, "Look Mrs Adams I'm sorry but..." her voice trailed off as she looked at who was at the door. Her eyes met his and she whispered, "Angel."
He looked at her face which although it was thin and pale he still thought was the most beautiful he had ever seen. "It's me Buffy, I'm back and I'm never going to leave you again." Buffy looked at him in shock and he gently took her in his arms and hugged her. At first she was too shocked to respond to this action but after a moment she started hugging him fiercely. They stayed that way for several minutes Then Buffy, who after the combination of shock and of eating virtually nothing in the past week or so hit her, felt her knees buckle. As she fell she felt strong arms catch her and lift her into his arms and carry her inside just as she lost consciousness.
When Buffy awoke she could smell bacon, eggs and coffee. She struggled to sit up and looked around. The blinds were closed but she could see a small amount of sun coming out the sides. She saw her Angel, he was there in the flesh and she just stared at him as he talked on the phone.
"Yes Willow I found her.... She's very weak. I don't think she ate much recently.... .No she's asleep she can't talk to you,"Angel turned round to look at her and saw her awake. "Willow she's just woken up you can speak to her." He handed Buffy the phone and she took it unsurely.
"Willow?"
"Buffy, you're OK. We were so worried about you."
"Will I just want to know, have I finally lost it or is Angel really here?"
"He's there Buffy. We brought him back from hell and guess what when we cursed him before we made it so that he would never lose his soul again."
Buffy looked at Angel and smiled a smile that carried more joy than Angel had ever seen in any of his 242 years.
Willow continued, "Buffy everyone wants to speak to you, here's Giles" "Buffy are you alright?"the voice of Buffy's kind hearted British Watcher filled her ears.
"I'm fine Giles. I missed you." Buffy continued her mind only half on the conversation and spoke to all of her friends who were delighted to hear her but still worried about her. Buffy told them that she would come back really soon. She then hung up and turned to Angel. "Angel" she started, "You'll never know how sorry I am that I caused you so much pain but I only hope that you can forgive some day." Angel's head whipped up in surprise and he said, "Me, forgive you? Why would I do that?" he looked at her heartbroken face and continued.
"There's nothing to forgive you for. I only hope you can forgive me for what I did to you and your friends."
"But Angel it wasn't you. I could never blame you for what Angelus did." she cried. Angel looked on in wonder at the pure love and unconditional forgiveness in her eyes. He knew that he never wanted to be apart from her not even for a second. He moved toward the bed where she was still lying and sat on the edge. She sat up and he held her in his arms as she cried over all the things that had happened in the past few months.
Later that evening after Angel had made sure Buffy was OK to travel he hired a car to drive her home. Buffy found this surprising so she said, "Why did you hire a car? There are buses regularly."
"You're my girlfriend and I love you, you deserve to travel in style." She hugged him gratefully and he opened the door for her and helped her in.
They talked for hours whilst they drove and when they got to Sunnydale they headed for the High School. Angel lifted Buffy out of the car as she was still weak. He carried her light form to the library and when they got to the doors they looked through the windows. They saw their friends and Joyce who all seemed decidedly happier than before. Angel moved forward to open the doors but Buffy said, "Stop. I want to walk in and face them myself." he gently lowered her feet to the floor and opened the door. As Buffy walked in everyone looked up and all her friends rushed to her. They all hugged her and asked questions non-stop, finally she laughingly said, "Guys hold off you're smothering me." She looked around at her friends smiling faces then she looked at her mother who was still sitting down and she walked over to her. Joyce stood up and said, "Buffy I'm sorry, I didn't know. Can you ever forgive me? I'll understand if you can't. But I love you." Buffy looked at her mother and smiled tearfully and hugged her. Everyone looked on smiling.
The following night Angel and Buffy made their way to the Bronze and found Oz and Willow sitting smiling into each others eyes and Cordelia and Xander were dancing to a slow song. Buffy smiled at her friends happiness. She looked up into Angel's eyes, he was holding her around the waist as though to make sure she wouldn't leave him again. They smiled at each other. Angel had spent the previous night at Buffy's house just talking to Buffy. Her mother had been slightly shocked at the huge age difference but then she realised her daughter was really in love and was a lot more mature than she had believed. Snyder after a long meeting with Joyce and Giles had reluctantly agreed to let Buffy come back to school. Everything was working out perfectly. Buffy and Angel had decided to move in together but they were going to wait a while so Joyce could spend some time with her daughter. All three couples were happy but Buffy was worried about her mother if she moved out. That was until she saw Joyce come in to the Bronze on Giles's arm smiling and laughing and calling him Rupert. Buffy could see that these two important people in her life had found each other and she could not be happier. That was until Angel reached down and lifted her hand up and kissed the claddagh ring she was wearing.
They all lived happily ever after. Angel helped Buffy with her slaying each night and they got married four years later. Buffy soon gained a new step-father in the shape of her Watcher, Rupert Giles. When Buffy was twenty four she sat Angel down and said, "You know you said that vampires couldn't have little vampires. Well you must have been wrong as that's what we're going to have soon."Angel looked at her in shock. He knew she would never cheat on him so he knew it was his. They decided that this was only possible because Buffy was human and Angel was half-human/ half-vampire. They had a little girl who had dark hair and because she was only half vampire could go outside in the sun but she didn't like crosses or holy water. Angel was a wonderful doting father to his daughter who was the apple of his eye. She reminded him of Buffy and was called Jenny after Ms. Jenny Calendar who had suffered so much for them. They lived long and happy lives, Angel had stopped worrying about Buffy dying as he had decided that when she did he would stake himself rather than live. These two lovers had been through so much together and had endured so much pain that their happiness came back three fold as they deserved it so much.
THE END
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
