Buffy became a very quiet child. It has been two months since Angel's attack. Buffy stopped being happy for that long too. Her work level was still the same, her mom was too busy to notice the change in her daughter and as long as Buffy wasn't getting into trouble or grade being too low, she had no reason to worry. Buffy's regular smile has become rarer and rarer.
She attended to her vampire duties almost routinely now, it stopped being a thrill or nuisance, it was just a job. Her diary entries stopped the night of the attack too. It was almost as if the Buffy Summers who loved Angel, friend of Willow and Xander, loving and caring person died on that night of the attack. Angel may not have taken her life, but her spirit was gone. Everything was just a happening, a routine thing to do.
That thing that meant the most to her was gone, why should she care anymore?
One night, she sat quietly on her bed, praying that Angel would show up on her window sill like before. She rubbed the cross he gave to her almost constantly. It was almost as if it was a magic portal, calling Angel to her like a genie. It didn't happen, of course.
Buffy laid down onto her bed. She couldn't sleep, she thought of Angel. Her memories of him. She couldn't get him out of her head. Slowly, she closed her eyes, only to opened them again... and saw Angel.
Buffy's eyes widened in surprise, then in fear as Angel clamped his hand over her mouth, muffling any screams that might come. A strip of cloth came and was stuffed into her mouth, then her hand and feet were tied together. Angel turned to the window to check the grounds. Buffy managed to knock her phone off the hook and pressed redial before Angel stole her away.
* * *
"Mmmmmm?" Xander mumbled as his phone rang. He woke up at the insistent ringing. Xander switch on the lamp and picked up the phone. "Hello? Hello?" Puzzled as to who it could possibly have been, Xander checked his Caller ID. His eyes widened. "Buffy?" he yelled into the phone. Something was obviously wrong. He couldn't call out because his line was still connected to Buffy's, so Xander sneaked out and decided to call on Willow and Giles.
* * *
"What do you want with me?" Buffy asked Angel. He didn't answer. Angel transported Buffy to some back corner storage place of the Bronze. (what is it? Some sorta vampire magnet?). The storage place was abandoned and empty except for a couple of junky stuff around. Angel let Buffy loose. She knew automatically that there were no escape if she was allowed to be roaming free.
Angel looked confused. He had been for the last couple of days. Being with Darla wasn't fun at all, what it was so long ago was gone and could never be replaced. This Angel's heart belonged to Buffy, nothing could change that. For the last couple of days, Angel felt this need to be with Buffy even though he was told that she was their mortal enemy. He knew of their past, he possessed every single memory of them together, but it held little meaning to him. Those were nothing without the emotions which were a part of them. Angel lacked those emotions. But they somehow affected him in a way TAO and Master Vamp didn't expect. Angel was more conflicted than ever.
His vampire side and his human side were fighting. One part of him wanted to take the slayer's blood and become more powerful, the other wanted to leave, not wanting to hurt the only one he loved.
Buffy could see this struggle and decided to do something about it.
"Angel? Don't you remember me? Buffy. You know, the clutzy one who always needed your help. Remember The Three? You helped me defeat them. You killed Darla for me, to protect me." Buffy prompted.
Flashes. The Three attacking Buffy. He had to help her. He couldn't possibly let her take on them on her own.
Darla. Guns. So many bullets, so few body parts. Bullets can't hurt vampires, can hurt them like hell but... Darla. Buffy. Arrow. Dust. Angel, Darla's last word.
Angel shook his head, trying to clear it. Another memory surfaced.
Window. Buffy sleeping. So beautiful.
"Get out of my head!" Angel yelled.
"I love you Angel."
But he remembered. He remembered his promise.
He would never leave her, he would protect her until the day she dies.
Angel looked at Buffy, vaguely remembering. His vampire side refused to let go.
Those memories mean nothing! They are nothing!
Something flashed in Angel's eyes. Recognition, love.
"Oh Angel." Buffy cried out. She ran to him. This time there were no throwing. Buffy hugged Angel with all her might and he hugged her back just as hard. Buffy buried her face into his leather jacket, sniffing the smell of the leather and Angel's own scent. She pulled back and kissed Angel deeply on the lips. They stood still for what seemed to be eternity.
"I love you." They both said at the same time. But Angel pulled back.
"Aaaa!" he cried out, holding his head. "Get away from me! Now!"
"What is it?" Buffy was concerned. Angel only pushed her away and screamed louder. Buffy couldn't be concerned about her own safety and ran to Angel despite his attempts to drive her away.
Suddenly Angel stood up fully and grabbed Buffy's throat. Angel had on his face a smile, a triumphant and sinister smile. Buffy tried to get away but couldn't.
Angel spoke, "Thought you could get away there didn't you? Well, it's time I took over. That puny weakling could never kill you. I've longed for this moment. To be the first to take a slayer's powers." His voice low and full of menace. Buffy realized that Angel could feel this evil side of his coming on.
Angel set her down but held her fully in his grip. He bent forward towards her neck, and bit in.
"Stop!" Giles' accented voice echoed in the storage place. But it was too late.
Angel dropped the drained Buffy. She collapsed to the floor like a lifeless little doll. Angel licked his lips and turned back to his human form. He bent down and said to Buffy, "Thanks, that was lovely." Angel got up again and was just about to attacked Giles when he was caught in some sort of a seizure. A look of pain flashed across his face. Giles, Xander and Willow watched in fascination. Buffy managed to pry her eyelids open too and watched the transformation.
Angel was held by some sort of light. A blinding flash expelled from the light. When the gang looked back, Angel was lying on the ground and Buffy was standing. Everyone was shocked except for Buffy, who made her way to Angel. She knelt down beside his still body. Her face scrunched to match the pain she felt in her heart. The instant the light was gone, Buffy felt it, a part of her just gone. Disappeared. Tears fell and land on the ground without a sound. Angel's chest was still, no breathing. Buffy didn't need to check his pulse to know that Angel was dead. Dead. Angel was dead.
Buffy ran her finger through Angel's dark hair. She gently traced his features with her fingers, trying to remember every last detail of him. Tears blurred her vision and she wiped them away.
"Please. Don't do this to me." Buffy whispered. No answer. Buffy noticed the cross shaped burn mark on Angel's chest. The very first time she saw it. "Please. Come back. I know you can. Please." Buffy whispered and it slowly went louder and louder. "You can't die dammit! You can't just leave me. I love you!" she cried out. Giles put his arms around the young girl and tried to lead her away.
"NO! I need to stay with him. Just in case."
"Angel is dead Buffy." Buffy took one last look at her love and couldn't help but cry harder. Giles wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her. He couldn't. Buffy cried into his shoulder. The pain did not and she knew, would not ever, go away.
Giles led Buffy out of the storage place, leaving behind the guardian angel that was.
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