Part 4

'I *so* do not!'

'Oh yes you do. I heard you the first time you slept in my room, but was too embarrassed to tell you. Admit it: you snore!'

'Again with the denial response…' Angel laughed, pulling open the door to the magic shop. 

'Denial is useless! I heard you, even last night I could hear you above the thunder!' Buffy pulled Angel's jacket collar closer to her, not wanting to take her eyes off his face, loving the way the sun lit up his eyes.

Last night had been the best night of her life.

'So, what do you want me to do about it?' Angel whispered, his voice low.

'The word 'payback' comes to mind…' Buffy said, as she pulled him closer for a kiss.

'Is anyone else with me when I say 'Eugh?'

Buffy and Angel turned to face Glory dressed in a low cut satin dress. Buffy stood in front of Angel in a defiant stance.

'Not bad, little slayer. I've got to give you credit. So, who is lover boy anyway?' Glory threw a quick glance at Angel.

'None of your business. What do you want?' 

'Do you ever get sick of asking me that question when you know the answer? You know what I want, but will you give it to me? No, that's what I thought. So I thought I'd pay a little visit to your friends here. You know, go out, have some fun?'

Glory turned to reveal the gang sitting like statues behind her. Cold mugs of tea sat on the table in front of them.

'But they're not very talkative. I was hoping you might persuade them.' Glory grabbed Buffy's arm and twisted it. Buffy cried out in pain. Angel stepped forward but with one hand Glory sent him flying into the wall. He groaned in pain as he landed. Humanity had its downside.

'Angel don't worry. Glory can't kill Buffy – she's the only one who can get her what she wants. She's not that stupid.' Willow whispered sharply.

'No, but I can hurt her a little bit.' Glory twisted Buffy's arm harder, and Buffy bit her lip.

'That new boyfriend of yours? Feisty. I like. And what happened to the last one? I suppose you ate him up, didn't you? Well, a word of advice. I may not be able to kill you, but I have no scruples about killing your little friends. And if I don't find the key, guess who's next on my list?' Glory smiled suggestively at Angel.

'You know? He's kinda cute. I might have a little fun with him before sucking his brains out. You really would like that wouldn't you?' With a grunt Glory threw Buffy against the wall. She landed on top of Angel.

'Keep that in mind', and with that, she was gone.

The gang got up hurriedly and rushed over to Buffy and Angel, who were helping each other up.

'Are you guys OK?'

'Yeah.'

'What are we going to do?'

'I have an idea' replied Angel. Everyone turned to him.

Where do we go from here?
This isn't where we intended to be.
We had it all, you believed in me,
I believed in you.

Certainty disappears.
What do we do for our dream to survive?
How do we keep our passions alive,
As we used to do?

Deep in my heart I'm concealing
Things that I'm longing to say.
Scared to confess how I'm feeling,
Frightened you'll slip away.

You must love me.
You must love me.

Angel passed the microphone over to Buffy. The host watched the two with appreciation. He noted the way Angel stood protectively over the small girl, as if trying to protect her from some unknown assailant. 

<<The boy's got it bad,>> he thought.

Why are you at my side?

How could I be any use to you now?
Give me a chance, and I'll let you see how
Nothing has changed.

Deep in my heart I'm concealing
Things that I'm longing to say.
Scared to confess what I'm feeling,
Frightened you'll slip away.

You must love me.
You must love me.

The song was over, and they looked at each other with anxiety showing in their eyes. And then he took her hand, and led her to the table at which the host was sitting, watching them. 

'Well well, what a pair of star crossed lovers. I gotta tell you Angel, I never thought you'd be able to sing in tune, but then, I suppose that's what love does to you.'

'What did you see?' 

'You want the truth?'

They both nodded silently.

'Then here it is. It's not pretty Angel. You do know why you're human.'

'I made a wish. The Powers granted it.' Buffy said.

'Wrong. They used it as an excuse.'

Buffy and Angel looked at the host in confusion. He took another swig of the brandy and continued.

'The Powers That Be don't like to do anything without a reason, and they're not big on rewards either. There's no way they would have taken away your powers and given peaches here his humanity just because you made a silly wish. They've gotta have a reason.'

'What do you mean?' Buffy's voice rose.

'Now you see, when the Powers get involved, it's usually something apocalyptic. You two have a part to play – and the stage directions involve Angel being human and you being helpless. I don't know what it is, but one thing's for certain.'

'What?'

'Sacrifice – a gift.'

'Death is my gift.'

'Right. And that means heartache. Lots of it.'

'I wouldn't expect anything else.' Buffy muttered.

'Tut tut young lady. We don't want to see that attitude on the girl on whose shoulders the fate of the world will lie some time soon. Some advice: don't lose focus. Keep sight of your priorities.'

The host got up, and was about to walk away, but turning back to them, he said: 'You do know I mean saving the world, right?'

They both nodded with a hint of irony.

'There's my warriors!' He raised his glass to them, and left.

Part 5

Later, at the magic shop, the gang were busily pondering over books, searching for some prophecy that might indicate either Buffy's or Angel's fate.

'Giles – there's nothing here. Nothing.' Buffy muttered, leaning back into her chair. Angel caught her anxious gaze across the table.

'Don't worry Buffy. We'll find something. We always do. Preventing the apocalypse? Stopping a raging lunatic god on the loose? Piece of cake. I mean, been there, done that, right?'

'It's not whether or not we can stop the apocalypse that's worrying me – it's what I'll have to do to stop it.' Buffy sighed, looking over towards Angel.

'Oh Buffy, I wouldn't worry about that? You know this host guy? He sounds kinda dodgy to me. Never trust a green demon with horns who runs a karaoke bar. That's my motto in life. I mean, how do we know…'

'A fallen Angel will regain his grace with a sacrifice. The thunder will roar and the heavens will part to pour out the wrath of the Gods. His living blood will condemn the antichrist to hell. His death will be the salvation. Of course…Glory.' Giles stopped, standing up and taking off his glasses.

The room was silent. 

Angel was the first to speak.

'I guess that's me.'

Buffy stood up, arms crossed, and shook her head.

'No. No. This isn't happening – this can't be…You've got it wrong Giles. He can't…I mean how…'

'It's translated from French. The prophetic quatrains of Nostradamus.'

'It isn't for certain…that guy got things wrong – didn't he?'

'Buffy, he accurately predicted the two world wars and the rise and fall of Hitler. With the situation with Glory at present, it seems highly likely…'

'So what? Angel's going to die?' Buffy was nearing hysteria.

No one dared to reply to her question. Buffy looked over at Angel, and found his eyes filled with pity.

She shook her head again.

'This isn't happening.'

Winter is cold and bitter.
It's chilled us to the bone.
We haven't seen the sun for weeks
Too long too far from home.

They walked along silently, side by side, through the lit up streets. Past old men sitting forlornly on benches, past younger ones getting drunk on beer, and couples, wrapped contentedly in each other's arms. They felt like outsiders, looking in on a world of bliss, and not being able to partake in it.

Arriving at Angel's old apartment, he pulled open the door. They both stepped inside. 

I feel just like I'm sinking,
and I claw for solid ground.
I'm pulled down by the undertow.
I never thought I could feel so low.
And oh darkness 
I feel like letting go…

Buffy closed her eyes as Angel gently slipped the coat from her shoulders, and then began to unbutton her blouse. She couldn't stop the tears from slipping from under her eyelids, even as he placed gentle kisses on her now bare shoulders and neck.

The shivers coursing down her spine momentarily alleviated the pain, but the tears kept coming. Angel reached up with his hand, and gently wiped them away. He tilted her face up to his, and kissed her tear stained cheeks.

She continued to cry silently as he took off his own jacket and shirt, and proceeded to ease her skirt from her hips. 

If all of the strength and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place,
I know I can love you much better than this.
Full of grace, my love.

When they were both completely undressed, Angel stood up again to look at her. There was a strange expression of peace in his eyes. 

With one hand, he reached down to stroke her chin. She lifted her eyes, and collapsed into him. Her arms found their way around his shoulders, and she pressed herself closer to him as she felt the warmth of his skin and of his touch. Angel simply held her. After a few moments, he picked her up in his arms, and carried her over to the bed.

It's better this way, I said. 
Haven't seen this place before.
Where everything we said and do
Hurts us all the more.

There was something sad, and yet glorious about that night.

After it was over, Buffy refused to sleep. She watched Angel as he slept, marvelling bitterly at the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the slumbering face of the man whose beauty would no longer last forever.

It's just that we stayed too long,
in the same old sickly skin.
I'm pulled down by the undertow.
I never thought I could feel so low. 
And oh darkness 
I feel like letting go…

'I love you,' she whispered, pressing her lips to his.

'I love you,' he replied, opening his eyes to look at her.

They kissed, softly, passionately, and pressed closer to each other. 

'I can't imagine not being able to hold you again.' Buffy said quietly, almost to herself, as she lay her head on Angel's shoulder, her fingers tracing up and down his arm.

Angel answered by winding his arms tighter around her.

If all of the strength and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place,
I know I can love you much better than this.
Full of grace, my love.

Part 6

And it was that scene that was playing in Buffy's mind as she stood before the final battle. 

Dawn was tied up to a post, and Glory's minions circled her slowly, chanting in some unknown language.

The gang were busy fighting demons which Glory had summoned forth to guard the key during the ritual.

They had found out from some books and also from a vision Cordelia had that Angel's blood was what was needed to send Glory to hell, and it had to be 'living blood', which was why he needed to be human. Angel's blood was a key which opened the gateway to hell, and he would follow Glory to hell, but the plan was to kill him before he reached it so that he wouldn't have to suffer a life time of torture, and so that his soul would be free.

The battle was almost over. The time for the ritual had come and Glory sliced open her hand in preparation, and began to walk towards Dawn. At that moment Angel hit her over the head with a large stick, and glanced over at Buffy.

Buffy could only watch helplessly as Angel cut his hand, and pressed it to Glory's already bloody one. Glory winced in surprise.

'What the…' she spat before a portal started to grow behind them, and they both sank to the ground. Buffy ran over to them, and ran a sword through Glory's side so that she would not escape.

'Angel!' she said, kneeling in front of him. He looked at her evenly.

'It is done.' he whispered, his lips curving to form a sad smile.

Buffy threw her arms around him, frantically clutching at his shoulders, tears blinding her vision.

'I love you so much,' she sobbed.

'And I love you. Nothing can change that, not even death.' Angel replied. They kissed desperately, and pulled away from each other with difficulty. 

'Now, do it.' He said with conviction.

Buffy looked into his eyes for the last time, and nodded. Picking up the sword, she drove it through his stomach for the second time.

Angel groaned slightly, and Buffy covered her mouth, trying to stop the tears.

'I love you,' she whispered.

'I love you,' he mouthed back, before slowly sinking to the floor. There was an odd expression of peace on his face. 

Both forms disappeared into the portal, and then it closed.

Buffy stood, staring at where the portal had been for a long time. Then she felt a coaxing pressure on her shoulder, and turned to see Dawn gazing at her with sympathetic eyes.

The two sisters embraced, and for the first time it was Dawn who held Buffy as she sobbed. Heart breaking sobs that reverberated through the cave. Buffy didn't think she could stop.

'He's gone Dawn. He's gone. Angel's gone.' Buffy gasped.

'I know, Buffy. I know. He died saving the world.' Dawn whispered soothingly.

Buffy nodded. The rest of the group approached them.

'And for that, he will never be forgotten.' Wesley affirmed.

'We'll always remember him.' Willow agreed.

'We will,' said Buffy, standing up straight, and wiping away her tears.

'I'll never forget.' she swore, almost to her self.

And this time, she didn't.

Epilogue

It had been 2 months and 12 days since Angel had died.

Buffy walked down the alley, lost in thought. One more vamp gang had met with a very dusty ending. Buffy's job was done for the night.

Buffy had regained her powers after Angel had died. She would have laughed, it was so ironic, but then again, she didn't feel like laughing. She had moved to LA after Giles had discovered that Glory's death had closed the hellmouth for a century. She came to take over Angel's work. The gang had moved here as well.

Buffy had worked hard in the past two months. Everyone had been surprised by lack of grieving. The first thing she did was to destroy Darla and Drusilla, and the Senior Partners at Wolfram and Hart who had plagued Angel for so long. The name of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' struck fear into the hearts of demons and some humans all around the city. In two short months, she had become a legend.

<<Oh damn. It's gonna rain>> she thought, looking up at the murky night sky. <<I'd better get a move on>>. Buffy quickened her step.

I feel it, it's coming

Rain, feel it on my finger tips
Hear it on my window pane
Your love's coming down like
Rain, wash away my sorrow
Take away my pain
Your love's coming down like rain

It was futile. Large, heavy drops of rain had already begun to fall. Buffy sighed resignedly, and ducked under a nearby roof to figure out what to do.

It was really raining very heavily now. Buffy bit her lip in contemplation. 

<<What now?>> she thought. 

<<Touch me>> a voice replied. Buffy frowned. Where was it coming from? Was it inside her own head? Or was she crazy?

<<Yep. You're a basket case>> Buffy almost smiled at the familiar sarcasm in the oh-so-familiar voice.

'If I am it's your fault,' she said out loud.

<<Doesn't matter. I like you that way>> the voice replied.

'What, loopy?'

<<No. *Buffy*>>

Buffy was silent. She wasn't really sure whether he was real, or whether she was just making him up, like she had done every night in her dreams since he died. Somehow, she didn't care.

When your lips are burning mine
And you take the time to tell me how you feel
When you listen to my words
And I know you've heard, I know it's real
Rain is what this thunder brings
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top
Till I feel your rain.

'I miss you,' she whispered.

<<I miss you too…>> answered the voice.

'Where are you?' Buffy asked, a pleading tone in her voice.

<<Here. There. Everywhere>>

'What do you mean?'

<<I'm all around you Buffy. Can't you feel me?>>

At that moment, a drop of rain slid off the edge of the roof and landed on Buffy's cheek. A shiver ran through her, just as if…

When you looked into my eyes
And you said goodbye could you see my tears
When I turned the other way
Did you hear me say
I'd wait for all the dark clouds bursting in a
perfect sky
You promised me when you said goodbye
That you'd return when the storm was done
And now I'll wait for the light, I'll wait for the
sun
Till I feel your rain.

Realisation dawned. She touched the spot where the rain and fallen reverently with one hand.

'I can feel you,' she whispered.

<<Then what are you waiting for?>>

Buffy stepped out into the rain. The drops fell gently against her skin, enclosing her in its embrace like he had done once. 

Slowly, she took off her jacket, and flung it aside. She proceeded to remove all of her clothing until she stood in her underwear in the rain.

<<Oh, come on. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before>>

Buffy laughed, for the first time in 2 months. She reached down and removed her underwear. She was now completely naked. 

Waiting is the hardest thing
It's strange I feel like I've known you before
I tell myself that if I believe in you
And I want to understand you
In the dream of you
More and more
With all my heart and all my soul
When I'm with you
That by sheer force of will
I feel like a magical child
I will raise you from the ground
Everything strange
And without a sound you'll appear
Everything wild
And surrender to me, to love.

Closing her eyes, she tilted her head up to the sky, and let the rain wash over her body, caressing her and submerging her, totally and completely.

In each droplet of water, she felt his touch. It was like fire, searing through her veins. She opened her mouth, and tasted him on her lips. 

Raising her hands, she began to turn in the rain. Slowly at first, and then with growing frenzy. She began to laugh out loud, revelling in the ecstasy of the moment.

'I'm singing in the rain…' Buffy shouted, not in her most melodious tone, and then proceeded to splutter with laughter.

And somewhere in her mind, the voice laughed as well. The two sounds mingled together, and became one.

Rain is what the thunder brings
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top
Till I feel your rain.

'Hey, Wes, look over there! Is it me or is some naked girl dancing in the rain?' 

Wesley took off his glasses, put them back on again, and squinted from underneath the umbrella.

'That's not…'

'Your friend Buffy?'

'Yes. Oh dear God yes! What on earth…'

'I gotta tell you English.' Gunn whistled in appreciation, 'she is *hot*.'

'And naked, and dancing in the rain. And she appears to be talking to herself.'

'I'm pretty much stopped at the *naked* part. Not that I want to move on from that.'

'Gunn stop talking about Buffy like that. Anyway, I really think we should get her out of the rain…'

Wesley was about to walk forward, but was stopped by Gunn's hand on his arm.

'Leave her man. She looks…'

'Crazy?'

'I was going for happy, kinda peaceful.'

Wesley turned back to Buffy, still laughing and dancing naked in the rain. 

'Yes. I suppose she does,' he agreed.

The two men stood watching for a moment longer, before walking away.

And Buffy didn't even notice

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