"We should tell.. Angel," Willow whispered.  Xander pulled her into his chest and affectionately stroked her hair.

"Yeah.." Xander mumbled.

"That would be the plan of action.." Giles trailed off.

"We should," Anya nodded.  "It's customary to inform previous lovers of the deceased."

"I think it's best to tell him..."

"I don't," Riley said sharply.  Everyone looked up.  "I know I'm not the biggest Angel fan - I really.. despise the guy.  But I know Buffy.  And I know she wouldn't want him there."

"That's just.. wrong," Willow said raising her voice considerably from the bare whisper only minutes previously.  "You didn't hear her.. See her with Angel.. Wrong!"

"Plain wrong!" Xander outburst.  "You know Angel isn't my bestest of buds but they were together for years... they've been through everything they could in a relationship and more!  Not telling him because you think Buffy-slash-you wouldn't want him there flies in the face of everything they feel for each other.  Felt.  I meant felt."

"Look Buffy and I are.. were engaged.  I know her better than anyone -- she told me so.  And I *know* this.  She wouldn't want him in the church pretending he's a normal man grieving with everyone else.  It flies in the face of everything a mourning is supposed to be about.  I don't want the kind that killed her in the church!"

"So I'm off the guest list am I then?" Spike looked up.  "Buffy died protecting us all, God - or whoever, rest her soul.  I fought alongside her for months.  Angel's dedicated his entire existence to fighting with her or for her since he clapped eyes on her.  My Sire's given more for that Slayer than any of us will ever know, that includes Buffy.  We have to tell him.  It's the human thing to do."

"You're not human and neither is he.  I don't want either of you there.  And I get the final say so.  Buffy was going to be my wife - not Angel's.  I get to choose who gets to know and be there - not you!" Riley said infuriated.  "If I find out that any of you took a little trip to the City Of Angel's, picked up a phone or contacted him in *any* way, you'll find yourself sitting on the church steps like Spike.  I'll call Graham at the government quarter and see what he can do about it.  Don't tell Angel.  I don't want him anywhere near here.  Understood?"

Willow walked back to the car.  She couldn't bear to see the coffin being put in the ground.

It's not Buffy.. She's not in that coffin.. It's just a dumb coffin being put in the ground.  What's wrong with you Rosenberg?  It's not Buffy.  It's not.  She's not.. dead...

Riley had chosen the whole ceremony to be in daylight with no shady patches or trees within seeing distance of it.

Xander caught up, his paten shoes squeaking embarrassingly and inappropriately.  "Will," he called after her. The redhead stopped and turned round.

"We should have told him Xander.  He would of wanted to be here," she whimpered, her lip curling and fresh tears forming over her dried ones set in her cheeks.

"I know, I know," he shushed her squeezing her hand.  "Believe it or not, I wanted dead bo--"  He froze with fear and tries to back-pedal.  "Undead boy.. dammit.  Angel," he muttered.  "I wanted Angel to be here too."

"Riley--"

"That bastard!" Xander growled.  "Who the Hell does he think he is?!"

"Xander please..."

"He can't do this!  We loved Buffy way more than him!  Like 30% more!  And he was just bench warming until Angel came back for Buffy.  Well I guess that's never gonna happen," he said biting his words bitterly.

"Oh Xander," she moaned clutching her head into his chest.

"Oh.. Will.. Will.  I'm sorry, *bad* Xander," he apologized at once.

Giles came up behind the pair.  "It was quite beautiful wasn't it," he said trying to start feebly.

"Blindingly sunny.  I wonder if there was an ulterior motive for that?" Xander said sarcastically.

"Xander," she whispered again.

"Sorry Will," he said genuinely annoyed with himself.  "Me asshole."

Willow dried her eyes with a woven handkerchief.  "Giles," she said giving him her best attempt at a sad smile.

"Willow," he said affectionately, brushing a collection of hairs swept across her forehead back.

"Oh God, she's really gone," Willow said breaking down again.  Giles held her, whispering into her ear calming words.  Xander enveloped them both.  After a few minutes of silence and weeping, they all broke apart.

Out of the blue, Xander announced, "I'm going to LA.  Tonight."

"But Riley--" Willow said wide eyed.

"But Riley nothing," Giles finished.  "We've all made the wrong choice by not telling him before the funeral.  We owe it to him; and to Buffy to tell him.  Tonight."

"I'll.. come with you," Willow offered half heartedly.

"No.  It's something I want to do alone."

"OK," Willow nodded meekly.  "I don't think I can last the trip anyhow."

"Same for myself," Giles swallowed.  "Though I-I would come.  If you needed me."  Xander shook his head firmly.

"I don't care what he does.  Lock me up, do illegal tests on me for the Government - watch how I give a crap.  Buffy would never.. she would never," he continued, his voice cracking.  "She wouldn't take orders from anyone," he finished closing his eyes.  Giles nodded.  "I can at least do this for her."

Xander wanted to check what her grave was like before he headed off to LA.  So just after the sunset, he walked briskly through Shadyhill cemetery.  He dug his hands in his pockets and took the familiar turnings from this morning.  He came to the newly made grave with the shiny black polished headstone underneath a huge sagging tree, providing shelter and solace.

He touched it affectionately and closed his eyes, convinced he could hear her.

Thanks Xander

A voice with all the compassion, braveness, loyalty and love in the world.  And then another voice behind him..

"Hey Xander."

Xander's eyes snapped open and he spun round.  Not now.. oh God not here.

"Did I scare you?  Sorry.  I just.. saw you come in here alone and I thought.. I'd see if you wanted backup or..  Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" Xander said guiltily.

"Like.. I don't know," he shrugged.  "It's good I did see you.  How are things?"

"F-fine," he choked out.

"Good."

"Why did you come?"

"I.. needed a book.  And I.. had this feeling.. Like I needed to come back..  So I took the legitimate opportunity.  What is wrong with you Xander, you look like you've seen a ghost."

"Funny thing is Angel, I was coming to see you," Xander said feeling his eyes well up.

Dammit, I'm not gonna cry in front of him.  I'm not.

"Really?  Why?" Angel asked, half amused.  Why would Xander of all people want to come and see him?

"You shouldn't find out here.. not like this," Xander said trying to cover the headstone with his body discreetly.

"Find out what?!" Angel demanded.

"Angel please... let's go back to Giles.."

"No Xander, you'll tell me now."

"Angel.."

"What are you trying to hide?" Angel asked angrily as he hauled Xander out of the way with one fist.  He stared at the moonlit tombstone.

He stayed silent and motionless for a long while.

"What is this... some kind of a.."

"It's real," Xander swallowed again.

Emotional, distraught denial vampire that I've had a little tete a tete with over the years... This could get violent.  Please God no violence.  For Buffy's sake..

"Real?" Angel echoed broken.  He stared at Xander with his large brown eyes wide open and grief flooding in.  Angel fell to the ground suddenly.  He gripped his hands into the earth, trying to steady himself but failed.  He turned to the headstone.

// Then I deny you stars..  //

"N--no," he said barely registering a sound.  He closed his eyes and felt something pulsating through him, filling every square inch.. dragging him down..

"BUFFFFYYYY!" He screamed holding his head.  Xander had never heard a cry so full of shrill anguish and pain.  One filled with such feeling and anger.

He could live a lifetime without ever feeling one rattle through him like that again.

"BUFFY!" Angel yelled again sobbing uncontrollably.  He was shaking and his entire body was rendered immobile by convulsions inside him.  He bent over and clutched his knees.  "Buffy!" He shouted a little quieter, but his anguished cries still echoing through the graveyard.  The tears poured out like the floodgates had been opened.  Angel blinked them away for a second only more to replace them.  He reached out and touched the smooth blurry headstone, letting his fingers graze the marble.  He placed both his hands on the earth, crying down to her.

"Buffy please, Buffy please come back," he pleaded.  He collapsed and lay there, sobbing into the dirt and clutching at the top soil.  He rolled over onto the grass and stared up at the skies, his eyes still aching and his Soul even worse.  His hiccups of sobs echoed in the graveyard.  He seen so many stars twinkle and dance.  He didn't know how long he had lay there, just that it was cold.  And wet.  And Buffy was gone.

Angel tried to compose himself best he could.  He stood up and feebly tried to brush himself down.  He wiped his eyes on the back of his jacket.  He turned away from the shiny black stone and spun round to see Xander.

Now was time for something he knew very well.  Something he needed.

Vengeance.

"Who did this?" His voice just above a growl.  "Don't waste my time Xander and I won't end yours."

"Vampires."

Angel closed his eyes.  "Description?  Name?"  A long pause let the grief wash over them both. "How?"

"The Brethren of Stalos.  A vampire king shipped over from Greece.  Powerful, dawn of time kinda guy," Xander recited from his research when Buffy first discovered the nest.  "They were going to kill Willow.  At the Hellmouth.. the school.. we were all there.  There was a fight.  Buffy saved Willow and got her to safety but they stabbed Buffy.  And they.. killed her.  We just made it out as we blew it up - again.  Buffy died in Giles's arms outside on the lawn."

Angel felt more tears come.  He didn't try to stop them.

"Was she in any pain?" He asked, his throat closing up.

"She w-was bleeding.. a lot.  Something about major internal injuries.  We were all there.  Even Spike.  Except Riley.  He was.. he was at home.  Buffy made him stay."

"Wh-what did she say?  Anything?"

Xander closed his eyes reliving the moment in perfect motion.   He didn't have to though.  He knew the answer to Angel's question.  Buffy's last moments had been about the vampire.

Giles lifted his war torn Slayer from the old Sunnydale High corridor and ran behind Willow, Xander, Anya and Spike for all he was worth.

His face was illuminated red and he ached all over.  He was running so fast and at such an angle he felt he would sprawl flat out on the floor.

But he didn't.  Mind over matter.  He pushed himself further and out of the doors.  They all collapsed on the grass as the building exploding into a menagerie of fire and colour behind them.  Giles stooped over Buffy.  He tried to pick himself up again but Buffy stopped him, pulling him close.

"Buffy.. hospital.. need to get you to a hospital..." He panted.  Her stab wound in her stomach had soaked through his clothes and hers.  the blood matted in her hair and dried crustily on her hands.

"Giles... no..  No," she told him squeezing her eyes shut and gritting her teeth.  "I'm gonna die here.. I feel it Giles."

"No Buffy, don't you ever--" He started to scold her.

"Giles please," she begged.  She clung onto his jacket with her bloodied fingers.  Giles pulled her head to his chest and cradled her like a child.  Everyone crawled over, watching the debris fly from over their heads.

"She needs a doctor," Xander told him.  Giles nodded painfully.  "So?  let's go.."

"No Xander.  I don't.. I don't wanna die in a hospital with some doctors trying to revive me.  You can't stop it," Buffy told him.

"No Buffy.  You're gonna be fine," Xander told her.  "You just need--"

"Don't lie to me Xander.  Let me go," she pleaded her friend.  Xander closed his eyes.

"Buffy.."

She achingly pulled herself up to his forehead and kissed him.

"I love you guys.  I love you all.  I'm so sorry.. this is all my fault.  If you never knew me.."

"We'd be ordinary.. boring people with ordinary boring lives," Xander cut in.

"We're so better for knowing you Buffy.  I love you," Willow choked out.  Willow enveloped her best friend in a tender hug.  Buffy kissed her cheek.  Buffy reached out and took Anya's hand.  Anya, swept up in the emotion, hugged Buffy.

Buffy coughed up some more blood and tried in vain to wipe it away.  She smiled, trying to cover the pain up.  She wasn't fooling anyone.

Spike was at the back staring at the ground.

"Hey, you're my second favourite undead boy," she whispered.  He turned to her, his eyes full of tears.  She nearly choked in surprise.

"You can't go out this way Slayer," he said quietly.  "Not you."

"Oh, come off it, you always wanted to be there when this Chosen One met her end," Buffy tried to tease as windows shattered in the background, flames singeing the air.

He shook his head vehemently.  "Not anymore."

"Take care of everyone Spike.  Please.. You're the only one strong enough.."

"Done Slayer," he swallowed.

"Always said Sunnydale High would be the end of me," she joked weakly.  They heard sirens of fire engines behind them.  Buffy looked up at Giles who was rocking her lovingly in his arms and lap on the cold earth.

"Buffy.. I'm so sorry," he told her.  "If I wasn't your Watcher.."

"You weren't my Watcher Giles," she said fondly.  "Being a Watcher would constitute me listening to you.  You were never my Watcher."

Giles stared down doing his best to swallow.

"You were my father," she said her eyes full of truth.  "You're my dad.  I love you."

"I love you too Buffy," he said placing a kiss on her head.  "Like a daughter.  Like my only child."

She closed her eyes, flickering her eyelids.  Then they snapped open.

"I never forgot..." She realized with dread and horror in her stomach.  She held onto Giles.  "Tell him... Tell him I never forgot.  Tell him I remember the day.. please.. Tell him I love him.. Tell him he's the only person I've ever loved.... Tell him I forgive him... Ask him to forgive me," she spurted out a rash of words with more tears and desperation.  "Tell him I'll always love him... Please... Don't let him forget...  He's my everything.."

"Riley?" Anya asked almost softly.

Buffy's eyes took on a starry, shiny, familar newness.  "Angel.  You will tell him..  Please tell him.."

"We will," Willow promised holding her hand.  She nodded quickly.

"Good, good..  He gave up life for me, y'know..  He's so beautiful, so perfect.. I wish I could.. touch him.. hear him..  Kiss him once more.."

"Buffy," Xander said as he felt his best friend slipping away.

"Tell him..  please tell him," she murmured.  Then a seizure of pain took hold of her body and she let it slam into her like a truck.  It washed over her, pulling her down in the undertow.

"Angel," she whispered, letting life vanish from around her.

// Farewell, God knows when we shall meet again //

She was gone.  The Slayer was dead.

"Buffy," Giles hissed.  "Buffy open your eyes.. Buffy," he say finally before sobbing into her as the firemen went to work putting out the flames nearby.

"--And she was gone," Xander said staring at the stars.  "I was coming to LA, tonight.  Riley wouldn't let us... He organized everything.  He wouldn't let you or Spike come.  He didn't even want you to know.  He threatened to cut us out of the funeral and we couldn't not be there for Buffy. I'm sorry.. I know we made the wrong choice before," Xander rushed out his words like they were on fire.  "Angel believe me, we all feel horrible and I was coming to see --"

"It's OK Xander.  You didn't know what to do.. It's OK.  It can't be changed.  Don't dwell on it."

"Thank you," Xander said quietly.  "Come to Giles's."

"I need to find this Brethren."

"I get it.  You won't sleep until they're dead.  We feel like that.  But we couldn't.  If Buffy died..  She wouldn't want that.  Her death would be in vain..."

"I know."

"Giles'll fill you in.  You need a little R&R."

Reluctantly, Angel nodded.  He couldn't go off half cocked.  He needed revenge, and he needed it the right way.  He needed it the way where the guys were definitely dead.

Xander opened the door to Giles's house and Angel followed him in, shutting it after.  Giles stood up and WIllow turned round.  Everyone was there.  It was an unofficial wake.  Without Riley.

"Angel.. W-w-we never expected you.. so soon.. or a-at all," Giles said taking his glasses off.

"Angel saw me before i made it out of Sunnydale," Xander said taking his jacket off and hanging it up.  "He saw me at the graveyard."

"Oh Angel, you shouldn't have found out like that," Willow said curling her lip and going over to the vampire.  She put her arms around him and Angel gratefully hugged her back, shedding a few tears in her hair.  When they broke apart he wiped his eyes quickly and tried to stop the pain coming.  He couldn't break down.  Not here, now in front of everyone when they were already so upset.

"Tell me the truth," Angel said looking down.  "Was she in pain?"

Giles's face softened as Angel turned his gaze to him.  "Her injuries were no doubt uncomfortable but it was the picture of you in her mind that made her last few moments painless," Giles said telling him the truth.  Angel nodded and then sat down, holding his head in his hands and gripping his hair.

"This is all my fault."

"No you mustn't think that.." Giles said.

"It's my fault," Angel said looking up at them all.  "I left her.  I left her.  The one thing that had made life so good and so difficult after so long and I ran away.  I broke her heart in the sewers for Christs sake.  I broke up with her before Prom, which meant so much to her that I should have been the one to take her there  I should have danced with her all night.  I should have... And that thanksgiving.. I shouldn't have asked to be a vampire again.  I should have had the courage to make a go of it.  You're all human and you manage fine.  Why did I think it was such a struggle?  Huh?  And the goddamn lying Powers.  I gave it back so she could live and where are we now?  It's not fair... It's not goddamn right.  She should be here, telling us all we're pathetic for sitting around mourning.  She should be telling me off for brooding and babbling in front of everyone.  She should be here," he said finishing his rash of words.  "I need her to be here."  He squeezed his eyes tight.

Everyone else stared open mouthed at Angel, even Spike.

"Say what?" His childe asked.

"She should be here," Angel said digging his hands into his eyes.  "Or I should be dead.  I can't... I can't.."

"No no.  He means the part about you being human," Xander said.  "That part."

"Thanksgiving 99 I turned mortal the day Buffy visited.  We were together but her life was in-- in danger," he continued his voice breaking.  "I asked them to turn me back.  The turned back the day and Buffy never remembered."

"She did Angel," Willow nodded coming to sit on the arm of his chair.  "When she died.. It all fits.  She said," Willow started quickly brushing away her tears.  "I never forgot...  Tell him... Tell him I never forgot.  Tell him I remember the day.. please," Willow recited.  "I know every word."

"Unless you turned mortal any other days, she means that day, you great Poof," Spike said nodding.  "Can't bloody believe it."

"Can't we go to the whoevers and ask them to turn back the week?" Xander asked.

Angel shook his head.  "We can't.  The Oracles are dead and I don't know any other way."

"There has to be.." Xander exclaimed.

"I just want her back," Angel said breaking down into tears curling his knees up to him on the chair.  He let out sobs and covered his head.

"Angel," Willow said hugging him.

"What's going on here?"

Everyone turned to look at the door but Angel who was still crying.

"What's he doing here?" Riley asked angrily.  He stomped over and looked murderously at the weeping vampire.

"Grieving," Xander said in a low voice, drawing his eyes off Riley.

"I told you not to tell him, which one of you told him?!" Riley said looking at all of them. "You'll--"

"What?  We'll what?" Xander asked standing up and coming jaw to jaw with Riley.  "OK listen.  Buffy was my best friend.  And you're acting psycho.  We gave you a break because grief.  But what you're doing and how you're acting is wrong.  You can't dictate us Riley.  Just because you could never control Buffy when she was alive doesn't mean you can go all fascist and control her when she's dead."

Riley hit Xander across the jaw.  Giles stood up and put on his glasses.

"Riley get out.  You don't belong here.  Everyone in this room loved Buffy.  I imagine Spike loved and respected Buffy more in his finger than you in your entire being by the way you're acting.  You have no idea the hurt and horror you're causing because you don't like that Buffy loved someone else more than you. This is when we've come together to talk about Buffy and support each other.  I don't want any upset but if you don't leave now then God help me, I'll come over there and beat you down."

Riley set his jaw and then looked at everyone and then stalked out the house, rattling the door by slamming it so hard.  Giles flinched and then sat back down.  Xander touched his jaw tenderly and Anya stood up, inspecting it.  He sighed and he sat down, pulling Anya over him.

"Remember when Amy turned Buffy into a rat?" Xander asked quietly trying to break the awkwardness.  Everyone smiles fondly.  "That was right after she begged me to undress her.."

"Xander," Willow warned.

"I don't," Angel said softly.  "Was that after... she was seventeen?" He asked brokenly, feeling more hurt and regret sweep over him.

Willow put a hand on his arm and he nodded sighing.

"I remember when she used to stay at the mansion and she'd fall asleep in my arms, as I read poetry to her.   She had this smile on her face like she couldn't be more contented or happy."

Anya hugged Xander and Willow bit her lip as they remembered how Buffy was with Angel.

"And I remember on Our Day when she told me she felt like she'd always wanted to.  Like a normal girl, falling asleep in the arms of her normal boyfriend," Angel said a lump rising in his throat.

"I remember when Will messed up that spell and well Buffy and I ended up getting engaged," Spike smiled to himself.  "Uh, I mean, that was horrible."

"I remember when she came back that summer.  The Bitchy Crazy Cordelia time.  And she did that dance with you Xander," Willow pointed out.  "She wasn't just acting like a B-I-T-C-H that night.  More a W-H-O-R-E," Willow giggled.

"I'm still tingly," Xander joked, grinning.  Anya smirked at him deviously.

"I was so jealous.  Oh God, Cor," Angel realized.  "Cordelia doesn't know."

"I'll call her," Willow said.

"..Oh.. OK.  See you soon.  Take care.  Bye," Cordelia said hanging up the phone.

"What was that?" Wesley asked through the back.  Cordelia held her head and closed her eyes.

"Willow."

"What did Willow want?"

"Buffy.. Buffy died," Cordelia said shutting her eyes.

"She.." Wesley said coming through.

"Yeah."

"Angel?"

"He didn't find out the best way.  Riley, Buffy's.. y'know.. wanted to hide it.  Angel saw the gravestone.."

"Oh God," Wesley said going pale.  he sat down.  "We must go to Sunnydale immediately."

"Yeah i'd say so."

"She's coming," Willow nodded putting down the phone.

"How did she sound?" Angel asked.

"Shocked.  Quiet.  She'll be here."

Angel nodded and put his hands over his eyes again.  "How was the service?"

"Blindingly sunny," Spike growled.  "My invitation got lost in the post."

"It was nice," Willow nodded.  "A little impersonal, but it was nice."

"Who chose the verse on her headstone?" Angel asked softly.

"Buffy told me once who she loved that verse and she could feel the pain of the person who wrote it," Giles said after clearing his throat.  "I had almost forgotten about it when I came across it underlined in a uh, poetry book you had given her.  I understand why she loved it so much.  I suggested it to Riley but he doesn't know the true origin."

Angel nodded again for what felt like the hundredth time tonight.  Always nodding, always agreeing, afraid to let emotion out.

"She told me she could imagine the angels sitting on the clouds crying or smiling.  She promised that we'd have our own cloud together and get to spend forever with each other," Angel said quietly and painfully.

"It's a beautiful thought," Willow said smiling sadly.

Anya and Tara were sitting feeling quite out of place but there to help their partners grieve all the same.

"I need to go for a walk," Angel said quietly.

"Want company?" Willow offered.

"Thanks but I'd rather.."

"Brood alone."

"Thanks."

Angel felt he had walked for a few generations, few miles, few towns.  No distances made sense and if they did, it couldn't be measured.  His head spun.  Angel felt like he was leaning to the left, the right.  The road shifted anxiously into different shapes and gradients.  Angel felt the ground tip as the looming pavement hit his forehead and everything went black.

"I didn't figure you for one being here."

"I got lost," Angel explained.

"There's a whole lot of lost around here Angel."

"Did you go all Cryptic Guy recently?" He questioned, creasing his brow.

"I'll leave that to the professionals.  You - look - so.. Y'know?"

"I'm not sure I do."

"Well, you look as if you feel like crap but you're still the sexiest thing walking in any world," she laughed placing a cherry in her mouth.  Angel looked around at his surroundings.  A white bedroom.  White silken bed sheets, white curtains, white painted walls and a beautiful, soft carpet beneath him.  His toes.  He didn't have on any shoes and neither did Buffy.

"I feel.." He started squeezing his eyes shut and clearing his throat.

"The way I did.  A couple of years ago," Buffy noted.

"When?"

"You know when Angel."

"I do," he nodded.

"I'm really OK Angel.  Y'know, I've got the four star accommodation, the cherry's you know I love.  Only thing I don't have.. Is you."

"Buffy I'll..."

"No," the Slayer stopped him with a raised hand.  "No.  Promise me you'll never ever think about leaving.  Leaving the world, I mean.  Don't."

"Buffy.." He said softly, pleading with her.

"No Angel.  You're not going to die.  You're not going to kill yourself.  You're not going to become detachment guy.  Let Cordy and Wesley and that other handsome associate in.  You've got such a beautiful heart.  Share it with them."

Angel smiled, letting a tear race down his cheek.

"Oh God.. I die and I become William frigging Shakespeare.  Or Byron or somebody.  Shakespeare, he was even before your time," she grinned eating another cherry.  "This was supposed to happen.  Hey, I'm over it."

"Buffy, how am I supposed to live without you?  Physically?  How am I supposed to wake up each morning into a world where you aren't?"

"Honestly?  I don't know.  And I guess I'm fortunate that I don't have to face that every day for the rest of my life.  But Angel, you are so strong.  You're my strength.  Be your own.  You can do this.  People need you so much."

"I was gonna become human, Buffy."

Buffy blinked.  "They never told me that."

"In a few years, decades, Hell knows, I Shanshu."

"Oh crap," Buffy hissed throwing a cherry back into the bowl.  "I mean great news Angel, but crap.  I mean, God, they must have little board meetings - how can we dangle that golden carrot in front of the Slayer and the Souled vampire today guys?  Let's take a pool.."

"Buffy.."

"I mean, I agreed to come to you to help you.  To do what's best for you.  Help you let go.  Let you know I was in a better place," Buffy paced before Angel who stood inanimate.  "But it bites.  What did I do that was so wrong to do this to me?  Huh?" She screamed at the ceiling.

"Buffy calm down," he soothed.

"Too freaky huh?  You're pacifying a hysterical ghost.  This sucks beyond a scale of sucking!"

Angel stopped and it hit him.  He was told Buffy was dead - or rather he wasn't and saw the gravestone.  And here he was - talking to her, trying to soothe her.  He sighed.

Buffy turned to him, her hair flicking round her shoulders at break neck speed.  She walked towards him and put a hand on his face.  Gently and hesitantly, she kissed him, slowly, lingeringly, longingly.

She wound her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear - "Angel, I'll see you on the day you become human.  Look for me.  I'll be there.  You know what else the Powers let me in on?  We weren't fated.  We made it fate.  We weren't supposed to happen.  We were meant to help each other to our Destinys but not fall in love.  I made you my Soulmate.  Vampire and a Slayer in love; it's hardly something they plan.  Believe it or not, they're not that twisted."

//  Prodigious birth of love it is to me
     That I must love a loathed enemy //

"Buffy.."

"You have to go back now," she breathed warmly on his neck.

"I can't."

Buffy drew back to look at his pained, desperate expression.  "You have to."  Then she kissed his forehead lightly, as everything disintegrated into black.

// ..I will lie with thee tonight //

Angel snapped his eyelids open and found himself on Giles's couch.

"He's coming to," Xander noticed and Cordelia pushed him out of the way to get to Angel's side.

"Angel, Angel are you OK?"

"Cordelia?" Angel asked squeezing his eyes shut.

"Duh Pass Out Boy," she droned.  "I got here just as Xander found you fifteen minutes ago like some homeless guy passed out on the street."

"Where is she?" Angel said sitting up quickly. He looked around the house, in the kitchen and ran up the stairs.

"Who, Angel?"

"Buffy!  Buffy, where are you?" He called into Giles's bedroom.  He walked quickly down the stairs again and then checked the bathroom.  The scoobies exchanged worried looks.

"Angel.. Angel.. You had a dream.." Cordelia said to him as he looked out the windows and checked behind the chairs.

"No.. No.. She... I.. I saw her.  She told me.." Angel stuttered, closing his eyes.

//.. I will lie with thee tonight //

"I have to go," Angel told them, making for the door.

"Where?" Cordelia asked, running in front of him , blocking the door.  Angel took both of her small hands and kissed her gently on her warm lips.

"I love you Cordelia.  Goodbye."

Angel opened the door against Cordelia's best efforts to keep it shut.  He put an arm around her waist and removed her from in front of the door.  Angel shut the door behind him to the shell-shocked Gang.

"That sounded like..." Willow murmured.

"Dying talk," Xander finished.  "Dead Boy's.. gonna dust himself?"

"No!" Cordelia yelled suddenly  She ran out the door just in time to see Angel's car leave at high speed.  She ran back in.

"Giles, car keys please," she asked desperately.

"Cordelia.."

"CAR KEYS!" She roared.  "Or we'll lose another person we love."

Giles fished in his pocket and threw them to Cordelia who caught them swiftly.

"I'm coming," Xander announced.

"Me too!" Willow yelled grabbing her coat and chasing Cordelia out.

"What are you doing here?"

He turned and glared hard at the oncoming dark haired man he truly considered to be his enemy.

"Buffy," he replied above whisper, letting his eyes drop down.  "Get away from her before I kill you."

"You don't have anything to do with her anymore.  She was mine!  She loved me!" Riley roared back at him.  "You don't have any right to grieve for her or stand by her grave.. like..like you loved her.  Your kind killed her."

// Can vengeance be pursued further than death?
    Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee.
    Obey and go with me, for thou must die //

"Riley don't make me.." Angel whimpered brokenly.

"Don't make you what?" Riley growled.  "Kill me?  You don't do that anymore remember?"

//  Put not another sin upon my head
     by urging me to fury  //

"Don't I?" Angel said, swiftly wrapped his hand around Riley's strong neck.  "I would Riley.  You especially.. I would.. So leave."

//  A madman's mercy bid thee runaway //

"I'm not going anywhere.  Not until you're gone.  I don't want things like you around my wife.. my fiancee's grave.  You'll be dust before the sun rises.  Of after, I'm not particularly fussy."

"Riley.. Leave," Angel warned feeling the rage overcome him.  He held the humans neck tighter, digging his nails under the warm skin.

//  Away to Heaven, respective lenity
     And fire and fury, be my conduct now  //

"No," Riley hissed defiantly.

//  Wilt thou provoke me?  Then have at thee boy //

Riley threw out his hand which held a revolver in her and connected with the vampires temple.  Angel's grip loosened and the vampire stumbled back.  Angel ran for Riley, crushing the humans gun hand and the .45 dropped to the floor.  Angel growled in feral face and tossed Riley over his shoulder like a flour bag.  Riley looked up from his position on the ground and saw Angel was bringing down a fist on his stomach.  Riley rolled out of the way just in time.  The human grabbed Angel's shoulders but Angel head butted him.  Riley fell back with a broken nose.  He collapsed onto the earth and felt his lost gun with one hand and picked it up.  The ex-commando stood up.

"I hate you," Riley yelled pointing the gun at Angel's chest.  Angel stood up straighter and nodded.

"I know what that feels like," Angel hissed, clenching both fists.  "You know that won't kill me."

"I'm well aware of that," Riley shrugged, gripping it tighter.

"So go on then," Angel shouted at him pulling a stake from his waist band and throwing it at Riley who caught it with one hand.  "Not enough?  Here's another." Angel threw out another stake from his boot.  Angel charged at Riley and held him up against a tree.  Riley still had the stake in his hand by his side.

"Go ON THEN!  KILL ME!  DON'T BACK OUT NOW!  KILL ME RILEY!" He screamed.  Riley's face went pale as Angel desperately screamed at him and fell to pieces in front of his eyes.  "STAKE ME RILEY!"

The boy looked at him with a sorrowful expression and Angel gritted his teeth.  He punched the ex-commando hard in the stomach.  "DO IT!"  Riley brought the stake up to pierce Angel's heart but froze.  Angel grabbed Riley's shoulders and spun him round throwing him on the ground.  As Riley looked up from the earth, Angel hit the tree hard.  then he round housed it.  He whaled on the tree like it was Angelus.  Uppercut, roundhouse, hook, right jab, then the left, another roundhouse.

Riley slowly got up from the ground, leaving the stake wedged in the soil and walked over to the Souled vampire.

"Angel.."

Angel continued to hit the tree harder and harder.  Riley put an arm on Angel's shoulder and he spun round to hit the youngster, but froze upon seeing the unknown compassion in his soft eyes.  Riley threw a strong arm around the vampire and brought him close to him, in a platonic embrace.

Angel, shocked at first by his actions, held Riley and they both mourned the loss of their Love of Buffy.  Angel sobbed Buffy's name into Riley's suit jacket and Riley dispensed tears in the vampires leather jacket.

"Angel!  ANGEL!"

Cordelia's voice.  Angel quickly pulled back from Riley and looked around for her.

"I'm gonna go now," Riley whispered.  Angel nodded back and Riley walked off in the opposite direction that Cordelia came running in.

"ANGEL!" She screamed as she caught sight of him by Buffy's grave.  She ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck.  "Oh God you're still alive.. Oh God," she said quickly, in a mantra.  Then she drew back from the tight embrace and slapped him across the jaw.  Angel flexed his jaw muscles, shocked and looked at her.  "You had me so worried!  Boy are you gonna pay.."

"Cordelia," Angel said sadly, smiling.

"She really cares about you Angel," Buffy said drifting behind Cordelia.  She wore a long, light, floaty white dress with a peach band around her stomach.  It was like a dress from the 1910's.  She had two plaits in her hair, fixed at the back and the rest of her hair, flowing freely around her.  She smiled at Angel as she leaned her elbow on Cordelia's shoulder.

"Hello Angel?" Cordelia said, waving a hand as Willow and Xander came up behind.  "He's even paler than usual," she told them.

"Don't you see her?" Angel whispered as Buffy walked from behind Cordelia over to Willow.

"God, I miss you Will," Buffy breathed touching her best friends hand.  Willow shivered and rubbed her neck.

"Who Angel?" Cordelia asked.

"She's there Willow! Can't you see her?  She's right in front of you!" Angel said desperately.

"I can't see anyone Angel," Willow told him.  Buffy moved onto Xander.  She leant up on her tiptoes and kiss his forehead.

"You have no idea how much I love you Xand."

"Xander!  She just.." Angel trailed off.

"Buffy?" Xander guessed.  "You see her?"

"It's a hallucination," Willow reminded him.

"It could be real," Xander said.  "What's she saying?"

"Ooh, you're a medium Angel," Buffy told him with a giggle, coming up to him and walking around.  She slipped both arms around his waist and leant her chin on his shoulder.  Angel leant his head to the side to touch hers and closed his eyes.  Everyone looked at him, confused.

"Angel?" Cordelia asked worriedly.  Angel kept his eyes shut as Buffy turned her head and kissed his cheek.

"She just said that Xander, you have no idea how much she loves you.  Willow, she misses you so much.  And she says that Cordelia, you really care about me."

"Tell them I'm OK Angel," Buffy said between kissing his ear and neck.

"She said to tell you, she's OK," Angel opened his eyes and smiled as he seen Buffy come round to the front of him and place a warm kiss on his lips.  He put his arms around her and deepened the kiss.

The others stared open mouthed as Angel made out with empty air.

"Not even Angel could hallucinate that," Cordelia breathed.

For a moment, a flicker of a white shape as tall as Buffy with her long blonde hair appeared and faded away.  Xander shook his head and Willow blinked several times.  Cordelia gaped.

"Angel, I have to go now," Buffy whispered kissing him sweetly.

"No!" He said loudly and panicked.

"I have to, OK?"

"You can't go!" He said again to his Love.  The others stared in wonder.  Angel looked around, searching for something that wasn't there as Buffy faded before his eyes.  She smiled one last time at him before departing.

"Buffy!" He yelped.  Cordelia came forward to comfort him but he stepped back and pressed his hands against his eyes.  "Buffy.."  He sank against the tree and fell down, sobbing into his hands.  He hid his head in his jacket and muffled his cries for Buffy.  Cordelia, Willow and Xander couldn't do anything but watch.

Angel took his hands away and the first thing he saw was the carved stake sticking up out the ground.  He dried one eye on the back of his sleeve and reached out to tale the stake before Cordelia ran forward.  He beat her to it and stood up again.

"Please Angel, don't," Cordelia pleaded.  "Please."

As if in a trance, his mind set on what he was about to do and his heart even surer.  He could only hope his Soul would be where Buffy is.  He walked over to Buffy's headstone and rested one hand on it.  Firstly he reached inside his shirt and pulled out a chain to which Buffy's silver claddagh ring was attached.  He found it in the mansion and felt there was never a fair time to give her it back; if at all, because he couldn't surrender the whole of himself to her.  He clutched the chain in his hand where his own claddagh ring was.

He stole a look at Willow, Cordelia and Xander huddled together.

"I love you all," Angel said, glancing at each one of them.  "Even you Xander.  You're all so young.  And I've lived so long.  Through so much.  I can't be in a world where Buffy is not.  There's no hope in this world for me.   But there is for you.  So live.  For Buffy.  Please," he begged.

//  So shalt thou show me friendship, take thou that,
     Live and be prosperous, and farewell.. //

Cordelia tried to snatch the stake away from him but he caught her hand and held it up in the air for a few seconds before releasing his grip.

"Cordelia.. Don't.." He told her.  "Let me go too."

// Tempt not a desperate man!  //

He kissed the tip of her nose and gently eased her back, holding the stake firmly.  Angel closed his eyes, holding the stake now with both hands and gripping the chain ever more tightly.  He hovered the stake over his heart and then opened his eyes.

"You don't have to be here to watch," Angel told them gently, tears now freely flowing.  "You can leave."

"No.. I'll be here," Cordelia decided. Death is the Final Act.  Second for Angel.  Whereas the first was the dress rehearsal, this is the real performance.   And he deserves a friend there.  I understand Angel.

Willow and Xander backed her up.  Angel nodded again and positioned the stake ready.

//  ..I still will stay with thee
     And never from this palace of dim night
     Depart again:  Here, here will I remain //

Angel brought it down on his heart and cried out in shock as it went in, breaking bones and finding the heart. He felt his body lose stability and structure all around him as it gave way and he disintegrated to dust and ashes in the evening breeze.

The last word to touch his lips: "Buffy."
 

//  A pair of star cross'd lovers, take their life  //