Part Two
Buffy had frantically raided the mansion for any sign her angel had been there. But found none. Dejected she walked back to the battleground and met with the others whose faces told the same tale as hers. Buffy walked into the arms of Cordelia. Both strong women who had lost. They had lost more already than most people lose in their lives. Buffy wept bitter tears. She and Angel had been through so much but each time she said goodbye to him she had known it was never the last but then was there ever a last, final bittersweet goodbye. Buffy could sense Riley near her ready to accept her into his embrace. Yet she didn’t leave Cordy’s she couldn’t face Riley, not now. Buffy felt the same tug at her heart strings Angel gave her and raised her head slightly just enough to see past Cordelia and the rest of the oddly assembled group. There she saw him. Her angel. He was injured but looked to be okay. He was moving slowly towards the group. Buffy left Cordelia and ran towards him. Tears unstoppable now as she reached him and flung her arms about his injured body.
“What happened to you? I thought you were dead. We all searched for you. I searched this wreckage and found no trace of you. I was so worried.”
“Buffy I was fighting. Then it ended, the fight. Everything disappeared. I saw them all of them. He looked at me and for the first time he didn’t look at me with anger or impatience. He looked at me with love and he looked proud. She wept, she always did over everything. Kathleen she said…she was always the strong one, the reliable one the one who was loved most. She was so special. I loved her the most. She was such a unique spirit. She…she…” Angel couldn’t continue as sobs wracked his body. Buffy held him up against his strong urge to collapse.
“Who? Who looked at you with love, who cried, who is Kathleen?”
“She always was there. I loved her and I killed her. But I tortured her in the worst way. She was so happy to see me. I think she thought she was dreaming. Her angel came back to her. She invited that thing in and I killed them and made her watch. Then I tortured her, told her things that weren’t true. Then I killed her. Buffy I didn’t, it wasn’t me. I love her.”
“Who Angel?”
“I saw them, the battle finished everything disappeared and then they came. She spoke for them. But his eyes backed her up told me that they all felt it.” Angel’s words were falling from his mouth mingled in with strangled sobs of grief and remorse.
“Angel tell me please. You’re scaring me.”
“They said they forgive me. That they love me. They said that it wasn’t me. That I had done enough and they gave me my gift. Buffy I love them all and I killed them. Yet they can come and tell me that they love me and forgive. Kathleen she always forgave me but he never did and now he has. Buffy I make him proud now. I’m the son he wanted. My family Buffy they all appeared and they forgave me. Then they gave me a gift that although important is really nothing compared to their forgiveness.”
“Angel that’s good. They gave an identity again. They gave you your piece of mind and they gave you your redemption. What gift Angel?” Angel took her hand and placed it over his chest. Tears began to fall again as she realised what his gift was.
“I can…I can…tell me I’m not dreaming. Tell me I can really feel your heart beat.”
“It’s real. It’s beating. I’m breathing and hurting.”
“Angel your heart it beats just like a…”
“Human.”
“Angel it… you’re…”
“Human. Buffy I’m human. I’m a real man.”
Although no words could be heard. They saw everything. They saw his broken body resting on her. They saw her tears and then his tears and then hers again. They saw her smile radiating through the smoke and dust and grime. They saw as she helped him over to them.
“He needs a hospital.” Buffy could hardly keep herself standing but she had to make sure Angel, her angel didn’t fall.
“You can’t take him to a hospital they can’t help a…”
“Human, his redemption is done.” Buffy’s body refused to take anymore and she fell to the ground Angel with her and they sat there holding tight and crying. Doyle and Gunn went over to the two and pulled Angel up.
“Come on man. You won’t be human for long if we don’t get you to a hospital.” They started to walk. Xander offered his hand to the physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted Slayer. She slipped her tiny bruised and bloody hand into his and he pulled her up. Leaning on Xander they all followed Gunn, Doyle and Angel.
The drama over, in a way, Giles had returned to the Summers house to rest as had Willow. Xander and Anya had gone home. Spike had gone to his crypt. Fred, Gunn and Doyle had stayed at the hospital for a time but then left returning to the hotel. Cordelia stayed beside Buffy as she slept. Buffy drifted in and out of a fitful sleep. Riley stood watch over the two sleeping women. He half hoped neither would wake until much later, until after Angel and he had had a chance for a little chat. But his luck was not there. The doctor approached as Buffy woke. After conversing for a few minutes the doctor led Buffy to Angel’s room.
The town began rebuilding but it would never be the same again. The Hellmouth was gone but the demons that lived on the earth were still there. Sunnydale was once the home to nearly every creature that lived but now only a few vampires and demons came here. With the Hellmouth closed for good there was nothing drawing them here. Sunnydale became like every other place. A place that held monsters not a place monsters held. Life had a funny way to it. Cordelia, Fred, Gunn and Doyle returned to LA. Angel had to wait a few days more in hospital and the gang had decided to go get his place sorted. Xander and Anya had finally taken their well-deserved honeymoon. Giles had returned to England taking with him, Willow who had decided to do some studying out there to help her heal. Part of her had done it because of a desire to see the world and partly to avoid Tara.
“Angel you awake?” His eyes flickered a while before opening and facing the petite blond. “Hey, home tomorrow.” Angel noticed a trace of sadness behind the joyous words. A glimmer of hope he would stay. Unable to look at her while he said his next words thinking if he did he might give into her eyes. The eyes that tempted him the eyes that told him she still loved him. More than anyone and definitely more than Army boy outside.
“Yes home. I don’t expect to be taking on cases yet though so worry not.” Buffy heard the tone of his voice. The flatness in it and wanted to cry. He was human something she’d dreamed of a thousand or more times and he was still leaving her. He wasn’t proclaiming his love for her and telling her he didn’t care if she had found someone else he wouldn’t rest until she was his. But he didn’t he left his back facing her clearly indicating he didn’t want the conversation to continue.
