Riley had comforted her the best he could, considering she didn't want anything that had to do with the male sex. Xander wasn't even an exception with his dislikes towards every other man that was engaged in a relationship with Buffy. It was nearing noon, and no one had heard from Caela or her assilant Willow, who was asked to escort her. Angel and Pike sat together knowing that hey were of no use to anyone at that moment. Reseaerch was done, the only thing they could do was wait for Caela. Of which they were told to do. Everyone tried, but the only other person that was even remotely permitted to enter the room was Riley, and even he couldn't escape without getting his head ripped off.

"Buffy, do you want me to get you something? A glass of water, maybe?" Riley tried his best to talk to the sulking Buffy.

Shaking her head slowly in response, she then released another thought on her mind. "Leave me alone." Her voice was steady and cold as she turned her head to look out of the window of her mom's room. Thinking to himself he took in her demand and did as she wished. After she heard the door close behind him she began to sob to herself.

Loosly fumbling down the stairs, Riley unnoticably caught everyone's attention. "Any luck?" Cordelia was unusually concerned over Buffy's choice of state. Apparently her thoughts towards Buffy had changed since she was last in Sunnydale. Everything seemed more unimportant when it came to other people's interests. She was more open minded when it came to other's feelings.

"Huh?" Looking up from his confusion. "Oh. No. No luck. Maybe you should try." Gesturing over to Cordelia.

"Oh, no." Immediately answering him. "I never want to relive anything like that ever again for the rest of my life. She really knows how to make people feel useless." Cordelia only turned her face away from the suggestion.

Angel stepped forward out of the far right corner, away from the shadows. Making his way through the living room he dodged the small rays of sunlight, and aimed for the stairs. Almost bumping into Riley on his way to the first step he was very accurate in the way that he moved his body. "Where are going?" Angel was disturbed of his destination.

"I going to go and see if I can talk to her." Angel was calm.

"I don't think that thats such a great idea. She doesn't want-"

"I'm the only one who hasn't tried. She's done this before." Angel returned, turning again to go up the stairs.

"How does that make you any different from the rest of us?" Stopping Angel with his continuing of the argument.

"All I'm saying is that I know how to get through to her." Trying not to make either one of them angrier.

"Oh, and I don't?" Shooting back.

"Obviously you don't." Upon looking at his jealous expression, Angel headed up to the weeping slayer.

"Buffy?" Knocking on the door lightly he questioned her name for right of entrance.

Without a response he entered anyway, assuming that she would not answer him in the first place. He closed the door behind him and stared at her for a moment, analyzing her state of emotion. Could it be anger? Sadness? Pain? If it was all of them then Angel was in for a ride of his life. One that he probably had never faced before with her. Then he noticed her tear stained face and rushed over to her without thinking twice. No words came from him as he sat down next to her on the window seat and engolfed her within his arms. She tried to force him off, instead to only force more tears of emotions down her face. "Please tell me. Tell me everything that is on your mind right now. I hate to see you like this. It hurts."

"I can't ." although a whisper he could hear hear clearly.

"It doesn't matter whether it be about Riley or your mom, me, anything. I won't pass judgment. I promise." Angel desperately wanted her to just release everything that was making her feel mentally insane for the past four hours. He waited for her to pour out everything that was bothering her, including the rememberance of their time that they had spent together.

"Riley and I didn't exist when I went to visit you. I just thought that you might want to know that." She lifted her head from his chest, of which she had been crying on for the last ten minutes.

"I know." Buffy looked at him with a questioned look. "I lurk, remember." She rolled her eyes at his obviousness.

"Why did you do it?" Although he knew what she referred to he still didn't want to get lost himself in the conversation.

"Why what?"

"Why did you take ask for them to take it back?" Buffy's eyes refilled with tears, but did not break.

"I told you why." He breathed with frustration. She moved out of his reach and stood up, trying to present herself with more anger than fear.

"And I hate you for that!" Buffy's sudden change of location in the room also came with its change of volume.

"You don't mean that." Angel kept his same tone.

"I do! And when I tell you something that I've remembered over the night, you will hate yourself as well." She looked at him, noticing that he anticipated what she had meant, to explain herself. "When Caela opened my memory, it wasn't to things that just you and I shared, there were things that I remembered from when I was alone, waiting for you to come back from the market. But instead you came back from seeing the oracles!" Her tone never subsidded. "I was pregnant, Angel!" His expression fell and her tears rolled down her face. "I know that it usually takes weeks for women to find out but I knew it, I had a dream that night before, a proficy, Angel. I was carrying your baby!" Stopping there she began to sob vigerously. Her legs could no longer hold her weight, and she colapsed to the ground.

Angel, breathed out sudden shock long enough to notice that she had fallen with her crying. He knelt down beside her and took her once again in his arms and rocked her back and forth. Going though the pain with her.

Caela and Willow stood at the closed door and listened for a second to the crying Buffy and had then decided to enter the room. Slowly they both guided eachother to the two who sat on the ground. They had been sitting there for almost an hour now, it was 1:15 in the afternoon already, and Willow and Caela had finished their erronds. Caela gently pulled Angel away from Buffy and allowed Buffy to be supported by her best friend, Willow. She led him out into the hallway where she closed the door once again.

"Caela, she was-"

"Pregnant. I know." Angel looked upset at her before she began to speak again. "We have something for you. What is your greatest wish?" Angel only looked at her with tiredness.

"Do we have to go down this road again? I already told you, -"

"No, your true wish. How would you like to be human, and still possess the strength of a vampire?"

"What are you talking about? Whats going on?" Riley neared Caela and Angel after overhearing her offer. "What do you mean?" Looking to Caela. "Are you saying that he's not human?" Pointing to Angel.

"Riley-"

"Thats sick!" Riley was enraged with the thought of the reason why his girlfriend kept Angel and hers past from him.

"Riley, stop!" Caela stepped in front on Angel, as if she shielded him of Riley's remarks. "I told you, no conflict!" She wanted to remind him of her advice from last night. "Now, please go down stairs I need to talk to Angel and Buffy alone." Calming her tone. She noticed that he didn't not budge his focus on Angel behind her. "Please!" Standing her ground firmly.

"Fine." Turning around he did as she ordered.

"Now, there is a catch, as you would say." Stepping away from her stand as a shield.

"Which is what?" Angel knew it was too good to be true.

"The ritual is short, only a matter of seconds long, but you must kiss your soul mate. Thats the only way it would work." Noticing that he had already started to get a "no" look on his face, she began to explain.

"I can't she's with Riley, it wouldn't be right. Forget it."

"Angel, your soul mate!" She knew it would take a lot of work to get it through to him.

"It doesn't matter. She has-"

"Angel! Stop it! I have seen your future. Not immortality. And I have seen Buffy's. In both, I have seen you together. This is your chance Angel, you know that she will not choose you as long as you are how you are now." Giving him the hard truth. "This way you are still in the running. You were meant to be together." Angel's expression continued as he opened the door to talk to Buffy.

"Buffy, get up." Grabbing her shoulders to help her up. "Come on." Sitting on the bed. "I need you to listen to me, okay?" He took her head in his hands and forced her to look at him. "Can you do that?" Pushing down all of the tears briefly she nodded her head. "Caela says that her and Willow can make me human." After making sure that she following so far he went on. "You and I need to kiss, Buffy. I need to know how you feel. Its your call." Waiting for her to let it sink in and respond.

"Where is Riley?" Her question was not the response that he was searching for.

"What?"

"I need to talk to Riley." She walked out of the room as if on a mission, and headed down that stairs. "Riley?"

"Buffy?" Surprised to even hear her call for him, he stepped around the corner and found that she had exited the room finally. "What is it?" He put his hands on either sides of her face.

"We need to talk." Buffy took his hands from her face and took them in hers. 'Come on." They walked out to the front porch and sat down on the porch swing.

"Whats going on?" Riley had been waiting all night for her to explain everything to him.

"Angel and I met when I first came to Sunnydale. After a few years we grew closer. We went through a lot together. He saved me more times than I can count. As well as the rest of the gang. When we got too close things changed between us. I had to choose between him and the rest of the world. And when you're taught to fight for the world over everything else, it-" She took a shaky deep breath. Just the thought of reliving the last few months of that particular year. "Well, it wasn't a decision that I would not want to make again, but it was necessary." She watched as he looked at her with sympathy. "The next year, he and I got back together. It was very hard, when your relationship wasn't welcomed by a lot of your friends, especially Xander." Her voice spoke of sarcasm. "Anyway, long story short? He broke it off at prom, and graduation is when he and I fought Faith and the Mayor. He went to LA afterwards and I stayed here, and went to college." Riley, although felt thankful for the final clueing in, but he still had blanks.

"Why weren't you guys allowed to...Be together?" He forced the words out finally.

"We...We weren't exactly...compatible." Trying to force a smile, not wanting to get unwanted sympathy.

"Because he's a vampire." It was more of a conclusion rather than a question. Buffy looked at him with her own question. "I overheard him talking to Caela." Quickly explaining.

"Oh. Alright so at least thats out of the way...I need to talk to you about that." Becoming more serious than before. "There's this ritual that Caela and Willow can perform, to make Angel, human again."

"And?"

"In order for it to work, we have to kiss."

"What?" He stuttered the simple word. "No! No, Buffy, its not happening."

"Its the only way that he can-"

"Why you? Isn't there anyone else?" Standing off of the swing he stood in front of her.

"No. There isn't anyone else. Just me."

"Why? Why does it have to be you, and no one else?"

"Because...Because its complicated." Her voice was the one that stayed calm.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"THEN NO!" They were sure that everyone inside could hear their quarrel. Perhaps even the entire neighborhood.

"But-"

"I'm telling you no." Buffy was taken back with fury.

"You're telling me to not help a friend? How dare you-"

"How dare I? So, you mean to tell me that this guy is just a friend to you and nothing else?" Stepping closer he pressed his body closer to face her straight into her eyes.

"I-" Taking a deep breath she never finished.

"I see."

"You have no reason to fear him like this, there can never be an 'us' with him and I. Its not possible. Its not how-"

"Oh, and all this time, the way I've understood it, is that the only thing keeping you two apart is the fact that he's a vampire. Or am I delirious?" Moving back once again.

"Thats not fair. Please, let me help him. You have no idea how much he has wanted this."

"Really? I don't, huh? I heard you two yelling earlier up there. You two were together when he finally became human again, you were pregnant with his child." Forcing the information into her reality once again.

"Yes, its true. But-"

"Tell me. That if you do this for him and he becomes human again, then I have some competition? Don't I?" His voice finally subsided.

"I...I-"

"Just as I thought. Do what you want. But I am not giving up. At least not without a fight." He stepped off the porch and headed back to his frat house.

Candles were spread about the living room, the furniture had been moved to the side. A separate ring of candles was circled around Angel and Buffy. Both looked very occward being next to each other. Angel in particular looked to be a bit worried that something could go wrong. He had never done anything like this. He didn't know what the consequences would be if something happened while Buffy was in the force field with him. The circle of candles created some sort of power lock from the outside world for soul mates, Caela had explained everything in its own process before they began. Pike, Xander, Giles, Cordelia, Wesley surrounded the two outside of the candles with Caela and Willow at exact opposite sides of one another.

"Wri pis tuk whid, murhx tien du. Tue sacsi tuper, ehul tes tuhief." Caela chanted as Willow jingled and waved sage over a small chaldron filled with a specially mixed wine. Said to be the contradiction of blood. "Wri pis tuk whid, murhx tien du. Tue sacsi tuper, ehul tes tuhief." Caela was almost in a trance.

"Wiphe tue! Wiphe tue!" The words that she now spoke were those of loud demands almost. "Whid, Angel. Whid!" She ordered Angel and Buffy to do their part of the ritual. The final ingredient. Angel looked deep into Buffy's eyes before their lips met. At first, Angel thought that it would only be a kiss that would produce just enough meaning to complete the ceremony. It didn't turn out as planned once the event had actually happened. Their hands caressed each other's faces. Buffy's arms finally wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. After a few seconds Angel ripped away without warning, turning his head. His body twinged from what seemed to be his pain. His body was again being ripped in two parts. He appeared to be okay, but his gasps for breath proved otherwise. But that was what tipped everyone off, Angel didn't need air. So why was he gasping for it now? Their questions were answer with their observations alone.

Caela pulled something off of her neck and threw it into the circle. Her symbolic cross landed near Angel's hand, of which he used to support his body. "Ah." He hissed as he pulled his hand away immediately. Everyone held their breaths afraid that it hadn't worked. Angel uncoiled his hand and reached for the necklace, grasping it entirely into his fist. A smile played at the corner of his mouth as he began to laugh to himself. Caela, stretching from her place outside of the candles and reached her hand out holding a small dagger. Without warning, she quickly sliced it across his right shoulder, and retracted her body once again. No one was ever informed of this part of the ritual. They started to panic a bit. Angel sneered at the cut and shot his head to Caela with a small question of betrayal in his eyes. Then returned his eyes to the cut, where he witnessed the recollection of his own blood and skin as it healed itself before his own eyes.

"Tue unve pi twa tue sent. Tuer hucei." Caela gave her conclusion to Angel. With that said, she turned her head to the windows and stood up. Pulling the curtains aside, at once, everyone heard the rain from outside splash on the pipes of the house. "Kaphwi!" Looking to Angel, she quickly opened the door and walked out of the house, into the moonlit night. Standing around Angel everyone stayed behind, not wanting to get wet, and still confused with what she was saying to Angel.

"What did she say? Angel, what did she say?" Cordelia was impatient.

With a smile still across his face. "She said, I have what I wished for. I'm human."

"Angel, whats up with the rain thing. She'll get sick." Buffy and Cordelia a sentence.

"She told us to, Believe." He himself even looked confused with that statement.

"Angel!" Caela ran back inside and pulled at his arm, looking as if she were five years old. "You must be cleansed. Its for you. The rain. It's your ceremonial gift." Caela smiled up at her success and his happiness to come.

"What?" Angel didn't quite follow. "A gift from who?"

"The Gods. Its to cleanse you of your past life." Looking at him with her own smile on her face. "You have been reborn, Angel." She pulled him outside to discover that the cool drops of water were falling from a clear night's sky. Stars shined down on the two of them as they allowed the water drench their clothing. "Angel take off your top shirt." She demanded, almost as if she would oblige if he wouldn't do so for himself.

"What? Why-"

"Just do it, quick!" She rushed him.

"Okay." Replying after already half stripped. He now wore his pants and his undershirt.

"Caela what-"

"Wait! Can't you feel it? Their power is just rushing through you. All over your body, down to your soul." She stretched out her arms, spreading them out, as if she offered herself to the earth. Everyone watched her, Angel stood a few feet from her as he began to admire the passion that she wanted to share with others. Each rain drop seemed to possess more power than any god, alone. That was the force that gave her will. Taking deep breaths she closed her eyes and tilted her head back and let herself be taken away by the moment.

Buffy and Willow began to smile to themselves at first then to each other as they watched Caela grow with inspiration of the nature's gift. Buffy started to walk off of the porch and off the steps. Holding out her hands as well she offered herself to be washed by the phenomenal droplets, copying the same gestures as Caela. After a few seconds of watching the two girls Angel began to do the same as did everyone else. Even though a little reluctant Pike and the boys did participate.

The rain had stopped after an hour of complete downpour. One morning had arrived there was absolutely no sign whatsoever of rain left. If it wasn't for the wet clothing, they would have thought that it was all in their minds, a hallucination that they had all had do to a side effect of the spell. Angel sat alone on the porch swing. Staring out into the sky beyond. It was almost the break of dawn and he had been sitting there ever since the rain had ended. Hearing the door open, Angel turned his attention, and watched Buffy exit the house. Smiling, she noticed that he had returned his focus on the atmosphere. "What are you doing, out here, all alone?" Angel didn't face her but did pay attention to her question.

"Watching the world. With all of its beauties." Changing to a whisper with the next statement.

"All of them?" Closing the door behind her she slid slowly closer to him.

"Well, most of them." Finally looking to her.

"Can I join you?" Standing at his right, she gestured to the empty space beside him.

"Sure." Sounding a bit confused, he had an "of course" tone in his voice. She took in the permission he had granted her, and sat down Indian style. She wore her black side striped exercised pants with her gray down zipper sweat shirt and sports bra. "Training?" referring to her ensemble.

"No, just a regular work out." She looked out to the crisp morning. "I'm gonna' go for a jog. Why don't you join me?" Still she looked serious, he gave her a questioned expression. "Come on...When was the last time you went for a work out?" Thinking he had last sparred with her. Afraid that he might hurt anyone else.

"Okay, but let me change." She allowed him the time and watched him go back inside.

"So, how's business been doin'?" Buffy easily managed to get out through her patterned breathing.

"Good. How's the slayin'?" Returning the gesture.

"Pretty good." Together they turned a corner.

"What about the Faith and Adam thing?" Recalling her past answer to how she was doing.

"Well, she woke up and all but...She had her fun and I haven't heard from her since. Which if odd you know? It makes me even more edgy than knowing where exactly she was." Slowing down to a walk they walked into the park's entrance and started to stretch once again.

"I know what you mean." Both were involved in their leg stretches.

"And Adam? He has this whole morbid 'how does everything tick' question going on." Switching their stances to change stretches. "How's Cordy workin' out for ya?"

"You know how she used to be able to kill your best day no matter what was good about it?" Watching Buffy agree. "Well, she can still do that, but not as much as she used to." Buffy laughed at that a little.

"Are you ready?" Finishing up, too, Angel gave a nod. They both headed through the paved trail in the park. They had completed the given route twice and had decided that it was enough and started their run back. On their way they came pass the cemetery. Both with a mutual feeling slowed their pace and soon they both stopped as well in front of the gates. Not able to shake it off they approached the brick wall.

After a quick study, Angel first hopped over. "Come on!" Calling to Buffy over the wall. Without being told twice she leaped onto the base and slung one leg over the other, still holding her place with her hands and her elbows locked she hung above him. Stepping to the side of her, he reach out with both hands and guided her down slowly so she didn't catch her skin against the roughness of the cement. "Thanks." Reaching the ground.

"Welcome." Taking his hands from her waist finally.

"So, what did you want to come back here for?" Looking around the all too familiar area.

"I don't really know. A lot of memories I guess." Looking at her, he gave a hint.

"No, I meant, what made you come back to Sunnydale?"

"Oh. Cordelia had vision. Two girls. Slayers. You, and Caela. Of course we didn't know it was her at first, or a slayer for that matter, just you and someone else who knew how to slay vampires. Anyway, one of you were killed. We can't tell who. But we know by what. And I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen." His voice and body language gave a protection vibe all around her. She had missed him in his protective mode. She had missed his scent, the feel of him. She had missed everything.

"Oh." Looking around a little too flattered. "So, when did Cordelia start getting these visions. Last I heard it was other sidekick that got those things. What was his name? He had that Irish accent..."

"Doyle." Filing in the blank that drew in her mind.

"Right, what happened to him?" She didn't expect his answer.

"He was killed. Sacrificed his life for others'." Tuning away from her stare. Afraid that she might see his rush of emotion.

"Oh. Angel I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I'm sorry." Apologizing for two different things at once. But he could define each one.

"Thats okay." Finally returning his attention to her.

"So, what do you want to do on your first day of being a final human being?" Trying to move along, noticing how the last topic was a little touchy.

"Well..."

"What?" Totally interested now that he wanted to keep it from her. "Tell me. What is it?"

"Oh, its nothing." Angel smiled a little to himself, knowing how much it was killing her to not know.

"You have to tell me now." Giving him a little girl look. "Please..."

"Okay,...I want to go to the Zoo." He lower his voice with the mention of his long time dream. He had of course seen animals, but never up close and personal and during the day.

"The Zoo?" Smiling at how juvenilely cute it was. "Okay, then we'll go to the Zoo." Walking back to the wall. "Lets go!" Laughing a little in her chime, she started to lift herself over the top. Being stopped in almost mid leap she canceled her attempt. "What? What is it, Ang-" He caught her lips with his, he didn't want anything to keep him from acting upon something that he had wanted to do ever since he had arrived in Sunnydale. The kiss grew as each of them ached for more of the other. This kiss wasn't like the one the night before, that kiss was expect, this one was in a moment of unexpectantcy. It felt as if a rush had just claimed her body and heart. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he leaned in closer, pushing her back against the wall. She took a deep breath in, catching his scent, as he gently pressed his body against her, sandwiching her body to the wall.

Upon his own will he broke off the kiss slowly. "Thank you." He whispered, near her mouth still.

"For what?" A little too involved with the thought of what they had just done and what she still wanted to continue.

"For giving me this gift. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you." Buffy looked at him and smiled with welcome. Their lips met again.

Next Part

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