Epilogue

After several non-successful attempts at finding Angel or Faith, Buffy was exhausted once again. It was three in the morning, and Buffy hadn't slept in over thirty-six hours. She decided she would go home . . . but not before she checked the mansion one more time.

She almost couldn't believe her eyes. Bruised, broken, and bloody, Angel was sprawled out across the couch in a heap. << Angel? >>

"Angel?" she whispered.

He stirred but didn't open his eyes. Buffy walked over to the sofa and sunk to her knees. The marks of torture Trick had inflicted upon him were quite evident. Buffy traced a long red mark on his chest. She noticed that not only was Angel shades darker that usual, but his skin was red and peeling like he had a severe sunburn. . . . << Sunburn? >>

Buffy didn't notice that Angel had opened his eyes at her nearness and was watching her.

"What did she do to you?" Buffy whispered.

"I think she removed the clause," Angel answered softly.

"Angel!" Buffy said as she leapt to her feet.

She brushed her hands across the healing wounds, and Angel hissed in pain.

"Oh, God, Angel, I thought you were dead!"

Angel watched her nervously walk around the room in no particular pattern. It was unnerving to see the Super Slayer so nervous.

"Why did you think I was dead?" Angel asked gently.

"'Cause Xander . . . he said Faith asked him to help her kill you. He saw you and Faith kiss a couple of days ago!" Buffy said.

Angel would have looked disgusted, but he had the grace to look shocked.

"Kiss Faith?" Angel asked.

Buffy nodded numbly. Angel got off the sofa, much to the dismay of his muscles, and walked over to Buffy. He was hesitant for barely a second before he wrapped his arms around her tiny frame and sighed.

"I did *not* kiss Faith," Angel breathed into her hair. "I don't love Faith."

Buffy turned to him with vulnerability in her eyes.

"You love me?" Buffy asked.

Angel nodded and kissed her forehead.

"Angel--" she said softly. Then, she gained her senses. "We-- we can't, Angel. . . ."

Some of what Joyce had said finally sunk through his thick, preternatural skull. He wasn't about to just *let* Buffy go, not yet.

"Yes, we can," Angel said slowly. "I-- I was going to leave. I couldn't stay here and not be with you," Angel confessed. He felt Buffy tense immediately and start to pull away. He only held onto her tighter, though he knew if she really wanted to pull away, he wouldn't be able to stop her. "You trust your mother?"

Buffy nodded. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"She said she got rid of the clause," Angel said. "She said I could have my contentment."

Buffy relaxed and looked into the fire that always seemed to be going. Angel looked over her shoulder as he entwined his arms around her waist.

"Stay with me?" Buffy asked before she could stop herself.

"Forever," Angel breathed into her hair. "That's the whole point. I'll never leave."

<< My dream! >> Buffy's mind screamed. << That's what he said. >> She waited for the inevitable harsh words she was sure would come. << Not even if you kill me. . . . >> They didn't. She relaxed against him completely, watching the fire.

Angel was amazed. His senses were surrounded by her. It had been so long since he could truly appreciate feeling her completely. He was acutely aware of the worms crawling in the dirt and the moon moving across the sky and the fire's temperature changing slowly and of her deep, even breathing. She was sleeping, standing in his arms.

He wasn't entirely sure what exactly had been going on the past few days, but he had a feeling the other Slayer and Joyce Summers had a lot to do with it. He wasn't quite sure what to do with Buffy. She looked exhausted, her muscles were strained and tired, she had dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was a mess. He was fairly certain she hadn't slept in days.

He wanted to keep her there and watch her sleep. It might not go over with her mother and friends. He owed Joyce quite a bit more than he owed most people. As a matter of fact, he owed quite a few people. Willow for restoring his soul. Jenny for finding the spell. Joyce for removing the clause. Giles for not ramming a stake through his heart as soon as he found out he was alive. Whistler for giving him a second chance. Buffy. Buffy just simply because she was Buffy. For loving him. For letting him love her. . . .

It was about four o'clock when Joyce went in Buffy's room. Purely out of habit. She did not expect to see her daughter laid in her bed, blankets pulled up to her chin, her boots at the edge of the bed on the floor, a glass of warming water on the night-stand, and her vampire boyfriend (she hoped) sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.

<< Always the gentleman, huh, Angel? >> Joyce thought.

Angel opened his eyes ever so slightly, just to see what he reaction was. He had resisted the urge to jump for joy when he realized he could once again hear her heels hit the carpet of the first stair downstairs. It seemed his senses were back.

Joyce smiled just a little before she walked over to the bed and kissed her daughter on the forehead. She knew Angel was very much aware she was in there.

"Angel," Joyce said softly.

Angel opened his eyes all the way.

"I know you probably want to know what has been happening that last couple of days. . . ." Angel nodded. "But, now is not the time for that." Angel nodded again. "Did you tell her what the ring meant?"

Angel shook his head. "We were watching the fire. She fell asleep standing up against me," Angel said with the barest of smiles.

Joyce looked like she wanted to laugh, but held it in for her sleeping daughter. "In a hurry to get a son-in-law?"

"I'm like all mothers, Angel," Joyce said. "They either don't wanna give their babies up or want them married off to someone nice."

"Someone nice?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow.

Joyce nodded.

"Accepting all this pretty well, aren't you?" Angel asked almost suspiciously.

Joyce could barely contain her laughter. "My daughter is a vampire Slayer. I live on a Hellmouth. Buffy's best friend is a witch. Her boyfriend is a werewolf. I was sobering up a drunk vampire a few days ago. My daughter being half-married to a vampire seems fairly normal," Joyce said as she walked away.

<< Angel!!! >> every fiber of Buffy's body heralded.

It came out a soft whisper, "Angel. . . ."

Angel was at her side in a moment. "Hey," he whispered.

"You're still here," Buffy said as if amazement.

Angel nodded. She glanced at the window and noticed the blanket duct-taped to the window frame. Buffy gave Angel a Look. He held his hands up in innocence. "Faith and your mother," Angel said.

"Faith?" Buffy asked as confusion warded off the coldness.

"I'd better go up first," Joyce said to the second Slayer.

Faith nodded in agreement. Joyce had told Giles about what was going on with Angel and Buffy. He didn't really seem all that thrilled that Angel was still alive, but Buffy wasn't going to kill Faith. So, that made it all better. Faith waited outside Buffy's door. Joyce was going to walk right in, but knocked instead.

"Come in," Buffy said with a hint of a giggle.

She found Angel perched in the chair beside Buffy's bed, and Buffy was positioned against a pile of pillows sitting up. Buffy smiled a weak, nervous, and embarrassed smile. Angel grinned.

"Hey," Buffy said.

"Hello, Buffy. If Faith comes in, will you please try not to attack her?" Joyce asked with a little teasing.

Buffy nodded.

"You've been doing all this since when?" Buffy asked, shocked.

"Since I found out Cordelia was in the hospital, B," Faith said. She suddenly got quiet. "I didn't mean to mess it up like that. I didn't know Trick was going to kidnap Angel."

Angel nodded thoughtfully. "I guess it's okay. It all worked out for the best."

Buffy nodded happily, practically bouncing. "Geez, Buff, take a Valium!"

Buffy rolled her eyes before grinning again. Angel just observed this silently for a moment, watching her nearly bounce off walls. << God, and she isn't even out of bed. >> Angel thought.

"And you were in on this too, from the beginning?" Buffy asked her mother pointedly.

"I was," Joyce said, smiling slyly at her daughter. She looked over at Angel.

By the time Joyce and Faith had told the entire story, it was sunset. (Buffy hadn't had any sleep in two days, of course she didn't wake up until very late.) The Scooby gang had begged and pleaded with Misses Summers to let them come over, but Joyce denied their request. Faith was in good with Buffy *and* Angel, so everything was just fine there. Normally, Buffy would have been quite upset with her mother and sister-Slayer, but she had Angel, and Angel had Buffy. ((*Awww, isn't that sweet? . . . And so predictable?*))

Angel waited almost nervously for Buffy to come downstairs, and he was very glad that vampires did not have the circulation to blush, or he would have been a very healthy red color from all the grinning Faith and Joyce were doing at him.

Joyce convinced Angel and Buffy to go out for a walk while the Slayers' Co. came to the house. Rupert Giles (A.K.A. the Watcher) was still very antsy around the vampire whose body had killed Jenny Calendar. And, she certainly wasn't about to let Xander Harris anywhere *near* the immortal vampire.

Buffy arrived at the landing of the stairway dressed impeccably as always. Angel lowered his eyes from his girlfriend, once again grateful for his inability to blush. She was smiling and sparkling brighter than any other time he'd ever seen her. When she got to the floor, Joyce grabbed her shoulder and pushed her and Angel out the door.

"Mom? What *are* you doing?" Buffy asked.

"Out. Both of you. I'd rather this house *not* turn into a war zone. They'll be here soon, and you two should be gone. Out," Buffy said.

Angel looked balefully at Joyce.

"You aren't getting out of it now. Go!"

Angel looked at Faith. She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. The door was quickly shut behind them and Faith could be heard practically cackling in mirth.

"Any ideas what that was about?" Buffy asked, breaking the silence as the headed into the park.

"She wants me to ask . . . or tell . . . you something," Angel said hesitantly.

"Tell me what?" Buffy asked as she gave Angel another Look.

"It's nothing, really. I mean, it's really sort of silly. . . ." Angel said, trailing off.

"I'll be the judge of what's silly. Now, tell me what?" Buffy asked.

Angel muttered something unintelligible and glanced around the park with embarrassment. Even with Slayer super-hearing, she had no idea what Angel said. Angel had faced demons and hellfire, but he was afraid to tell Buffy about the ring. Buffy grabbed him by the arm and turned him to face her.

"Angel, what?" Buffy said with compassion and her trademark Slayer-attitude.

"The Claddagh ring," Angel muttered, dropping his eyes away from her.

He looked over at Buffy and almost felt himself furiously blushing. Buffy looked down at the circle of silver, heart facing toward her, and back at Angel.

"What about it?" Buffy asked.

"It means you belong to me," Angel said. "It-- it means, according to my people anyway, that we're-- uh-- we're married. . . . There! I hope your mother is happy." he said, almost snarling.

"Married?!?! Really?" Buffy asked, shocked.

He nodded at Buffy slowly.

"You're married to me? Does anyone else know?" Buffy asked.

Angel mistook her last statement as embarrassment or worry and turned away from her, his profile to her.

"Only your mother. I don't think she's told Faith or *would* tell anyone else," he said darkly.

Buffy was too far gone to notice his dark mood. "How? I mean . . . well-- how? --And-- and you *want* to be married to me?" Buffy asked, excitement evident in her voice.

"According to my laws, anyway, since vampires can't give holy vows. And-- um-- yeah, I *want* to be married to you," Angel said slowly. "If you do . . . to me."

Buffy jumped up and kissed him on the lips happily. Angel was shocked for half a second before he gave into to her kiss and pulled her up. She stood on her toes and deepened the kiss. He held her tighter, reveling in her happiness.

"Wow," she said as she broke the kiss.

"You're happy?" Angel asked somewhat shyly.

"Of course. Wow! It meant we were married. Wow. I'm married! And, I have been for nearly a year?!? Why didn't you tell me?!?"

"Sorry," Angel said sheepishly. "I was a little predisposed."

Buffy nodded slowly. "I guess you're right."

She grabbed Angel's hand an examined the ring, heart facing in. Angel took her hand in his and looked her in the eyes.

"Do you, Buffy Summers, vampire Slayer, Savior of the world, take me to be your lawfully wedded husband according to my traditions anyway, in sickness and in health, not even parting in death?" Angel asked with a small smile.

"I do," Buffy said, kissing his ring. "And do you, Angel, the only vampire with a soul, who got out of Hell, take me to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, not even parting in death, and promise to love, honor, cherish, and *obey*?" Buffy asked with a smile.

"That's not how it goes," Angel whispered.

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"I do," Angel put in quickly as he kissed her ring.

((*Okay, so it was sappy. Like I said, you don't like it, finish reading this, and write your own fanfic.*))

"It's going to be hard," Angel said after a silent moment. "There's still a lot of stuff to deal with."

Buffy nodded.

"Yeah, Giles can't stand you. Xander can't stand you. I don't know how they're gonna take all this," Buffy said.

"I don't mean just them. I mean, well, you and me too. I did some horrible things to you. Even if you have forgiven me, I can't forget, and I don't think you ever will either."

Buffy held him tighter.

"Yeah, but, at times like these, it hurts a lot less, and it doesn't even seem real. . . . Like it was just a dream," she said.

"I can't even really believe this is real. It's like someone is playing a game with me," Angel said.

Buffy stopped and kissed him passionately, Angel, not even hesitating. When she pulled back, Angel looked at her amusedly through half-lidded eyes.

"It was a game, and my mom and sister Slayer played it. . . . And, it was and is *very* real. . . ." Buffy said.

Angel nodded his approval before he grabbed her waist, picked her up, and brought her lips to his once more.

"So, when Misses Summers got to the mansion, she told me Angel was passed out in her jeep. And, I carried him in," Faith said.

"We cast the spell, and there's not a clause on the curse anymore," Joyce said.

"You shouldn't have attempted such a dangerous spell by yourselves. Willow could barely handle it the first time. And how do you know you, in fact, removed the clause," Giles asked.

Joyce smiled. "How dare you doubt the Slayer's mother? We followed the spell to the letter, and the rose quartz turned a purple color."

"That's why you came in to get that picture translated?" Willow asked. "You didn't have anything to do with them finding the cross in my room, did you?"

"No, no," Joyce said. "It just worked out to my advantage."

"I knew it!" Cordy said, on the far side of the room, away from Xander.

Everyone looked over at Cordelia skeptically.

"When I found out Buffy thought Faith had killed Angel, I knew it. You came by my room earlier and told me to lead Buffy's conversation toward them. When I saw Buffy, I put it all together!"

"Well, I never would have guessed. You two did some awesome planning," Oz said.

"So, Angel can be happy now? Where are he and Buffy?" Willow asked.

"Out walking," Faith said.

"I still don't trust him," Xander said.

"*I* don't care," Joyce said to the boy. "When he dates your daughter, you can rant and rave all you want!"

Xander was quickly silenced by the Slayer's mother's sharp tone. Faith *knew* that Xander Harris was getting his just desserts.

She thought she had never laughed quite so hard. "Man, you guys are the best!" she said.

THE END

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