Forever
By Meggie
Disclamer- I don't own Buffy or any of the other BtVS characters, Joss does. I do however own the plot line and the vampire "Bob".
< *> Indicates thought (When Angel "thinks" to Xander <"> are used)You'll understand ;)
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Willow cocked her head at the book sitting in her lap. * A spell to give the soul of a recently deceased person one last day on earth to tie up loose ends, how strange. But when you think about, if I were dead, I would want to say goodbye.* She shrugged and began to memorize the spell. Who knew when it would come in handy.
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"BEEP BEEP BEEP" Buffy woke with a start. " BEEP BEEP BEEP" She staggered over to her alarm clock muttering to herself and shut it off. *What a rude way to wake up in the morning * Her mind wandered. * I wonder what new horror Giles has discovered for me to beat the crap out of today?* But with a quick look at her bag 'o Slayer goodies, she decided she didn't really want to know. * For the next five minutes, I'll pretend I'm a normal teenager, worrying about my hair instead of what new demon I'll have to kill* And with that she stepped into the shower.
After her shower, Buffy raced through getting dressed, aware that she had 15 minutes to get to school before she would be late. Not that she cared if she was late, but Giles would.
Buffy slept through most of her classes without getting caught. Finally she was let out her last class, and the next thing she knew she standing in front of the doors to the library. *My second home* she thought affectionately, and walked in. Willow, Xander, Giles, Oz , and Cordealia sat flipping through large books covered in dust. Giles was the first to look up. "Buffy, I..."
"Yep, you've found a new demon yadda yadda yadda." Buffy interupted him before he could finish.
"Well, yes. "
"Aren't you going to start telling me all about it? Come on Giles, that's you favorite part and you know it."
With that Giles' face lit up. " The vampire Bob has been residing in Sunnydale for an extended amount of time. "
"Bob?" Xander choked out, "Bob? Ooo, how scary. Bob's coming to get you...." Cordealia shot him a look.
"Well it's not like he chose that name or anything." Willow blurted out. Everyone looked at Willow. "What?" She was suddenly aware that she had been defending a vampire that was most likely here to kill her best friend. "Opps, I...I just mean.."
"It's okay Willow." Buffy said, clearly wanting to know what Bob had to with anything.
"Anyway, I began to research him as soon as I found out he was here. At first I couldn't find anything on him, but just today I found a most frightening fact."
"And" Buffy blurted, peeved at the suspence her Watcher was putting her through.
"And he sires about 200-500 vampires and then takes on the Slayer and kills her."
" Can you say major wiggins?"
"Bob." Xander snickered.
With a look of resolution, Buffy simply stated "Well, I'll just have to kill him now."
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After Giles had called Angel, and everyone had done a "Round Robin" where everybody called someone else's Mom to tell them that their son or daughter was staying at their house. "Who knows how long this will take" was the reasoning.
At last when Angel arrived, they decided to leave the library and drive out to the docks near the Bronze where "Bob" was staying. When Buffy had burst in she had expected to see dozens of vamps running around everywhere, but there had only been four or five. *This won't take long* Buffy thought happily, *Five to five.* (Giles and Cordealia couldn't be counted on to fight-Cordealia had insisted that she stay in the car for fear of braking a nail and Buffy didn't want Giles fighting. He was still in pain from their last training session two weeks ago.) With the help of Angel, Xander, Willow, and Oz all the vamps were dusted in a half an hour.
But when they were leaving the building, something stepped in front of Buffy's path and she reacted instantly with a stake, thinking it was a surprise attack from hidden vamps.
Buffy nailed the stake right into the heart. She had been right, it had been a vampire. As she looked at the face of the vamp now exploding into dust, she began to scream and try to grasp the now pieces of falling ash. She would forever remember the confused and hurt face of the vamp she just staked-Angel. The others raced around her. "I killed him. I staked Angel." It began to sink in. The realization of killing him hit her like a brick wall. Buffy began to shake and quiver. " I.. oh Willow, how could I?" Willow surrounded her with a blanket of comfort that she pulled tight around as her tears began to fall like the spring rains that soak you to the bone. Then Willow remembered the spell she had just memorized yesterday.
"Come to me spirit, soul of Angel.." Willow began and then stopped. She needed a guy who would let Angel's soul into him for a day. *Xander! Yeh, he'd do it. For Buffy he would*
"Xander come here. I know a spell that will give Angel one more day. But I need you to host his soul in your body." Willow let the words sink in. *Surely he'd do it*Giles heard the crying and came running over, just now noticing the huddled bundle surrounding Buffy.
"What happened?" Giles asked concerned more than he ever had been in his entire life. The dread that rose inside him threatened to overpower him and he thought for a moment he begin to cry just as the others had, not yet even knowing why. But no, he decided, he couldn't, he had to be the strong one, the adult.
"I killed Angel." The weak reply came from Buffy.
"But I know a spell that will give him another day ." Willow tried make herself known.
"Explain." Giles' simple reply had an air of negativity that made Willow jump.
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After Willow had explained how it worked to Giles and begged Xander to let Angel's soul enter him, Xander finally relented and Buffy's heart skipped a beat.
"Would Angel be able to be in the sun? Like no vamp thing?" Buffy questioned.
"As far I know the spell has never been completed on a vampire before, then again Angel is also unique in that respect."
"So, on with it!" Buffy was drunk with happiness.
"The only problem that might occure is if at the end of day, Angel wouldn't want to give up Xander's body. Buffy also you would have to let go-forever." Giles warned her. *Forever is such a long, long time* Buffy thought.
"Giles, don't worry." Buffy persisted. With that Willow began to chant....
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Xander tried not to be scared, but he was. *Why am I doing this? This is nuts* But then he looked at Buffy. She looked so happy, so full of anticapation, like a child on her birthday waiting to open her gifts.
"Xander close your eyes." Willow ordered. With a sigh he closed his eyes. Willow threw Angel's ashes over Xander still chanting. And then Xander felt crowded, crowded in his own body and he knew. He knew Angel was there.
"Xander thank you." Said Angel inside his head. *What on earth?* Xander was confused. *Wonder how I talk to him?*
"I can read your mind. " Came the response from Angel.
*Oh wonderful. And Dead Boy-*
"Yes"
*No funny business and you know what I mean*
"No. 'Course not."
*Good. Oh and when do you take over?*
"You have to listen to Willow and say yes when she asks you if I can have control for a day."
Xander floated back into reality. Willow was asking him if you would let Angel have control. Everyone was looking at him. Buffy gave him a "So come on already" look that was as encouraging as it was anxious.
"I will." Xander tried to make it sound dignified, but it came it out low and funny-sounding. Xander felt Angel take control, he let him, or so he desperately wanted to believe. He wanted to have control of something. For crying-out-loud he didn't even have control of his own body anymore.
"Xander, it's okay. Calm down. You will forever be loved by Buffy after I go for good. She will forever thank you." Angel had tried and now with no answer he gave up. He would enjoy his time with Buffy, not waste it trying to comfort Xander.
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Angel looked over at Buffy. She was crying.
"Willow, that's okay. At least you tried." Buffy managed. Then looked Xander. He was staring at her with a strange fondness. "Xander, I know you like me and all, but give me some time okay? I just staked my boyfriend, and yes if you call him "Dead Boy" anymore, I will have to beat you." Her tone of voice was light, but he knew she meant business.
"Buffy, I..." Angel began, but was stopped by Giles.
"Xander, just stop. She's been through a lot."
Angel frowned. "It's me, Angel."
"Stop it!" Buffy screamed at him, starting to tear again. "This is not a joke this time Xander!" Angel knew he would have to do something drastic to get her attention, but what? Angel ran over and kissed Buffy. She tried to pull away, but he held her close.
"I love you Buffy. I have always loved you and I always will." Angel didn't know what he would do if she didn't believe him.
"Xander" Buffy glared at him," How can you be so uncaring about how I feel towards Angel. I love him! Do you even know what love is?" Angel took that all in and hearing her say that she loved him overwhelmed him. But it also hurt him that he was hurting her by trying to prove who he was. "I'll see you all at school tomorrow." Glaring at Angel she said" And if you don't stop pretending to be Angel then loose my number and I mean it!" With a humph she walked away. And the others followed, leaving Angel to stand there and figure out his next move. He decided to play along until he had a better plan, and began to walk to Xander's house. On the way I'll ask Xander to help me.
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"Xander, are you there?" Angel thought.
*Yeh, what do you want?*
"Will you help me?"
* Why should I Dead Boy? You know you blew it for both of us.*
"Wait, you heard everything?"
*Yep, and saw it all too.*
"If you don't help me, you'll be stuck with me in charge of your body for the rest of your life."
*And why would that be?*
"Because Willow won't preform the spell if she thinks it's just you playing a prank or something on Buffy."
*What do I do?*
"Just help me during the day, okay? Watch out for me. You know that I messed it up for you too. I'll just be fumbling around all day, and if we happen to convince Willow that it's me, not you running the body.."
*My body*
"Yes, your body, and she preforms the spell. Well, how are you going to tell your teachers that another guy, a vampire was running you for a while."
*Alright fine, I'll help out.* Angel walked up the house steps. Now how was he going to get in? He'd never been invited in, and he couldn't wake up Xander's parents and say that he had to be invited in - to his own house? Sure, that'd go over well. *The key is under the mat.* Xander told him. Angel opened the door, and walked right in. Hmm. Good so far, he thought. Now for tomorrow.
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Buffy woke up that morning late. 2 hours late for school. But all she could think about was how she could she just go on with her life, when she had ended Angel's. She was a zombie all day long. Not tired, but just not really there. All she could think of was the look on Angel's face when she had staked him. Finally school was over and she found herself again at the library doors.
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Angel raced to school. He found Giles in the library, and locked the doors behind him. Giles was going to listen to him, even if he had to threaten him to do it. Giles turned and looked at Angel. There was something different about the way he carried himself now. More confident than ever.
"Xander, is there something you need?"
"Sit."
"Why?"
"Just sit and then I won't have to hurt you." The confused watcher sat down, slowly realizing something desperately wrong.
"Now I am going to talk and you are going to listen. Got that?" Giles nodded. Angel began slowly. "The spell worked." Seeing the confused look on Giles' face, he continued. "I am Angel."
"Xander-"
"Angel"
"Angel, fine. Tell me something that only you and Buffy know about and I shall ask her about it. If she confirms that she too knows what you are talking about, I shall believe you. But if not, you will have to leave her alone. Buffy has enough to worry about. Agree?"
"Yes." Then Angel whispered in Giles' ear and Giles' blushed.
"I see, well, um...I...you should better go. She will be here any minute." Angel hurried out of the library. *Angel?*
"Please not now."
*I won't tell what you said, yet.*
"Xander, Buffy will take of you if let one word of this out."
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Buffy walked into the library. Only Giles was there, and he turned and looked at her.
"Buffy, come here."
"What now?"
"Just, just come here."
"Giles have you flipped out? Did Xander say something to you? Tell me." Giles leaned over and whispered into Buffy's ear. She got the deer-in-the-headlights look and then turned bright red.
"Who told you that?" Buffy asked quickly, embarrassed that her Watcher knew.
"Buffy sit down. Remember how we thought that the spell hadn't worked? Well, from your reaction it did. Buffy, only you and Angel knew about this, correct?"
"Yeh, we both swore not to tell anybody, who told you?"
"Angel. Angel's soul is in Xander's body." Giles stated.
"How do you know that?" Buffy asked, confused.
"Xander told me. Or who is supposed to be Xander."
"So all that time, when I told Xander off for kissing me and stuff, it was Angel? Oh God! Where is he?"
"Xander's I think." But Buffy had already taken off towards Xander's house. She knocked on the door and Xander/Angel answered. Buffy looked around.
"Parent's home?"
"No." Angel replied.
"Good. Angel I love you with all my heart!" Angel looked confused. "You are still Angel in there aren't you? 'Cause Giles said you were and I think I've made a huge mistake..."
"Buffy?" Angel gestured with his arms out wide for her to come into his arms. "I wish I could hold you forever."
"Angel, I'm so sorry. I had no idea...."
"Buffy, this ends tonight."
"But, I, we never had our day." "Xander, will you give another day? Please?" Angel pleaded with Xander much as Willow had done the first time he consented, but Willow had been cuter when had pleaded. Angel was a grown man practically on his knees begging for another day.
*Fine, but that's it.* Xander had concented once again. What a dope I am he thought.
"Buffy?" Angel couldn't wait to tell her they had another day.
"Yes." She was still crying, thinking she would have to give him up tonight.
"Xander allowed us another day."
"Xander did? Hey Xander if you can hear me, Thanks! By the way Angel, can he?"
"Yes, he can."
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"Angel?" Buffy asked.
"Yes."
"Can we go to the Bronze tonight, as boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"I'd love that, but I still look like Xander."
"Willow!" Buffy called Willow and asked her to come over with her book of incantations. Willow arrived moments later, book in hand. They sat down in Xander's living room, Angel with a confused look on his face. So many people looked that way these days you'd think it was becoming fashonable or something.
Finally Angel spoke up, "Buffy, what's going on?"
"Willow thinks she has a spell that will make you look like you old self again, and Xander wouldn't have to experience what you do, 'cause I'd like another kiss sometime soon and I'm sure Xander would just love that. Willow had told me about it when she did the spell." She explained.
"I've got it, ready Angel?" Willow said. Angel nodded, Willow chanted. And slowly little balls of light surrounded Angel. "The goddess approves. She says you two are soul mates and your love is true." Now there so much light around Angel that you couldn't see him anymore. And then with a flash of light, the room became dark again. Buffy lit a candle and turned to face Angel. Her heart melted.
"Angel, it's you!" Angel and Buffy embraced each other and kissed. They both thanked Willow and went off to party at the Bronze.
At the end of the night, Buffy didn't want to leave him and he didn't want to leave her. She could feel every moment of time they had together painfully, slowly slip away into the night. Buffy and Angel walked to the mansion. Buffy looked up at Angel and he unlocked the door. He sat in a large overstuffed chair, and she sat down on his lap. Angel cradled her in his arms. He felt tired for the first time in hundreds of years. He looked at the clock. 2:30. Buffy fell asleep snuggled in Angel's arms.
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Buffy woke up first. She opened her eyes and looked around her, then moved closer to Angel. He woke up next, looked down and smiled. The girl of his dreams, right here for him to hold. Buffy looked up at him and they kissed. Buffy decided then and there she was not going to school today. At all.
Buffy and Angel spent the day walking hand in hand, taking dozens of pictures, because for once in his life he was not a vampire and would show up in them. They did things normal couples took for granted. Before Buffy wanted it, it was time. Time for Angel to die forever.
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Angel knew this time would come. They walked back towards the mansion, where Willow said she would wait for them. Buffy began to cry, and Angel found himself also crying. About a block away Angel stopped. He had to tell her something.
"Buffy"
"Yes" Buffy whimpered.
"I Love you with all my heart, mind, and soul. I wish I did not have to leave you, but I do. It's not fair to Xander. Also, don't forget to thank him for me. Because of you I can die knowing that I was loved. You gave me hours of happiness, Buffy. And don't ever think even for one moment that I ever regretted loving you. And being with you. Without you Buffy, my life was not worth living. "
"Angel, I love you too." Buffy felt silly for saying that. He had been so poetic, so full of love and all she could offer him a simple I love you. But when she said that, she knew that that was he needed. It meant so much to him. She meant so much to him. They entered the mansion and Willow was waiting for them. Buffy cried so hard she thought her lungs would burst. Willow began the ritual, with Buffy desperately hugging and kissing and holding him. He couldn't go! Angel held Buffy tightly. How could heaven be heaven without Buffy. Would he go to heaven?
"Buffy get back!" Willow shouted and Buffy backed off and collasped on the floor. The tiny lights encircled Angel as they before, but now he was Xander. Then Angel closed his eyes.... He felt himself being pulled out.
"I love you Buffy!!!" He managed before being drawn out and forced to the light. He struggled and as a ghost his soul reached out to Buffy and whispered into her ear " Top dresser drawer." Before being carried off.
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When Buffy arrived home that night she was tired and sad. A part of her, the Angel part, was missing. Something told her to open her top dresser drawer. In it, she found an envelope with "My beautiful love Buffy" written on it. She opened it. It was from Angel. She held it close as if it was him, then read it:
My Love Buffy,
I knew when I entered Xander's body that after I left, you would be left here. So I wrote you this letter to comfort you. Don't worry, I'm fine. Please remember that I will always love you and watch over you. I'll be your "Vampire Angel Guardian". The Slayer with a vampire angel to watch over her. Please don't cry. I love you with my enitire mind, soul, and heart. I will love you for all eternity,
Angel
*Forever* Buffy thought, *It's such a long, long time*
The end. So what did you think? E-mail me with your comments-