Rating: Pg. 13
Disclaimer: They are owned by the Evil Whedon. *GRR*
Archiving: Permission is granted to archive this story please make sure credit is given.
Feedback: Pretty please?
Dedication: For those who's faith will always remain, through worst of times.
Notes: By the way, Joyce is in Sunnydale
Summary: The end of days is approaching...

Angel Investigations Hotel
-5:56 A.M.-

The early morning dawn lurched over the horizon as an amazing blend of colors painted the sky. * Isn't it funny how things seem prettier when you see them for the last time? * Buffy thought to herself. She had woken early to watch the sun rise, just once more. Then again, maybe she'd see it from heaven, but she doubted it would be as beautiful. A light wind filled the air, she felt the crisp winter wind, but also the warmth in it, knowing that spring was right around the corner.

I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
I don't want to move a thing
It might change my memory

Buffy wondered how her death would effect the others. Would they cry? Would they move on? Would they forget her? Did it really matter?

Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
but I can't hide
I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
until you're resting here with me
I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
until your resting here with me

Heaven showed no mercy as the sun continued to rise, not that she had expected the people above to stop this day from ever happening. Well, maybe she had hoped *a little. * But the thing that scared her most was the fact she didn't fear death. She almost welcomed it, sure she didn't think it would end like this, but who did?

I don't want to call my friends
they might wake me from this dream
and I can't leave this bed
risk forgetting all that's been

She wondered what the path of destiny would give her friends. Will Willow become a powerful witch? Will Xander marry Anya? Will Cordelia become an actress? It hurt. It hurt to know that she would not be around to see these things, and most of all experience them first hand.

Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
but I can't hide
I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
until you're resting here with me

Would Angel find another? A knife pierced her heart at the thought. Would he forget about her and their angst filled past? Maybe it was for the better.

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
until your resting here with me

A tear of crystal fell down her face, she finally understood the fate of a slayer...

Loneliness.

Oh I am what I am...

***

-Part 2/2-
6:45 P. M
The Colors of Dawn
***

"...And a vortex shall form to swallow the earth unless prevented. The blood, body, and soul of the warrior..." Giles recited from the Oracle Chronicles, stumbling over his words as he attempted to keep himself from breaking down.

Others in the room remained solemn, afraid to blink, breath. For they feared that Buffy may vanish into thin air.

Unlike Buffy, who maintained her cool appearance. "So that's it? There's a vortex, I jump in and The world keeps spinning. Sounds Good." Buffy stated, trying to prove to herself more then the others that it was anything but 'Good.'

"Sounds good? Is that what you just said?" Willow sneered as she stood to face Buffy. "Have you no idea that in less then 6 hours I'm going to lose my best friend? Does that bother you? Do you care?" Tears flowed from her small eyes.

Buffy was silent.

Slowly, she stood, turned, and walked out the front door.

***

The sand felt warm beneath her feet, the ocean mist cool against her skin. Buffy watched as the last rays of the sun dipped behind the deep pacific ocean. The Sunset was much like Buffy's life, short. Buffy couldn't escape her destiny, just like the sun couldn't escape night.

She felt his presence before she saw him. Her Angel, her sweet Angel.

He was silent for a long time, not needing to say words, his presence being enough.

The midnight's stars flickered overhead and Buffy craned her head to the sky 'How can something so far away, be so beautiful?'

***

They stood in the awkward silence, until Angel's patience wore.

"There's a difference between acting brave and being brave, you know Buffy." Angel softly implied, stepping closer to her, "You don't have to always be so brave or act like it."

Silence.

Angrily, Angel grabbed Buffy's arm and forced her to face him. To his surprise, her thin cheeks were marked with wet tears.

Swallowing roughly, Buffy pulled her arm out of Angel's grasp. "Do you think I'm not scared? Dammit Angel, I'm scarred out of my mind!" Buffy snapped through gritted teeth. " Do you know what it's like to know that I'm not going to see Cordelia get married, or Giles grow old? I know this is part of a slayer duty, but if you're going to kill me, do it, don't tell me!"

Angel took a moment to gather up his emotions and thoughts...

"How do you think it's going to be on them? On me? I'm going to lose my ONE true love tonight. Buffy after this, there's no going on or back. I'm stuck. I'm truly dead."

Buffy rolled her eyes, as tear continued to cascade down her face. "Oh, right. That is until you fall in love again, then it's like 'Buffy, who's that?' "

Angel chuckled at her jealousness. "Your're right, as soon as you go, I'm going to uncover my secret relationship with Cordelia."

Buffy smiled at his weak attempt of humor, but the smiled faded," There's just nothing to fight for anymore."

Stepping closer, Angel used his thumb to wipe her tears. "There's everything to fight for."

Slowly, she leaned into his chest, inviting in his comfort, "Enlighten me."

Lifting her chin to meet eye contact, Angel meet her lips in a bittersweet kiss.

***

"The fire," Angel whispered, after breaking the kiss," The fire that's between us. Without it, I'm cold and empty, but when you're around and I kiss you, I feel that fire, burning inside me. It hurts."

With Angel's lips locked with hers, Angel gently lowered Buffy onto the warm sand...

***

They made love, the Powers of Be owed them this much.

11:33 P.M.
SUNNYDALE CALIFORNIA
The same night...

***

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like that at any moment you are going to wake up and find that it was all a horrible nightmare, then reality hits and you realize that this is your life? Think about it...

***

-One Sweet Day-

Buffy slowly gathered, sharpened and organized her weapons. Not that it really mattered how hard she fought, but she wanted to look presentable when she died, not in pieces.

Her friends, family watched her in awe. It baffled them. How she remained so calm through this. Not like kicking and screaming would make the pain go away.

They watched as Buffy slipped a stake in her sleeve, throw a crossbow over her shoulder, and stick a small knife in her sock.

Giles glanced at his watch, there wasn't much time. According to the diary's and chronicles the offending apocalypse would begin at 12:00. How original.

Standing to face everyone, Buffy didn't know what to say. 'Hey, I'm going to die!' Wouldn't sound very forthcoming, but breaking down and crying wouldn't look very heroic either.

She closed her eyes and welcomed the tears. Buffy knew that if she was going to say good-bye, it had to be now.

"I'm not very good at this, particularly because I've never really had to do it, so I'm just going to say it." Buffy softly said, as the taste of salt from her tears evaded her mouth.

the winter here's cold, and bitter
it's chilled us to the bone
we haven't seen the sun for weeks
to long too far from home

"I'm not going to draw this out and make it anymore difficult then it has to be. You all knew that this day would come eventually, I mean it comes with the whole chosen one, slayer package. But in any case, I'd have to say my time as a slayer was worth it. We've fallen together, struggled, moved on."

I feel just like I'm sinking
and I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
oh darkness I feel like letting go

The tears that fell down her friend's faces were killing her. Death isn't easy, she's come to learn that, but Buffy always hoped that she would never have to say good-bye to her life, like she was today. She'd hoped that she go quickly and quietly. No such luck.

if all of the strength and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
full of grace
full of grace
my love

Buffy couldn't stop the pain, or the tears. Struggling to control her burning anger, Buffy sobbed. She hated her life, the world, the Powers That Be. What had she ever done to anyone that made her deserve this type of ending?

The stares from her friends, with eyes of sorrow and love were burning a hole through her heart. "I can't... I can't do this." Buffy whispered as another sob caught in her throat.

Turning her back to her friends, Buffy walked out the door, out of their lives.

so it's better this way, I said
having seen this place before
where everything we said and did
hurts us all the more

The Room dissolved into a fit of hysteric cries. Cries for a lost friend, daughter.

its just that we stayed, too long
in the same old sickly skin
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
oh darkness I feel like letting go

***

Every step closer Buffy got to the burnt down Sunnydale High School, the more the realization hit. 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die tonight'

***

Buffy entered the High School library, her head flooded with lost memories. Happy memories, Horrible memories.

She walked over to opening in the earth, where hell lay dormant for now. Glancing at her watch, Buffy realized that she had minutes to spare.

She could sit and wait for the vortex to form, or she could cry, pray that it wouldn't happen. She didn't want to die like this, she wanted to die an old wrinkled woman. In Angel's arms.

Never had I imagined
Living without your smile
Feeling and knowing you hear me
It keeps me alive

"You didn't think I'd let you leave me with a good-bye did you?"

Buffy's head snapped up, it was Angel. Her Angel.

His face was streaked with blood soaked tears, eyes puffy.

"A-Angel?" Buffy managed to choke through her tight, pain filled throat.

And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day

He enveloped her in his strong arms. There was no magic ritual, no miracle, no way to stop what was coming.

His tears and cries of pain mixed with hers, as they held each other, just one more time.

With a short rumble of the earth, a small vortex formed behind them. With every passing second, it grew bigger. Spinning out of control like a tornado.

Although the sun will never shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day
Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray

Buffy and Angel stood, not letting go of one another. There wasn't enough time to say a good-bye. The tears showed no end, as Buffy slowly gave Angel one last kiss.

Darling, I never showed you
Assumed you'd always be there
I took your presence for granted
But I always cared
And I miss the love we shared

Stepping out of his comforting arms, Buffy faced her lover. "I love you."

'God, make this stop.' Angel begged, his face contorted in sorrow. " I love you."

The Vortex was almost full size now, seconds remained. Slowly, Buffy stepped into the swirling wind.

They gazed into each others eyes. If only fate hadn't been so hard on them, if only they weren't Slayer and Vampire. Maybe they could've been together, maybe they would have a happy ending.

The Vortex was consuming Buffy in a flash of colors, and all Angel could do was watch

"I'll always be with you," Buffy whispered as she laid her hand over her heart,"right here."

And she was gone.

And I know eventually we'll be together

Angel dropped to his knees, and wailed in hysterical cries.

One sweet day...

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