Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue.
Synopsis: Sequel to Mirror Image; After her nightmare, Buffy decides that she needs to talk to Angel
Distribution: Ask First.
Author's Note: Like my first story, this story is not fluffy, it's angsty. If all you want is Buffy and Angel happy and together, don't read this. Oh, and, it still takes place some time after Angel comes back in Season 3.

Buffy stood outside of Angel's door. She felt, for some reason, that she shouldn't be there. She felt like some force was compelling her to leave. However, a stronger force made her stay. She needed to talk to Angel.

Buffy pulled the door open and walked inside. Angel was sitting across the room, reading by the fireplace. Even though he was far enough away from the sunlight, Buffy was careful. She always tried to be.

When Angel saw Buffy walk in he set his book down and stood up. Buffy nervously walked into the middle of the large living room, and then began to study the floor. "Um," she started, wanting to break the awkward silence as fast as she could. "How have you been?"

Angel was confused. "Okay. I guess." he wasn't sure how to talk to Buffy anymore. It seemed like every time they talked she wanted something different. Sometimes she wanted space, sometimes she was needy, and sometimes she was just plain confusing. Now would be one of those times. Knowing it would sound harsh, even though he didn't mean it to, Angel asked, "Why are you here?"

Buffy pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and sat in a nearby chair. "I…I had a dream the other night." she told him. She kept her eyes on her hands the entire time. She almost felt embarrassed telling Angel about it. "About you. You said some…terrible things to me."

"I-I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I know it was just a dream. It wasn't real."

"Buffy, you're not making any sense." Angel sat back down on the fireplace. "Why don't you tell me about the dream?"

Buffy, then went on to explain all the details of her nightmare, while Angel leaned back and listened. He felt bad about how the dream had effected Buffy, but he was no closer to understanding the dream than he was the moment Buffy had walked in the door.

"I don't understand it Angel. I thought we where doing okay. Weren't we?" When Angel didn't answer Buffy's hands started to shake. "Don't answer that. Angel, I need to know that we're okay, because I don't know if we are."

"Buffy, I can't give you the answer that you want." Angel replied. Buffy shook her head. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did he not love her anymore? What was happening to them? "All I can tell you is that, every couple has their ups and their downs. And right now…we're just stuck in a down."

"But we'll get out, right?" Buffy knew she was grasping at straws, but she didn't care. She needed something; Assurance.

"I couldn't say." Angel averted Buffy's gaze and stared into the fire. He wished so badly that there was an easy answer, but the fact of the matter was, there just wasn't one.

"Angel," Buffy began. Her whole body tensed up. She felt her world crashing down at her feet, and knew that she was powerless to do anything about it. "I need to know something." She got quiet for a few seconds, then asked in a small and frail voice, "Is it me?"

Angel didn't answer.

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