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As Buffy's birthday grew closer she gradually became aware of furtive discussions taking place between Giles, Jenny & Willow, the three of them falling into an awkward silence whenever she entered the library. When she questioned them about it they first denied everything and then, realising that tactic would not suffice they assured her that there was no prophecy or Hellmouth-related problem which they were hiding from her and asked her to trust them promising that soon they would reveal all.

Despite her intense curiosity Buffy did as they requested, secure in the knowledge that none of them would ever do anything to hurt her and privately suspecting that they were planning some sort of surprise for her birthday since she had firmly vetoed the idea of a party. Knowing that they would be unhappy at the idea of not marking the occasion somehow she said nothing although she wanted nothing more than to forget all about it. Her birthday was inextricably linked in her mind with the agonising pain of Angel losing his soul and the idea of celebrating such a terrible anniversary held little appeal.

Inevitably, the 'big day' arrived and much as she wished it, spending the day in bed with the covers pulled up over her head was not an option. The sky was overcast and the day held the uncomfortable heat that warned that a storm was coming. With a heavy heart she got ready for school, bracing herself to pretend that she was happy and all was right in her world.

It was an act that she had perfected over the last few months; the only one she couldn't fool was Angel. He always saw though mask she wore for the world, seeing right through to her soul as easily as she saw through to his. She could hide nothing from him. There were times when she wished that he would accept as easily as everyone else would but most of the time it was a relief to know that there was one person she could be herself with, one person who understood.

The thought of him brought a small smile to her face but at the same time she wished that she hadn't agreed to meet him at the Bronze that night. Tonight she didn't want to do anything except take a leaf out of his book and sit alone in a dark room and brood, which was, she suspected, precisely why he had been so determined that they go out. It was something she had done many times in the past, doing everything she could to cheer him up when the painful memories threatened to overwhelm him.

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The day dragged by, as she had known it would and with a sense of relief she escaped to her room to change before going to the Bronze. All day she had said all the things her friends wanted to hear, she'd laughed on cue and smiled so dazzlingly that none of them had noticed that the eyes above it were dark and sad.

With deep reluctance she entered the Bronze, wishing with all her heart that she could just spend a quiet evening up at the mansion, sitting by the fire with Angel. Her friends were all sitting around a table not far from the stage and they spotted her the moment she walked in, calling her over to join them. Even Giles was there in honour of the occasion, trying manfully not to look as if he wanted to leave. She presumed that Jenny was there as well although, of course, she couldn't appear in such a public place. Only Oz and Angel were absent, Oz was up on stage with the Dingo's and nodded to her when she looked up at him but Angel was nowhere to be seen.

She looked around, her gaze probing the shadows where he invariably lurked, still unable to believe that he had been so thoroughly accepted by the group after everything that had happened, but he wasn't there.

The Dingo's ended their set and all but Oz descended from the stage. Oz moved forward to pick up the lead singer's microphone and Buffy looked questioningly at Willow, only to find that she was staring at him in confusion.

"We don't usually do this," Oz told the audience, "but a friend asked me to help him with a song for a very special girl," he looked over to the left of the stage and held out the mike, "Angel?"

Buffy watched in astonishment as her reserved and cryptic boyfriend emerged from the shadows where he habitually lurked and went up on stage to take the microphone that Oz held out to him.

He looked uncomfortable at being the centre of attention and if he'd been anything other than what he was, Buffy was sure that he'd have been blushing. Then his eyes locked with hers and his self-consciousness disappeared as the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving the two of them alone in their own private little world.

Raising the microphone his said simply, "Buffy, I mean every word," then, with Oz accompanying him on his guitar, he began to sing.

She may be the face I can't forget,
The trace of pleasure or regret,
May be my treasure, or the price I have to pay,
"She may be the song that summer sings,
"May be the chill that autumn brings,
"May be a hundred different things,
"Within the measure of a day.

As he sang, Angel's gaze never wavered from Buffy's and she shivered in reaction. His voice washed over her, as smooth as silk and as rich as the red velvet shirt that he wore, his words caressing her almost like a physical touch.

She may be the beauty or the beast,
"May be the famine or the feast,
May turn each day into a heaven or a hell,
"She may be the mirror of my dreams,
The smile reflected in a stream,
She may not be what she may seem,
Inside her shell

Still holding Buffy's gaze, Angel left the stage and came to stand before her. As he approached she got to her feet and came to meet him halfway. They stood together in the middle of the dance floor, Buffy's eyes were brilliant with unshed tears and Angel reached out to gently cup her cheek in his hand. As the tears overflowed she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch losing herself in his voice.

She who always seems so happy in a crowd,
"Whose eyes can be so private and so proud,
No one's allowed to see them when they cry,
She may be the love that cannot hope to last,
"May come to me from shadows in the past,
"That I'll remember 'till the day I die,

All over the room women melted at the sight and sound of Angel, glaring daggers at Buffy for holding the heart of a man that they all wanted for their own. It was clear to them all that Buffy and Angel were unaware of the reactions they inspired lost in each other to the exclusion of all else.

She may be the reason I survive,
"The why and wherefore I'm alive,
The one I'll care for through the rough and ready years,
Me, I'll take her laughter and her tears
"And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I've got to be,
The meaning of my life is She
"She, oh-oh-oh, She.

As the song ended Angel wrapped Buffy in his arms, unaware of the applause that erupted all around them. She returned the hug, holding him tightly and burying her face in his chest for a moment before raising it to his for a sweet, loving kiss.

"Happy Birthday, Buffy," he murmured when it ended.

She gave him a radiant smile which, for the first time that day, lit her eyes from within and said, "That was beautiful, Angel, thank you. I had no idea that you could sing."

He smiled a little wryly, "I wasn't sure that I could, it's been over two-hundred years since the last time I tried!" A shadow crossed his face as it always did when he thought about the past and to keep him from brooding (and because she wanted to) Buffy hooked her hand behind his head and pulled him down for another kiss.

This time, when the kiss ended she was breathless and Angel's eyes were a little unfocused. They stared at each other, unable to look away, stunned as always by the depth of passion that lay between them.

Willow called to them, breaking the spell and reminding them that they were still standing on the dance floor. Hand in hand they walked over to the table where the others were gathered.

"Wow! Angel, that was amazing!" exclaimed Willow, "I mean… I had no idea that you could even sing and then you got up in public like that and it was so romantic and every girl in the place wanted to be Buffy – except me, of course, because I have Oz and…"

"Willow, breathe," ordered Buffy in amusement, "You're babbling."

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just that I'm kinda excited and I've had coffee and… Giles can we go now? Is it time?" she asked suddenly, making everyone stare at her in confusion.

"Hmm…oh, yes, yes we can go now if you wish."

"Go where?" asked Buffy, "Giles, what's going on?"

"Well, I…um…Willow and Jenny and I have prepared a…a small surprise for your birthday. I suggest that we adjourn to the library and then everything will become clear."

Buffy looked round the table, Angel, Cordelia, Oz and Xander looked as confused as she was but Willow was bouncing in her seat with barely suppressed excitement and, though far more controlled, the same excitement was clear on Giles' face.

"Okay," she said with a shrug, getting to her feet, "lets go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy pushed open the library doors and stopped, looking at the carefully arranged candles, runes and herbs and then at the circle and other symbols that had been drawn on the floor. "Okay…I'm guessing magic," she said dryly, moving forwards into the room to allow the others room to enter. "Are you guys sure you know what you're doing? 'Cos, you know we haven't had the best of luck with this sort of thing."

"It's a…" Giles began and then broke off, looking at a point slightly in front and to the left of Buffy. After a moment he nodded and then frowned in concentration. The air at the point where he had been looking shimmered and then Jenny Calendar stood there.

"Wow, still not used to that!" announced Xander at the same time Buffy said, "Hi, Jenny, so what's with the spell?"

"It's a binding spell, Buffy," she said gently, "we're going to bind Angel's soul."

She gasped and went pale, "Unconditionally?" she whispered, and the fearful hope in her voice wrung the hearts of those who heard it.

"Unconditionally." Confirmed Jenny, Giles and Willow in unison.

After all the pain that had gone before Buffy and Angel found it hard to believe that they finally had a chance to be together and, fearful of having their hopes dashed again, they needed details. "You're sure?" Angel asked as Buffy reached blindly for his hand and clutched it tightly in both of hers, "You've found a way to alter the curse?"

"Not exactly," Giles told them, then, seeing the way their faces fell he explained quickly, "The curse itself is…resistant to change, any attempts to alter it will result in…in the loss of your soul, so instead of taking the risk we're going to work around it."

"I don't understand." Buffy said in a small voice.

"We're going to bind Angel's soul to the demon," Willow explained, then looked at Angel, "your soul will never be able to leave your body as long as the demon lives. That way, when the curse breaks nothing will change."

"One thing will change," Jenny disagreed, "the dream clause of the curse will be gone forever. The nightmares will end."

Angel looked startled; "My nightmares are…part of the curse?"

"Not all of them, I'm sure that even without the dream clause you would have nightmares, you feel things too deeply not to but…" she sighed sadly, "Yes, many of your dreams are part of the curse. They were intended to keep the pain fresh and increase the guilt you felt. The victims of the demon returning to taunt you as you sleep, reminding you of the pain it caused, the lives it destroyed." Her voice was bitter as she added, "It seems that my people have a capacity for cruelty greater than I could ever have imagined, nearly as great as the demon they despise despite the fact that they have souls.

Everything in that curse was designed to break you, they must have thought that you would suicide or go mad a long time ago but you were too strong for that."

"I thought about it," he admitted in a low voice, "Many times."

Buffy shuddered at the thought of how easily he could of died before she'd ever met him – before she'd even been born – and her grip on his hand tightened unconsciously until the pressure would have broken the bones of a normal man.

Willow saw the tension in her face and gently touched her arm, saying reassuringly, "It's all right, Buffy, it's over now and as soon as we've done this the two of you can be together. You can be happy again!"

Buffy's eyes filled with tears as she finally allowed herself to believe and letting go of Angel's hand she flung herself into his arms, laughing and crying all at once. He held her tightly and buried his face in her neck as his own tears fell.

After a long moment they separated enough to look at the others and discovered that everyone (except Xander) was smiling indulgently at them.

Angel looked at Giles and Jenny in wonder, he had hurt this couple beyond measure and in return they were granting him his hearts desire. "Thank you," he said hoarsely, "and you Willow, I…I don't have the words…"

"Oh, yes! Thank you!" exclaimed Buffy, letting go of Angel and launching herself at Giles, making him laugh at her exuberance as he returned the hug. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"Rupert, concentrate!" demanded Jenny as she started to fade. He looked apologetically at her and focused on keeping her solid. As soon as she reappeared Buffy released Giles and hugged her tightly before moving on and doing the same to Willow.

Angel was more restrained, shaking Giles' hand and kissing Jenny and Willow on the cheek but no one who saw the look in his eyes could ever doubt that he was as grateful and excited and Buffy was.

Calm once more, Buffy stood hand in hand with Angel and asked a little nervously, "What do we have to do?"

"Well, er, the…the ritual is really quite simple. Angel, if you would stand inside the circle, please, then Willow will light the flame," he indicated a bowl containing several different types of herbs and other things less easily identified, "while Jenny and I read the spell. If it is successful then the flame will flare bright blue and then go out."

"And if it isn't? Is there any danger, Giles? Because I couldn't survive losing him again."

"None at all, if the spell fails – and there is no reason why it should – the flame won't change colour, that's the only difference."

She nodded; accepting Giles' words but it still required a great effort of will for her to release Angel's hand so that he could step into the circle. He stroked her cheek gently with the back of his fingers and said softly, "It's all right, Buffy, everything will be fine." He kissed her fiercely and whispered, "I love you" before stepping backwards into the circle, his eyes never leaving hers.

Lightening flashed and thunder rumbled outside, making everyone jump as the storm that had been threatening all day finally broke. Buffy glanced out of the window to where the rain was coming down in sheets and then looked back at Angel, her eyes full of the memories of another storm and saw that he was thinking the same thing. It seemed oddly fitting that the nightmarish events, which had been set in motion on the stormy night of her 17th birthday, would finally end in another storm exactly one year later.

Giles and Jenny began chanting in Latin, drawing Buffy's attention back to the present just as Willow picked up a candle and used it to light the flame. The second the candle touched it, it flared brightly, a column of flame rising almost to the ceiling. At the same time, the circle in which Angel was standing began to glow. A stiff breeze appeared from nowhere; ruffling their hair and blowing loose papers from the table but the flame never wavered except to grow even brighter when Willow added to it.

The chanting grew louder and now Jenny's words changed, becoming separate from Giles' and yet in harmony with them. The wind became stronger, whipping their clothes around them and blowing hair across Buffy's face, obscuring her view of Angel until she impatiently held it back with both hands.

Like the flame, Angel seemed unaffected by the wind. Standing straight and tall within the circle his gaze never wavered as he looked at his love. The light surrounding him grew brighter and brighter until it seemed that he, himself was glowing and it hurt Buffy's eyes to look but she did not look away. A sudden compulsion seized her and without thinking she stepped forwards, raising her hand towards him. The others had all shielded their eyes against the glow and no one noticed what she was doing until it was too late. Drawn by the same compulsion as Buffy, Angel held out his hand to Buffy and their fingertips met at the edge of the circle. At the same moment, the chanting reached a climax and the flame suddenly flared a brilliant blue before both it and the circle disappeared as though they had never existed. A wave of power surged through Buffy and Angel and then receded leaving them weak. Like puppets whose strings had been cut they both collapsed on the floor, their hands still touching.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Angel?*

*I'm here Buffy*

*What happened? Did it work?*

*It did. Can't you feel it?*

Joy filled her as she explored the new connection between them and felt the love that Angel felt for her. At the back of her mind she could hear the demon's angry roar at being caged for eternity but it was easy for her to ignore. Aware only of each other, they got slowly to their feet and their eyes opened and met, hazel orbs locking with chocolate brown. A thousand thoughts & feelings passed between them and without a word being spoken each learned all the secrets of the others heart.

As if from a great distance they became aware of the concerned voices of their friends and turned to face them, hand in hand.

"Buffy, are you all right?" Giles asked in concern, "What were you thinking, interrupting the spell like that? What happened?"

Buffy smiled at him and the joy and peace that filled her eyes silenced any further reproaches, "I'm sorry, Giles, it just…felt right."

Angel released her hand and his arm slid around her shoulders, she looked up at him, her eyes glowing with love and he smiled tenderly down at her before looking at Giles and explaining, "We seem to have extended the spell a little. My soul is bound to the demon as intended but it is also bound to Buffy's."

"So…as long as one of you lives, the other will always be with them!" Willow exclaimed, "That's wonderful, neither of you will ever be alone again!"

"Congratulations!" said Cordelia sincerely and, as if it had been a signal everyone gathered around to offer their own best wishes.

It was as if they had just got married, Buffy thought looking up at Angel. He picked up on the image in her mind and they smiled at each other, knowing that in a very real sense it was true. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving them alone in their own perfect world. Angel leaned down towards her and their lips met in a gentle kiss.

Their friends looked at each other and smiled delighted that they had been able to give them this. Giles cleared his throat as the kiss deepened and threatened to spiral out of control and they pulled back, not in the least abashed by their actions.

Their friends looked at each other and smiled, delighted that they had been able to give them this. Giles cleared his throat as the kiss deepened and threatened to spiral out of control and they pulled back, not in the least abashed by their actions.

"Why don't you two go home?" he suggested gently, "I imagine that you have a lot to…talk…about. Buffy, I'll patrol for the next couple of nights if you want to take some time off."

The two lovers didn't wait for him to change his mind, instead they immediately headed for the door. As they reached it they turned and looked back, their faces glowing with joy. "Thank you," they said together, "this means more to us than we can even begin to say!"

"Just be happy," Jenny said quietly and the others nodded in agreement, "that's all we ever wanted for you."

After they had gone, Jenny turned to Giles and said with a satisfied smile, "I'd say the curse is already broken, wouldn't you? I've never seen either of them look so happy."

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