Disclaimer: Not mine!!! None of it! BtVS and Angel belong to the evil acid man Joss Whedon, he's horribly mean to my poor Buffy and Angel but he does unfortunately own them. And, well, even though you all would know this the play Romeo and Juliet belongs to William Shakespeare. Although Berkley is mine! I invented the little nerd! Ha! Ha! Hey! He's mine! I'm allowed to insult him!
Rating: You can watch Buffy, you can read this.
Summary: Buffy's in a play and Angel decides to come watch.. Or not..... (Mwha - ha - ha - ha - ha! . Where'd that come from?)
Author's note: I got this idea after watching Shakespeare in love over, and over, and after we started studying Romeo and Juliet in my English class. Speaking of which, I have a HUGE assignment due next Monday! Grrrrr! I know it's completely cheesy but I just couldn't get the storyline out of my head! And the beginning and middle might be a little bit angsty but the end is complete Buffy/Angel fluff, so no one worry! Hey! If you need some distraction from Riley (Die, Riley! Die! .. Sorry.) then here's the perfect story for you!

Buffy had been in depression ever since Angel had left. She hid it pretty well; she acted like nothing was wrong. She never even spoke about Angel either. But Willow could tell, she'd catch Buffy every so often starring off into space, the most longing expression on her face, and Willow knew who she was thinking about. This had gotten worse once she'd broken up with Riley, she guessed because Buffy had finally realized that Angel was the only one for her. No matter what he may want for her. Buffy had also told Willow that it just didn't feel right, she didn't completely love him. Infact, she said she wasn't sure she ever loved him at all. And she didn't want to lead him on like that. And Willow was sure she was right. How could she try to love someone else when part of her belonged to someone else? It hurt her though, to see her best friend in so much pain. She watched Buffy as she sat at her desk, staring over her homework, that same longing expression on her face.

"Buffy?" Willow asked.

Buffy shook herself out of her daze.

"What?" she asked.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"I'll survive," She replied smiling sadly.

"You know what? You should find some sort of extra-curricular activity, to keep you busy," Willow suggested.

"You mean besides slaying? What then?" Buffy asked.

"Well, this guy, Berkley, in my pop culture class is in the drama department and they need more people to try out for their play, I think that it would be a cool thing to do. I mean, if you're up to it," Willow suggested.

"I don't know Will, I'll think about it though," Buffy replied.

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The next day, Buffy sat outside the university by herself reading.

"Uh, Buffy?"

Buffy looked up and saw a kind skinny, but not to bad looking guy standing infront of her.

"Yep, that'd be me," she replied.

"Okay, well, I'm Willow's friend, Berkley? She said that you might be interested in auditioning for the play.." he said.

"Oh, yeah, well, I'm not sure really." she replied.

"Oh, well, that's too bad. Personally, I think you'd make a great Juliet," he replied.

Buffy looked up at him puzzled.

"Juliet?" she asked.

"Yeah, as in Romeo and Juliet? You've heard of it right?" he asked.

"Oh! Of course! It's just that I didn't know that that was the play that you were putting on," she replied.

"Willow didn't tell you?" he asked.

Buffy shook her head. *Hey, I can do this, I've practically lived Juliet's life... Well, minus the stabbing herself part...* She thought.

"You know what, I guess I will try out. Can't hurt me in any way can it?" she asked.

"No, and that's great!" he said. He opened his backpack, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Buffy.

"Those are the lines you need to memorize for the auditions, they're next week at 4. See you there!" Berkley said then left.

*Great* Buffy thought, *More work!*

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Buffy walked into her dorm and dropped the audition sides on her bed. Willow opened the door seconds later.

"Hey Buffy," she said.

"Hey! How was your morning?" Buffy asked.

"Really interesting! College is great!" Willow exclaimed dropping herself down onto Buffy's bed. She picked up the audition sides,

"What's this?" she asked.

"Oh, that Berkley guy gave them to me. It's what I have to read for the play auditions," Buffy explained.

"Really? You're trying out? That's so cool!" Willow exclaimed.

"Yeah, I figured I'd give it a try. I just hope I don't make a fool of myself," Buffy replied.

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A week later Buffy walked into the auditorium. Berkley, who was discussing something with someone turned and noticed her.

"Buffy! Glad you could make it! We're starting in a couple of minutes," he told her.

"Great." Buffy said then sat down to wait .

When it was Buffy's turn, she went up onto the stage with someone who was trying out for the nurse. (I know this is a really sucky part to use as an audition but I had to put this line in here somewhere and I couldn't figure out where!)
JULIET: Come hither Nurse, What is yond gentlemen?
NURSE: The son and heir of old Tiberio.
JULIET: What is he that now is going out of door?
NURSE: Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.
Juliet: What's he, that follows there, That would not dance?
NURSE: I know not.
JULIET:Go, ask his name. - If he be married, My grave is likely to be my wedding bed.
NURSE: His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy.
JULIET: My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy.
NURSE: What's this, what's this?
JULIET: A rhyme I learn'd even now of one I danc'd withal.
NURSE: Anon, anon! Come, let's away; The strangers are all gone.

Everyone was quiet. No one knew what to say. It was evident that Buffy would be chosen for the part. Of course, it was easy for her. She was practically reliving her life while Angel was around.

"Um, thank you Buffy. You'll find out which part you got by next week." Berkley told her.

Buffy nodded then left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

the next week Buffy ran into the dorm smiling.

"Buffy what is it?" Willow asked

"I got the part!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Huh?" Willow asked.

"THE PART! I'm Juliet! In the play!" Buffy squealed.

"OH MY GOD!!!! Congratulations!" Willow exclaimed.

"I'm so excited! You'll all come to see it right?" Buffy asked.

"Oh! Of course! We wouldn't miss it!" Willow exclaimed.

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A couple of days before the play Willow was sitting in the dorm doing homework when the phone rang. She picked it up.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hi. Willow?" the person on the other end asked.

"Angel? Ohmigod! Is that you?" she asked in shock.

"Yeah, it's me. I just wanted to check up on things in Sunnydale. See how everyone was." Angel replied.

"Oh, well, we're all great. College is really fun," Willow replied.

"Great, that's good to hear.."

"Buffy's doing fine, I know you're wondering," Willow said.

"That's good too," he replied.

"Yeah, she's been keeping pretty busy this year. She's going to be in a play in a few days too!" Willow exclaimed.

"Really? That's great! I-I'm really happy for her.." Angel said even though the pain in his voice was evident.

"She still misses you, you know," Willow told him.

"I know, I really miss her too. But I don't want to hurt her again . I'd never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her," Angel replied.

"I know. I understand that. But you could at least visit, and tell her that you're here. Actually, why don't you come see the play? You don't have to tell her that you're there, unless you want to or anything, but I still think you should. Besides, it's Shakespeare, you'd probably like it," Willow said.

"Shakespeare was before my time," Angel replied.

"Oh. yeah. right.. But I still think you should come! I think Buffy would like that," Willow said.

"Yeah, I might..."

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"I'm so excited! This is so cool! I can't believe Buffy is gonna be up there on stage! It's so exciting! I can hardly believe it!" Willow rambled excitedly.

"Yes, it's very exciting, but I think you've gotta get a hold of yourself Will, it's just a play... hey! Are they gonna be using weird words like "hither" and "thou" and "art" and "wherefore"? Cause if they are, consider me lost!" Xander announced.

"Yes Xander, they will be using words like that. But I believe it will be a good learning experience. I believe Buffy is doing a wonderful thing by exploring the english language," Giles replied.

"You're just saying that cause you're British," Xander replied.

"No I'm not!" Giles protested.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile backstage Buffy paced nervously. *Okay Buffy, just breathe, you'll be fine.* She told herself, *But what if I forget my lines? No! Stay calm!*

"Are you ready Buffy?" Berkley asked.

"Yeah, pretty much.. butterflies, that's all though," Buffy replied.

"Don't worry, you'll do amazing. Why don't you go sit down and relax, you're not on for awhile," he told her.

"Hey Berkley! We've got a problem!" one of the stage directors shouted.

"What? What happened?" he asked.

"Romeo is missing," he replied.

"WHAT!!! You're kidding right?!" Berkley asked.

"No, sorry, we can't find him anywhere. We're on in five minutes what are we going to do?!" he asked.

"I think you should start. Romeo doesn't come on until later. You'll probably find a replacement by then," Buffy said, knowing pretty well where Romeo was; dead.

"Right. Stay calm. We can do this people, let's go! Curtain in three!" he shouted then walked away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel slipped through the back door of the auditorium, determined to find Buffy and wish her good luck before the play. He wondered how her reaction would be. They hadn't seen each other in months. A man stepped infront of Angel.

"Hey! Are you in the play?" he asked.

"No but-"

Another man walked up to him.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"I don't know Berkley, I was just asking him," the first man said.

"No, I'm not in the play but I'm friends with one of the actors, I just wanted to wish her luck," he replied.

"Wait! Do you know Romeo's lines?" Berkley asked.

"Well, um yeah, pretty much.." Angel replied.

Berkley pulled him aside.

"Welcome to the USC actors guild!" he announced.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow and Giles sat in their seats completely entranced in the scene that unfolded infront of them, while Xander fidgeted impatiently.

"Will, what's going on? I don't underst-"

"Shhh!" Willow scolded him.

MONTAGUE: Could we but learn from whence His sorrows grow, we would as Willingly give cure as know.

(Romeo enters)

Willow gasped.

"Giles!" she whispered.

"Good lord!" he exclaimed.

"What?! What is it guys? Ohmigod it's Dead Boy!" Xander gasped.

"What in hell is he doing here?!" Giles asked.

"I-I invited him to come watch the play. I didn't say to be IN it! Something must have happened! Oh no! Buffy! What's she gonna do!" Willow exclaimed.

"We'll just have to watch and see what happens." Giles whispered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy stood just offstage waiting to go on, wringing her hands nervously. She'd never heard who'd taken over as Romeo, but she'd heard Berkley say he was "amazing". Buffy looked back onstage ready to enter.

NURSE: Now, by my maiden head at twelve year old, I bade her come. What, lamb! What, ladybird! God forbid! Where's that girl? What, Juliet!
(enter Juliet)
JULIET: How now! Who calls?
NURSE: Your mother.
JULIET: Madam, I am here. What is your will?

Angel peaked onstage. There stood Buffy, acting away. Not knowing that he was even there. Let alone that she'd have to act with him. She looked beautiful. If he breathed, she would have taken his breath away. With her long blond hair hanging in waves down her back, and her white and pink embroidered dress. He wondered how he could have so stupidly left her. He went backstage to wait for his next scene.

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Willow chewed on her lip nervously knowing what scene was up next. She wasn't sure whether Buffy and Angel had seen each other yet. And knowing Angel, when he didn't want to be found, he wasn't found. She focused back onstage and waited.

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Buffy walked onstage ready for the next scene and felt a strange tingly feeling run through her, that strange feeling that she used to get when Angel was around, *Yeah, right, like he'd actually be here,* she thought, *That's crazy.* she told herself.

ROMEO: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night! As a rich jewel in an Ethiops ear: Beauty to rich for use, for earth: Too dear! She shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night!

Buffy immediately recognized the voice; Angel. She felt her pulse quicken at his sight. *So, THIS is Berkley's amazing Romeo.* She hadn't known that it was him, since Romeo was wearing a mask in this scene, but it was him. That's why she'd had that feeling, he WAS here, and not just to watch, she had to act with him! *Why are you torturing me God?* she asked. *No, I'm acting, I have to stay focused. I have to pretend that I've never known Angel before.. Yeah! Right! No, stay focused, I'm and actor, I'm only acting, only acting..

Every word he spoke he believed was true. He'd never seen true beauty until he'd seen Buffy, sitting on the steps of Hemery High School all those years ago. Until then, he'd never even thought someone so beautiful existed. And he'd never really loved anyone until he met her. He'd thought he'd known what love was, but he really hadn't, not until he'd met Buffy.

ROMEO: If I profane with my unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle sin is This: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with A tender kiss.
JULIET: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims Hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
ROMEO:Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET: Ay, pilgrim, lips they must use in prayer.
ROMEO: O then, dear saint, let lips to what hands so! They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn To despair.
JULIET: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
ROMEO:Then move not, while my prayers' effect I take.

Angel kissed Buffy. They both felt that same old fire race through them. Buffy had to hold back tears, it brought back so many memories. *How am I supposed to go through this?* she asked herself.

ROMEO: Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg'd.
JULIET: Then have my lips, by thine, the sin that they have took.
ROMEO: Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg'd Give me my sin again>

He kissed her again. A tear down her cheek, she was glad that she was up onstage and no one could see it from the distance.

JULIET:You kiss by the book.

Once the scene was over Buffy ran to her small dressing room backstage and cried. That kiss had brought back so many memories. But she had to finish the play. She dried her eyes and got ready for the next scene.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow sat in her seat weeping quietly, *Oh G*d! Poor Buffy!* she thought. This must be so hard on her, to have to do all these tragic love scenes with Angel? *Please let her be alright! * she prayed.

JULIET: O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO: Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at This?
JULIET: `Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm nor face nor any other part belonging to a man, o, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a Rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name; And for thy name, which is no part of Thee, Take all myself.
ROMEO: I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new Baptis'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET: What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in night, So stumblest on my councel?
ROMEO: I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name dear saint, is hateful to Myself, Because it is enemy to thee. Had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET: My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tounge's utterance, yet I know the sound, Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
ROMEO: Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"No! Giles! It's the wedding scene next! What are we gonna do?! I feel so bad for Buffy! We have to find her at intermission!" Willow exclaimed.

"Don't worry Willow," Giles told her, "Buffy handles things quite well."

"Yeah, but this is ANGEL we're talking about," Xander interrupted, "something she'd never been good at handling.. unless you take it in the literal sense.."

"That is SO wrong!" Willow exclaimed.

"Yes Xander, quite uncalled for. Please, this is probably somewhat stressful for Buffy, she doesn't need your nasty comments on top of it!" Giles reprimanded him.

JULIET: Good even to my ghostly confessor.
FRIAR LAURENCE: Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
JULIET: As Much to him, else is his thanks too much.
ROMEO: Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Be heap'd like mine, and that thy breath To blazon it, then sweeten woth thy breath This neighbour air, and let rich music's tounge Unfold the imagin'd happiness that both Receive in either by this dear encounter.
JULIET: Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, Brags of his substance, not of ornament. They are but beggars that can count their Worth; But my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up of half my weatlh.
FRIAR LAURENCE: Come, come with me, and we will Make short work; For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone Till holy church incorporate two inone.

(They exit)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow ran backstage at intermission.

"Berkley! Berkley!" Willow shouted as she hurried towards him.

"Huh? Oh! Willow! What is it?"

"I need to find Buffy. It's really important!" Willow told him.

"She's in her dressing room, over there." He replied, pointing to a dorr to his left.

"Thanks!" she replied and ran over to it. She knocked on it softly.

"Buffy? Can I come in?" she asked.

Buffy opened the door and met her friend with a tear-streaked face.

"Oh Buffy!" she whispered and hugged her friend. "I'm so sorry this happened! It's all my fault! I told him about the play! He called and asked how you were and I asked him to come! I'm so sorry!" Willow apologized.

"It's okay Will, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known. I-it's just, it's just it's so hard! It brings back so many memories!" Buffy wept.

"I know! I'm sorry! But you're not going to give up are you? Because you're doing an amazing job!" Willow told her. Buffy managed a faint smile.

"Thanks. And no, I'm not stopping. I'm gonna finish this play if it kills me." Buffy replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow got back to her seat as the first scene in Act 3 began.

"How is she?" Giles asked.

"She's a little shook up. But she says she's not quitting. Not now. I'm glad for her," Willow replied.

"Good. Did you see Angel backstage?" Giles asked.

"No. Buffy said she hadn't seen him offstage either," Willow replied.

"Oh! Can't even say hello to her?! What's wrong with him?!" Xander scoffed.

"Shut up Xander!" Willow snapped and they went back to watching the play...

TYBALT: Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence.
ROMEO: This shall determine that.
(Sword fight, Tybalt dies)
BENVOLIO: Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stand not amaz'd: the prince will doom Thee death If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!
ROMEO:O, I am fortune's fool
BENVOLIO: Why dost thou stay!
(Romeo exits)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

JULIET: Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay husband, Friend! I must hear from thee every day in the Hour, For in a minute there are many days: O by this count I shall be much in Years Ere I again behold my Romeo.
ROMEO: Farewell! I will omit no opportunity That may convey my greetings, love, to thee.
JULIET: O, think'st thou we shall ever meet again?
ROMEO: I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve For sweet discourses in our times to come.
JULIET: O God! I have have an ill divining soul: Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb; Either my eyesight fails or thou look'st pale.
ROMEO: And trust me, love, in my eyes so do you; Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!
(Romeo turns and exits
JULIET: O Fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle: If thou art ficlke, what dost thou with him That is renown'd for faith? Be fickle fortune; For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long, But send him back.

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FRIAR LAURENCE: Hold then. Go home, be merry, give consent To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow: Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone, Let not thy Nurse lie with thee in thy Chamber. Take thou this vial, being then in bed And this distilled liquor drink thou off; When presently through all thy veins shall Run A cold and drowsy humor, for no pulse Shall keep his native progress, but sureceace. No warmth, no breath, shall testify that thou Liv'st The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade To wany ashes; thy eyes' windows fall, Like death when he shuts up the day Of life. Each part, depriv'd of supple government, Shall stiff and stark and cold, appear Like death Thou shalt continue for two-and-forty hours, And then awake as from a pleasant Sleep. Now, when the bridegroom in the morning Comes To rouse the from thy bed, there art thou - dead.
JULIET: Give me, give me! O tell me not of fear!
FRIAR LAURENCE: Hold. Get you gone. Be strong and prosperous In this resolve. I'll send a friar with speed To Mantua, with my letters to thy Lord.
JULIET: Love, give me strength, and strength shall help me afford. Farewell, dear father!

(Juliet exits)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

ROMEO: News from Verona! How now Balthasar? Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar? How doth my lady? Is my father well? How doth my lady Juliet? That I ask Again, For nothing can be ill if she be well.
BALTHASAR: Then she is well, and nothing can be ill; Her body lies in Capel's (Capulet's) Monument, And her immortal part with angels lives I saw her lais low in her kindred's vault, And presently took post to you. O pardon me for bringing these ill news, Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
ROMEO: Is it e'en so? The I defy you stars! Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink And paper, And hire post horses. I will hence to-night.

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APOTHECARY: Put this in any liquid thing you will, And drink it off, and if you had The strength Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
ROMEO: I sell thee poison, thou hast sold me none. Farewell; buy food, and get thyself in flesh. Come cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave, for there I must use Thee.

(Romeo exits)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was the last scene in the play and Willow sat in her seat crying, it all looked too familiar to her. *How ironic that Buffy and Angel end up acting oout this play together, it's too much of a coincidence.* Their lives, in their own ways, resembled so much those of Romeo's and Juliet's, they'd both fallen in love with sworn enemies, who they weren't supposed to be with. They'd had everything against them, yet they'd managed to pull through, for a time at least. Willow wiped away her tears and focused back on the stage where Angel held Buffy in his arms....

ROMEO: Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss! (Kisses Buffy) A dateless bargain to engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! Here's to my love!(Drinks the poison"") O true apothecary, Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss, (Angel kisses Buffy again) I die.

(Romeo dies)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow started crying again. For some reason, it reminded her of how Buffy explained how she had to kill Ange, to close the vortex to hell.

Xander hadn't really understood the play, all jibberish to him, but he'd understood what had just happened. And believe it or not, Dead-Boy dead, and not movingm made him kinda uneasy. Infact, after watching the play, he'd actually started feeling sorry for Buffy and Angel. *Life's a bitch!* he thought.

Giles was astounded (ooh, I used a big word!) by how well Buffy had preformed. He was surprised. Last time he'd seem her act it had been quite pitiful. And with the distraction of Angel there too. *I wonder if he'll stay after this..* Giles wondered. He'd noticed how Buffy's behavour had changed since he left. It wasn't all too noticeable most of the time, but he could see through her act. He'd noticed the sparkle missing from her eyes. Maybe, if he could get backstage in time after the performance he'd try to convince him to stay...

JULIET: What's here? A cup, clos'd in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end. O churl! Drunk all and left no friendly drop To help me after! I will kiss thy lips; Haply, some poison yet doth hang on them, To make me die with restorative. (Buffy leans over Angel and kisses him) Thy lips are warm!
WATCHMAN #1: Lead boy; which way?
JULIET: Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! (Takes Romeo's dagger) This is thy sheath;(Buffy "stabs" herself) There rust, and let me die. (Buffy falls onto Angel and "dies")

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow cried silently as the last few lines of the play were acted out. It looked too real, of course, it was easy for Buffy and Angel to do this tragic love thing together, they lived it. But it brought back memories, of what Buffy and Angel had fought for, and how they'd thrown it all away. She wondered how Buffy was taking it, seeing how Willow was taking it so badly and Buffy was the one who actually lived it..

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy lay across Angel's chest wishing the scene would just be over with. She was too close, too close to him. It was so hard, having to act out this whole play with him, when it hit so close to home. At least the other scenes she'd been able to get up and walk away. She guessed she'd just have to wait...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel felt like dying all over again, this was too hard. He knew it was a bad idea to come back here, or maybe it wasn't. Doing this had made him realize, something, Romeo and Juliet were stupid for killing themselves, for throwing it al away like that just because they couldn't be together. There were other ways they could have solved things, just like there were other ways He wan Buffy could've solved their differences. Maybe he'd stay...

PRINCE: Go hence, to have more talk of these sad Things: Some shall be pardon'd, and some shall be Punished: For never was there a tale of more woe Than that of Juliet and her Romeo....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*Except for that of Buffy and her Angel.* Giles thought as the curtains closed. Romeo and Juliet may seem like a tragic love story, but he didn't think it was anything compared to the tragedy that Buffy and Angel had went through.

"Why don't we go backstage and congratulate Buffy? Hmmm?" he asked once the lights had gone back on. Willow, while wiping away tears, and Xander, after shaking himself out of a trance, nodded yes and got up to go backstage.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow, Xander and Giles rushed backstage to find Buffy, who already had a crowd of people around her. She turned and saw her friends approaching her.

"Buffy!" Willow shouted. She ran up and hugged her friend.

"Did you see that!? They gave you and Angel a standing ovation!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah! Great job Buffy!" Xander congratulated her, "Speaking of Dead-Boy, where is he?"

Buffy's proud expression fell.

"I don't know where he is. The only time I've seen him was onstage," Buffy replied.

"Well, I think that's about to change.." Giles said.

Buffy looked at him questionally then spun around. Quite afew feet behind her, stood Angel, staring at her sadly.

Buffy walked slowly towards him.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi.." he replied, "you did a really amazing job tonight," he told her.

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks," she said, "you did pretty amazing too. You saved all our butts out there tonight. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."

"It was nothing. I've read the play enough times, it wasn't really too hard." he replied. *Except for the fact that I had to act it out with you..*

"Well, that was pretty luck then.. You're leaving now aren't you?" Buffy asked, hurt visible on her face.

"Actually, I'm not," Angel replied.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Doing this tonight made me realize something. I mean, Romeo and Juliet, they were stupid to kill themselves just because they couldn't be together. And I think it's equally stupid for me to throw away what we had just because of the curse, and maybe afew other small dilemas," he told her.

"What are you trying to say?" Buffy asked.

"I'm, I'm asking, if it's allright with you, if we could try again? Forget the past? Try to work something out with the curse?" Angel asked.

Buffy just stared at him in disbelief.

"Because I love you Buffy. And truthfully, I have no life without you. And I'd understand if you don't agree, but I love you, and I don't want anyone else but you," he confessed.

Tears slid down Buffy's cheeks and she smiled.

"I wouldn't want to do anything else," she whispered, "I've dreamed about this happening so much! I love you too,"

"Well, I guess maybe I won't have to talk to Angel after all," Giles said as he, Xander, and Willow watched Buffy and Angel hugging, with tears in their eyes, but also, for once, smiles on their faces.

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