Disclaimer: Don't own them, though I wish I did.
Spoilers: "The Gift" and "Bargaining" parts 1&2
Author's Notes: I found this floating around the harddrive of my computer. I forgot I had even written it. I'm not sure if I have ever even sent it out before. Hope you enjoy it.
Distribution: Ask and you shall receive.
Rating: PG-13 for some language.
Feedback: yes please! rabidbunnies86@yahoo.com

He knelt before her headstone, tracing the engraving over and over again with the long stem of a single red rose. The tears trailed down his cheeks as he thought of his love buried six feet beneath him, rotting away in a coffin she never should have been in. His eyes stung from the tears. The rose slipped from his fingers as he brought his hands to his face. His sobs were lost in the empty graveyard.

~~

She stalked silently among the headstones intent on only one thing. It had been so long since she had visited her mother’s grave. So long since she had lay down alone on the cold earth and cried. It was the only time she would let herself cry. Alone, in a cemetery, the way it shouldn’t be. Three months underground had sort of forbid her that privilege.

She stopped suddenly. A dark figure sat hunched across the cemetery, unaware of her presence.

Who visits their loved ones remains at three in the morning. she thought, then held back a grim chuckle as she looked down at the white rose in her hand.

She began moving even more quietly through the cemetery, attempting to get a better idea of who the figure was, all the while wondering what they were doing so near to her mother’s grave. So near to her grave. Suddenly it dawned on her and she made her way more quickly towards the figure.

~~

Angel tensed at the crackling leaves behind him. His senses went hay-wire as he tried to figure out if the being behind him was human or demon. He could hear the blood pumping, alerting him of a human but his other senses told him otherwise.

“Angel,” she whispered gently as the white rose fell from her hand.

He stood slowly and turned, his mind not believing his un-beating heart. The heart which nearly beat with her mere presence.

He stared at her for what seemed like hours. His golden goddess leaning casually against a stone monument.

“How…” he breathed out, his hand unconsciously gesturing towards the semi-fresh grave behind him.

She smiled softly and reached her hand towards him, willing him to come to her. When he did she wrapped him in her arms and buried her face against his chest. His sobs shook her body along with his, as he clung to her. Her fingers mindlessly stroked his head and the back of his neck as his tangled through her golden locks.

“This is a dream.” He whispered brokenly.

“But it isn’t.” She assured him, taking one of his hands and placing it over her beating heart.

He wound his fingers with hers, then moved to kiss her hand. He stopped when his lips touched the roughness of her knuckles and quickly she snatched her hands back, hiding them under her folded arms.

He looked at her confused.

“Willow….” Buff started, a single tear making it’s way down her cheek, “She did a resurrection spell.”

Angel’s eyes flashed gold. “They’re so stupid.” He hissed. Then his voice grew louder. “So fucking stupid! All of them. Did they even think….? Did they have any idea…?” He couldn’t keep his mind straight. He stopped and stared at the small blonde in front of him before letting out another sob and pulling her tightly to his chest. “You dug yourself out of your own grave.” He whispered brokenly. “You clawed yourself out of your own coffin.”

This time it was her sobbing as she nodded her head against his chest.

He pulled her tighter to him, if it was even possible, and washed kisses over her forehead. His hands brought hers back to his lips as he gently kissed each bruised, and raw knuckle on her delicate hand.

She felt his body tremble against hers as his anger smoldered within him.

“They didn’t know…” She whispered, weakly defending her friends.

“What the hell did they think you were going to do?” He whispered harshly. “Dig yourself out with that shovel that was so conveniently tailored into your burial gown? Morons.” The last part was gritted through his teeth.

“Remind me to request that for the next time that I die.”

His hold on her tightened even more until she thought her ribcage would crack. “Don’t say that.” He breathed. “I’m still not over this time.”

She chuckled softly and unwound her hand from his hair to guide his lips to hers.

Their kiss was tender, and soothing. Her hands caressed the tears from his cheeks as their tongues dueled.

He was the first to break the kiss. “Stay with me?” He asked.

“Forever,” she whispered, “that’s the whole point.”

“Forever works for me.” He whispered back at her.

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