Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own them so don't sue.
Spoilers: Nada
Author's Note: Fifth in my Forever-That's Eternal Series, takes place Christmas Eve a couple of days or so after Prophecies.
Rating: If you can watch the show you can read this.
Feed back.please? :o)

"Christmas Eve and still no tree." Buffy said shaking her head as she walked across Giles's living room. You'd think you'd be more into the whole Christmas spirit by now." She continued, "But don't worry Angel and I will get one for you." She said smiling at him.

Angel looked on helpless; he remembered their last shopping experience and was not willing to have a repeat of it. Giving one pleading look towards Giles who shrugged and gave him a look of pity.

"We will have the tree decorated before everyone comes, don't sweat." Buffy continued on, not aware of the to men's other 'conversation' that was going on. Putting her jacket and scarf on she looked over towards Angel signaling him to come. Sighing helplessly, he got up put his jacket on also, and walked out the door arm in arm with Buffy.

"So, afterwards you are coming to my house?" Buffy asked as they walked to the Christmas tree lot. "I mean, you know since it's Christmas Eve, and well you know, right?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, I know." Angel said placing a kiss on her head.

"Look up, look at the sky it's so beautiful. The stars and the moon." Buffy said, mesmerized.

"I've seen prettier things." Angel replied staring at Buffy.

Turning her head to look at him, "Like wha-" And the realized he was talking about her, "Oh." She stopped walking and stood on her tiptoes giving him a heated kiss.

Breaking away slowly and opening her eyes she looked at Angel. His cheeks were all flushed, "Angel, Angel it's happening, it's happening isn't it?" Buffy asked not sure if she was shocked, worried or excited.

"Yeah, I-I definitely think something is happening. I think sitting would be nice." Angel said walking over to the bench, "Yeah, sitting is definitely good."

Buffy followed close behind, unsure of everything. "Should I call Giles, someone?" Buffy asked; she was definitely worried Angel looked deathly ill.

"No, I think it's passing." Angel said after a couple of moments and as the world began to stop spinning, "Yeah, I'm better now." He said, as he got up and walked towards Buffy.

"You're warm." She noticed as she grabbed his hand; placing her hands on his cheeks, "You're warm." She said this time smiling.

"Weird, huh?" He asked smiling back. "So does this mean we are done our shopping?" Angel asked hopefully, he was not sure if he was up to shopping with Buffy, even if it was only for a Christmas tree.

"Well, are you feeling better?" Buffy questioned.

"Um, on second thoughts, yeah, the world is spinning the world it's-it's gone! Buffy where are you I can't see you." Angel replied clutching his stomach.

"Very funny." Buffy said as she playfully smacked him on the arm, "I can take a hint. Giles's house it is."

"You know I love you." Angel said as he kissed her head working his way down to her lips.

"Well Giles can wait for just a few minutes." Buffy said as the two continued their mini make-out session.

Walking in the front door, the couple was greeted by a few surprises, "Uh, hi." Buffy said not sure what to say. As she looked around the room, she saw Anya if she remembered correctly, Cordelia, Willow, Oz, some new girl, Xander, and Giles.

"Xander, why is she here?" Anya interrogated, pointing to his ex.

"Anya, it's Christmas Eve, and she has nowhere else, just try and be nice." Xander said quietly.

"As long as she knows that you two are over, you are with me, "She said to Xander, "He's with me, I give him sex." Anya then said to Cordelia, making sure that she knew.

"Anya." Xander groaned sinking into the couch. "Now would be a perfect time to swallow me up, you hear that Hell mouth." Xander said, looking up at the ceiling, "Eat me."

"Buffy." Giles said, coming downstairs. "Uh, I take it tree shopping didn't turn out to well?" When he noticed their lack of tree.

"Angel." Buffy said pointing towards Angel. "He, uh, he had some sort of a dizzy spell."

"The evolution?" Giles asked as he made a dash for his books.

"We think yeah, he feels warm, well you know warmer." Buffy replied.

"Ah, yes, first there is heat." Giles said reading from his book. "Followed by breath, a heart beat, appetite, sunlight, and then a soul, uh, a well permanent soul." Giles concluded with a slight crimson to his cheeks.

"The dizzy spells?" Angel began, "Will I continue to have these dizzy spells?"

"It seems that with each passing the phase the symptoms if you will, will increase." Giles said, flipping the pages in his book, "I will be sure to check that out though."

"This evolution thing is going to be great." Buffy said sarcastically, trying to un-tense Angel.

He just stared at her, which she gave a little shrug and then pulled him over towards the rest of the gang.

"Eww, like I would want him." Cordelia replied, her and Anya had been engrossed in a battle of wits for the past couple of minutes or so.

Buffy who look from Anya to Cordelia and then to Xander who smiled then shrugged, "I can't help it that all the ladies want me." They then promptly smacked him.

"So, how's being a human?" Willow asked.

"Well, I am all of sudden aware of heat and coldness." Angel replied, "That's pretty much all for now.

"Well I still say go you," Willow said encouraging. "I mean hot and cold those are important. I'll stop now." She said leaning into Oz's protective arms.

"Thanks." Angel said smiling; he knew Willow was trying to be supportive.

"Oh, guys, I want you to meet Tara from my Wicca group." Willow said motioning to the girl sitting in the corner of the couch looking uncomfortable.

"Hi." She said shyly.

"She's really good." Willow said as she began to brag about Tara's skills.

Just then Angel began to feel dizzy again, groaning softly, Buffy looked over concerned. "Angel, are you alright." When the only answer she received was he promptly falling to the floor doubled over in pain, she began to panic. "Giles! Giles!"

Everyone in the room stopping their own personal conversations; and made their way to Buffy and Angel.

"Oh dear." Giles said.

"Oh dear?" Buffy asked, "Oh dear is not good, Giles?" Buffy was very worried, he only brought 'oh dears' out when someone was going to die or the world was being sucked into Hell.

"It seems as if his phases, they are coming, but all at once." Giles said, "I am not sure though." He began looking into his books muttering orders to be done.

Buffy looked on helpless at her Angel, unconscious on the floor, muttering words of anguish. He was sweating now, hands and feet trembling. Crouching down Buffy drew Angel's head and placed it on her lap, soothing him as best she could.

"What will happen if his phases come all together?" Willow asked as she walked over to Giles.

"Death most likely, the reason for these phases are so all the symptoms as we are calling it do not come at once," Giles sad sorrowfully.

"Coming! Coming!" Cordelia said running as best she could through the house, holing the damp washcloth. "Here," She said placing the damp cloth on Angel's forehead.

Tara who had overheard Willow and Giles conversation walked over, "Uh, well there is this spell, uh an incantation for healing the injured and sick, it shouldn't be too hard, I was thinking that maybe we could try it." She finished softly.

"I am not sure if such thing would be of use." Giles began, not liking the idea of Willow and this new girl trying a spell of such importance, at their level of practice.

"Oh but Angel." Willow said, "We need too." Willow argued, "We can do it, I think I've heard of it, it shouldn't be too hard. What would we need?" Willow finished facing Tara, as the two discussed the spell and ingredients needed.

"Buffy. Buffy." Angel moaned over and over.

"Shh, I'm here, I'm here." Buffy said. What would she do if she lost him? She had to know that this prophecy was to good to be true, why didn't she trust her instincts? "Have I ever said how much I hate fate and destiny? Buffy said allowed cursing to whatever Gods keep playing with her and Angel's lives.

"Götter hören mein plee, senden hinunter den Geist des Heilends in verflucht auf bekannt als Engel." Willow and Tara chanted, "Götter hören mein plee, senden hinunter den Geist des Heilends in verflucht auf bekannt als Engel." Repeating it again, as a cool wind came and then the lights flickered off, only to come back seconds later.

"Did it work?" Anya asked, being the first one breaking the silence.

"I think, I think we have to wait." Tara stuttered.

Buffy just sat there holding Angel, praying to anyone who would listen not to take her Angel away. Willow looked on helpless, "Poor Buffy." She said as she clung to Oz.

"Yeah." He agreed.

"So, since we are just waiting around here doing nothing, why don't Xander and I leave and have sex." Anya said, as she began to walk towards the door.

"Anya now is not a good time." Xander said, although the idea of sex sounded appealing he couldn't leave not yet at least.

"How could you think of something like that at a time like this?" Cordelia asked disgusted, "I mean it's-it's Xander for God sake, ew!"

"Buffy." Angel said, stirring in her lap.

"Angel, it's me I'm here." Buffy said stroking his face. "I'm here, are you alright? God, I was so scared Angel."

"Buffy." He repeated, looking up, he looked so confused, so scared.

"Shh, I'm here, I'm here." Buffy said soothing him, as tears ran down her face.

Seeing her crying he did the best he could to sit up, he had to protect her, had to make sure everything would be okay. "You're crying." He replied weakly.

"I-I thought I almost lost you." She said pulling him closer to her.

"I think that this is a, uh, private issue." Willow said, as her and everyone else slowly walked upstairs leaving Buffy alone with her love.

"I'm here, everything is alright." Angel said giving her his half smile.

"Did anything change?" Buffy asked, he hadn't seemed different but then again she was so relieved that he had not died, well died permanently, she didn't really notice much of anything.

Taking a deep breath he sat still, finding that indeed he had needed to breath a smile came to his face, "Breath is becoming an issue."

Buffy's face lit up, pulling him into a passion filled kiss, they kissed until both were grasping for air. "This is nice." She said contentedly placing her head on his chest, to hear the low thump of his heart.

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