"No, god no, Ange‹" Buffy woke up sobbing, and sat up, her hands covering her mouth‹only to find her head wham straight into that of the man sitting on her bed. "Ow!" She scooted back immediately, her eyes widening when she saw who it was.

"I-I, the spell!" she stuttered, her hands frantically searching for any kind of weapon‹preferably wooden and pointy.

He smiled, and her heart melted into one big puddle. God, it was Angelıs smile, Angelıs eyes‹nothing of Angelusıs mockery was there, even though he had her right where she was sure he wanted her.

"Itıs me," he said softly. "Itıs me Buffy. Angel."

Buffy stared. She stuttered. She swore to herself that if this was one of his sadistic jokes, she would rip his heart out.

She whispered, "Angel?" He put a hand to her cheek and she knew it was him‹Angelus could never feel like that, never touch her so lovingly that she felt like she was floating.

"Iım back," he whispered.

She wanted to believe but‹but sheıd just dreamt, and how could he be back? And in her house? Was this another dream? Or was this the dream and the other, the one that was too horrible to think of, was that the truth?

"How?" she asked.

"Willow cast the curse. She also revoked the spell so I could come in. And the spell‹Itıs permanent. Iım back for good this time," he told her, his other hand coming up to cup her face, almost involuntarily, like he couldnıt keep himself from touching her.

"Youıre back?" Buffy breathed, and collapsed into his arms sobbing out all the hurt of the last four months, all the pain of the vivid dream sheıd just woken from. When she had calmed down she pulled away enough to look at him, and trace his mouth with her thumb.

"What were you dreaming about? You were crying," he said softly. She nodded and looked down, at their joined hands on the bedcovers.

"It was horrible Angel. You­Angelus‹tricked me, and Drusilla killed Kendra and put Willow in a coma and took GilesŠI was thrown out of school, and my mom kicked me out, and then Angelus wakened Acathla, and we fought, and-and you came back. But it didnıt matter, because Acathla was coming and only your blood could stop him and I‹" Buffy sniffled, blinking back tears. She looked up and met his serious dark eyes. "I had to send you to Hell. It was so real, Angel, I felt like I did, like you were really gone, like I had killed you."

"Iım right here," he told her, and smiled softly, and something in her heart bloomed like a rose, the first truly wonderful thing she had felt in months.

"Angel, I just have to askŠthat last nightŠ"

Angel stopped her mouth with a kiss, murmuring into her mouth, "You are amazing. I love you."

Buffy rested her forehead against his and rubbed noses. "So, you mentioned something about permanentŠ" she murmured. He laughed softly and kissed her again.

"I donıt know. I donıt think Iıve recovered from the last time yet. You know, all that Slayer strengthŠstamina," he breathed in her ear. Buffy giggled and fell back on the bed, pulling him with her.

"You know, Spike still has Acathla," he said suddenly, pausing with his face inches from hers. Buffy grinned.

"I have this odd feeling that that isnıt going to be a problem," she said. Angel gave her an inquiring look. "Call it a psychic hunch. Besides, weıll get it back later."

"Later?" He kissed her nose and she rolled him over to lay beside her and tucked her head underneath his chin.

"Much later. Iım sleepy," she murmured. "Didnıt sleep well."

"Do you want me to go?" he asked into her hair. She shook her head emphatically.

"No! No no no no! Never leave me again! Ever Angel," she said fiercely.

"I promise." She smiled happily and snuggled into his arms again.

"Good. I love you Angel. And Iım going back to sleep." He laughed softly and kissed her hair again.

"Have sweet dreams," he whispered. Buffy murmured happily and snuggled deeper into his arms.

"Well now I will."

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