DISCLAIMER: Buffy and Angel are not mine, at all. "What's Simple Is True" belongs to Jewel. It's from her Spirit CD.
TIMELINE: Not too long into the future
SPOLIERS: Really tiny Amends. In fact you might miss it.
SYNOPSIS: A fluff-lit. My word for a mini fluff. It's not very long, but it gets my point across. Buffy and Angel finally go skating.
DISTRIBUTION: It's yours really. Link though?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was listening to this song and thought of this fic. My first dialogue-less fic. And music fic too, I think. Cool. The Spirt CD is very good, I recommend it. ** are song lyrics.

FEEDBACK: Please? I beg you.
RATING: G

Buffy sat all alone. A snowstorm had knocked out the power quite a while ago. She now read a hardback novel from candlelight. The flames danced in the surrounding darkness, casting unwanted shadows. Every corner of darkness revealed yet another monster from her past. Her breath puffed out in the night's chilly air rhythmically. The teacup on the cherry wood side table still steamed though was now cold enough to loose appeal.

She pulled her sweatshirt further to her chest. It was hard to fight away the cold, slowly seeping into her soul. She stopped reading for a moment, absorbing her apartment once again. Her eyes drifted back to the plump snowflakes lazily falling from the endless starry sky. She closed her eyes, hoping to recapture those moments in her life. When worries consisted of which color to wear to the club that night.

A knock at the door startled her. She jumped a bit and moved to set her book aside. The knock was repeated, only louder. She grumbled a bit, disturbed from her peaceful state. Not many visited now days. In fact this was the second ever. The cold wood floors could still be felt even through multiple layers of socks. When the knock came again she hurried her pace a bit.

Buffy swung the door openly, wondering who her visitor was. She gasped slightly to see him standing there. He had not changed much. His hair was shorter than before but not by much. The spikes were still there though. He too wore thick layers of clothing, as always, black. Deep chocolate eyes met hers. His soul met hers. She would have kicked herself later for being drawn into those eyes so quickly. But love was like that.

He glanced her body over once, causing her to blush slightly. Though the cold had already given pink to checks. He smiled once, revealing perfect which teeth. With a quick nod, he grabbed her arm and led her outside. He shut the door and dragged her to the staircase in her building. He looked back only once, when she stopped hesitantly at the top of the stairs. With only a glimpse of his face showed her he could be trusted.

Angel pushed the door open and led Buffy to the colder night air. She looked up, blinking as the snowflakes landed in her eyes. She smiled for the first time in a long time. Already the feeling was lost in her ears, but she ignored that fact. She stepped in the car he pointed to her.

She didn't need words. Not anymore. Life was not about words, but actions. Body language could describe every feeling she was experiencing. She noticed Angel had a bit of anticipation in his eye. He was almost giddy. Buffy didn't bother asking him how he found her, or how he knew what she was feeling, because she knew, without a doubt, he felt it too.

The drive was not too long, long enough for her skin to heat up though. The air was still, the buildings and houses dark, and Angel continued driving. Finally he stopped the car. Buffy turned to his direction. He turned to the backseat of the car, inviting Buffy's eyes to follow his.

She found two pair of ice skates in the seat. A small white set and a larger black set. There was no bother in asking how he knew her size; he knew everything about her. She stepped out of the car and opened the back door, picking up the skates by the laces. Angel did the same. He walked to her side of the car and leaned against the closed doors. Slowly he removed his shoes, motioning for Buffy to do the same. The put their ice-skates on in silence.

Buffy finished first, expertly tying the laces up the shoe. She pushed off the car and bit and skated out. The ice was smooth and pure. Her smile never left her face as Angel joined her. She couldn't help but feel the joy of skating with her love. Buffy could never replace him, nor could he with her.

Angel skated further into the lake. He meant to turn back to her, but tripped in the process. Buffy couldn't help but laugh; he had always displayed such a sense of gracefulness. His laugh was at first thin, but then grew. Buffy's heart swelled. She savored this moment, this brief piece of history.

**

Turn to me with frozen lips
Your hands are icy cold
Your eyes burn bright against the frost-bit sky
You never seemed more lovely than you do tonight

**

As the sun peaked over a nearby hill Buffy's hand tightened its hold on Angel's. The sun was a constant reminder of what they could never have. Her euphoria was finally gone, replaced with panic. She knew this moment would end, but it went too soon. They began to quickly skate to the car, when Angel stopped her.

She turned to him with wide set eyes. He needed to get in the car. She started tugging at his arm, hoping to move him faster. He stayed put somehow. Buffy began crying at his refusal. He drew closer to her, wiping her tears away one by one. She turned to face the sun; she could not bear to look at him as he left. The rays now bathed the lake in a bright light. The trees started blowing with an increase in wind.

Buffy closed her eyes, afraid to turn around. She slowly turned, her skate making a shrill noise against the ice. She winced at the sound, another reminder of what would not be there when she opened her eyes. Finally courage came. With a final breath she opened her eyes. There stood Angel. She almost fainted from astonishment.

**

Our two shadows merge inseparably

Will time stand still if it's pierced with cold

The more I live

The more I know

What's simple is true

I love you

**

She pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, her tears wetting his coat. He sighed, breathing her scent in. He was human now. His life could be with her again. There would be no negative consequences. Not anymore. He was there to stay. Forever.

After what seemed like hours Buffy finally let the hug pass. She slid her hand in his and they skated the short distance to the car. They removed the skates and threw them into the backseat. Their shoes were replaced and together they climb into the car.

**

There's a warmth in my heart
It haunts me when you're gone
Mend me to your side and never let go
Say 'Time knows nothing, we'll never grow cold'
The more I live
The more I know
What's simple is true
I love you

**

Buffy sighed as he drove them home. She would again return to her apartment. Her lonely apartment. But she would no longer be alone. He would be there. He was going to change her life forever. She would finally be able to be with him. No more obstacles, no more restrictions. She was finally happy.

He packed the car and they walked into the home together. Walked the three floors to her place. She noticed immediately that the power had come back on. As she climbed the stairs she turned back to Angel. The sun streamed through the window, lighting every feature on his face.

His hair now had a hint of red that could have only been seen in sunlight. He no longer looked dark and brooding, but happy and carefree. Buffy could not believe how she had missed that before. It was so obvious now. Had it come when the sun had created their shadows?

The spent the day together drinking hot cocoa and eating soups. They listened to music and read. They took a nap in Buffy's small bed on the other side of the apartment. The day was spent without outside attractions; it was a day for the two to reconnect with each other.

**

Twilight descends on our silhouette
How soon spring comes
How soon spring forgets
I wanna hold time, say it'll never begin
Old man winter be our friend
Old man winter be our friend
Cause the more I live
The more I know
What's simple is true
What's Simple is true
I love, I love you

**

And together they spent the night watching the stars in the night sky, content with being with each other. The moonlight shone as a reminder of the past. Of when all they could see was moonlight. When the sun was a burden instead of a welcome. Buffy sighed and leaned again his chest. She was, at last, home.

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