Part 10

Two days later….

Angel stood nervously outside Giles' apartment, dressed in a white T-shirt and blue jeans. He caught his reflection in the glass and almost smiled, he finally looked every inch the normal boyfriend Buffy had long ago dreamed he would be. He took a deep breath and prayed that after today he really could be that boyfriend for a second time, only this time nothing would part them, not ever.

Buffy almost flew to the door. He was late, a whole four minutes. It had felt like a lifetime.

It seemed so strange that only a few short weeks ago this beautiful man hadn't even been in her life, now she couldn't imagine life without him.

**Calm down girl, don't scare him off** she kept repeating as she flung open the door.

" Angel" she smiled brightly.

"Hey, are you ready to go?" he asked softly."

Oh, I think you're supposed to meet my cousin" she winked Buffy knew that Giles was watching their every movement.

Angel slowly entered the room and stared over at Giles, waiting for the older man to react first.

Giles quietly cleared his throat. "So you must be Angel? I've heard a lot about you…..it's nice to meet you" he offered his hand.

Angel realised that this was a peace offering and also a slight warning, he shook it. "You too sir." Both sets of eyes met and then relaxed.

"Right all finished, let's go" Buffy sweetly smiled at Giles and turned her attention back to Angel. She almost pulled him out of the door.

"Right, where are we going?" She asked as Angel opened the door of his car and she climbed in.

He found he couldn't take his eyes off her face; it had been so long since he had seen her in sunlight. Even at the gallery they had been indoors. Now, with the sunlight catching all the colours of her hair, he knew without a doubt that he had made his amends, he had been forgiven. Being with this wonderful girl again was like finding a little piece of heaven, a place once so forbidden but now his for the asking.

Realising she was waiting for an answer he smiled as the car moved away. "You'll see."

They drove for about an hour. When he was happy that he'd found the most perfect spot he stopped.

"A picnic?" Buffy looked over at the food hamper.

Angel looked apprehensive. "You don't mind do you?" he waited.

" No, it's perfect. You, me, food." She laughed softly, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Angel watched in wonder, she was alive, she was here with him. He then noticed she was waiting for him to continue.

" I thought it would be nice to get to know each other properly, without any distractions"

He could feel the heat from her body; the smell of her perfume was driving him crazy. He searched her eyes again for approval.

" That's a lovely idea and yet I feel…" she thought for a moment then continued "I feel as if I've known you all my life" she sighed deeply.

"I know the feeling." Angel moved slowly towards her, he placed his mouth softly over her lips, slipping his arms around her tiny waist, he pulled her gently towards him. Buffy moved into him without a moments hesitation, her hands automatically moved up to caress his face and then slid into his spiky hair. She sighed again into his mouth as she answered his kiss and pulled his body closer.

After a few minutes, Angel reluctantly broke away before the last fragment of restraint left him. He looked in to her flushed face and breathed heavily.

"I think we should eat," he asked finally finding his voice.

"Food, yes, eat" Buffy whispered never once taking her eyes off his.

Part 11

They ended their day back at Angels' apartment. When Buffy had asked to see where he lived, he had happily invited her in for coffee, safe in the knowledge that Cordelia and Wesley were both out for the night and there would be no interruptions.

" I should take you home, it's late" he kissed her softly

"You should, Giles will worry" she returned his kiss with one of her own, her mouth clinging to his. Angels' arms tightened around her small body, pulling her up closer to him. He breathed in deeply the smell of her skin, her hair. He felt her moan against his mouth as he closed his eyes.

"Just" * kiss * "five" * kiss * " more" * kiss* "minutes," * more kissing*

His hands moved swiftly up her back, caressing the soft skin at the nape of her neck. He couldn't get enough of this girl; he would never get enough of her.

" Angel" Buffy pulled away slightly.

He slowly opened his eyes already missing the softness of her mouth. He was amazed by the look of pure longing on her face. She caressed his face with her finger.

" Make love to me, please?" she whispered so softly.

Angel was stunned for a second; it was the last thing he had expected. "Are you sure you want this?" his heartbeat raced in his chest. His whole body was begging that she did but he couldn't be the one to ask. He had to take it slowly. Giles had warned him………. But, dear God, he wanted her so much.

"From the first moment I saw you, I knew that I'd never want anything more in my whole life. Even without my memories I'm sure of that" Her smile grew. She touched his face again, tracing her finger over his cheekbone then slipping her hand into his hair. She pressed her body closer to his, realising what she was doing to him, she smiled.

He gently placed a finger to her lips. "I don't want to hurt you" he pleaded softly.

She looked slightly confused. "How could you ever hurt me Angel? I can't tell you if there was ever anybody else in my life, forgotten lovers?…..I just feel like this is my first time. I want you to be my first, my last" she pulled his mouth back onto hers.

Angel wanted to scream "I was, I will be" But he just kept kissing her; he couldn't stop now. Not even if the hell mouth itself reopened.

Lifting her up gently into his arms he carried her over to his bed, gently lowering her down, never once breaking their kiss. They removed each others' clothes slowly, their eyes never losing contact. Fingers holding, caressing, touching.

Angel kissed her eyelids, her nose, the soft warm flesh behind her ear. Moving to her neck, then lower covering every inch of skin he could find. Once more returning to her mouth, he licked softly around her top lip then slipped his tongue into the warm haven of her mouth. Simply stroking the soft skin he found inside, Buffys' tongue soon fought to join his. Angel heard her sigh, then moan as an unbelievable feeling of warmth spread through her body, intensifying with each touch.

He caught her hands and laced his fingers between hers; he looked deeply into her eyes. He needed to be as close to this girl as was humanly possible, he needed to be a part of her. One body, one soul just as she had always been a part of him, truly the other side of his soul.

Her eyes begged him to continue.

Finally joined and moving in a perfect rhythm he felt her grip grow tighter, her breath came in short sharp gasps, her eyes closed and her head rolled back. Angel buried his face deeply into the side of her neck, sucking the sweet skin into his mouth. When at last he heard Buffy cry out his name he surrendered to his own release. At that very moment he knew he was truly alive.

As Buffy returned to earth she swore she heard Angel whisper " I love you"

She closed her eyes, breathed deeply and thought ** I love you too**

She knew at once with all her heart and soul that this was true.

** I love you too*

She lay in his arms just content to he held, resting her head on his chest she listened as his heartbeat slowed

" What are you thinking?" he asked softly kissing the top of her head

"I never believed it was possible to feel this happy. I'm almost too afraid to sleep in case I wake up and find it's all been a dream and you're gone." She smiled up at him

He caught her lips for the softest kiss.

"Sleep, I'll still be here when you wake, I promise" Angel lay his head next to hers as sleep started to claim him, the last thing he heard was Buffy sigh.

" Perfect"

****

Buffy shot up in bed. The most incredible pain was building up inside of her head. She staggered out of bed and knelt on the floor, taking deep breaths and waiting for the pain to go.

** I need air** she tried to reason. Grabbing Angels' shirt she pulled it over her head as the pain started to rise once more.

It increased with intensity; she opened her mouth to scream but found she couldn't make a sound as wave after wave of memory crashed into her mind. The floodgates had opened and were now threatening to drown her. They started with visions of Angel in his office, Cordelia and Doyle.

More pain, more memories, she felt dizzy then sick. Gripping first a chair she staggered and crashed into the table sending everything flying. More visions flashed before her eyes, a different tabletop, Angel kissing her. Pain, pure, raw pain crushed her head.

Angel finally woke up, seeing her kneeling on the floor, holding her head in her hands. Panic gripped his heart.

"BUFFY" he cried realising his mistake too late.

She stared at him with dark empty eyes. Panting with fear she pushed away from him.

** I need to get away ** her brain screamed. The visions now flashing through her mind were too terrifying to be true. Vampires and monsters, she stumbled back.

Angel tried to grab her but she was too strong, she sent him flying across the room

** Get away** was the only rational thought her brain allowed.

She ran crying from Angels' apartment. More visions, more confusion and so much more pain.

Memories now came in rapid flashes

Sewer…Pier…Tabletop…. Clock ticking down…sobbing "I'll never forget".

Pain, so much pain and the words " I'll never forget, I'll never forget" crying in her heart.

Buffy made her way onto the streets. She saw the face of every demon she had ever known laugh at her. Finally, she screamed from her very soul.

She continued to run blindly, she couldn't see anything but the memories her mind was replaying. She couldn't see the approaching traffic; she didn't even feel the increased pain as the car struck her.

Once more Buffy saw the darkness coming, once more she thought only of Angel and once more she saw a light.

Part 12.

"Mr. Giles, nice to see you again I'm sorry it's under such sad circumstances." Dr Andrews walked along the corridor.

" How is she, have you heard anything yet?" Giles crossed over to meet him, he was frantic for news.

" What ever that girl is made of its amazing stuff, once again she's fighting so hard"

" Will she recover?" Giles asked as calmly as his voice would allow.

" She is responding really well to the treatment we have given her. Once again, her physical injuries are not our main concern. It's her mind again, she's still unconscious. The trigger we hoped she would never find, well it looks like she found it, big time. It must have been much worse then we imagined, we have no idea what is going on in that young lady's head. Until she wakes up your guess is as good as mine" Dr Andrews finished sadly.

Giles glared at Angel.

Angel sat by Buffy's bedside refusing to move for any reason whatsoever. He had been there for twelve hours, watching her take every breath. He had never known fear like he was feeling now. Confusion tore him apart, fighting with himself to understand what could have happened. One moment they were falling asleep and the next, all hell had broken loose. If he closed his eyes, he imagined he could still hear the screeching of the brakes, the sick thud of her body hitting the ground.

"Angel please, you haven't eaten all day, you must get some rest" Cordelia sat by his side. Her eyes filled with concern. Angel didn't even hear her; she reached over and touched his shoulder. He looked up, his face seemed to have aged overnight and his eyes had taken on a haunted look like never before.

" I'll watch her for you" Cordelia offered gently.

" I can't leave her Cordelia, I'm too afraid to move " He cried softly still holding on to Buffy's tiny hand.

" Angel you're human now, you have to take care of your self, please" Cordelia begged.

But Angel just turned back to Buffy; he would never leave her again, not for a single moment.

Cordelia sat with him for an hour in complete silence. She then softly slipped away; Angel didn't notice her leave, his every thought was occupied with his love. She was his whole world, she always had been, ever since that very first day.

He wouldn't lose her again, he just couldn't.

Hours passed but Angel didn't move, he patiently watched and waited.

She looked so peaceful; finally, he rose from his chair and put his mouth close to her ear. " Please wake up baby, I need you" he whispered He trailed his lips over to her mouth and softly kissed her. " I love you" He sighed in to her mouth.

Buffy made a whimpering sound.

For a split second Angel forgot how to breath. He watched her eyelids flicker once, twice and then finally she opened her eyes

She looked around and then focused on Angel. At first her eyes were blank with no indication that she recognised anything. Then slowly the blank expression lifted.

" Hi" her first word came out as no more then a whisper.

" Aurora?" Angel asked softly.

A paralysing fear gripped him, he knew her next words would be the most important she had ever spoken. How much would she remember, if anything at all.

She just carried on staring at him, confusion growing in her eyes by the second.

Suddenly Angels' expression changed. His eyes opening in wonder.

" Buffy?" he asked hardly daring to believe.

She lifted her tiny hand to his face, then touched her fingers to his lips, feeling the warmth of his mouth.

"You're still alive" she whispered.

Angel just nodded, tears streamed down his face. Buffy felt the warm liquid flow on to her fingers. " So are you" he sighed softly.

Her next question almost broke his heart

" What happened?" Her eyes held his, begging for answers he didn't know.

" What do you remember?" he softly kissed her fingers. Again he held his breath as Buffy struggled for a moment.

" Not much, everything is so jumbled up, but there was a bright white light, so much pain I thought I was dying, your eyes..........then a mohra demon... sunshine... kitchen table.... peanut butter" Buffys' voice was so quiet Angel moved closer to hear.

" I promised I'd never forget and I didn't did I?" she closed her eyes again. The effort of just a few words had completely drained what little strength she had. She drifted back to sleep

" No beloved, you didn't forget" Angel kissed her hand again, he closed his eyes and sighed.

Buffy might never regain all of her memory but what she had just remembered brought real joy to Angels' heart. If she could remember their lost day, a day she was never supposed to know, then there was hope, hope that she would one day remember it all.

As Angel watched the love of his life sleep peacefully by his side, he knew their life together had just started.

Aurora was no more; this time sleeping beauty had really woken up.

Angel was now the happiest man alive.

"Welcome back Buffy, welcome home"

*****

Epilogue.

And as with all good fairy stories they of course lived happily..... ever ....after.

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