Year: 2007

Angel was surprised by Buffy's absence when he caught up with Giles and Xander.

Giles must have asked her to scout for other trouble, Angel reasoned, as he went to help Giles support Xander.

"So that really was you," Xander commented, letting Angel lift him off a badly sprained ankle. "I gotta say you timed your return to the land of the living perfectly."

"Buffy would have come," Angel said. "Giles and I just found you first."

The stunned expression on Xander's face bothered him.

"Angel," Giles said gently. "Do you remember the demon Buffy asked you to come back to Sunnydale to help her fight?"

"No, I just woke up here," Angel replied.

Giles stepped in front of Angel, forcing the vampire to stop and look at him. "The two of you managed to kill it, but the fight went badly. You've been in a coma for three years Angel, and. Buffy.Buffy died during the battle."

"I saw her," Angel protested, "Just a few minutes ago in the crypt."

Giles looked alarmed. "Angel, that isn't possible. Buffy has been dead for three years."

"You're wrong," Angel said looking around for Buffy. Then he saw her, standing by the cemetery gates, waiting for them.

Angel relaxed and smiled, "See, I told you, she's right over there."

Xander and Giles exchanged a concerned look.

"I'm not going to say it," Xander said.

"Um Angel," Giles said hesitantly. "There's no one there."

_________________________________________

Year: 2007

"Could he be seeing a ghost?" Willow asked.

"It wouldn't be the first time we've dealt with ghosts on the Hellmouth." Giles said cautiously.

Angel leaned over and whispered to Buffy, "Are you a ghost?"

She giggled. "I'd have to have died to be a ghost," Buffy whispered back.

"So you're not dead?" Angel asked, needing to be clear on that if nothing else.

"What do you think?" She asked.

Angel brushed a loose strand of hair back into her ponytail. She turned to face him and he kissed her softly. When he pulled back he was smiling, "Nope, you're definitely not dead," he said.

"If Buffy's a ghost, why hasn't she shown up before now?" Xander asked. "And why's Deadboy the only one who sees her?"

Oz shrugged, "Your second question kinda answers the first. Buffy could have been here as a ghost all this time, but no one saw her till Angel woke up."

"Why can't they see you?" Angel asked.

Buffy shrugged dismissively. Angel decided that if she wasn't worried he shouldn't let it bother him either.

"I know," Willow said. "There's a spell to show if a place is haunted. I could check if there are any ghosts here."

_________________________________________________

Year: 2007

"Well?" Giles asked.

"No ghosts," Willow replied sadly. "Angel are you sure she's here?"

Angel glanced down at Buffy; she'd snuggled up against him and fallen asleep hours ago. "She's here," Angel said nudging her awake. "Willow's spell didn't work," he told her.

"'Course," Buffy said sleepily. "I'm not a ghost 'member? I told you that."

"Maybe I did the spell wrong," Willow suggested.

"Maybe Deadboy's head didn't heal right," Xander said bitterly.

_________________________________________

Year: 2010

"Hi Angel," Beth said. "Is Buffy here?"

Angel smiled at the six-year-old. He thought it was really sweet of Willow and Oz to name their daughter after Buffy. He just wished he could explain to them that Buffy wasn't really dead.

"Naw, she went on patrol tonight," Angel replied.

"Zackery's here," Beth said, "He likes visiting you and Xander."

"Hey Zack," Angel said directing his greeting toward the spot Zackery usually occupied, about two feet off Beth's left shoulder. He couldn't see Zackery, but Beth couldn't see Buffy, so Angel was willing to accept that he was here on faith. Beth accepted Buffy on faith, which was a lot more than the others did.

Angel knew the most popular theory was that he was insane. Oh, no one except Xander said that straight out, but it wasn't hard to miss that they thought it either. Buffy found the whole thing immensely entertaining, Angel was starting to get annoyed.

Xander wouldn't quit patrolling without Buffy, so Angel had to go with him. Of the entire lot of them Xander was the most annoying, but Angel couldn't let him patrol alone, Buffy wouldn't like it if anything happened to her old friend.

On her advice he was still living at Xander apartment as well. He had decided to go back to the mansion last year, but everyone had been firmly against that idea. Angel would have gone anyway except Buffy had pointed out that it was easier to make sure Xander didn't go back to hunting alone that way.

Also it wasn't worth upsetting everyone over anyway, and they didn't trust him to watch Beth alone.

"How is school going?" Angel asked.

Beth made a face; it was common knowledge that she despised first grade. "First, it's boring," she said. "All we do is little kid stuff. Zack and I can read way bigger books than `Look at Spot. Look at Spot run.' Second, everyone's mean. Third, I'm in trouble again. That's why Mom and Dad had to go have another talk with Mrs. Minch."

Angel carefully hid a smile, as he sat down. Beth confidently climbed into his lap and made herself at home. "What happened this time?" Angel asked.

Beth sighed tragically, "Marcy wouldn't let me on the swing, so I started pushing her, once the swing started going really high I told her about the Harpies. That's all Angel, really."

"What did you tell her about Harpies?" Angel asked

Beth looked up at him a perfect picture of innocence. "That they like to steal people from swings and take them up ballzions of feet in the air, then drop them so they go splat."

"Oh, did Marcy get off the swing then?" Angel asked, striving for an appropriately disapproving tone. He wasn't supposed to encourage her in mischief. Not even when Beth's brand of mischief was so brilliant.

"Well she wanted to," Beth answered thoughtfully. "But I was having such a good time pushing her I forgot to let her get off."

_________________________________

Year: 2010

"Beth is an incredibly bright child," Mrs. Minch began. "However her imagination is somewhat disturbing. Beth uses her stories of monsters to terrify the other children."

Willow and Oz exchanged a look, growing up in their circle of friends it came as little surprise that monsters and the like were very much on Beth's mind.

"Then there's the matter of her imaginary friend, Zackery," Mrs. Minch continued. "Beth's still quiet young, but I'm concerned by the conviction she displays in Zackery's reality. I'm afraid her belief in him prevents her from developing real friendships.

"Furthermore whenever Zackery's reality is questioned Beth simply answers that Angel believes in him."

Willow and Oz glanced at one another again.

"Who is this Angel?" Mrs. Minch asked. "I checked the school's records, there are no children with that name."

"Angel is a friend of the family," Willow answered.

"How old is Angel? From the way Beth talks about him I assume he's considerably older than she is," Mrs. Minch asked.

Again Willow and Oz shared a look this time trying to decide discreetly who should come up with an answer, obviously they had to lie and it would be uncomfortable if they blurted out different ages.

"Sometimes older children or adults find it cute to encourage a younger child in their belief in an imaginary friend," Mrs. Minch continued. "However it would be best if you asked him to cease this practice."

_______________________________________________

Year: 2010

"Just asking isn't gonna work," Oz said.

"I know," Willow replied. "As long as we can't explain why he sees Buffy, he's going to support Beth about Zackery."

"I guess that's our answer then," Oz said. "We have to get Angel to realize that Buffy isn't really there."

"But what if she is?" Willow asked. "Hellmouth and everything, you know a lot of unexplainable things happen here. I mean what would Mrs. Minch think if we told her I'm a practicing witch or that you're a werewolf? Huh?"

"Willow, I know you don't like the idea that Angel might just be seeing things, but haven't you noticed how Angel always sees Buffy the instant we start trying to convince him she's dead? And give yourself some credit, you've been looking for some proof of what Angel sees for years. If there was anything to find, you'd have found it by now."

____________________________________________

Year: 2010

Willow sat down across from Angel. Oz, Xander and Giles sat or stood self-consciously around the room.

"Angel you trust me right?" Willow started.

"Of course," Angel answered tensely. He relaxed as Buffy's slender arms wrapped around his shoulders. She stood behind his chair; casually she leaned into him.

"Miss me lover?" she asked. A smile flitted across Angel's face, but he didn't answer, he'd learned it just caused problems if he and Buffy talked while the others were around and from Willow's tone Angel knew he already was in trouble.

"You know I'd never lie to you or try to hurt you," Willow continued.

This time Angel just waited for her to get to her point.

"I've tried to figure out what's there when you see Buffy for three years Angel. I looked hard, but there's nothing for me to find. Angel, Buffy died years ago, you have to accept that. I saw her body, we all did. Xander was with her when she died. Angel we know Buffy died." Tears filled Willow's eyes, slowly spilling down her cheeks. "If there had been any doubt we would have looked into it. I know you don't want to hear this, I didn't want to believe it either, but Buffy is gone."

Angel sighed, "Willow, I hear her. I see her. I can touch her. I can even smell that flowery soap Buffy always uses. I know you're trying to help me, that you believe what you say, but you're wrong. Buffy's alive and well. She's here right now."

"This is pointless," Xander muttered.

Giles took off his glasses and polished them absently. "Angel, when did Buffy come in?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

"Did she come through the door, for the kitchen, the hall, the garage?"

"I was watching all of you do your concerned thing. I didn't notice, sue me."

"Where does she go when she's not with you?"

"Around, she has a life."

"What life? Where does she work? Where does she live? Have you seen her eat lately?"

"I don't know! I don't ask!"

"Shh.. Relax," Buffy said. "They're confused, don't get mad."

Angel closed his eyes briefly; he reached up to clasp Buffy's hand.

Oz looked at Angel's hand resting a fraction of an inch above his shoulder. "You think she's by you," he said. "Her hand's on you shoulder, right?"

"Yeah," Angel said.

"Okay," Oz said walking to Angel's side. Angel started to turn to him, pulling away from Buffy. "No, don't move, either of you. I have an idea."

Angel shrugged then watched curiously as Oz tried to force his hand down to his shoulder.

"Okay," Oz said a few moments later. "I'm guessing that this would work better if you were human."

"It would work better if Buffy's hand wasn't in the way," Angel replied.

"Well that's one way to look at it," Oz said. "But for my curiosity's sake just hold your arm out and try not to let me move it."

"You know, " Oz said after a few tries. "It would make me feel better if you a least looked like it was an effort for you to stop me."

Angel half-smiled. "Sorry, it's the whole vampire strength thing."

"Well, I'm out of ideas," Oz said retaking his seat.

"I've got one," Xander said softly. "It's not a good one, but at least Angel gets some proof, since that's what he needs."

"What do you want to do?" Giles asked.

"We show him Buffy, the real one, not the figment of his imagination," Xander said coldly.

"But. but." Willow stammered. "I don't think we should do that. It's a bad idea, a very bad idea."

Xander turned his attention to Angel. "Come on lets end it. I'm sick of you stirring up old memories."

"She's not dead," Angel replied calmly.

"Then you shouldn't have a problem with digging up her grave," Xander challenged.

Angel met Xander's eyes evenly. "Let's do it."

"Angel," Buffy protested weakly.

"He's right," Angel told her. "This has gone on too long, we need to end it."

_____________________________________

Year: 2010

Xander stepped back from the open grave. "You do the honors," he said.

Angel hesitated, Buffy had refused to come here with him and now the icy determination to prove Xander wrong was giving way to doubts.

"Do it," Xander insisted. "Or I will, we've gone to far to turn back now."

Angel nodded then through the casket lid open.

Even after six years the body was recognizable, the mortician had done a good job of preserving her body. Angel wanted to say it wasn't her, but the words wouldn't come. Delicately he lifted her hand. They'd buried her with the claddagh ring.

"You gave that to her didn't you?" Xander asked quietly. "She never took it off."

Angel traced a slight scratch in the ring's surface. "I remember how upset she was when it got damaged. A lizard thing bashed her hand against a concrete wall, when she noticed the scratch it never had a chance."

Angel gently set her hand down and knelt by the casket, "How did she die? Why didn't I protect her?"

__________________________________

Year: 2010

"They should be back by now," Giles said.

"It's almost dawn," Willow added with concern. "I knew this was a bad idea."

"I'm going to go get them," Giles said. "They walked, if worst comes to worst Angel can take shelter in the trunk."

"Oz stay with Beth, I'm going with Giles," Willow said.

"Got it."

__________________________________________________

Year: 2010

"We should have just left things alone," Willow said softly as they drove to the cemetery. "It wasn't that bad. I never should have let that Mrs. Minch worry me, she just doesn't understand Beth."

"Willow, quit it. We did what we thought was best. Furthermore, we don't even know how this will turn out yet. Let's get there and see what has kept them before we start recriminations."

________________________________________

Year: 2010

Xander glanced nervously at the increasingly bright sky, then back at Angel. "Please listen to me, we've got to get out of here."

If Angel heard it wasn't apparent, he remained kneeling beside the casket, lost in grief. Every few moments his body would be caught in a spasm of shaking.

At first Xander had been afraid that Angel was crying, now he wished it were something that normal. Xander just didn't know how to deal with Angel's silent shaking.

For the first few minutes after Angel had acknowledged Buffy's death, Xander had believed he would be able to handle it. Until Angel asked why he was alive if Buffy was dead.

Nothing Xander had said had reached Angel. As the night had worn on it seemed more and more that Angel didn't even hear him. Any moment now the sun would be rising.

Xander tried to forcibly turn Angel away from the coffin, and like Oz earlier that night, found that Angel was simply too strong. Xander checked the horizon again and was relieved to see Giles and Willow approaching.

"Guys, thank God you're here, we've got to get Angel inside," Xander said.

Giles nodded walking past Xander to Angel. "Angel? Angel!" Giles frowned; Angel's attention was totally fixated on Buffy's corpse.

"Help me close this," Giles asked Xander. With the casket closed Angel's trancelike state seemed to lessen. "Angel," Giles repeated firmly. "The sun is rising you have to take shelter."

"No," Angel replied distractedly, he was still staring at the casket. Gently he brushed his fingertips across the surface. Blood red tears trickled down his pale cheeks.

Willow moved to stand beside Angel, she hugged him comfortingly. "We all miss her," she told him.

"It's not right," Angel said, the dull, lifeless quality of his voice was frightening. "I should have died before letting her get hurt. I failed her."

"No Angel," Willow protested, shock and empathy filling her voice. "You did everything you could, more than Buffy would have ever asked of you."

"I failed her, I should die," Angel stated dully.

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