Disclaimer: I own nothing, Buffy and CO, belong to Joss Whedon.
Summary: Angel's reaction prompts Buffy to make her decision. Continues after "Slayage."
Author's Note: B/R at first, then B/A (Remember I wrote this last year, during the summer, so I had to make a few modifications to fit this season.) Thanks to everyone and their wonderful feedback, I really appreciate it.

Angel stared at her, the shock he felt a moment ago was a soft ripple compared to the intense pain that was forming. Trying to mask the tremble in his voice. "And your answer?"

"I told him I needed more time to decide." She answered.

Angel stood up and looked away from her, he could look at her, fearing his face would show how much he was hurting. Angel wanted to tell her not to marry Riley, not to give herself to another man, but anger was flaring through him. The demon in him snarled wanting to lash out at her for forgetting who she belonged to. Angel pushed the thought down and turned to her. "What do you want me to say? He said harshly. "Do you want a congratulations, my blessing." Angel fumed.

Buffy snapped her head towards him, she gave him an icy stare. "What's your problem?!"

Rolling his eyes. "You!! You would consider marrying him?" He said disgustedly, Angel was so blinded by anger, he wasn't thinking before her spoke. "Are you in such a rush to forget what we had?!?!!" Not waiting for her answer, Angel took off, he didn't want to hear it anymore.

Not letting him get away, Buffy followed. "You are a selfish bastard!! You told me to move on, you said you don't want to be with me. Now 2 years later, I find someone, and you get pissed because you can't handle it!! Sorry Angel, you can't have the best of 2 worlds."

Angel stopped, his fist clenched tightly as he turned toward her; he could see pure anger radiating off her, anger that had been building up for a long time. He took a breath to calm down. "Do you love him?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "That's none of your business."

"Why do you have to make everything so damn hard?! Just answer the question."

"I don't have to answer to you!!!"

Grabbing her upper arms. "Do you love him?!!!"

"YES!!! I love him." Buffy shouted, pushing Angel away from her, she could still feel his fingers digging in her arms.

A flicker of gut wrenching pain shown in his eyes, Angel let the pain run through him. "Why are you doing this to me?" He whispered.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, trying hard not to cry. "Easy, you did it to me, when you left. And when you stopped caring, I stopped caring." Part of Buffy wanted to apologize and take it back. But the other part wanted him to suffer as badly as she was.

Tears formed, but did nothing to hide the seething anger building up. "Buffy." He managed to choke out. "If he makes you happy, then marry him. But I'd rather spend another hundred years in hell than watch you give yourself to another man." Angel took one last look at her and turned to leave.

Buffy stood and watched him walk out of her life, forever. As she watched his form disappear, she walked the other way.

**************************

Buffy arrived at her studio apartment that she shared with Willow and Spike. Her mind was numb, the night had not turned out the way she wanted. Buffy barely made it to the couch before she crumbled on to it, her eyes were filled with tears. She had hoped Angel would have been a little understanding but she should have known better. "I just told the man who loves me beyond this world, that I'm marrying another, how stupid is that" She thought. And during the argument, she made it worse, but he made her so angry. Even after all this time, Angel was the only one who could make her crazy.

Willow and Spike walked through the door, they had just got back from there date, before Willow could say anything, she saw Buffy's red, tear stained face; Spike saw as well and looked at Willow, she silently told him to wait in their room. He walked toward the room, and Willow sat on the couch. "Buffy, what's wrong?" Worry evident in her voice.

"Riley asked me to marry him." Buffy's voice trembled. "I told Angel, and he wigged on me, we had a fight and I called him a selfish bastard."

Willow grabbed her hand urging her to continue. "What else happened?"

"Angel just yelled at me, he was so cold. I yelled back, and he told me that he'd rather be in hell than watch me marry Riley."

Buffy began sobbing, and Willow pulled her into a hug. "I never thought I could feel this bad about anything. He made me so furious, and I hate how he makes me feel."

"You still love him." Willow whispered, she knew in her heart that this argument was just another way of Buffy and Angel saying they still love each other.

Buffy nodded, and kept on crying. When her sobbing died down, Buffy pulled away to look at Willow. "Willow what should I do?"

"Buffy, I can't tell you what to do, all I can say is follow your heart. If you truly love Riley, then go to him. But if you still love Angel as deeply as before, no matter how much you two have been through, then go to him; or neither one, it's your decision."

Buffy breathed a sigh, she knew Willow was right. She glanced at the clock. "I have to go, I have to think." Buffy swiped the remainder of her tears away, and got up from the couch to leave.

"Buffy." Willow called. "Remember what I said, it's your decision."

Buffy nodded and walked out. She walked a few blocks toward the apartment complex, where Riley lived. Buffy didn't even notice that Angel was following her, he had come to her apartment to apologize for the way he blew up at her. But by the time he got there, he saw her leaving, and decided to follow.

Buffy walked and went to his apartment door, which was on the main floor. She knocked lightly on the door, when Riley opened it, his face lit up.

"Come in." He said, taking her hand, he guided her to sit in the chair beside the window, where Angel had positioned himself to hear their conversation.

Buffy looked Riley in the eyes, trying to read his face. All she saw was love and passion. He would do anything to make her happy. Sighing. "I told you I needed time to think about your proposal."

Riley nodded and kneeled down in front of her, he motioned for her to continue.

"I've thought about it and..." Buffy stopped for a moment, last minute thoughts were running through her mind. Thoughts of her and Riley together, kissing, spending time together, and everything the've been through. Then her mind jarred to Angel, all the good times they had; until she remembered his words when he broke up with her.

Buffy looked at Riley. "Yes..I'll marry you."

"Are you sure?" He asked

"Yes."

Riley smiled brightly, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out the diamond engagement ring. He placed the ring on her finger, and tipped her face up to kiss her long and deep.

******

Angel stood outside the window, he heard everything. His gaze drifted to the couple kissing passionately in front of him, leading to more; and he clenched his fists so hard, droplets of blood poured from his palm.

Riley pulled the jacket Buffy was wearing off her arms, drawing her into his embrace. Riley reached out and switched the light off, enveloping them in darkness and each other.

Angel saw the light go off and walked away swiftly, knowing if he didn't get away the murderous thoughts he was trying to suppress would explode. When he knew he was far away, Angel screamed with rage and pain.

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