Part 30

Sprawled out on the floor, Buffy stared at the ceiling. She wished for death, sweet death, to cure the agony filling her once warm heart. Turning it to ice, cracking from the cold, and eventually shattering. But that would be mercy and she knew that whatever power was higher than her had none. The man she loved was taken from her, when he put his life on the line to save others; the one she called friend betrayed her, because of his anger and jealousy. And the mother, who was suppose to love her unconditionally, told her to never return to her home. No mercy.

She sat up slowly, like a zombie rising from the dead and gazed at the ring on her finger, her wedding ring. Buffy closed her eyes, she could still remember him putting it on her hand, declaring his love to her, and sealing it that same night. She brought her hand to her lips, letting the cool metal caress her lips, imagining it was his lips.

"I love you. I love you. I love you." She repeated, over and over. Wishing he could hear her, hoping that her chant would sooth him in the hell he was enduring. Her voice vibrated in the hall, it sounded of misery.

Buffy covered her mouth, trying to muffle the sobs that came behind her chants. Her body began to shake, fury rose through her once again. Buffy retched herhand away, clenching them into fists, so hard that blood began to seep through her fingertips. She stared at the demon Acathla, and her rage boiled over.

"I love him!!" She screamed, rising onto her knees as if in prayer. "Why?!! He did nothing wrong!!" Buffy begged and begged for a reason, she fell onto her hands, her blood smearing the floor. Panting,she raised her head. "I love him!!" The tears she tried to hold back once again fell from her eyes.

Buffy calmed her sobbing when the room began to shake around her, she looked up and a beam of light shined down on her trembling body. Unable to move, she watched the light enlarge, blinding her. Suddenly a flash emanated the room and a body fell from the light, knocking her to the ground. Buffy shook her head, dazed from the weight falling onto her and looked at the form lying across her, if it was possible the pieces that was now her heart began to put itself back together again. Her eyes widened, unable to believe she was staring into the face of her Angel. He was shaking, his clothes were shredded hanging loosely from his pale body, and the expression on his features was of terror. But that did not register in her mind, Angel was here, in this room, and touching her.

She struggled to her knees, Buffy rolled Angel onto his back, and kneeled over him. Buffy raised her hand slowly, she hesitated at first, scared that if she touched him he would disappear again. Gently she placed her hands on his face, tracing his features; she breathed a sigh of relief. Buffy leaned down and laid beside him, her cheek against his, and reveled in the feel of his cool skin.

"I thought I lost you." She finally spoke.

His shaking calmed from the feel of her, unknowingly he purred under her ministrations, Angel forced his eyes opened. His vision swarmed, he blinked rapidly clearing his eyes and leaned his head closer; nuzzling her cheek. Angel felt the tearstains, the feverish heat on her cheeks, but more than anything he could feel the emptiness in her. He opened his mouth to speak, his body was so drained of energy Angel knew it would be difficult, but hearing his voice is what she needed.

"I..." He choked out, his voice hoarse. I'm ... Here."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy pulled Angel off the floor, now that she was more calmed; she wanted himto be comfortable. Angel wobbled a bit, but he made it to a nearby couch, with Buffy's help.

"How do you feel?" Buffy asked, checking him for bruises, she found none, but he could still be hurt.

"I'm okay, I wasn't there long enough to get hurt." Angel explained, he barely managed to get away from the numerous demons and monsters that were chasing him, including his own demon; until a light surrounded him, and he found himself back in the mansion.

"Oh." Red flushed her cheeks, she could feel a rage build up in her again, it wasn't as intense as before, but it was enough to give her murderous thoughts. "You shouldn't have been there." Buffy fumed.

"Buffy, we didn't know what was gonna happen." He struggled, but he managed to wrap his arm around her.

"Xander did."

"What?" Angel asked, confused.

"Xander knew what would happen, he tried to hide it, but I could see it in his eyes, and he admitted it." She said slowly, making sure that Angel understood the betrayal she felt. "I could've killed him, I had my hands around his throat, I felt him struggle for breath, and I didn't care if I killed him or not." Buffy wringed her hands, to keep herself from grabbing something. "But I let go."

Angel glanced at Buffy and was taken aback by the disturbing gleam in her eye. He took her hands, rubbing his fingers across her bloodstained hands, feeling the tension leave. He had nothing to say what was done was done, and they had to move on from this. "What do you want to do?"

"Leave." Buffy answered without thinking, but when she realized what she said, it was what she wanted. "Everything I love has betrayed me." She turned to him. "Everything but you."

"Buffy think about this." Angel suggested, trying to be rational, he would follow her anywhere, but he needed to know if Buffy knew the consequences of leaving her friends and family behind, they may have scorned her, but he didn't want her to regret anything.

"If I stay, they'll destroy me, more than they have already." Buffy answered.

"I won't let that happen."

Epilogue

Buffy hid behind a nearby tree, she watched her friends gather in front of the school. She smiled, seeing they were all OK. Buffy knew they were waiting for her to show up, wanting to know if she was safe, and that made her feel good.

She was starting to have second thoughts, maybe they all didn't betray her, she thought. Until Xander walked toward the group, she watched everyone embrace him with smiles. The smile dropped from her face, her gaze sharpened on the bandages wrapped around his neck, watching him touch them with a goofy grin on his face. Buffy took one last look at her once called friends and turned away, she strided toward a car with tinted windows parked on the curb.

Buffy got in, and fastened her seatbelt. "I'm ready." She said sadly

"Are you sure?" Angel asked, sitting behind the wheel, with Mr. Gordo in his hand.

Buffy looked in the rearview mirror, watching Xander hug everyone innocently; she turned back and looked ahead. "I'm sure."

Angel leaned over and brushed his lips across her forehead and handed her the pig. He started the car, and sped off. The car drove on, passing a sign:

"Now Leaving Sunnydale. Come back soon."

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