Distribution: If you had permission to take any of my other stories, you can use this one as well. Just let me know where it's going. Others, just ask and I will most likely give permission.
Feedback: Please!!! It's like my blood.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss, the WB, Mutant Enemy, (the evil)FOX, and whoever else came up with them. If they belonged to me the show would be drastically different. Please don't sue, I'm only a high-schooler without a job anyways.
Rating: Same as the TV show
Spoilers: Set June 20, 1999. Anything season 3 is game, mostly Graduation pt 2 though.
Concept: Trying to cheer Buffy up, Willow decides she needs a night of fun and celebration. So she takes her to a celebration of the all-night pagan holiday known as Litha. (also called Midsummer or the Summer Solstice) She's also hoping that the rituals of the night will do Buffy some good. But they do more good than she ever could have dreamed....
Author's Notes: My last fic in the let's-change-a-third-season-episode's-ending-so-that-BuffyandAngel-are-togethe r series. This one starts on June 20 and carries over to the morning of the 21st. (I think that's when Litha was last year anyway, not positive.) I decided that as much as I hated Angel leaving in B2, the entire thing was written so beautifully that I didn't want to trivialize it by having him change his mind or Buffy run begging after him. So instead, this takes place a few weeks after Angel leaves Sunnydale. Buffy's spent the entire time he's been gone moping around and crying, so Willow decides to cheer her up. Inspiration goes to William Shakespeare for his "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which is where I got the idea of using the faeries and their messing with love to my advantage.

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"Many people don't believe in fairies, but if you look real close they're always there."Torlila

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"Oh do not tell the prince of arts
For he would call it sin
But we'll be in the woods all night
A-conjuring Summer in
The winter's dark is ended now
Upon this Solstice Day
Oh, tidings of light and love..."

"Willow?" Buffy asked to her friend who was softly singing a song. "What's that? I recognize the melody, but not the words...."

"The melody is 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.' It's an old Christmas song." Willow said as she continued to gather the herbs she would need into a sachet. "The words were changed by someone, not sure who, to make it into a Pagan song. It's for Midsummer."

"Midsummer?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, it's that holiday I had mentioned to you, remember? I thought you might wanna come, kinda get your mind off things. You had said you'd think about it...."

"Oh, yeah. It's tomorrow, right?"

"Well, actually, it's tonight. Like the song says though, we're out all

night." Willow remarked.

"All night? Wow. Wiccans are real party people, huh?" Buffy asked with a laugh.

"Well, in this case; yes, we are. Midsummer marks the longest day of the year, which is tomorrow. Tonight around nine is the official Summer Solstice, meaning the time from when the sun sets tonight and when it rises tomorrow morning is the shortest night of the year." Willow said to her friend. "Hence, since it's so short, why go to bed at all?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me." Buffy said. "I think I do want to go. Get out of my moping self-pity. I don't need another night alone thinking of him and listening to depressing Sarah M. songs. Only, I'm not exactly gonna fit in with these people."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, from what you've told me, there's gonna be songs and games and rituals and everything, and I barely know the basics about Wicca, let alone have anything memorized."

"Well, we've got about 6 hours till the funs starts, you ready for a crash course?"

"I guess."

"Okay, first rule. No hello, nice to meet you, bye or stuff like that. Traditional greetings are blessed be, merry meet, brightest blessings, or something like that. And remember, to us, there's a God and a Goddess. You won't have to worry too much about that at Litha, since it honors the Sun God and not the Goddess, but in case someone says something about Her or She you'll know what they mean." Willow began.

"Got ya so far, I think. Just give me a little quiz later, okay?"

"Sure thing. Now, as for the ritual we'll be doing. It will begin with an invocation that everyone will say. You'll have to learn it."

"Okay. Shoot." Buffy said.

"Fireflies and summer sun...."

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"The course of true love never did run smooth."
Lysander, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1, Scene 1

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Around six hours later, Buffy and Willow drove up to the park that was being used by the coven Willow had found.

Willow was dressed in a long orange skirt and top with a bright sun on it. Buffy wore a red dress with silver faeries all over it that she had borrowed from Willow. Both held small cloth pouches that were filled with Midsummer herbs and tied off with red strings. The pouches would be used in the ritual. As they walked towards the large open field, Buffy was nervously repeating the Witches Creed that Willow had taught her.

"...by sword or athame of power
It's compass between the two words lies
In the land of the shades for that hour...."

Willow nodded her head as Buffy finished the 8th verse of the Creed. Buffy then looked at her with a confused face. "What's next? I can't remember....God, I'm never going to get this right."

"Yes, you will Buff. Cause you'll be saying it along with everyone else, not alone. You just have to know it enough to go with it." Willow told her. "Now, the next part starts with 'Our world has no right then to know it...'" "Right, okay." Buffy said as she continued reciting. She abruptly trailed off when a woman wearing a bright yellow dress walked up to them. She had a wreath of flowers in her hair and carried a basket full of them.

"Merry meet, young Willow. Blessings to you this Litha Day." The woman said as she put a wreath of flowers on Willow's head.

"Goddess bless, Lady Briana." Willow replies. "I'm surprised that you're doing this yourself."

"Well, what kind of a High Priestess would I be if I didn't welcome all my guests personally?" Said the woman.

Willow smiles at this, she knew she liked this woman. "And this is my friend, Buffy."

"Buffy, welcome. Brightest blessings." Briana replies.

"Blessed be." Buffy replies uncertainly as a wreath of flowers is placed on her head.

"You're new here." Briana says certainly.

"Yes, well, I...."

"That's perfectly all right. Midsummer is an open ritual, open to anyone who wishes to join us. Anyone who comes with an open heart and mind is welcome on this grand night."

"Thanks." Buffy replied, still unsure.

"Willow, why don't you take your friend around and...actually, Arthur is right over there, he can show you around if you want, since you're not a member of this coven either."

"We'll go talk to him now, thank you." Willow replied.

Briana smiled at them and headed off towards the newest arrival. "Love and Light, Damora...."

As Willow and Buffy walked away, the Slayer turned to her friend. "Damora?" She asked. "Do their names mean something or what? Cause that's weird..."

"Well, some people here use what we call magickal names, for others they use their real names as some are descended from witches who named them things of significance."

"What about Briana?" Buffy asked.

"That's her real name. She comes from a whole family of witches. Her name is a form of Brigid, who is a Celtic Goddess. Arthur, her husband, is the High Priest of this coven. His name means Nobel One. They told me once that Willow means "freedom." I asked about the rest of you guys, just out of curiosity, but the only one they knew was Alexander. It means "Great Protector."

"Boy, don't ever tell Xander that." Buffy laughed. "He'll go out and try to protect someone and end up dead. Well, we obviously know Angel's. Angelus-the one with the angelic face. Boy, if only all name meanings could be so true. But no go on mine or Anya's or Cordy's?"

"Nope. They're either too new or just not popular enough to have been researched by the coven."

"Ah, merry meet Willow." A male voice said from beside them.

Willow and Buffy both turned. "Merry meet, Lord Arthur." Willow said to the High Priest.

"And who is your pretty friend?" The man asked charmingly.

"This is Buffy."

"Merry meet, Buffy. A blessed Litha to you both. I see you've met my wife already." He indicated the flower wreath in the girl's hair.

"Yes, we have sir. She's..." Buffy started to speak.

"You don't need to call me sir. Arthur will do just fine." He interrupted gently.

"Arthur." Buffy repeated as she smiled. "Brightest blessings." Arthur smiled in response. "Would you like to meet some of the other people here before our ritual begins?"

"We'd love to." Willow said after looking to Buffy for confirmation. Arthur introduced them all around, and Buffy was surprised to find herself welcomed with open arms, despite her non-Wiccan standing.

"And this is Aurora." Arthur introduced the girls lastly to a very old woman. Buffy was surprised when Willow bowed low to her and quickly moved to follow the gesture.

Aurora smiled at them and reached out her hands. Each girl took one. They were greatly surprised by the woman's strong grip.

"You have strong magick in you for one so new to the path." The woman said to Willow.

Willow blushed and hung her head.

"And you, dear heart." Aurora turned to Buffy. "You do not share our faith."

"No." She whispered.

"And yet I sense a power in you too." She looked thoughtful. "Leave us." She commanded to both Willow and Arthur. They both complied with the wise woman at once.

"Why...." Buffy started to ask.

"Your power is not as ours. It comes not from the elements and the gods. Your powers run in your veins." Aurora's eyes were closed and she stroked Buffy's hands gently. "You are, perhaps, a Slayer."

Buffy should have been shocked at this, but somehow knew it didn't matter if this old wise woman knew. "Yes, I am. How do you know of Slayers?"

"My own daughter was one." Aurora replied. "Plus, when you are as powerful in magick as I am and know about vampires and demons and such, you eventually are contacted by the Watcher's Council for help with things."

"You work for the Council?" Buffy said in disgust.

"No, I do not. Just as you, I felt that they had no concept that some vampires and demons are also good."

"You know of good ones?"

"Yes, just as you do. Although I have never loved a vampire, I have never met the souled-one."

"How did you know?" Buffy asked in awe.

"His mark is upon you." Aurora told her. "Both upon your neck and upon your heart and soul. And your love is far from being over."

"But he left me." Buffy said as her eyes slowly filled with tears. She fingered the scar on her neck absently.

"You shall have him back this very night, trust me." Aurora promised her. "After the bonfire ritual, come to me. I am leading a small group in a faerie mediation and you shall join us. The fae find a certain joy in playing with romance. Their queen will be unable to resist a request brought in love from a heart as true as yours."

Buffy looked the woman in the eyes for a moment, then smiled. She knew without a doubt that this magickal woman was capable of doing anything she promised. And Willow had told her that this was the night the faeries were most active. She just hoped that they would help her.

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"Why, this is very midsummer madness."
Olivia, Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4

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"She said what?" Willow nearly pounced on Buffy as she walked away from Aurora.

"That she could help me get Angel back. That the faeries couldn't resist a request about a love as true as ours." Buffy was almost giddy.

"Yeah, well, they are kinda suckers for love." Willow grinned back at Buffy.

"When is she going to help you?"

"After the main ritual, I guess. She said I should join her in some faerie meditation thingy and that they would help me get Angel back."

"That's so cool."

"When is this main ritual anyways?" Buffy asked anxiously.

"It's just about to start." Willow gestured over to the huge group that was gathering in a circle around a large bonfire.

The two girls walked over and joined the circle, everyone talking hands. Briana and Arthur stood at the head of the group and began to call a circle.

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"Lord, what fools these mortals be!"
Puck, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 3, Scene 2

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Nearly forty minutes later the circle and main Litha ritual ended. It was nearly one in the morning.

"What are you going to be doing?" Buffy asked Willow as she spotted Aurora motioning her over by an already gathered group.

"Briana's leading a group in ritual dancing and singing, so that's probably where I'll be. It's a really fun part of summer rituals." Willow smiled at Buffy, noting how nervous she was. "And don't worry. Everything's gonna work out great."

"I hope so." Buffy said. "God Willow, I wanted to come here to get my mind off of him, and now I'm about to talk with some faeries and hopefully get him back. How weird is that?"

"It is not weird. It is magick." Aurora grinned as she came over by them. "Plus, it is the Threefold Law. It says that all the energy we put out is returned to us times three. Well, everything you do as a Slayer is for the good and happiness of others, so those things should return to you. And the love you have found with the souled-vampire is truly amazing. You are soulmates. Do you know how rare it is for any mortal to actually find their soulmate? Yet you have. In some way, it is the universe's compensation for the hard life you lead as the Chosen."

Willow only smiled at this and began to move off. "Say hi to Angel for me." Buffy and Aurora both smiled as they walked off to join Aurora's group of Wiccans.

Aurora settled everyone into lotus positions and lit a jasmine and thyme incense.

She led everyone deeply into a trace with hypnotizing words, then went around and anointed both their third eye and their eyelids with a thyme oil. As she anointed, she chanted,

"Fae folk, faerie folk, faeries and the fee.
Give them the sight the let them see.
They come with an open heart, feeling happy and gay.
Show yourselves to them this holy day."

Aurora chanted this over and over as she watched those around her, the Slayer included, settle deeper and deeper into trances. She kept up her mantra even as felt herself settling into trance, her eyelids softly closing. She prayed for the success of all in what they were trying to accomplish, but most of all she prayed silently for the Slayer. The deep love this girl had for her Angel had struck a chord deep in the woman's heart, and she would not be satisfied unless they were reunited.

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"Come Faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame." W.B. Yeats

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"You called for me?" A voice came to Buffy out of the green mist surrounding her.

"Are you faeries?" Buffy asked hesitantly.

Out of nowhere the beautiful form of a woman materialized in front of her.

"I am Titania, Queen of the Faeries. The Lady Aurora tells us your wish is the most important of all who call upon us tonight, so I have come personally. This is my consort, the Faerie Prince Oberon." An equally handsome male form appeared next to the queen.

Buffy bowed low before them, dropping to one knee out of respect as she began to speak. "I've been told that you can help me with the matter of my lost love." She spoke with an eloquence she hadn't known she possessed. It must have been something about her tranced state.

"Love? That is what you call us for?" Oberon sounded disdainful.

"Do not be so quick to judge." Titania said quickly. "Remember the lengths you have gone to for love in the past."

"I am Buffy Summers, the Slayer." Buffy continued quickly.

"The Slayer?" Oberon was much more interested now. "Then the love you talk of is the souled vampire?"

"You know about us?"

"My child, the faeries know practically everything about you. We always keep tabs on Slayers and other warriors of good. We simply did not recognize your aura. I apologize." Titania reached out a hand and indicated that Buffy should stand. "Do not bow to us, Warrior. The faeries and other magickal folk have always served the forces of light, and that includes the Chosen. We will assist in anyway we can."

"I'm no good without Angel." Buffy confessed honestly. "I don't have any reason to fight. He was always my reason, my strength."

"You wish him to return to you?" Oberon asked gently.

"Yes, but I know he can't. We can't risk being close to each other, because...."

"Because of Angelus?" Titania asked softly. Buffy nodded miserably and the faerie continued. "It is sad that you do not know. Had you, you could have been together all this time."

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked with a ray of hope.

"The spell your young friend cast was no curse." Oberon picked up. "She gave him his soul with no conditions, as Janna Kalderdash had prepared the spell to do. Nothing will ever make him lose his soul again."

"You....you're sure?" Both faeries glared at her. "Yes, yes of course you are. Why didn't anyone tell us?"

"We could not. You could not see or hear us. You would not have believed if we had made ourselves visible without your asking. No, you had to seek us out. Only then could we deliver this joyful news."

"Can I wake up now? I want to tell Angel."

"You do not need to wake up to tell your soulmate. We will take you to him if you trust us to do so." Titania held out her hand and her consort mimicked the move.

Buffy reached out and took each of their hands into her own. She was surprised that they felt almost solid. "Take me to Angel." She whispered. Then she was enveloped by the green mist and could see no more. The next thing she knew, Buffy stood in the middle of a bedroom that she had never seen before. A quick glance around revealed Angel laying on the bed with his back to her.

"He's sleeping at this hour?" She asked in surprise.

"He does not sleep. He....broods....is the word I believe you use." Oberon said, causing Buffy to laugh slightly.

Angel looked up quickly and glanced around the room. He saw no one and lay back down in defeat.

"He heard me?" Buffy asked in confusion. "Why can't he now? And why didn't he see me?"

"He will see you when the time is right. For now, just look over his shoulder." Titania smiled as her and her prince moved with Buffy till they could see what Angel was doing.

An open book lay on his bed and Buffy noticed that he was writing in it slowly with his eloquent script. Beside the book lay her senior picture that she had given him. He glanced at it often as he wrote.

*I thought I felt her in the room, just now. I could swear I heard her laugh and felt her soul. But then again, I see her as many times an hour as Elvis is seen in a week. It's like everything in this world somehow reminds me of her. Maybe it's because I know she used to live in LA. But everywhere I go I keep wondering if she's been there. I see her as a little girl on the beach playing in the sand. I see her and her parents playing on the swings at the parks. I see her in all her fashionable glory entering a club with all her adoring friends. I can see her at the store or out in the street. I swear every girl I pass wears her vanilla perfume.*

*I miss her so much.*

*I'd give anything in the world to be able to be with her every moment, but the temptation is just too great. Knowing I can never truly show her how much I love her or give her the kind of life she deserves...*

Angel stopped writing as a tear fell to the paper. He reached out to her black and white picture to stroke her cheek lovingly as he tried to regain control of his emotions. And then he almost lost it as he heard her voice.

"Don't cry, my Angel."

Angel looked up wildly and saw her standing in front of him. A couple stood behind her that practically oozed with magick and royal power.

"Buffy?" He whispered, knowing he was not dreaming.

"Yes, Angel. It's okay." Buffy knelt down next to the bed and ran a finger over his cheek.

"Why? What..." He was confused.

"You can come back, love. We can be together." She soothed.

"No...no we can't." Angel looked at her with sadness. "The curse..."

"Is not a condition of your soul." The female figure spoke up.

"The young witch did not wish to curse you. You will never again, for any reason, become Angelus." The male finished.

Angel looked at them in confusion.

"This is Queen Titania and Prince Oberon." Buffy said softly. "I'm at a Litha celebration with Willow tonight and they came to me during a ritual. I've been told we're soulmates, and that our love is so strong nothing will come between us."

Angel was still staring at the two faeries in shock. Slowly he regained his senses and came off the bed, kneeling before them. "My Queen." He intoned. "My Prince."

"Rise, Warrior." Titania said as she gently took hold of his arm and pulled him back to his feet. "As we told the Chosen, we serve the forces of light. And you two, together, are the greatest weapon that we have."

"You are no good to us apart." Oberon added. Angel looked back to Buffy in shock. "This is real?"

"Yes, this is real." Buffy said softly. "Come home?"

"I'm on my way." Angel said with a genuine smile. "I love you."

"I love you too." Buffy said as she and her escorts slowly faded back into the green mist. "Hurry." He heard her whisper as she vanished.

Angel was packed and in his car in under ten minutes. He broke every speed limit as he raced towards Sunnydale.

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"Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time."
Theseus, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5, Scene 1

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Awakening from her trance, Buffy Summers face slowly broke into the first genuine 100% smile she had felt since her graduation.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"You are most welcome, child." The voices of Titania, Oberon, and Aurora blended together in blissful harmony.

Buffy stood up and went to tell Willow the good news.

She wasn't certain, but she had the strangest feeling her feet weren't quite touching the ground.

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