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: Pretty please? I love it almost as much as Angel loves Buffy.
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 after the third season episode "Consequences." Small spoilers for that episode, nothing else after that has happened.
Concept: Another Buffy & Angel talk. The title and idea come from the phrase:

"They say that every cloud has a shiny silver lining.
That behind every stormy cloud, the faithful sun is shining.
I believe that this is true-That every broken heart will mend,
That no matter what the problem, Good will triumph in the end.
For there's a spring in every winter and a dawn in every night.
In the midst of every darkness there's a candle shining bright.
For every heavy burden, there's an understanding friend.
For every darkened tunnel, there's a light around the bend."
Author's Notes: Only two more fics to go! This is number 19!!! Thanks go to Serena for pointing out that I named the wrong song in my last fic. According to "The Girl's Got Bite (The Unofficial Guide to Buffy's World)" the two songs by Cibo Matto that are played in WSWB are "Spoon" and "Super Relax." The book also says that "Super Relax" is the one that "the dance" is done to, and since a friend had my tape at the time I wrote this I trusted the book. I have since found out at the name of the CD the songs come from is "Super Relax," and the two songs are "Spoon" and "Sugar Water." The later being the one that Buffy & Xander 'danced' to. So if anyone is going to put "A Wish Your Heart Makes" up on their sites, can you please change the name of the song B&A dirty dance to. Change it to "Sugar Water."
Thanks. And thanks again to Serena for telling me that I had the wrong song.

"I still can't believe the Council would do that to her." Buffy ranted.

"They were trying to help, Buffy." Angel said as he placed a gentle hand on her arm. "They just don't know how."

"But we did!" Buffy brushed his arm away and began pacing. "Or you did at least. You were getting through to her. And then...."

"And then the Council came. And destroyed her." Angel said, defeat in his voice. "I'm afraid any trust she still had in any of us is gone now because she assumes we called them."

"I know. And that's what I hate." Buffy said softly. "Cause despite everything, she wasn't really a bad person. In different circumstances, that could have been me."

"No, Buffy. Never."

"Why not?" She asked defiantly.

"Because some people just don't have that in them. Accidentally killing someone? Yeah, that can happen to anyone who fights as much as you have to. But killing with no remorse, well, that's a rare kind of person who can do that."

"But I kill every night." Buffy said.

"You kill evil." Angel clarified. "And most of what you kill has already died once. Or it would kill innocent humans if you didn't. It's your job Buffy. And there's nothing wrong about it."

"But I could have been Faith. If it hadn't been for Giles, and my friends, and you, who knows where I'd be today. I have so many people to help me and get me through this. Faith doesn't have that, and it's a big part of how her character was made. What if I didn't have all of you?" Buffy was crying softly, never truly having realized how much she took everything for granted.

Angel put a hand on her arm again and this time she didn't brush him away. She slowly went into his arms and let him hold her, comforted by his mere presence.

"If you didn't have all of us, you'd still be who you are. You're a wonderful, beautiful, and loving person who has nothing but light inside her." Angel whispered as he stroked her back. "You could never be like Faith, no matter what happened."

"That means so much coming from you." Her words were slightly muffled against his chest.

"It's true, ionúin." Angel said into her hair. "You could never be anything evil."

"Do you really think you could have helped Faith?" Buffy pulled back slightly to look him in the eye as she asked.

"Yes, I do. Because I'm the only person who knows how she feels."

"To have done the things you've done, and care." Buffy quoted his long-ago words.

"Exactly." Angel whispered. "I wish I could have helped her."

"So do we."

Both Buffy and Angel looked up in shock as a woman's voice spoke from in front of them.

"Given time, you would have helped a great deal." A male voice said.

"Who are you?" Buffy asked the two bluish-colored beings.

"We are Oracles, sent here by The Powers That Be with a message for our greatest warriors." The female answered.

"A message?" Angel asked in shock. The Powers never consorted with mortals.

"Yes, warrior." The male answered him. "The Powers wish you to know that only together are you such great warriors."

"We're both good on our own." Buffy defended.

"But even when you fight alone, you draw strength from each other and from your love. You each have an extra special reason to go on living." The female said with a smile. She seemed much happier with this message than the male did.

Buffy and Angel looked at each other but didn't deny it.

"The Powers feel it is jeopardizing our cause for the two of you to not be together." The male said in a bored tone.

"So they have made it so you can be together in every way you desire." The female picked up the thought.

Buffy was slightly creeped out as they talked this way. Their words barely sank in with her but they sunk in very quickly with Angel.

"They..." He could barely speak.

"You are mortal, warrior. You still possess your strength and every other ability you need to be a perfect companion to the Slayer." The female said.

"But now you will age, eat normal food, be able to go out in the sunlight, and do any and all other things as a mortal would." The male picked up her sentence.

"The demon?" Buffy asked quietly as she finally got it.

"The demon is in hell enduring forever the punishments it's crimes deserve." The male informed her.

"Thank you." Angel whispered.

"Do not thank us. All credit goes to The Powers who have decided your fates." The said together as they slowly faded away.

"You know, if someone had come yesterday representing Fate, I would have probably staked them. Who knew they'd bring this kind of news?" Buffy said nervously.

"Buffy..." Angel looked at her lovingly. "Fate is what brought us together."

"What?"

"Imagine how many things had to go wrong somewhere for a Slayer and a vampire to end up as soulmates." Angel said as he closed the distance between them.

"I guess you're right." Buffy whispered, awed by the nearness of him and his newfound warmth as they joined hands. "I just wish they'd decided this sooner. Like last year before my birthday."

Angel took a step back at her words. "I never said I was sorry."

"You don't have to, Angel. It wasn't you, I know that." Buffy said, a lone tear spilling down her cheek as she remembered his words.

"It wasn't true, you know that, right?" Angel said gently, knowing what memories were on her mind.

"Hmm?"

"What he said that next day." Angel could barely stand the memories of her face. He knew just how much Angelus had hurt her.

"It..." Buffy was again in tears.

"Buffy, being with you was the most amazing experience of my life. It caused me total happiness. Which you know, cause you know that's what made me lose my soul."

"I knew that. Deep down, once Jenny said total happiness is what had broken the curse, I knew that Angelus had been lying. But it was still there, in the corner of my mind..." Buffy managed to stop crying and she looked at him with a small smile.

"Mó croí." Angel whispered as he slid his hand along her cheek. "I love you."

Angel's words erased any nagging worries Buffy may have still had. Any rational thoughts flew right out of her head as he leaned down to kiss her on the mouth.

And they didn't stop with just a kiss.

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