Okay, here is the promised fluff that I promised you whilst you were all in agony over my trilogy. Thanx for all the feedback on that! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing at all in this story 'cept the story. All things Buffy and Angel belong to Joss Whedon, ye man of the Buffy-verse. I don't own The Butcher's Wife either and I can't think of the person who does, but it ain't me.
Rating: PG (when have ever written anything higher?)
Summary: The gang watches a movie and fluff
Spoilers: Shanshu, Graduation, not really, just mentions
Dedication: Everyone
Distribution: BA_Fluff, Leonie, B/A Coalition, anyone, you know the drill, ask first
Author's Note: The Butcher's Wife is a really cool movie, if you haven't seen it, go rent it.
Feedback: *in a sing-song voice* Yes, please

Buffy was sitting on the couch alone. The rest of the gang was scattered around her in chairs and on the floor, cuddling with their significant other. She was waiting for Riley to come back with the movies.

"I'm back!" Riley called as the door slammed shut.

"'Bout time," Xander muttered.

"What did you get?" Buffy asked eying the three videos in his hand.

"Uh, Hunt for Red October," the girls groaned, "Babe," a collective groan, "and The Butcher's Wife."

"What's The Butcher's Wife?" Willow asked.

"Some old Demi Moore movie. All I know is that the clerk said it was one of those 'chic- flicks' that you love so much," Riley answered as Buffy whacked him with a pillow.

"Just for that, we're watching that first," she stated. The guys, except for Oz, groaned.

"Don't groan, guys. I've seen it. While it may not be a classic love story, it definitely rates up in the cuddling area," the unusually talkative werewolf said.

"Isn't he cute?" Willow said, a silly grin on her face. She had missed him. A lot. She slid the video out of the case and stuck it in the VCR.

"Okay, Demi Moore with blond hair, scary," Buffy stated as the movie began.

* * * * *

'Split-aparts,' Buffy thought as she watched the movie. She couldn't remember who that particular character was, all she knew was that they were talking about soul mates, two halves looking to be made whole. Looking for their 'split-apart.'

"Oh, my . . . ," Buffy whispered as the realization struck her. Something that had been buried away for over a year now. Something she always knew, but forced herself to let it go, to forget.

"What?" Riley asked quietly as he heard Buffy.

"Nothing," she muttered.

* * * * *

"It's a lonely world without your split-apart,"Alex, one of the main characters said as he embraced and kissed Marina, his split-apart. The movie was over and nearly everyone was asleep, cuddled up with their significant other. Everyone except Buffy. Riley was sleeping soundly on the other side of the couch actually. She sighed, standing up, being careful not to step on anyone and walked outside. She sat down on the front step and looked up at the unusually clear night sky, filled with stars.

"Yes, it is lonely," Buffy whispered. She hugged her legs closer to her body and just watched.

"Buffy, you okay?" Riley's voice asked from behind her. Apparently he had woken up and found her. She looked up at him wistfully. "No, I'm not," she said sadly.

"What's wrong?" his voice clear with worry as he sat next to her.

"Us," she whispered, "I just jumped into the boat without thinking it through." She was quoting the movie. Riley looked at her, confusion evident in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"That movie was talking about soul mates, Riley. Split-aparts. Being separated and always looking to make yourself whole. I was whole once," she answered quietly as a look of understanding and defeat passed through his eyes.

"Angel," he stated simply. She nodded. "But he left you."

"He did. He left me, but I think that it won't ever matter. He left, I did leaving at different points in the relationship, we both hurt one another. The truth of it is, we can only hurt each other so much because we love each other so much," she replied.

"So, you'd rather be miserable and hurting with him than happy and good with me?" he asked bitterly.

"That's just it, Riley. I'm not happy and good with you, I'm miserable and hurting and I'm without him. Being with him dimmed the pain of everything else. When I was with him, it hurt, it always hurt, but being wrapped in his arms always made the pain go away. It always did," she answered, a bittersweet smile on her face.

"So, now what? You're dumping me?"

"I'm sorry, I am. But I'm not her, Riley. I'm not your split-apart. I already found mine even if we're both wandering lost. And I have to go find him," she answered, standing up and walking away.

* * * * *

He trudged down the stairs to his apartment. Exhaustion overcame him and he wanted to sleep. He reached his bed, fell down on top of it and slept. He woke up with a familiar tingling going up his spine. He rolled over and looked her straight in the eye.

"Buffy," he stated slowly.

"Angel," she replied.

"What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," she answered.

"About?" he drawled.

"You being an idiot and leaving me," she answered.

"Buffy . . . ," he began.

"Oh, shut up! Please just listen to me! I'm your split-apart, lobster, soul mate, whatever you want to call me! I belong to YOU! I have the ring to prove it and I'm not going to let you go this time. I don't care anymore about your reasoning. Logical, yes, but nothing else. 'Love is the leap that won't be denied,'" she stated, quoting the movie again.

"First of all, what are you talking about? Split-apart? Lobster?" he asked, quite confused.

"I just watched this movie, The Butcher's Wife, were they said that everyone was split from their mate, if you will, and they spend their lives looking for the other half. They are always looking for their other half. Split-apart. You and I were split from the same entity, one soul, two bodies," she began.

"Plato's Symposium," he said quietly.

"Yeah, sure. As for lobsters, have you never seen Friends? Phoebe said that lobsters mate for life. You are my lobster!" she continued.

He looked at her blankly at the pop culture reference. "I really don't care anymore. All I know is that I'm hurting and I'm miserable and I just dumped Riley. I love you and I'm going to kiss you now." She stalked over to the bed as she said it, bent her head so that her lips met his and kissed him with a passion she'd had inside for so long. Passion for him. He answered the kiss with the same intensity, throwing caution to the wind.

"You know, I'm going to be human," he whispered as she folded herself in his arms. Buffy looked at him wide-eyed and squealed with joy, throwing her arms around him and kissing him again. He laughed and Buffy thought that she'd never heard such a glorious sound.

"I like it when you laugh," she smiled, running her fingers through his hair, "but I like this better." She kissed him again.

"A lot better," he answered with a grin.

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