Disclaimer- I do not own the characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They belong to 20th Century Fox, Joss Whedon, and Mutant Enemy. I am using them without permission, however I am not making any money off them so please do not sue me. I also don't own the song "Wild Horses", it belongs to The Rolling Stones., but I'm not making any money off this. So please don't sue me.
Author's Notes- This is a REALLY angsty Buffy/Angel piece. It was inspired by me listening to one of my father's Rolling Stones' CD's. I know that in the show "Wild Horses" is performed by the Sundays, but I prefer the Stones', so thier's is the one I use in this. This is a B/A fic, but it has hints of B/R. Sorry, but I've been more in to angst than happy endings. So, prepare for a lot of B/A angst. Anyway, enjoy.
Feedback- Please! Send feedback but no flames.
Distribution- Buffy's Passion, Daydreams of BtVS, and Slay This! have permission, everyone else just ask me first. I'll almost always say yes.
Rating- PG-13.
Classification- Buffy/Angel, hints of Buffy/Riley, angst.
Spoilers- Season Three and back, mild ones for Season Four.

All she could do was remember. Which was probably normal for a woman to do the night before her wedding. But the memories that kept coming to mind weren't about the man she was going to marry in less than 24 hours, but about the man who had walked out of her life five years before.

She had seen him since then, two or three times, but it wasn't the same. He was no hers and she was no longer his, yet he was all she could think about at that moment.

She shook head and walked over to radio, hoping to be snapped out of her reverie. But it didn't work.

The first song she heard was The Rolling Stones' song "Wild Horses."

Buffy bit her lip and turned back to the window as she listened to the song.

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady, you know who I am,
You know I can't let you slide through my hands

She had heard this song before.

More than once.

During that unbearable summer after High School, before college, she had played it so many times. After all, it was the song to which they had danced their last dance.

Despite how much time had passed, she could still remember every moment of that dance. She could still hear him saying "dance with me."

She bit her lip again, to stop the tears that threatened to fall.

Wild Horses,
Couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses,
Couldn't drag me away...

"I should be thinking about Riley, not Angel." She scolded herself, but she knew it was impossible.

Tomorrow she became Riley's wife, tonight was about saying goodbye to the man that she would always love, but could never be with.

She looked down at the chain she always wore.

His ring hung there and had hung there for the last five years, but tomorrow she would take it off. Tomorrow that ring would be put away to the back of her jewellery box.

"It's a symbol of what can never be." She whispered, touching it gently. It wasn't fair to Riley for her to wear it, even around her neck.

I watched you suffer a dull, aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines,
Can make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

She had to say goodbye.

The tears began to fall and she was about to collapse on her bed, when she noticed a figure at her window.

"Angel." She whispered softly, as he entered her bedroom.

Just like the old days.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him softly.

"I came to say goodbye." He told her, his dark eyes full of silent pain.

She nodded. "Thank you." She whispered.

Angel didn't say anything for a moment and then smiled sadly. "I'd do anything for you Buffy, you should know that."

"I do." She whispered.

Wild Horses,
Couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses,
Couldn't drag me away...

She held out her hand to him.

"Dance with me?" She asked softly, just as he had done all those years ago.

Angel nodded and pulled her into his arms.

"This is truly our last dance, isn't it?" She whispered as she lay her head on his shoulder.

He didn't say anything for a long moment then nodded. "Yeah."

Buffy looked up at him, her green eyes brimming with tears. "You could stop the wedding." She told him softly.

"I know." He answered in a sad, quiet tone.

"But you won't." She finished, smiling sadly. "Because you love me too much."

"Yes." Angel agreed, tightening his hold on her.

I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie,
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken tears must be cried,
Let's do some living after we die

"Angel," Buffy whispered, running one of her hands up across his jaw as Angel leaned down and captured her mouth with his.

Buffy gave everything she had into that kiss, knowing it would be the last they ever shared. This was their farewell. A few stolen moments, one dance, and one kiss.

That was all they got in the end.

Wild Horses,
Couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses,
We'll ride them someday

Angel was the first to pull away.

"You were mine long before you were ever his." He whispered. "And you'll always be mine."

"I know." She said simply. "I love you, I always will. But it isn't enough."

"No." Angel agreed.

Buffy looked up at him sadly. "I always thought there would be a happy ending." She whispered.

Angel cupped her face with his hand. "One day there will be. I believe that someday, somehow we'll find our way back to one another."

Wild Horses,
Couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses,
We'll ride them someday

Buffy smiled slightly.

"We will." She agreed. "Someday."

Angel pulled away and turned to go. "I should leave."

"Yeah."

"Goodbye," he whispered, "remember I'll love you always."

"Just like I'll love you." She promised, tears running down her cheeks once more.

"Someday, we'll ride those wild horses."

Angel smiled slightly, before disappearing out the window.

She watched him go and wondered why love had to be like that.

Why she would marry tomorrow and had just shared a tearful goodbye with the only man she would ever truly love.

One last tear fell down her cheek as she unclasped her necklace and slid it into the box containing the cross he once gave her.

"This is it. The end. For now." She said softly, smiling slightly. "We will ride those wild horses someday."

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