Disclaimer: Buffy & Angel belogn to Joss and some other mean people, idea is mine though
Spoilers: The Gift and No Place Like Pltz Glrb
Rating: PG
Summary: My idea of what should happen when Buffy returns
Distribution: My sites, anyone else, please ask first
POV: Buffy
Feedback: Yes please :)
Author's Notes: It's 6:24 am and I haven't gone to sleep yet, so please forgive any spelling or grammatical badness... or overall story badness. I couldn't sleep so I decided to write... let me know if it was a good idea, or if I should switch to sleeping pills.

I stood outside the doors for a good 15 minutes before I was able to make a final decision. The hotel looked just like Willow has described. It was dark inside, but a hint of light shone out from under one doorway. I used the ray to guide me through the dark room, my mind running over what I was going to say.

Short and sweet. Angel, I'm alive... just thought you should know. That's all, right? Its not like I should expect anything else from him. I mean, we're not together anymore. He'll be glad... maybe relieved is a better word... or glad... whatever. Just do this already.

I paused a few feet before the door, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes. I collected myself and headed for the light. I was almost there, so close, when the door swung open. He froze when he saw me. His eyes capturing mine and refusing to let go.

So many emotions swirled into his expression. Doubt, fear, relief, shock.... love. I finally managed to tear my gaze away from his glistening eyes. The room was so still. Neither of us spoke. The only sound I could hear was my breathing, and my heart pounding so heavily I thought it would burst through my chest.

I looked up again, wetting my lips, hoping my mind would allow me to speak. I took another deep breath and opened my mouth, only to have it filled with his kiss. I don't even remember seeing him move. I was so quickly in his arms, crushed against him as his lips bruised mine.

My heart burned in my chest as he kissed me. The taste of him filled me, night and rain and Angel. The memory of his kiss, that feeling that never left me through hundreds of years in white oblivion. For him it had only been months... but he kissed me like it had been centuries.

We pulled apart, but he kept his hand at the back of my neck, holding my forehead to his.

"Buffy."

I began to cry the instant he spoke my name, collapsing against his chest as we sunk to the ground. We stayed for hours, it felt like days, sitting cross legged on the floor, our hands locking and unlocking. I told him everything, about Glory and Dawn... about my gift and the first slayer. He listened in silence, squeezing tighter around my trembling fingers whenever I began to fall apart. I told him about the portal and falling through the light for what seemed like eternity. And how I thought I'd see my mother when the fall finally ended... but it never ended. And all I saw was him. Was us.

"I saw what would have been... if I hadn't jumped." I whispered. "I saw us... I saw our life and our happiness... our freedom." I began to tremble again as the images played through my mind. "And it made me fight harder to get back here, back to you... but I know... I mean, it can't..."

He looked away from me, his hand slowly squeezing mine and letting go. "I didn't want to tell you before..." he began. "There are no guarantees. And to hope and then never... it would hurt too much... for both of us."

My brow creased as I reached out, tilting his head so I could see his eyes. "Tell me." I whispered.

"There's a prophecy... Wesley finished translating it a few months ago." he paused and clasped both my hands in his before continuing. His tone didn't change at all as he spoke. It wasn't hopeful, or doubtful, just calm, soft. "It says that once I fulfill my destiny, I will be rewarded with humanity."

Somewhere, deep inside me, I felt a spark of light begin to shine. I nodded leaned forward, resting my forehead against his chin. "What I saw was real." I whispered.

He gently lifted me away, cupping my cheek in his cool hand. "Listen to me, Buffy, please," the side of his thumb traced the line of my jaw before his hand dropped to my shoulder. "I don't want you to waste your life waiting for that day. If I fail..."

"You won't fail." I whispered.

He looked down and then back into my eyes. "But if I do... it would hurt less to not have you, then it would to know that you sacfriced your chances for me."

I nodded. "I know... but its not going to happen. You're not going to fail."

"Buffy, you can't know..."

I pressed my finger to his lips. "But I do know. Angel, I know. I know that every monster either of us fights from this day on, is another victory in our fight back to each other. And if all that's left in the end is the the world crumbling around us, we will still be together." I brushed the back of my hand against his cheek. "We just have to believe."

He brought my hand to his lips, holding it there as he closed his eyes. I felt his hand graze the back of my neck as he gently pulled me to his lips. I felt his lower lip slip between mine as he kissed me. We rose to our knees, needing to be closer. I curled my fingers into his hair and held onto him, not wanting to ever let go.

The sun began to rise, rays of light creeping across the floor of the lobby.

"I should go." I whispered, when we parted. "I told everyone I'd be back by morning."

He nodded and helped me to my feet, following me as I slowly made my way to the door. We paused at the doorway and he reached out and took my arm, turning me back to him. His eyes searched mine for a moment. He said nothing, only looked into my eyes, into my heart and my soul. I saw a tiny glimmer flash through his eyes.

"I believe." he whispered, softly. "I believe what you saw, and I believe in your hope and your heart." he paused and lifted his hand to my cheek again. "I believe."

I felt the faintest smile sweep across my lips. I turned my face into his hand and kissed his palm. His lips pressed softly to mine, just once before he stepped back, and I walked out into the sun.

I felt tiny waves of sorrow swirl into my stomach as I moved farther and farther from the building... but somewhere, deep inside, brighter by the moment, stronger by the day... the spark was still glowing.

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