Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss
This is the last chapter of what has turned out to be my "A Modern Fairytale" series. This follows Trust Me.
Thanks to all those who gave me feed back, they are the ones responsible for this story. This is dedicated to Matt who believes I could do anything.
I have included a passage from a fellow B/Aer. I don't remember exactly were I have seen it. I thank that person in advance.
Angel has seemingly killed Riley. Will Buffy understand and forgive him?
Please send me feed back. I NEED and CRAVE feedback.

What!?

I was just on cloud nine a few seconds ago and now I don't know where I am. I just got off the phone with Angel. It seems as if my ex- boyfriend, who is a vampire with a soul, has killed my current boyfriend Riley.

I just left Angel at his mansion. He just returned from self-exile from Los Angeles, from me. He returned because he realized that I AM his life and that being apart was like denying breath.

I better talk to the gang and see what they say. Oh I know what they will say. Why would you let him back into your life? Why would you go through heartache again? What they don't know and what they can never understand is that no matter what I do, Angel and I are drawn together. I have accepted long time ago that in an odd way that, a slayer and a demon, belong together.

I called an emergency meeting and I met the gang over at the Magic Box. I look at them and the only thing I can say is the truth.

"Okay guys here goes. Angel came back to town last night. I spotted him when I came back from patrol.with Riley. There was major bad vibes when I decided to go with Angel to talk things out. Angel and I talked the night away. We got a lot of things worked out. I decided to go back to him. I was on my way over to see you guys and . talk to Riley but things got all screwed up. Riley never had the patience.he always was the guy of action."

"Ummm.Buffy why are you talking about Riley as if in past tense?" Willow inquired. Willow has always been quick she has caught on.

"I'm talking past tense because.he's dead. Apparently he went over to the mansion this morning to confront Angel and me when he found out I didn't go home last night. I guess he went ballistic. Angel told me that he tried not to fight but Riley kept going for him. Something happened, Angel's not even sure what.but Riley ended up getting impaled by the stake he brought. The stake he brought so that he could kill.Angel."

"Are you alright?" asked Giles my watcher.

"I shouldn't be but in a strange way I am. I trust Angel and I know what Riley is capable of. Shouldn't I be mad at Angel? He did kill my boyfriend."

"Why was Angel here?"

"He needed me. Darla his sire came back and things happened.to make Angel doubt his true self. After a long road of self-discovery he had an epiphany, me. He needed me."

"How can dead-boy come back and expect you to go back to him when he has wounded you so?" Xander countered.

"Yes he has hurt me but he really did think it was for the best. With the clause in place and everything he didn't want to take chances. It seemed like a no win situation. Day by day it kept getting harder not be `be' with each other. We knew the consequences and it wasn't fair of either of us. Yes I was hurt but I finally understand and I accept. Xander I was going to tell you that Angel and I are together again but this thing with Riley happened. Now I am here to still say that Angel and I are together again."

Xander never liking Angel just puts his hands up in the air and turns away.

"Willow can I speak to you in private?"

"Sure Buffy anything."

"I have to go and see Angel. He sounded strange the last time I talked to him. Yes it was to tell me what happened.but he sounded afraid. I think he thinks that I do not believe or trust him. I have to go to him he's still in a fragile state. He needs me. But can I ask for a favour?"

"Anything."

"You are the queen of research. Can you find something in these old books? I need a spell or something. There has to be a way out of this clause. Yes I am willing to be with him even if we can't do anything about it but there is no harm in looking."

"Consider it done."

* * *

I am heading towards the mansion and I'm anxious to reach Angel. He didn't sound too good on the phone. He probably thinks I don't believe him. He should know better, but he has gone through a lot lately. He just recently got back on track with his `life'. Riley has always acted impulsively and I have to admit that he had always had a sore spot for Angel. He never understood my love for Angel, a vampire, who I'm supposed to be slaying not caring about. I really don't believe anyone really understands the bond Angel and I have I think they just accept. I walk faster; Angel needs to hear from my own lips that I understand. Yes, I'll grieve for Riley; he was a big part of my life. The only regret I have is that I should have let Riley go when I realized that I couldn't love him. He always spoke the words to me but I couldn't bear to say it because for me it wasn't true. How could I love some one when Angel never left my heart?

I finally get to the mansion; the door is unlocked as usual. There is an eerie silence that welcomes me.

"Angel.Angel are you here? It's me Buffy."

Silence.

I look around and I am drawn to the room of the mansion that holds the best and worst memories for both Angel and me. The creaking of the door as I pushed it open is deafening due to the silence.

I spot Angel he is crouched on the floor in a fetal position. A flashback of the time Angel's return from hell goes through my mind. In this very room I sent him to hell. and were he came back to me.

*How can she believe me? She will not want me now. We already have a mountain high obstacle to get over and I put this between us. We have basically agreed to be together and we still have the limitations of the clause. Yes we can be together but if I ever experienced true happiness I would lose my soul again. How can I let her sacrifice physical fulfilment just to be with me? It is not fair. I shouldn't have come back and burdened her with all this. But .it was so natural to want to be with her. She is my `everything' she anchors my soul to this lifeless body. Hence she is my `life'. I have to fight. I must tell her what happened. Buffy will trust and she will believe that I never meant to hurt Riley. No matter how hard the road is. we will be together. *

"Angel? It's Buffy are you alright?"

"Buffy? You came. I thought you would not have anything to do with me. I thought I had to go to you. I was just trying to gather the strength to see you. To make you understand."

"Come here." I hold out my arms and Angel gets up and walks into my embrace.

"I can't believe that you are here"

"You have to have more faith in me. I do believe what you told me about what happened. I don't blame you. I actual blame myself. This would never have happened if I were truthful to Riley. He never gave me time to explain things.but I should not have been with him in the first place. I was using him and I'm not proud of it. I can never make it up to him but the things that happened were not your fault. WE are still okay. It will take time for me to forgive myself.I am still that girl you left behind but in other ways I'm not. I've grown and I and not in odds with my destiny as a slayer anymore. You have probably changed in ways too. We can find out the differences together. Together we will be strong."

"Yes you have changed. You are not that little girl anymore you are a woman. I do need time to get to know you all over again and you have to get to know me as well. What a fine pair we are."

"We are funny pair aren't we"?

"Buffy something is wrong.?" Angel clutches his chest and fall to the ground.

"Angel.Angel."

AGGG! AGGG!!!

Angel writhing in pain and I have no idea how I can help. I bend down and hold him in my arms. After what seems like eternity Angel quiets down, he is covered in his own sweat. I run my fingers through his hair and I caress his cheek. Something is different. I can't define it. Oh my God, I can feel him breath. He is warm; I can feel his heat through my fingers. He is alive.

Angel slowly meets my gaze. His eyes are clouded with confusion and then slowly replaced with awe.

"Buffy I am alive." He stares at his hands. He touches his mouth and feels his breath; he holds his chest and feels his heartbeat. He slowly takes my mind and if in slow motion he holds my hand to his chest. He's breathing. I can fell the rhythm of his chest constricting and expanding with air. I can feel the thumping of his heart. THUMP THUMP

"Angel.how can this happen?"

"I have no idea. I'm still in shock. After all this time it has been so long. It feels strange. I can feel my heartbeat, my blood coursing through my body. How did this happen? I am human. and I am yours."

I touch his face, my fingertip tracing every crevice, every line and every feature. I hold his face in my hands and place a gentle kiss on his lips. All the kisses we shared cannot compare to this moment. I am met with warm and pulsing skin instead of the cold hard marble I am use to. This must be heaven.

Answers we need answers.

But nothing matters at this moment but being with Angel and to be surrounded by his warmth. I take his hand in mine and we walk to our future.

Later.we will get our questions asked, much later.

* * * *

I don't think I'll every get use to the idea of Angel being human. He is fast asleep and I just want to look at him, absorb that my dream has finally come true. My beloved is here with me. We just expressed our love in the purest of forms and nothing creepy happened, he is still Angel and he's here to stay. I caress his cheek and I gently place my hand over his chest, I feel his heartbeat and I smile. Now I can rest. Everything is perfect and I am where I belong.with my beloved.

*When I opened my eyes I couldn't believe that I have an actual heartbeat. I'm no longer cold. Every sensation is new to me as if I am experiencing everything for the first time. I want to experience everything with Buffy, share my life with her. I can't wait to go out in the sun: taste food; make her my wife; have babies; everything is possible. All my dreams have come true. I am no longer afraid of what the future holds. I am where I belong. After wandering the earth for hundreds of years I am HOME, I am whole. *

Much much later.

"Angel I know you are not use to this but we do need to eat, I'm famished. No matter how much I hate to leave this bliss behind, I need food."

"I know there is so much to take in. I am hungry. I wonder if food tastes the same it did hundred of years ago?"

"You have not tried peanut butter.or better yet chocolate."

"Sounds good. But I have something I want to show you first."

--Ring-Ring

"Oh I better get that. The only person that knows I'm here is Willow. Maybe she has answers for us"

I go over and pick up the phone.

"Hello.Willow I thought it would be you."

"I guess your talk with Angel went well you sound extremely happy."

"You don't know how happy I am. I want to tell you all in person can we meet later?"

"Sure but I think I found something. It might be nothing but I also might be something. I found an old prophecy dating around 725 AD it says:

One born of light but touched by darkness,
One born of darkness but touched by light.
Two ancient lovers destined to be together since time began.
They are separated only to be reunited throughout history.
Neither death nor time nor the destruction of this very world,
Can keep their souls from each other.
Let all those who try to oppose their union,
Face witness to the light they both create and submit
To their might, to their love,
And to the prophecy that binds them together.

Buffy what do you think? Anything?"

"Wil you are miracle worker. Yes oh yes it explains a lot. Better to show you then tell you. Why don't you get take-out and meet us here at the mansion. Don't forget to bring ice cream. We are going to celebrate. Gather up the rest of the gang as well they want to see this as well. See you all later."

I should have told Willow but I wanted to surprise her. I can't to see everyone's face when they find out Angel is breathing.

"Angel.where are you? I have news."

"I'm in here Buffy. I want to show you something."

I find Angel in the bedroom. His arms are behind his back he is hiding something.

"Angel I have wonderful news Willow found a prophecy and it explains everything.what is behind your back? Why do you have the biggest grin on your face?"

"I want you to have this again.Here" He places a box in my hand.

I slowly open it and contained in the box is the claddagh ring he gave me long ago. I thought it was lost. When I sent him to hell I left the ring on the floor of this very room. I wanted to let him know in my special way that I was going on with my life. When he came back from hell I searched everywhere for the ring but I couldn't find it. Now after all this time, after all the heartache, after all the healing Angel gives it back to me.

"It belongs on your finger Buffy. I want to start a new commitment with you. Will you be my wife, my partner forever?"

"Yes yes forever" Our lips meet to renew our promise.

Angel and I finally have our dreams come true and who ever thought that a vampire and a slayer could live happily ever after.

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