Spoilers: Um...The Gift, definitely, and the 6th season opener. For Angel, just There's no Place like Pltz Grib. That's wrong and I know it, I'm just terrible at remembering things like that. Oh, well, you guys know what I'm talking about.
Rating: Pg13, I guess.
Distribution: LoD, because, well, this is their list, and after that, well, open party, I guess. Just drop me a line on wherever it's going.
Disclaimer: Not mine. As much as I'd like to kill Joss and take them, I can't. The only reason I don't is because I can't take my laptop to jail w/ me ...wait, is there any rule against that? ...: -D
Feedback: Sure, why not? This is my first fic I've actually sent out, so I'd like to know what you think. I think this is kind of bad, but oh, well, ya know, I figure, whatever, it's the meaning behind the words that counts, right? Right guys? * small voice* Guys?
Dedication: First of all, to Sam, who if you're reading this, hi. You Angel obsessed lil' monkey, you. This is for you, and well, then of course to all the other authors out there, cuz' well, you guys got me writing in the first place.
Summary: Instead of Dawn being up on the tower when Buffy is going to kill herself, after she digs out of the grave, our little knight in shining armor is up there instead.

Buffy looked down at the hard ground beneath her with satisfaction. She could stop it all right now. She could kill the pain, the utter hell of it all, just by stepping off into oblivion...A smile, barely noticeable graced her features. She remembered the night so vividly. The night all of the pain had stopped, and the peace had begun.

*****************

The Key's blood dripped off of the platform. It seemed to stop in mid-air, bursting into a bright, bluish electric amped portal. Buffy looked down at it with understanding. Without a look back, Buffy took a running leap and swan dove into the portal.

*************************

She continued to relay the night's events in her head. ***************************

Buffy looked towards the sky. The ritual was complete. The Key's blood had been shed. The sky parted and horrifying creatures started spewing forth into her world, Dawn's world. Understanding suddenly lit her eyes as she fitted all the pieces of the puzzle together.

" Death is your gift." A voice whispered into her ear.

She turned back to look at Dawn, and somehow, Dawn sensed it, she knew.

" Buffy, no!" she gasped.

" Dawnie, I have to," she reasoned with her. She didn't even wait for a response, though. She ran and took the plungeinto oblivion,all the while her sister yelled her name.

"Buffy!"

********************

"Buffy," a strong male voice whispered. That person whispered her name like a prayer, like a lifeline. She'd know that voice anywhere, even in her muddled state of mind, she knew.

" Buffy, is it you," he asked desperately, " I mean, really you?"

She gave him no response, not even acknowledgement that she heard him. Just silence. And another look at the ground before her.

" Buffy, please, baby, don't jump!" he pleaded," Just talk to me! F or God's sake, say anything!" Buffy paused, not sure of what to say, if anything. Her mind stuck on one thought, though. And she had to know the answer.

" Is this Hell?" her voice was pleading, like a small child in the midst of chaos and confusion.

Her question both confused and alarmed him. He'd hoped he'd heard it wrong because, if she thought this was Hell, then, Oh, God...she'd b een in Heaven. He didn't want to think about it, it was too traumatizing, he didn't want his love to have gone through that. Hell, he wouldn't want anyone to go through that...

"What?" he managed to grind out. He had to know...

"Is this Hell? She asked, turning around and facing him fully. It was this time he took in her image fully. She was filthy, and her knuckles were torn and bloody, from what he didn't know. Or did he? A thought struck him, an even more gruesome thought to add to his woe, and his beloved's. She'd clawed her way out of her own grave, just like he had so long a go.

His voice shook as he tried to explain to her, " No, no, oh, God, no. You're here with me, Angel. And your friends. Willow, Xander, your sister Dawn, Anya, and Tara...this couldn't be Hell..."

" Couldn't it?" she asked, " I mean, here, its so awful. So bright, and loud. I want to go home, go back."

She looked up to the sky and fell to her knees in grief. They hadn't even noticed it had begun to rain. She raised her arms and began to shout. The rain pounded her face, mingling with her tears as she pounded against the tower with her hands, making them bleed even more.

"Take me back!" she yelled, " Please!" she sobbed, getting louder. Her shrill voice made Angel's ears ring. His heart broke for her, and he too began to cry. " Please, don't make me stay here! I don't like it here! Take me home!"

When nothing happened, her shoulders slumped defeatedly, and she began sobbing pitifully. Angel instinctively went to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her. She tensed for a moment, before relaxing into his embrace.

"Angel," she sobbed pitifully, " I'm so fucked up, so fucked up. I just want to go home, they stole me away form there, and I just want to go home, and be at peace. Like I'm supposed to be."

He placed a soft kiss on her crown before whispering into her ear, " Ssshhh," he soothed, "Let me make it better, just let me make it better. I love you, and I need you here, just, please, Buffy, let me make it all right." His tears were too running down his face. He didn't care, though, she was back, and that was all that mattered. Thank the Lord, she was back. His words of love only made her cry harder, why she didn't know. After a few more minutes, her sobs stopped, and she just snuggled into his embrace absentmindedly, staring into nothingness.

Angel whispered to her once again, " Love, let's get off of here, okay?"

She didn't respond, and thought a minute. This was probably her only chance to go if she was gonna do it. Instead, she nodded. Angel got up and helped her stand on her wobbly knees. Together, they climbed down the stairs, tedious and slow with Angel guiding her along the way. Just like the long hard months would before them would be. But Buffy would pull through, though. Because with her Angel was beside her, and with him, they could solve anything. With one last look towards the sky, Buffy closed her eyes against the pounding rain and ran home with her Angel in her arms.

~That be it folks

Send feedback to Whitney

Back to the Fanfiction Archive