NOT FORGOTTEN (3/?)
Buffy stared at him, her expression softening slightly as she saw the
obvious pain in his eyes. "Damn right that was a mistake. Willow was the
best thing that could ever happen to you."
Angel looked at her, a small smile crossing his face as he thought over
her words.
"Uh, I mean, besides me that is. I was the best thing but that was then.
Now, she's the best. And I completely messed that one up, didn't I?" She
sighed, making a face.
He nodded, "Yeah, you did. But, I knew what you meant. We are in the
past...have been since that night last May."
Buffy looked at him and knew he believed what he was saying. "Then,
why?"
"Why what?" Angel asked, sitting down. "Why fall in love with her? Why
let her walk away? Why let the one person that has meant more to me in
my entire existence walk out the door? No offense, by the way." he
added.
Buffy smiled, "None taken. Must be a bit weird to discuss this with a
former lover. BUT, she's my best friend. I want to know why you made her
unhappy."
"I don't know....it happened so fast....I mean, I think I fell in love
with her slowly last year and it all just hit me after I left. That
night...I couldn't control it. She even tried to get us to wait and see
what was happening...it was just bigger than us both. Does that make any
sense or am I rambling like an idiot?"
"A bit of both." Buffy said, smiling. She had never seen him so, in a
word, alive. Feeling a twinge of remorse, she realized that they had not
been meant to be. It had been wonderful and she would always love him,
but she wasn't in love with him. She knew then that she wouldn't rest
until he and Willow were together. She had to let them both know she
approved. She knew they belonged together. If she didn't, she'd never
have driven to LA to convinced him of it. "Things happened and you
didn't know how to deal. Been there, done that."
Angel shook his head slowly, "That isn't the truth. I knew I should
agree to go visit her too. Until we could figure this all out. I just
pushed her away....I said as little as I needed to, knowing her mind
would fill in the blanks incorrectly."
Buffy nodded, finally getting it. "You were scared to death, weren't
you?"
He looked up in surprise. She really had changed. He smiled sheepishly,
"In a word? Yes."