Email: EvilDead_DemonGirl@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: All things Buffy and Angel belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy and a band of lawyers. I own the plot and anything you don't recognize from the Buffyverse.
Rating: overall for series NC-17
Pairing: Spike/Willow, Angel/Isabel
Synopsis: After the Buffy incident at the funeral, Angel comes clean about his feelings for the Slayer *and* the intensity of his love for Isabel.
Distribution: If you have anything of mine, you're welcome to this. If anyone else would like to archive it, go for it : ) Just drop me an email to let me know where it's going.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was on the roof that Angel found his divine beauty. Her head was thrown back, her arms gracefully lifted to the sky as she let the light of the moon wash over hear, cleansing her of all that ailed her.
At that moment, he was what ailed her--he and his relationship with the Slayer.
With fatigue as her excuse, Isabel had spent the day in the underground apartment, using her nap as a convenient way to avoid everyone, especially Angel. Not that he could blame her. Every painful moment he had ever shared with Buffy had been burned into her consciousness. It wasn't a pleasant way to start a new life.
"Where does this leave me, Angel?"
The vampire was taken from his thoughts once his love spoke to him. Surely she had felt his presence; after all, it was one of her gifts.
Before he answered her, he thought back on the conversation he'd had with Spike once they had returned to the office and Isabel had made her escape. The blonde had cornered his sire in his office, concerned for the little demon with whom he had become so close to.
A cigarette dangling between his lips, Spike had sat himself on Angel's desk and without preamble, proceeded to demand answers from his sire.
"This is what we were all dreading, Angelus--the introduction of Buffy into Isabel's life, and more importantly, the introduction of your sordid love affair with said Slayer. Where does this leave that little girl crying in your basement? Can you say that you love her the same, even after seeing Buffy again?"
With a feral growl, the dark vampire began to pace about his office, incensed that his childe could think that the mere sight of Buffy could change everything between he and Isabel.
"I believe we've gone through this, William. My relationship with Isabel has nothing to do with Buffy. This will *never* have anything to do with Buffy. She and I will never be together. Even if my soul were declared permanent right now, it still wouldn't happen. I can't give her what she needs and she sure as hell can't give me what I need."
"And what do you need?" Of course he already knew the answer, but wanted to hear it come from Angel's lips.
"Isabel is what I need, childe. A woman who wants to give me her love and affection--both man and demon. Every part of me wants her, William," Angel confessed with tears in his eyes. "Buffy may have a piece of my heart, but my entire soul belongs to Isabel. She's the piece of me that's been missing for the last century and I love her."
With a smile, Spike stood and embraced his sire. "Go to her, Angel. Tell her that. Make all the feelings that Buffy left with her go away. Let her know that your love for her runs deep."
And with that, Angel had, indeed, gone to her, knowing that she would be seeking the comforting light of the moon to give her the energy that had been drained from her that day. With a pure heart filled with adoration for the beauty before him, the vampire approached Isabel, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It leaves you here with me, in my heart and in my soul, love."
Isabel turned then, her violet eyes questioning and confused.
"After everything the two of you went through together, how can you be so certain that this is where you want to be?"
When she turned to face him, her lovely eyes filled with unshed tears, his heart broke for her. Hours ago she had been so sure of her place in his life, only to have that confidence taken from her with the arrival of the Slayer. He had to give her that confidence once more.
"I won't deny that a part of me loves her still." Angel paused as Isabel's face shut down, leaving her cold and empty to him. She had known that all along, but to hear it come from his lips, it was like a knife to the heart. He continued, hoping he could make her understand. "You know as well as I do that even if my soul were somehow bound to this body, she and I could never be. All we ever did was cause one another pain. That's why I left Sunnydale. I wanted her to have a good life and as long as I was in it, it wouldn't be. I came here to try and make amends for my wrongs and pay my penance.
"Never once did I think I would meet another woman that would dare make me feel anything but self-loathing and regret." The vampire cupped her damp cheek with his hand and made her look up at him. "Never did I think that I would meet someone like you, corazon, someone that would make me want to love again. I'm not in love with Buffy anymore and I haven't been for a while, but she's still in my heart and I don't think there'll be a time when she won't be. But in my thoughts and in my heart, you reign. Please don't question my care for you, love. No force on earth will change this love. Not the Gods of heaven and not the hounds of hell. I belong to you. Only to you," he whispered," resting his forehead against hers. "Lovely Isabel, we are bound by blood now. Nothing can break that bond, not even past loves."
With sobs of relief, Isabel fell into his arms, needing his loving touch. "I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life, Angel," she whispered through her tears. "Especially since this would be the ideal time to return to Sunnydale and to Buffy."
"Why would you say that, corazon?"
Isabel lifted her eyes, rejoicing in the love she found in his. With a gentle kiss, she whispered the answer against his lips.
"Because you soul is bound now, Angel, never to leave you again."
~*~*~
Slack jawed.
That was the only way to describe Angel's expression. With a gasp of unnecessary oxygen, the vampire stepped back, shock apparent on his face.
"Huh?"
Isabel couldn't keep the smile from her lips. After all they had gone through, there were apparently some things that could still surprise him--leave him dumfounded, even. The witchy little demon closed the space between them and took his hands in hers.
"The Powers That Be obviously believe that you're worthy of this gift, Angel. They don't want you to be alone and they want you to feel happiness again. Now, our binding will never be a source of pain for you. You'll never have to worry about depriving me of absolute love, and even without making love, you've already given me that."
~*~*~
The two demons chosen by the PTB spent what seemed like hours on the roof, silently locked in an embrace, exalting in the love they'd found in one another.
In the building below, there two others remained, each wishing the best for their friends and hoping that their budding love would be as blessed.