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Buffyfic-digest        Sunday, January 11 1998        Volume 01 : Number 079



In this issue:

       BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Section One of Part Two of Six
       BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Section Two of Part Two of Six.
       BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Part Three of Six
       BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Part Four of Six (Section One)
       BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Part Four (2/2) of Six

See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:14:55 -0800
From: Angel's Lover <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Section One of Part Two of Six

Again the characters are not mine, they are Joss's and Mutant Enemy's...
I make no money from this, and no copywright infringement was intended.
Please send all comments to Lea at [e-mail] or
[e-mail] . OH!  BTW:  I'm fondly known among my friends
and readers as "Angst-Girl"... that comes directly into play with this
fic.. just a warning.. LOL

________________________

Time Heals All:  Part Two

His body slammed down onto hers with a heavy thud as the time
portal spit Angel back out onto the earth. With a flinch and a quick
look to be sure, he relaxed, thanking the powers that be that it was
still nightfall.

He glanced down to see Buffy laying beneath him, an eyebrow raised.
Angel almost blushed as he pulled himself away and helped her to her
feet.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

She grinned, "Not a prob." She looked around, "So.. where are we?"

Angel sighed, "You should be asking when are we."

"Say again?"

He shrugged, "This is Ireland..." he paused, "1756."

She blinked, "1756???? How do you know for sure?"

"I think Spike's coming back had something to do with me." He took her
hand and turned her so that they were overlooking a small town. He
pointed out a large house seperated from the others by large shrubs
and a row of trees. "That was my house.... before."

"Before?!"

He nodded, "See that fire on the eastern border of town?" She
nodded, "I'm there right now, "rescuing" Darla from the blaze."

She frowned, "How long before she... um....?"

"Three nights."

She blinked, "Wow... she really moves fast."

"Tell me about it."

Buffy shifted, "Angel, you know that I can stop her from changing
you... if you want me to."

The expression on his face never changed, but something flickered in
his eyes, a light Buffy had never before seen. She found herself
holding her breath while the vampire shrugged.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now we have to find
a way to get us home."

Buffy nodded, "What was the name Spike called the demon he.. um...
conjured?"

"Grosaahk. He's the keeper of time and space in an ancient religion."

"Which one?"

"Tarkan, an ancient celt religion. They died out about a hundred and
fifty years before you were born. Barely any evidence of their
existence has survived the passing years. Few even recall their
existence."

"But you know of them."

He nodded, "I.... knew several members."

"Where can we find them?"

Angel looked at her warily for a moment, "Buff... why don't we try
and find this century's watcher first? The Tarkan are not a.... pleasant
group."

Buffy scowled, no one she dealt with was ever pleasant, but she
nodded. Curiously she wondered if all watchers were as stiff as Giles.
She giggled, it might be fun to find out... perhaps a little black mail
for some future night off. She looked up at the sky and sobered.

"It's almost dawn."

Angel nodded, "I know."

"Do you have someplace you can... um.. sleep until night?"

Angel almost shuddered, it had been a long time since he had been
forced to go below ground. Damp, rotting walls, dripping moss and
cold dirt floors were not something he relished returning to. "There's
a..." he hesitated, "mauseleum just down the road in the graveyard.
No light gets in."

Buffy shrugged, "Okay, let's go."

His hand on her shoulder. "No. You're not going there."

She sighed, "If we're gonna be slaying vamps and whatevering time
demons then I need rest too." She paused, "Besides, I'd rather not be
alone right now, this is your time, your home. I'm kinda out of place
here."

"I don't want you to have to sleep there.. it's not..."

"Pleasant, so you've said. Too bad, I'm going anyways. So lead on,
MacDuff. Oh wait.. he was scottish wasn't he?"

Angel shook his head, "Fine. Whatever." One of these days that
stubborn pushy slayer was going to push her way straight to her
death. He sighed, and then his life would mean nothing once again.

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

Buffy grimaced at the stale air that filled the crypt. She darted a
quick
glance at Angel and caught him grimacing as well. She laughed.

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

She smiled, "You're more human than you may think."

"Okay...." Angel raised an eyebrow but moved to the back of the
mauseleum. He laid down on the cold hard floor and crossed his
hands behind his head... he remembered this crypt well. The first
while after his change he had spend long days within its confines. That
was until Darla had returned for him and taught him of the demonic
pleasure he could receive from not just feeding on his victims, but
from toying with them and killing them. He was incredibly viscious,
heartless, soulless, and he relished the feeling of complete freedom his
new life had afforded him.

He glanced at Buffy, still standing in the center of the crypt. She was
probably thinking of all the horrors he had brought about as well. She
was most likely wondering how insane she could possibly be to have
fallen in love with a vampire. She caught his eye and smiled.

Angel sighed, things had changed a lot in the last hundred years, he
had changed. The evidence of the existence of his heart and soul was
plain, for everytime he looked at her his chest ached. He longed to
hold her close forever, but forever would not happen for her. One
day the inevitable would come about, Buffy would die and Angel
would be left alone, his heart in a million pieces, his soul slowly
whithering away, and his every shred of humanity returning to the
depths from which the Romani elders had pulled it.

"Buff, come lie down."

She looked at him warily for a moment before settling down upon the
ground, resting her head upon his chest. They both sighed and Angel
wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders.

He made up his mind, right there and then, that the day Buffy died,
the day her so very alive soul lay quiet and without light, that would
be the day Angel would watch his final sunrise. He would wait until
she was covered with the cold, dark earth, and then he would lay
upon her grave, waiting for the sun to come and carry his soul away
to join once again with that of his love. There would be no fear in his
heart, only sadness for a love lost, and a lifetime of secrecy forced
upon she who should have been allowed to be a child.

"What are you thinking, Angel?"

His arm tightened around her, "Nothing important." He sighed at the
lie. "Where will we start looking for the Watcher tomorrow?"

She grinned, "Where else?"

He shook his head, "The town library it is."

Finally they settled down into each others arms, closed their eyes, and
allowed the quiet sounds of a town awakening to lull them into a
deep, peaceful sleep.

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

Buffy awoke long before Angel, her head tucked into his shoulder,
wrapped firmly into his powerful arms. She listened quietly as his
heart beat slowly, smiling lightly at the so human sound of its steady
rythmn.

After a long while she gently untangled herself from his warm body,
and silently crossed the crypt. She had three nights with Angel before
they were forced to decide what to do about Darla. Should he
choose to stop Darla from bringing him across, hundreds, perhaps
thousands of lives would never know the pain his demon soul had
wrought. She sighed, but then Angel would have died hundreds of
years before she was born, and their love would never be. Did she
have the right to ask him to continue his suffering just so that she
could have a short period of happiness in his arms? And what of after
she died? She was not immortal, one day a vampire would get her, or
old age surely would and this time there would be no second chances.
Was it right for her to use him so badly, knowing that in a short time
she would be gone and he would be left once again to suffer new pain
alone? Did anyone have that right?

Across the crypt he shifted. "Sun's down," she said, as he slowly
rose. She frowned, "Direct me to the library. I'll try to find the
Watcher while you feed."

"Thank you."

She shrugged, "Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do." Her stomach
rumbled, "I have to find something to eat too."

"There's an apple grove on the road to town. You should be able to
get food there."

"Where are you going.... or do I want to know?"

He sighed, "I'll find a farm, take a pig... maybe a few chickens."

"Will you be okay without, uh... human blood?"

He smiled, "I'm fine. I've grown used to pigs blood."

She shrugged, "Okay... an hour long enough?"

"I'll be there."

They walked out of the crypt and went their seperate directions.
Angel hesitated and turned back for a moment, "Buff?"

She glanced back, "Yeah?"

"If you see Darla, run, okay? I don't quite know how to handle her
just yet."

Her eyes darkened with sudden regret, but she nodded. "Will do."
and they each went on their way.

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

Continued in Section Two

- -

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:20:28 -0800
From: Angel's Lover <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Section Two of Part Two of Six.

Standard Disclaimers apply... the characters are Joss's and Mutant Enemy
Productions... I make no money, and no copy wright infringement was
intended.  Please direct all comments to Lea at either
[e-mail] or [e-mail] .

__________________

Conclusion to Part Two


She walked, trying not to think of the actions Angel was taking to
prolong his existence. She sighed, it wasn't any different from eating
meat, she supposed, it was just drinking their blood instead of
cooking their flesh.

A shuffle of rocks; she turned. "Ready?"

Angel gave a small smile. "Ready."

Together they stepped forward, slowly climbing the stairs to the small
town library. They figured that if all the watchers were as diligent as
Giles, which according to Angel they were, this generation's watcher
would still be at work. Buffy stepped in front of Angel, wanting to
protect him in case he'd be recognized for what he was. She
knocked.

There came only silence for a moment, so again she raised her hand
to the door. Before she could knock, however, it opened inwards
and a middle aged men stared out at her.

"May I help you?"

Buffy didn't mix words. "Are you the Watcher?"

"Excuse me?!" He gave her a nervous glance.

"You may not believe this, but I'm a slayer, and I need your help."

The man blinked at her, his eyes widening as he took in the presence
of Angel. "A slayer that walks with the undead?"

"He's a friend. He's different."

Pause. "Enter, but try nothing."

As the two stepped forward, from the chill of the night into the
warmth of the flickering firelight, the watcher frowned at Angel. "You
seem familiar," he muttered.

Buffy nodded, "That's part of what we need to chat about."

"Including the explanation of how there could possibly be two slayers
in one period of time?" His eyebrows raised as he took in the tight
skirt, nearly sheer blouse, and high heels in which Buffy was clad. The
teen looked down and shrugged.

"Listen, we're from the future." The watcher's eyes opened widely,
and Buffy sighed. "Can we sit? This is gonna take a while."

Over the next several hours, Buffy and Angel explained to the
Watcher, William, to the best of their knowledge what had happened.
They spoke of Giles and their situation at home, running down the
stories of Spike, Drusilla, the Master and Annoited one, and finally
onto the story of Angel.

As their story drew to a conclusion, William frowned and stood. "I
must admit, I am baffled. I will have to..."

Buffy grinned, "Consult your books!"

Angel shook his head, but the Watcher smiled, "Then the future is not
so different from my time?"

The slayer had to giggle, "Some things never change."

William glanced up at Angel. "And how about yourself, Angelus?
Have you decided how to go about resolving your immediate
problems?"

The light of mirth died from Buffy's eyes as she waited silently for
Angel's answer.

The vampire shrugged, "I have a few days to decide."

William nodded, "A hard choice indeed." The soft look that passed
between the vampire and slayer did not go unnoticed. He raised an
eyebrow. "Indeed." With a sigh he began removing large books from
the shelves. "Onto the problem of Grosaahk."

Buffy looked at the intricate books and swallowed hard. "Uh... is
there any where I can go get snacks.. you think.. maybe.. perhaps...."
When both men merely frowned at her, Buffy sighed. She missed
Willow and Xander... a lot.

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

Near the rising of the dawn, William finally called out for Buffy and
Angel. He had found the incantation and ingrediants necessary to call
Grosaahk into their presence.

Buffy slowly tapped her foot against the floor. "Well, when are we
gonna do this, Willy?"

The watcher twitched, "Could you not call me that? My name is
William."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Geesh, chill pill, William. They really need to
put personality powder into your ooze when they're cooking up you
watchers. Talk about a need to relax."

He sighed, "I need time to gather what we need." He glanced at the
lightening sky and back at Angel. "For now the two of you need to
move below ground before the sun rises any higher. Shall we meet
back here just after sun down?"

The two nodded; Angel held his hand out to Buffy, and helped her to
her feet.

"Tonight it is."

Together slayer and vampire stepped out into the cold dawn, and
slowly their steps led them back to the dark mauseleum. There the
only warmth they received was in each others arms, but as Buffy
nestled down against Angel's comforting body, that was all the
warmth either of them needed.

End Chapter Two

- -

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:31:32 -0800
From: Angel's Lover <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Part Three of Six

Standard Disclaimers apply.. the characters belong to Joss and Mutant
Enemy Productions.. I am not making money from this, and no copywright
infringement was intended.  Please direct all comments to Lea at either
[e-mail] or [e-mail] .  There's a little bit
of closeness in this that I really don't think rates over PG13...
especially not in this day and age.

________________________

Time Heals All:  Part Three

Buffy frowned in concern as Angel slashed out in his sleep. He cried
out softly before his body changed into his vampire form.

His hand involuntarily clenched on her shoulder, his long nails digging
into her tender flesh, drawing five cuts of blood out of her soft skin.
Biting her lip to keep from crying out herself, Buffy jumped back and
away from Angel's nightmare racked form.

"Angel," she spoke semi-loudly, her hand moving to her shoulder to
try and stop the trickles of blood from the rather deep nail bites.
"Angel!" She sighed and moved back to his side, her free hand
cupping his cheek. "Angel, wake up."

Very slowly his eyes opened, but his form did not revert back to
human. He blinked, "You're bleeding."

She nodded, "Just a couple of scratches."

"From me?" She nodded, "Damn! I'm sorry, Buffy, I never wanted to
hurt you."

She grinned, "I know. You were stuck in a nightmare, and when you
reached out for me, you just grabbed a little too tight. Nothing major."

She watched as his fingers dug into his palms, the smell of her blood
was beginning to get to him. Lord how he wanted just a tiny taste.. he
wouldn't hurt her... oh to just suck very gently on the tiny wounds....

Her heart stopped at the desperate longing she saw growing in his
eyes. With a shiver running down the length of her body she held out
to him her hand spotted with the blood of her wounds.

With a soft groan his tongue darted out and gently licked the red
liquid from her fingers. With a lack of self consciousness that
surprised them both, Buffy reached down and drew over her head the
fine fabric that made up her shirt. Angel hesitated as he gazed in
wonder at her, but she smiled lightly and lay a gentle kiss upon his
lips
before directing his mouth to her cuts. His cold lips met her stinging
flesh, and as he sucked very gently, her head dropped back against
the damp wall. His tongue lapped at her tender skin, then ever so
softly he pulled away, human once again.

Her eyes were slightly glazed as she gathered her shirt back to her
body. Angel rose to his feet and offered her his hand; she sighed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, guilt clouding his face.

She smiled softly, "Don't be. Don't ever be sorry with me." she
paused, then reached up and kissed him, "This wasn't unwelcome."

He held her close for a long while, inwardly cursing himself for his
loss of control. His heart warmed with the knowledge that Buffy didn't
hold against him his darker nature, and with regret he stepped away.

"Sun's down. William will be waiting."

"Are you all right?"

His eyes flickered away but he nodded, "We'd better get going."

Buffy frowned at Angel's retreating back, wishing she could help calm
his turmoil, but now was not the time. With a sigh she followed him
out into the night.

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

Angel's eyes drew to the boiling cauldron of blood and then back to
William as the watcher slowly stirred it. Angel's nails dug into the
palms of his hand.

The watcher grimaced as he turned away, then he frowned lightly at
the tense expression on Angel's face. "Now you understand my
incredulty at the thought of a large group of vampires putting together
this spell."

"No duh!" Buffy herself was peering at Angel in concern. Due to their
rush, aside from the small amounts he had taken from her wounds,
Angel had not fed. "Angel, do you want to go.. uh..."

He shook his head, "I'm fine. Let's just get on with this."

She shrugged, "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Just stand back and repeat after me the words I have given you."

And they did. Vampire and slayer alike watched closely the cards
William had given them, flawlessly repeating the strange words.
Though the sounds came to Buffy with difficulty, Angel slipped into
the ancient tongue seemingly without effort.

Buffy watched him in quiet surpirse as he revealed yet another aspect
of his unique personality. The ancient gaelic words were coming from
him as if the language were an old friend, reminding her again just how
different the two of them truly were.

As they spoke a dark cloud gathered in the room, a sound of thunder
rumbled throughout the library, shaking the foundation, sending books
tumbling in all directions.

As William finished the incantation and stained the floor with the
boiled blood, the clouds began to solidify into a horrendous figure.
Deep red skin covered this creature, horns twisted into grotesque
shapes, fur matting into solid lumps and so forth. It was the spitting
image of the very devil all good christians had been raised to fear.
Buffy swallowed hard and Angel moved to stand slightly in front of
her, his arms a welcome comfort to ward off the chill of horror.

"Why have you awakened me?!"

William stood straight, his horror overwhelmed by his sence of duty.
"We require your assistance in a matter of time."

"To when do you wish to travel."

Buffy spoke up, "1997... november 11, around 10pm."

Grosaahk frowned, "As you desire, however it will be on my terms.
Two nights you will remain in this time. If at the end of that period
your desire to leave remains, a portal will open in front of you. You
must step through within 60 seconds or the portal will close."

Buffy and Angel nodded, and William replied, "They understand,
Grosaahk. We are indebted to you for your service."

"Yeah, thanks." Buffy interjected.

The demon inclinded its head slightly, then as fast as they had
developed, the clouds dispersed, and Grosaahk was gone.

Buffy and Angel both sighed. Two nights meant they still had to
decide what to do about Darla. It would have been so much more
simple to go home right now and forget the entire thing, but they
couldn't... not now... perhaps not ever.

William smiled, "Well, there you are, children. Two nights from now
and you will be well on your way home."

Buffy glanced up at Angel, "Yeah, but we've got some unfinished
business we have to deal with first."

Angel looked at her and frowned, "Darla?"

She shrugged, "You have to decide what you're gonna do. You only
have until tomorrow night... and then we have to deal with Grosaahk
right after too."

He paused as he looked out the window, "There are a few hours until
dawn. Would you like to go to my house... see what's happening?"

Her eyes lit, "Sure... uh, that is as long as you and Darla aren't doing
anything that I don't particularily want to see!"

He grinned mischievously, "Well then maybe you should stay here."

She glared at him, "I'll kill her!"

He laughed, "Too late, I already did."

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

The two silently peered into the window of the dimly lit house. Inside
Darla was feeding a laughing Angel grapes out of a bowl on the table.
On Angel's lap was a book of mythology; he believed he was
teaching an ignorant Darla of the ancient greek gods and goddesses
while they played Zeus and Aphrodite.

Buffy was hard pressed to keep from laughing at her companion as he
slowly shook his head in embarrasment. At her small sound of
smothered laughter he turned an glared at her.

"What are you laughing at?"

She giggled, "Lame much?"

"Oh and you could have done better I suppose."

"As long as you never ask me to play Aphrodite, we won't have to
find out, now will we?"

He sighed and took her hand, "Come on, goddess mine. The sun's
coming up. Darla'll be leaving soon too."

Buffy bowed as she giggled, "Your wish is my command, oh king of
the gods!"

"Shut up."

She laughed aloud as she followed his dark form down the empty
streets of the still sleeping town. Though on the outside she displayed
good natured mirth, inside Buffy was anything but happy. They only
had one night left to decide what to do. Come tomorrow's dawn
they'd be on their way home, and Angel would be a vampire once
more. Almost unnoticably her laughter was washed away, come
tomorrow's dawn would she be heading home alone? Without Angel?
Without her heart?

Very slowly her eyes filled with unshed tears; should he decide to slay
Darla, should Angel decide to stop his demonic birth, Buffy would not
argue. She would help Angel end the life he has suffered through for
hundreds of years, then go home and try to patch back together the
shattered pieces of her heart.

She quickened her pace, comforting herself in the circle of his arms as
they walked; for now they were together... tomorrow they would deal
with tomorrow.

End Part Three.

- -

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:41:08 -0800
From: Angel's Lover <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Part Four of Six (Section One)

The standard disclaimers apply.. the characters belong to Joss and
Mutant Enemy.. I am not making any money on this, and no copy wright
infringement was intended.  Please direct all comments to Lea at either
[e-mail] or [e-mail] .

____________________

Time Heals All:  Part Four

Buffy awoke long before the nightfall, her nerves at the night to come
overwhelming her need to sleep. Would Angel choose death over
love or would he forsake his one chance at peace to be with her?

For the first time since they had arrived, Buffy walked through Angel's
town in the sunlight, seeing how quaint and beautiful his home had
been. Children were running between the tiny shops, chasing each
other, playing, laughing. Buffy smiled, thinking of a carefree Angel
doing the same.

How unfair it had been to take away that innocence. She wondered if
he liked children, if he liked baseball, football, shopping. There were
so many things she didn't know about him, and now may never find
out.

Sliding to the ground she sat comfortably in a patch of grass as she
thought. Her clothing drew odd looks, but for the most part no one
paid her any attention as she shivered in the cool air. That is until a
dark shadow drew over her.

Buffy looked up at the man next to her and gasped, "Angel!"

He looked down at her and smiled, "I haven't quite received my
wings yet, but perhaps someday, god willing."

Realization dawned. This was not her Angel, this was Angel before
Darla had infected him. His smile was bright and happy, no tinge of
sadness or guilt behind his eyes. She sighed, he was even more
gorgeous in daylight than she had ever imagined.

His eyebrows raised, and suddenly she realized she had been staring
at him. "Uh.. sorry... for a minute I thought you were somone else."

He sat down beside her, "Mistakes happen. I haven't seen you here
before."

She shrugged, "Just passing through."

"Unaccompanied?"

"My friend is sleeping. He's a bit of a night creature."

He laughed, "Yes. I have a friend who is the same. I have yet to see
her before the rise of the moon."

Buffy scowled, "Yeah, well, don't hold your breath."

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind. Listen... be careful of your friend of you see her toinght,
okay?"

"May I ask why?"

"No. Just watch your back. People aren't always what they seem."

Though it broke her heart to do so, Buffy couldn't just sit back and
watch while Angel destroyed his life. She had to warn him, even if it
meant such a cryptic message. She didn't know if she was praying for
him to listen to her warning or not, but she sent a silent message to
God that the right decision would be made.

"Are you what you seem?"

The question took her by surprise, and for a moment she stopped to
think. "I don't know."

He smiled. "Perhaps one day you'll discover the answer."

She shrugged, "Maybe."

"If you ever do, I'd like to know the answer."

Buffy smiled into the chocolate brown eyes with in which she had so
often lost herself; her heart melted. "You'll be the first person I
tell."

**********

By the time she reached the mauseleum, Angle was up and pacing its
confines. When he had awakened to find her gone, he had feared the
worst. This was not her time nor place.... where could she be? What
was she doing? Was she in danger? hurt? dead?

When the door scraped slowly open and the tiny blonde stepped
back into the darkness, he turned on her visciously.

"Where have you been?"

She blinked in surprise. "I couldn't sleep so I went into town to look
around."

His eyes softened, "I wish you would have told me. I was..." he
paused, "Worried."

"Don't be. I can take care of myself."

"I know, Buff, but..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." she giggled, "You're sweet, ya know."

He smiled, "And you're going to be the death of me yet."

She grinned, "Gee, and I was working on being the life of you."

Unexpectedly, he reached out and gently caressed her cheek. "You
already are."

The two went suddenly serious as Buffy slipped into Angel's
embrace. Her head rested lightly against his chest, listening to the
rythm of his heart beat. They stood like that for long minutes, his head
resting a top hers, his arms holding her tightly to him. For the first
time in what seemed like endless days they refused to think about
Angel's decision, for now they were determined only to feel, both the
physical sensations of their intertwined bodies, and the sweet warmth
that spread through both their souls, beginning with their hearts.

Finally, as the sun slipped below the horizon, they let each other step
away. In two hours Angel would be a vampire... in five Grosaahk's
portal would be upon them. From this point on their feelings would
have to wait. They had a lot of very serious work to complete in a
very short period of time.

They walked out of the mauseleum and back into the town. The
shadows seemed longer that evening as the moon was hidden behind
dark clouds. The beautiful afternoon Buffy had enjoyed evaporated
into the bleakness of the evening. A deep chill over took her as they
walked and she couldn't stop herself from shivering. Her shiver didn't
go unnoticed as Angel slipped out of his jacket and wrapped it
around her shoulders.

"Thanks."

He smiled, "No problem."

They slowly passed by the library, neither surprised to find the
windows lit with the flickering flame of William's lamps. Just like any
dutiful watcher, William was hard at work upon some mystery or
another. The familiarity of the watcher's dedication touched Buffy as
she realized just how desperately she missed her friends. She missed
Willow's wacky thoughts, Xanders xany comments; she missed
Cordelia's self centered concerns, and Giles' endless meanderings. As
much as she hated to admit it, her slaying had brought her close to
many people, people she loved as much as family. There was some
good in everything, she supposed.

There's some good in everything, Angel thought as his eyes flickered
down to watch Buffy. She was deep in thought, about what he'd no
clue, but it didn't matter. He had considered his change to be a curse,
but his vampirism had allowed him to live long enough to know Buffy.
He had considered the Romani's spell to be a curse, but the return of
his soul had allowed him to experience the one thing he would forever
cherish: pure, innocent, and total love.

Together they sighed, coming to a stop behind the row of trees
shading Angel's old home. Through the window they could see Angel
and Darla relaxing in the parlor, Darla moved around behind him and
began her change. The time was near.

"We have about five minutes," Angel muttered lowly. "Darla liked to...
toy with her victims before she fed."

Buffy looked up at him as she pulled from her purse a sharpened
stake. "You never told me why she chose to bring you across," she
paused as she spun the stake in her hand. "Now would be a good
time."

He hesitated in his reply as he looked at her sadly, finally he touched
her shoulders lightly. "I never loved her, Buffy. As a man it was
facination... as a vampire it was...."

"Desire. Yeah, I get ya." She frowned, "Stay here... I'll be back as
soon as it's over.. so don't disappear."

He cast his eyes to the ground, "Buff... I may not have a choice. I
don't know how fast the change in time will get to me."

His comment stung like a slap in the face, and very suddenly tears
sprang to her eyes. Stepping forward Buffy pressed trembling lips
against Angel's, and a single tear slipped over her cheek to drip
between their sealed mouths. She sighed and steped back into the
shadows.

"I love you, Angel." she whispered softly before opening the door to
the house and disappearing inside.

"I love you, too," he whispered once she was gone.

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

Continued in Section Two.

- -

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:46:54 -0800
From: Angel's Lover <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Time Heals All:  Part Four (2/2) of Six

Standard disclaimers apply.. the characters are Joss's and Mutant
Enemy's, I am not making a cent out of this and no copy wright
infringement was intended.  Please direct all comments to Lea at either
[e-mail] or [e-mail] .

______________________

Conclusion to Part Four

Silently she krept through the house; if she timed this well enough she
should come upon Darla before the vampire could sink her teeth into
Angel.

Slowly she became aware of Darla's breathy voice growing clearer.
Buffy scowled, that was one voice she perferred to forget.

"Trust me, darling... a night with me is a night that will last you
until the end of time."

Buffy's hand clasped tightly on her stake as she moved forward. She
rarely took pleasure in her job, but slaying Darla would be one
exception she was glad to make. Darla had caused her more pain
than anyone... aside from the Master... it was time Buffy had her
payback.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room behind Darla... three
steps would take her into slaying range... three steps would take her
to her destiny.

One step.

Buffy held her breath... Darla was engrossed with Angel... she hadn't
heard the slayer's approach.

Two steps.

Her very silence would save Angel from a life of hell.. everything
counting on this moment.

Three steps.

She was a hairs breath from the blonde vampire.. all she had to do
was raise the stake... one forward motion and Darla would be
history.. again. But then so would be Buffy and Angel's love.

For a moment Buffy hesitated as a Willow-type thought came to
mind. If their love never existed once she changed time, would it
really be history? And if not.. how would one describe it?

Buffy hardened her heart to the sharp pain eminating from its core as
she brought her stake up to the level of Darla's heart. It was over.. it
was all over.

Buffy moved her arm down quickly, closing her eyes against the sight
of it's point sinking deeply into Darla's back and into her blackened
heart.

The stake met resistance as it slammed into solid flesh, and she
opened her eyes. Darla stood still before her, and Buffy swallowed
hard; one of Angel's hands was clasped around her wrist, the other
was holding the stake mere milimeters away from Darla's heart.
Quickly Angel pulled Buffy away from the other vampire.

Within moments they were outside the house, Angel pulling Buffy
away from the scene that would be his demise... and his birth.

"Angel, what are you doing?"

"I made my decision."

"What?!"

"I don't want to lose you, Buff. Living my life would mean nothing
without you."

Buffy breathed in a sigh at Angel's admission... she hadn't known.
How could she have? He had described her exact feelings.. her soul's
very cry... a tear came to her eye and she looked away.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Totally sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Completely sure, cause I still have time to..."

"Buffy! I'm sure!" He sighed. "If I didn't know better I'd say you
didn't want me to come back with you."

Buffy pulled his head down to her level and glared at him. "I'm glad
you're staying," she whispered before kissing him softly.

"We have to move away from here.... before she changes him."

Buffy nodded and the two of them moved into the cover of the trees.
Within moments came a sharp cry from the house. Buffy looked up at
Angel to see his eyes close with remembered pain. Slowly she put her
arms around him and they held each other quietly.

They stood holding each other for an endless amount of time.  Suddenly
the sound of a twig snapping brought them both back into the reality of
their situation. They looked up but saw nothing. Angel frowned.

"Stay here." he muttered, and he stepped silently into the shadows.

Buffy watched the place he disappeared for several minutes, hearing
no further sound coming from the woods.

"Angel?" she called finally after nearly five minutes had passed. There
came no reply. She steppted out after him, "Angel?"

Finally he stepped out of the darkest shadows of the trees, into the
little light offered by the still covered moon. Buffy breathed a sigh of
relief.

"Why didn't you answer me?" she scowled, "And we definately have
to do something about that walk of yours... and believe me you don't
want to hear Xander's suggestion!" Angel said nothing, he merely
stood before her staring at her coldly. Buffy frowned. "Ange?"
Suddenly she understood what was happening... and Angel smiled.

"Yes. I like that name. Angel.. from Angelus. I think I'll keep it."

Buffy stepped back suddenly. "Oh, no. I did NOT just name you!"

He smiled coldly, "Now you're a part of me. It's only right you be my
first meal... hmm.. if you're tasty enough" his eyes drew slowly over
her body and he licked his lips, shifting suddenly into his vampirical
form, "maybe you can even be my first child."

Knowing that she could never slay the man she loved, Buffy turned on
her heel to run, but the vampire proved to be too fast for her. Swiftly
he caught her arm and spun her around to face him.

"Sorry, love, but my place is this way."

Caught unable to defend herself and unable to escape, Buffy was left
only to allow herself to be dragged back to the now darkened
mansion. There she would face immenent death... or worse.

**********

End Chapter Four

- -

------------------------------

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