>From "The End of the World"
Words by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee
October 23, 1998
Sunnydale Cemetery
The sky threatened rain much like the tears that threatened to spill
from her eyes. She was waiting for him at the old mausoleum. If it
wasn't for the ache in her heart she could almost believe it was just
another night of patrol. Another night of slaying unlucky vamps and
then gentle kisses good night.
Angel approached her slowly, he knew he had to do this, knew he had to
be strong for both of them. Stopping a few feet away he dropped his bag
to the ground.
"That's all you're taking?" Buffy asked. "I would have thought you'd
have more stuff after 240 years." Her tone was flip to cover the
anguish in her heart.
"I have everything I need right here," he replied as his hand moved to
cover his heart. As her face twisted with grief, his hand reached out
to her. Buffy took hold and let him pull her in and wrap her in his
arms. Her voice breaking she spoke into his shoulder. "It's not fair,
I just got you back. I can't lose you again.."
His hand cupped the back of her head as he spoke softly. "It's for the
best. They need you. Giles needs you and you need him to be the Slayer.
With me around as a constant reminder..." His voice trailed off as he
once again lost himself in the guilt of Angelus's crimes. "Not everyone
can be as forgiving as you."
"But there's nothing to forgive!" Buffy exclaimed as she pulled out of
his arms. "You weren't responsible for..."
Placing a finger over her lips Angel cut her off. "I know. But it's
killing Giles to see me around as a reminder of what he's lost. I'm
sorry, I can't stay here and hurt him like that. It's not fair to him."
Buffy shook her head sadly. In her heart she knew Angel's words were
true. She had felt the buried anger in Giles the few times he had seen
Angel since his soul was returned and they had rescued him from hell.
She knew he tried to hide it for her sake, that he did want her to be
happy but the bitterness and anger in his eyes was all too apparent to
her. "Will I ever see you again?" she asked her voice beginning to
quiver. Tears began to leak from her eyes as small raindrops began to
fall around them.
Angel smiled sadly, "I'll be around." His finger traced a tear down her
cheek. "I love you" he whispered softly. Turning around he picked up
his bag and began to slowly walk out of the cemetery and out of Buffy's
life.
"I love you too." He heard her soft reply as he walked away. The sheer
pain in those words almost made him turn back to her, but he kept
walking. He knew that if he turned back he would have to stay and
staying would only cause more pain in the end.
The small blonde figure dropped to her knees and wept.