Disclaimer: By now everyone should know, that I don't own these characters they are of course owned by Joss Whedon and Co.

Xander heard the knock first, he got up tiredly. Who could be knocking on their door at... 3am, the clock blinked brightly. Buffy looked up and opened one eye as she felt his weight shift in the bed. "What's wrong?"

"Someone is at the door, go back to sleep. I'll take care of it." He told her as he went into the hall and down the stairs. The knocking had grown fainter as if the person knocking had run out of energy. Xander opened the door cautiously, at first he felt relief to find it was Angel, on closer inspection the relief turned to worry. Angel was slumped at the door, his face and chest covered in blood. Acting quickly Xander helped him into the living room, locking the door behind him.

After getting Angel to the couch, he looked closer and spoke softly "What happened? Who did this?" Angel seemed to be grasping for words, finally he spoke, "Vampire, new one in town. He had to try to defeat the protector of the slayer, like the others, but this guy was good he fought a good fight before I dusted him. Your place was closest, sorry it's so late." He sighed painfully and leaned back on the couch cushion.

"I'm going to get Buffy. We'll get you bandaged up and you can stay here tonight." Xander gave him a smile as he went up the stairs.

"Buffy, honey, wake up" Xander gently shook his wife.

She smiled up at him, "I thought you told me to go back to sleep. Who was at the door? Is everything okay?" Suddenly she was wide awake with worry.

"It was Angel, he's downstairs pretty banged up. You've got better nursing skills them me, so I thought we'd fix him up and let him stay here tonight." He explained as he handed her robe to her and went to get the first aid kit from the bathroom.

Buffy pulled on the robe and quickly went down the stairs. She found Angel almost asleep on the couch. Gently she touched his face, "Hey, what does the other guy look like?" She teased him softly.

Angel smiled up at her, "He's dust" he managed to say weakly.

Xander came down the stairs with the first aid kit in hand. He watched his wife and her former lover for a moment, trying to read the expressions on their faces. He brought the kit to Buffy and helped her get Angel's blood soaked shirt off of him. He went to the kitchen and brought a bowl of warm water and a washcloth.

Buffy soaked the washcloth in the water and began to clean the cuts off of Angels face and chest. Xander watched as her gentle hands cleaned the wounds with a tenderness that almost made him jealous. She turned and smiled at him "Thanks, Xan. Could you bring the big bottle of peroxide in, please?"

"Of course." He left the room thinking, she loves me, she loves me.

Angel hated to admit it, but he was enjoying all of the attention he was receiving from Buffy. Her soft touch made him almost forget the pain of cuts. She spoke in a soothing voice as she applied the peroxide that Xander brought to the cuts, cleaning and bandaging each one with care. "All done" she told him as she bandaged the last cut. "You can have our bed. Xander and I can sleep on the couch in his office down here."

Angel opened his mouth to argue, but Xander interrupted "She's right, you'll be more comfortable in there and it's the darkest room in the house."

Xander and Buffy helped him up the stairs and into the bedroom. Buffy helped him get settled as Xander pulled pillows and blankets from the closet. "I'll go make the bed, while you get him comfortable." He told her as he left the room.

Buffy pulled the covers up around Angel. She plumped the pillow behind his head, he smiled up at her "Thanks." He said softly.

"No problem, if you need anything let me know. The kids will sleep late in the morning, it's Saturday. So you should be able to get some rest. Good night, feel better." She told him as she turned to leave, then slowly she turned back and dropped a soft kiss on his head, "You need to be more careful, Angel. You could have been killed."

"I know. I'm sorry. Buffy, sometimes don't you think it might be better if I was gone?" He asked her thoughtfully.

"Never..." she said softly ,her back turned to him as she left the room.

Angel looked around the room, it was definitley Buffy's space. The walls were covered in photos of she and Xander and the children. All of lifes big moments, wedding photos, and baby pictures and Christmases, family gatherings all her on the walls, all full of smiles and a happy fulfilled life. He burrowed down deeper into the pillow, it must be Buffy's it smelled like her, fresh and sweet. He inhaled deeply, looked at the photos one more time and settled into sleep, reassuring himself for the hundredth time, that she was indeed happy and he had done the right thing.

Buffy took the stairs down slowly, not wanting to think about Angel in she and Xander's bed. She went to Xanders office and found him putting sheets on the sofa bed. She took one end of the sheet and helped him, they worked together silently, each knowing the others next move without thinking.

He smiled at her across the couch the pillow held by her teeth as she pulled on the pillowcase. She wrinkled up her nose at him, putting the pillow down she asked "What?"

"You, your the most beautiful woman in the world. I love you, Buffy." He said as he slid under the covers, she soon joined him. She thought about Angel upstairs and then she looked at Xander lying beside her, telling her she was beautiful, that he loved her. She snuggled up next to him, she knew she had taken the right road. She kissed him sweetly on the lips, "I love you too, Xander" She whispered and she meant it.

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