Bad Goodbye:
Chances Are

by Deanie

Disclaimer: Buffy and Angel don't belong to me (although if Joss is willing to sell...) They belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox and the WB television network. I'm just borrowing them for a while...and they'll be returned when I'm done putting them through the emotional wringer. I'm not making any money off of this, so don't sue. No copyright infringement is intended.

"Chances Are" is by Bob Seger and Martina McBride from the "Hope Floats" soundtrack. I don't own it either.

SPOILER WARNING: Set in my alternative universe, which broke off pre-"Prom." Pretty much the entire Buffy/Angel relationship. Direct references to "Welcome to the Hellmouth," "Angel," "Halloween," "Surprise" and "Innocence."

RATING: PG-13 (for mild sexual thoughts)

CONTENT: Yep, you guessed it...more angst

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is the Seventh part in my "Bad Goodbye" series about the Buffy and Angel breakup. While I was writing a happy fic about the song "To Get Me To You" (by Lila McCann) I listened to my Hope Floats soundtrack, and this is my other favorite song off of it. I had to write another fanfic. Previous parts can be found at Buffy's Passion ( ) and The BAFFA ( ).

Note: This story is written in first person from both Buffy and Angel's perspectives. Parts marked "Angel" are his thoughts, while parts marked "Buffy" are hers. Aren't I clever? <g>

Thanks to the song "Somewhere Out There" for inspiration for the setting. And to my wonderful beta-reader, Salatina, for making me sound more eloquent than I am.


Both:

Buffy had finished her patrol and returned home. She'd changed out of her sweaty clothes and sat cross-legged on her bed, staring absently at the ceiling. The night was so much lonelier with Angel gone. She used to feel a flutter of anticipation...maybe he was waiting for her somewhere on her route, or waiting in her room like he had been on Career Day. But he wasn't there. He had left Sunnydale completely...maybe for good. Buffy pulled herself off the bed and walked over to the window. She looked out at the starry sky. She couldn't help but hope that maybe Angel was out there somewhere, looking at the same stars.

As usual, Angel had awakened at sunset. He had grabbed a bag of blood from the refrigerator and pulled on a pair of black pants. Bare-chested, he snagged a white T-shirt and wandered over to the window. The night had been lonely before, but nothing had ever been as painful as the nights since he left her. Angel stared out at the night sky. Maybe Buffy was out there, looking at the same stars.

Angel:
**Chances are you'll find me
Somewhere on your road tonight
Seems I always end up driving by
Ever since I've known you
It just seems you're on my way
All the rules of logic don't apply**

I didn't realize how much time I spent lurking in the shadows, watching over her, until we were apart. Even when she didn't know I was there, I was waiting in the darkness, ready to stand between her danger. Of course, being the Slayer she rarely needed me, but I felt better knowing she had someone to help her out, just in case. If I hadn't been there the night she faced The Three, a new Slayer would be patrolling the night. Now, without me, if she gets overwhelmed, who will be there to back her up?

Even when we weren't a couple, I always walked by her house at night. I used to stand there, staring up at her window, wondering what she was doing...if she was thinking of me like I was thinking of her. No matter what I was doing or where I intended to go, I always ended up on Revello drive. Sometimes it seemed like I was stalking my one true love...not exactly a romantic gesture. But during the times I couldn't be with her - when I wouldn't let myself get too close -- I just couldn't stay away.

Ever since the day I first saw her she was...is the first thing on my mind each night and the last thing I think about every morning. I loved her from first sight, no matter how illogical it was. A vampire loving the slayer didn't make sense, but I couldn't help myself. The harder I tried not to, the more I loved her.

**I long to see you in the night
Be with you 'til morning light**

I long to see her beautiful face shaded by the moonlight. I dream of her beautiful smile, the love shining in her eyes...I wish I could be with her, holding her all night long. I wish we could have been together, made love together more than once. But the consequences were too great. Like Icarus flying too close to the sun, we reached for an impossible dream and got burned.

Buffy:
**I remember clearly how you looked
The night we met
I recall your laughter and your smile
I remember how you made me feel so at ease
I remember all your grace, your style**

I wonder what he's doing, if Angel's out there somewhere looking up at the same stars, like that song "Somewhere Out There." I wonder if he thinks about me as often as I think about him. I wonder if the memories of our time together haunt him like they do me.

I still remember the night we met, in that dark alley. I thought he was a vampire stalking me, waiting to attack. Well, I was half-right, even if I didn't know it then. He was so gorgeous, standing there in that white linen shirt and dark jacket. I remember that half-smirk he had, that look that said he knew more than I did and had no intention of sharing. He gave this little laugh as he told me to be ready for the Harvest. As annoying as he was by not telling me all he knew, I still felt the connection between us. Even at that early stage in our relationship the bond was there.

Falling in love with him was inevitable. He was so handsome, and the way he moved...I should have realized in that first meeting that it was the grace of a predator, perfected over years. He carried himself with a confidence ordinary boys didn't have. And his eyes...so deep. Such a beautiful brown, like chocolate so rich you can't eat more than one bite. If I had looked hard enough that night, I would have seen the pain in his eyes and the ageless wisdom he held in his soul.

Even after I knew he was a vampire I couldn't resist him. And despite our problems, the relationship was wonderful. Well, it was, after he stopped fighting our love and gave in to a force greater than both of us. He treated me like he wanted to protect me, but at the same time he accepted my strength. He loved me like no one else ever has, like no one else ever could.

**And now you're all I long to see
You've come to mean so much to me**

Even now, I long to see his heavenly face in the moonlight. He was my foundation, and without him I'm struggling to find some way to anchor myself, to keep myself from being swept away in the chaos of my crazy world. He was the most important person in my life, and I'm fighting not to get lost now that I'm without him.

Angel:
**Chances are I'll see you
Somewhere in my dreams tonight
You'll be smiling like the night we met
Chances are I'll hold you and I'll offer all I have
You're the only one I can't forget
Baby you're the best I've ever met**

Every night she comes to me in my dreams. She's so happy, like she was on Halloween, as we sat on her bed, talking and kissing. She has that smile, the soft, tempting smile she had the morning of her birthday...the last day we were truly content. In my dreams, anything is possible, and we can be together. In my dreams, I can hold her without fear of repercussions. I can hold her tightly and never let her go. And as she's cuddled in my arms, I offer myself to her - body, mind, and soul - like I'm unable to do in reality. In my dreams, I lay her down on my bed and make love with her, showing her how desperately I need her and how intensely I love her.

No matter how long we stay apart, I can't forget her. She's the best human being I have ever known...she's beautiful, but more than that she has an inherent goodness. She's smart and strong and so incredibly selfless... How could I forget he woman who haunts my dreams?

Buffy:
**And I'll be dreaming of the future
And hoping you'll be by my side
And in the morning I'll be longing for the night
For the night**

At night he comes to me, in my dreams. He's carefree in a way he can never be in reality, without the weight of his past dragging him down. In my dreams, anything is possible...we can be together. In my dreams, we have a future together, instead of this long stretch of lonely road that's in front of me now. When he comes to me, he stays with me, by my side, all night. He holds me so close, and kisses me so tenderly. In dreams, I can show him how much I love him. I can touch his beautiful body and pour all of my love into our wild kisses.

And every morning when I wake up alone, I wish I could go back to sleep...to escape from my life back into a world where Angel and I are together. I could never forget him, no matter how long we spend apart.

Both:
**Chances are I'll see you
Somewhere in my dreams tonight
You'll be smiling like the night we met
Chances are I'll hold you and I'll offer all I have**

In Sunnydale, Buffy tore her eyes away from the starry night. She looked at the Claddagh ring, still in its place on her finger, and thought about Angel once more. She looked out the window again, and saw a falling star streaking through the night sky. "Make a wish," she whispered to herself. Her wish was the only one she'd had since the day he left...that they would be together again. She walked over to her bed, curling under the covers with her stuffed pig, Mr. Gordo, and turned out the lights.

In Los Angeles, Angel turned away from the window. He couldn't spend all night staring at the stars. He looked back for a brief moment as a falling star soared across the night sky. "Make a wish," he whispered. He'd only had one wish since the night he left Sunnydale...that he and Buffy could be together again. He walked over to the door, grabbing his coat and turning out the lights. He had work to do.

**You're the only one I can't forget
Baby you're the best I've ever met**


Sequel Soon


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