Hand in Hand
By Iago

Author's Note: This is for Felicity who wanted something happy. Thank you for keeping me writing.

She was a child of the light; reborn into the darkness plaguing existence. The first day she had held a stake in her small hands, Buffy Summers had stepped into the shadows.Sure the sun rose and brought color to the land and warmth to a cold world, but soon the day turned to night. Not that the Slayer feared the dark, sometimes she looked forward to it, but not tonight. He would not be there.

During the day, basking in the sunlight, she could forget that Angel was gone andnot wonder where he was or what he was doing. But when the night came, it was different. She would look to the stars above or the bright moon and wonder if he was staring at the same sky. Was he thinking of her, watching the millions of stars above? It was something she pondered every night, falling asleep with his face before her. So was there any question why she dreamt of him continuously? She was lonely now, not necessarily unhappy, but alone.

Patrolling had gone well; two vampires downed without incident. Willow and Xander had been with her, as they had been for a while now. Buffy was still amazed at her luck, having encountered such kindred spirits. Had her friends not been there, Buffy shuddered at how hard these days would have been. But Willow was there with her warm smile and glowing love and Xander, always the cynic and comic, had become tender and understanding. She appreciated their company and yet they gave her her distance when she needed to be alone.

Buffy thought often of her first encounter with Angel . . . .how she had disliked him from the start, even though she acknowledged then how handsome he was. Lying in bed now, she smiled remembering how her heart had raced everytime he had glanced her way or when he spoke. Outside her window a noise startled Buffy. She jumped from her bed.

"Angel?" She called, her body pulsating with anticipation. But there was no one there, just the lonely wind blowing past lonely leaves . . . .and one lonely girl. She sighed and climbed back into bed. She would leap from her bed often, hoping beyond all reason to find Angel looking up at her; her knight in shining armor coming to rescue his beloved Vampire Slayer from the clutches of despair. But no matter how hard she wished, Angel was never there, and in all honesty, she knew he would never be. He was gone and she had to accept that.

A cool breeze blew into her room and she pulled her covers tight around her. She recalled other cold nights patrolling with Angel. He had put his strong arms around her and even though he had no body heat, she had been warmed by the love they shared. Again she smiled. There had been no thoughts of this night back then, no confusion . . .just the happy summer to look forward to. She had to laugh at that. If only they had known then what they know now.

Giles had been very supportive. He understood her and Angel's relationship better than anyone else. He had liked Angel, considered him an ally, even though overlooking the man who had the same face as the murderer, Angelus, must have been difficult. Giles had taken her out for ice cream and was caring and loving, much like a father . . . which he was in the truest sense of the word.

Buffy got up from her bed again, turning on her lamp. She looked about her room. Sadly, she noticed that she had never taken a picture with Angel. She had no concrete reminders of him, only her memories existed now. With a great pain, she wondered if one day she might forget her one true love's face. The thought brought tears to her eyes. It wasn't fair.

"Why, Angel? Why?"

There was a rustling of the leaves outside again. Slowly, Buffy made her way to the window. She leaned forward to close them; no use listening to the wind all night. A figure stirred below. It took Buffy a second to realize a person was looming in the shadows. Her Slayer senses came alive. It was a vampire.

"You should know better than to come this close," Buffy said calmly.

"Should I?"

The voice . . . . My God. It was Angel.

"Angel?"

The figure stepped from the shadows and Buffy saw the handsome face with the sweet smile she had longed to see again.

"I'm back, Buffy."

Buffy felt herself growing faint as she watched Angel climb to her window. It seemed an eternity before he had made his way to her and held her. Time stopped when his lips came upon her's. She held her eyes closed for a moment, not wanting to open them and find that this had all been a dream. She felt Angel's hand gently touch her cheek and she knew it was real.

She opened her mouth to say something honest, or true, or loving, but Angel put his finger to her lips. "Your knight is here . . . princess . . . and he is never going to leave you again."

They kissed again and all the reasons for Angel's departure faded with the loneliness. They would be resolved in the future and that future, Angel and Buffy would meet . . . hand in hand.

THE END