See What Was
By Samantha Gold

Disclaimer: Ok, let’s set the record straight. Buffy and Angel? They belong to Joss, the WB, Fox and Mutant Enemy, not me. The plot? Mine, all mine. Oh, and Aurora’s mine too!

Spoilers: Pangs and I Will Remember You
Feedback: But of course!
Dedication:

Buffy’s shoulders slumped as she closed the door behind her, having just returned from LA. Willow immediately looked up from her textbook.

Upon seeing her friend, concern immediately flashed across her face. "Buffy, what’s wrong?" She asked, her tone mirroring her concern. "What happened?"

Buffy, knowing that Willow was there for her, finally allowed the tears to fall. As the tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks. She found that she couldn’t keep her balance and she crumpled to the floor.

Willow was there at once, hugging her friend, trying to offer some comfort. Finally, after Buffy’s sobbing had subsided, she again asked, "Buffy, what happened?" in a quiet voice.

Buffy sniffled and offered a weak smile. "I saw Angel and we fought. I told him I didn’t want him seeing me anymore. …Oh Willow, it’s all so wrong!"

"Buffy, you were doing fine for the past few months," Willow tried to encourage her friend, knowing full well that that hadn’t been the case.

Buffy nodded. "I tried," she whispered. "You know what though, Will?"

Willow shook her head. "What?"

"I keep on getting this feeling, like something happened that I can’t remember. Or something was supposed to happen that didn’t…or, I don’t know! I’m all messed up!" She sighed. "I know he knows something that he’s not telling me…"

"Any idea what it could be?" Willow asked softly.

Buffy shook her head. "As usual, I feel completely lost."

Willow sighed; wishing there was something she could do. Then she realized that there was. "Buffy," she said hesitantly. "What would you say to doing a revelation spell?"

Buffy looked up at her through sad, teary eyes. "Revelation spell?" She echoed.

Willow nodded. "It would let you see whatever it was…"

Buffy nodded excitedly. "Oh God, Will! Thank you so much! Please, can we do it right away?"

Willow smiled, Buffy seemed almost happy again. "Okay…as soon as we get some basil."

**********

"…Let her see!" Chanted Willow.

And Buffy saw. She saw the day that never was. Angel’s humanity, the love, and the lovemaking. A single tear slid down her cheek, as she was able to see the last few seconds before the day was restarted. Finally she opened her eyes.

Willow looked at her anxiously. "Buffy? What’d you see?" She asked quietly.

"What Angel couldn’t tell me," she responded, truly shaken. She stood up. "I’ve got to go back to LA."

"Again? Why?"

"I can’t go on now," Buffy answered. "Not knowing what I do."

Buffy turned around and left.

**********

"Angel, you’ve got to stop brooding already!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"I can’t," he whispered.

Cordelia sighed exasperatedly. "Buffy is not-"

"Going to let you get away with this," Buffy interrupted.

Both Cordelia and Angel turned towards Buffy who had just walked in to the office.

"You’ve really got to stop doing that," chastised Cordelia.

"What are you doing back here?" Angel asked.

"I told you that I’d never forget," Buffy said gently.

Angel’s eyes connected with hers and he nodded. "Cordelia, could you give us a minute?"

"Sure," Cordelia said and she left.

"You remember," he stated.

Buffy nodded.

He shook his head. "How?"

"A spell," she answered. "It was Willow’s. I knew something was different, I just knew it. And she offered. And I saw. And now I’m here." Her eyes welled up. "And I miss you like crazy."

"Buffy, we can’t now…now that the day never happened. We both know what would happen," he told her softly.

She shook her head. "I can’t. Not after what happened."

"But it never happened!"

Buffy looked taken aback. "How can you do this? Knowing how things could’ve been?" She questioned softly.

"I—I just…" Angel struggled to find the words. "Buffy, you know that you mean more than anything to me, but it’d be best for you to-"

"Move on, pretending like nothing happened?" Buffy interrupted.

Angel managed a faint nod.

"Angel, you know I can’t!" Buffy exclaimed. "Look, Angel. Even if we can’t have a ‘normal’ relationship with sex and everything, can’t we at least be together platonically?"

"Buffy, we tried that already. You remember what it was like in Sunnydale," Angel told her softly.

"I remember feeling loved, certainly not the way I’ve been feeling lately, which is far, far worse," she stated quietly.

Angel sighed and looked into her eyes, feeling himself being torn into a million pieces.

"Angel, a relationship doesn’t have to be about sex…"

Angel nodded thoughtfully and Buffy took a step towards him.

"Buffy?" Angel whispered when she was so close that he could hear her heartbeat.

"Hmm," Buffy acknowledged him.

"I’ve missed you," he told her.

Then they were kissing, losing themselves in each other, succumbing to their passion again. When they finally broke away, they were both breathless.

"Angel, you’re out of breath," Buffy panted in a whisper.

"I know," Angel breathed quietly.

"But you don’t breathe," Buffy protested. "…Angel, I can feel your heart beating!"

Suddenly the room was filled with a powerful white light, then faded back to its original colour. In front of them they saw a young girl with light, light blond hair that appeared white. Her eyes were a gray blue and her skin was very fair. She wore a lacey white shirt over a simple violet skirt that flowed to the floor. She looked at them through twinkling eyes.

Buffy regarded her quizzically. "Who are you?" She asked at last.

The girl smiled. "My name is Aurora," she told them. Her voice was musical, soft and harmonious.

"Can you tell us what’s going on?" Angel asked, finally finding his voice.

Aurora nodded. "Angelus is once again human, or as human as possible," she said in her magical voice.

"How?" Buffy whispered.

"But what about Buffy?" Angel asked at the same time.

"The powers that be have decided that it is best this way," she told them softly. "And you needn’t worry about Buffy, Angelus. You still have your strength…and your immortality."

"But-" Angel began but was interrupted.

"Hush, Angelus," she whispered. She smiled. "Buffy is now immortal also."

"Me? Immortal?" Buffy choked out.

Aurora nodded. "You two have sacrificed everything, both for the world and each other. Now you may have what your heart desires."

"Thank you," they both whispered quietly, their voices full of emotion.

She shook her head. "Thank not me, but your devotion. The pureness of your love has won this for you," she responded. "Bless you both," she whispered before disappearing in a second flash of light.

Buffy and Angel looked at each other.

"So what do you want to do? Now that, well, um…" Angel tried.

Buffy placed a finger over his lips to silence him. "You promised me we would make another day like that one," she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Angel nodded, then took her by the hand, leading her downstairs…

THE END