A Better End
by Aldrea

Buffy held Angel in her arms never wanting to let him go. *This is my Angel, my Angel* "Angel? I love you." As she said that Buffy saw the portal opening behind him. All of her slayer's training and preparation had never included how to send the only person you've ever loved into an eternity of torture and suffering.

Angel pulled away from her embrace to look her over. "Buffy, what's wrong? What happened?" His hand caressed her face wiping away her tears. "You're hurt." He started to bend down to look more closely at the wound Angelus had made on her arm. "Who did this?"

"Angel look when we made love, you lost your sole." She saw his frightened expression and wanted more than anything else to take his pain away, but she didn't have that time. The demon, Angelus, awakened Acathla. I think I know a way out of this but you have to trust me."

"I trust you more than I trust myself."

"Close your eyes." As he shut his eyes Buffy stuck the sword in his thigh covering the sword in his blood. His eyes flashed open and he turned around and saw the demon Acathla and the swirling vortex. Buffy gave him a quick kiss and threw the sword into a hot and fiery hell.

The couple stood with arms wrapped around each other starring at the demon in front of them close the passage to the worst place ever imaginable. When the vortex had finally closed Angel fell to his knees remembering all of the horrible things Angelus had done. "Oh my G-d Jenny, a-and Buffy I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't you Angel."

"Can you be so sure? Buffy the look on your face the things I've said how can you..."

"Angel, would you right now hurt me or try to kill me?"

"Of course not."

"Angel that wasn't you. You I love, him I hate." Gasping for breath, "Why can't you see that? Even Giles does. Angel I love you more than anything in or out of this world." She collapsed into his arms crying against his chest. "Let's go home."

"Sure"

When they got into Angel's apartment the phone was ringing. Buffy sat Angel down on the bed and handed him their first aid kit before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Buffy is that you? It's Willow."

"Willow what's going on?"

"I-I cursed Angel again is he all right? You didn't um kill him did you?"

"No, and he's fine."

"Great! It worked! Oh by the way Buffy the curse is

permanent.""Oh G-d, bye Wills!"

"Bye Bu- she hung up on me." Willow put down the phone and fell asleep in her not so comfortable hospital bed.

"Angel." Buffy sat down beside him on the bed finished wrapping up his leg. He winced at her touch. "That was Willow" She caressed his cheek. "She made the curse permanent, if that means anything to you."

"It means nothing now." Angel looked away from the person to whom he had caused so much pain in the past months. *Even if she could forgive me I could never forgive myself.*

"How can you say that to me Angel? After all these months, the ones I spent crying myself to sleep, staying in the library after Giles had gone home to look for a way to get you back, after I almost destroyed myself because I needed you, you go on ahead and tell me that the curse doesn't matter anymore. I went after Angelus ready to kill him tonight. Angel I was going to kill you and I took your sole away in the first place. G-d Angel if you can't forgive me that's fine I'll understand but if you plan on leaving me here alone without you because you can't forgive yourself I don't think I could go on living."

"Buffy I love you more than anything else. That hurt look you had on your face the day after we- after we- I wanted you to kill me Buffy. I wanted to kill myself." He turned his head back to look at her and was surprised when she pulled his head down to hers. She kissed him with all the passion she knew. Buffy could feel him trying to pull away before giving in and deepening their kiss.

Their two bodies moved to the point of exhaustion that night, and well into the morning, expressing their love for each other. So much was said that night without words just actions. (Unless you want to count the various "Buffy" and "Angel's" that were yelled over and over again) The next morning when Angel awoke to find Buffy asleep in his arms he knew somehow they would make everything okay.

The End

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