Title: Memories
Author: Merlin
E-mail: merlin.fifthhorseman@virgin.net
Rating: Implied slash
Pairings: A/X
Category: Drama
Spoilers: None.
Status: New; Complete
Date: 12/04/2000
Archive: List archives and my site only.
Series: No
Website: http://www.fifthhorseman.freeserve.co.uk/lair.htm


Disclaimer: <Sigh> All these lovely characters are the creations of Joss
Whedon and are owned by Warner Brothers and Mutant Enemy...that said if I
win the lottery I'm buying them all!!! No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: Unbetaed...Claire's server was down! :-(


Memories
By Merlin

Xander looked up as his lover entered the room, placing the last photograph
in the battered tin box on his lap and reaching for the lid.

Angel's hand stopped him. "Show me," the vampire demanded. Xander frowned in
incomprehension. "The photos." Angel said, settling on the floor next to the
younger man and reaching out a hand.

"Willow," Xander said softly as his lover took the top photo from the tin.

"And you," Angel pointed out. He ran a finger across the faded likeness.
"Taken on her birthday...."

Xander choked on a laugh. "She thought there were too many candles on the
cake!"

"There were!" Angel smiled down at the happy faces in the photograph. "I
seem to remember a certain someone threatening to call the fire service!" He
laid the photo to one side and reached for the next one.

"Oz," Xander said, "taken the night the 'Dingoes' had their first recording
success."

"First...and last!" Angel grinned. "Thank God musical tastes have changed
over the years!"

"You just don't appreciate good music!" Xander watched as Angel also laid
that photo to one side and then handed him the next one. "Giles," he sighed
as he said it and he caught Angel's questioning glance. "I still miss
him..." it was little more than a whisper but Xander knew his lover had
heard him.

Angel wrapped an arm around the younger man's shoulders. "So do I," he
admitted. "Giles and Doyle and Cordelia and..."

"Buffy," Xander finished for him. "Does it ever get any easier?"

"No." Angel's eyes grew distant as though at remembered pain. "You remember
them...and you go on."

Xander glanced at the last photo in the box. It was picture of Buffy and
himself taken the night before he'd left Sunnydale for good. He reached out
a hand for the other photos and Angel handed them to him silently. Xander
placed them in the tin, smiling wistfully at the top picture of Willow and
himself...at his young youthful self and at Willow's aged features...a
remembrance of Willow's 100th birthday party.

Xander picked up the tin lid and closed the box, locking away the memories
for another 200 years. "Forever," he murmured.

Angel took the box from him and placed it on the bed, then turned and
captured Xander's face in his hands. "Forever," he agreed and kissed his
lover...and mate.


Finis