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It
was a long, cold night in the Sunnydale Hospital, Dawn’s large
family was
there. The respectable Dr. Jenkins had said that Buffy was not going to
survive the night. Willow was inside the room, the last of the
Scoobies.
Xander had past away years ago from a cardiac failure and Dawn from a
brain
tumour like her mom. Buffy had given up her slayer duties ages ago, but
she
was never able to carry on completely with her life after losing so
many of
her friends and her true love. So she was now lying in a hospital bed
about
to die. Inside the room Anya, a vengeance demon for decades, was paying
her
unique respects to the dying girl, as Willow, an old maid herself was
sitting in a pretty uncomfortable armchair. After fifteen minutes of
babbling Anya left, with her eyes wet and a friendly smile for Buffy.
“Thank God. I didn’t know how much more Anya-torture I would stand”.
Willow
commented getting up from the chair.
“I think it was nice. In an Anya-sort-of-way. At least she came”, Buffy
responded trying to hide the sadness that wanted to find its way to her
eyes. She looked to the door hopeful still.
“So, what would you like to do? “
“Hmmm… I’d like to… (sigh) I don’t know, not be laying here for one?”
“But, Buffy, you’re sick.”
“I know, I know. It’s just that you know I’ve always hated hospitals.
Even
before mom died. It think the reek of death. “
“It’s supposed to be a healing place, sick people enter and leave
cured.”
“I know I’m not going to make it through the night, Will. I know I’m
never
leaving this place again.”
Willow looked down
“You don’t know that”
“I’ve seen your looks, and that’s the only reason Anya came. I know it
is…”
“Well then, we’ll have to make tonight as wonderful as possible.”
Buffy smiled, and took a long look at her friend.
“Thanks Will, I never told you this, but I love you, You’ve always been
there for me, since I first arrived at Sunnydale, you and Xander.
You’re the
best friend I could’ve ever asked for. Thank you, really, thanks for
everything.”
“Of course, Buffy, that’s what friends are for. Plus, you’ve done the
same
thing for me.
“I know you were the only one that really wanted to restore Angel’s
soul.
“How did you-
“That’s not important.
“But, Xander wanted that too.
“No, he didn’t, he told me a completely different thing, that’s not the
point. The point is that you were the only one that ever supported me
100%-no-questions-asked. And I never said anything, so now, obviously
in my
death bed, I’m just saying thank you.
“Don’t say your goodby’s. Not yet.
“Now’s the time, Will. If there’s anything you wanna say, go ahead.
“I’m sorry for bringing you back, I know your life has been terrible
ever
since.
“No, it hasn’t. I’ve had a pretty good life, and all thanks to you.
“I know you have been miserable.
“Not miserable.
“Really sad, then.
“But not because of you. Because of me.
“And somebody else.
“Yeah, somebody…
“The same person you keep looking towards the door to see come in.
“Of course, Will. I’ve been doomed to love him.
Knocks are heard on the door. Buffy and Willow quickly turn their heads
towards it, and with cut breathing they see Angel come in.
“Hey” he says looking down at Buffy
“You came!” Buffy responds with her eyes full of tears and a wide
smile.
“Oh, hi Will”
“Hi Angel. Well I’d probably should leave you guys alone”.
“Bye, see you soon” says Buffy grabbing her hand until letting go, and
letting Willow leave the room.
“Of course I came. You thought I wouldn’t?”
“I was losing hope”
“Well, I’m here now”
“I missed you. Long time no see.”
“Years”
“It seemed like forever”
“I wasn’t sure… I thought you had a life and I didn’t want to-“
“Shhh. I don’t care. You’re here now”
“Of course”
They both remained silent as they looked deeply into each others eyes.
“You look exactly the same as the day we met. I instead am old and
ugly”
“I know you should be old, but when I look at you I still see the Buffy
Summers from Sunnydale High. My Buffy Summers”
“Thank you”
“It’s true”
He went to the window and gazed into the dying night.
“Angel”
He rushed to her side.
“Yes, Buffy?”
“Stay with me?”
“Forever”
She closed her eyes gratefully. When she opened them he had already
grabbed
her hand and looked her intensely.
“I tried to live without you, I tried to let you live without me”
“I never could move on”
“Neither of us could.” He stared at the ground for a second then lifted
his
gaze “I love you. I still love you like the first day”
“Me too. I still love you so much, I forget to breathe when you’re
near”
“I’m not going to lose you again”
“What? No, Angel, you can’t turn me-“
“Shhh”
“But-“
He put his finger on her lips and with the other hand reached into his
pocket and took out a stake.
“No, Angel, you can’t do that”
“Why not? It’s my life… unlife… whatever, you get the point”
“What happens to the helpless?”
“There are other champions now, the Powers have let me. I’ll never
leave
you, I promise”
“I don’t want more empty promises. I can’t let you do this”
“Yes you can and you will. You know you can’t stop me. Nobody can’t
stop me
now.”
She knew he was right, and that her time was near, so she finally
stopped
fighting and let her love fill her whole aching body. She wanted to
hold
him, to hug him, to kiss him, but it was too late. Yet she smiled.
“I love you” he whispered as he leaned over to give her their last
kiss. As
their lips parted so did her soul and the hospital machine let out a
long
blip. Angel took the stake and pressed it against his heart in a swift
movement quickly turning him to dust. Just before a small crew of a
doctor
and two nurses came to check on the diseased.As the crew came into the room, so did Willow accompanied by one of
Dawn’s
children.
“What happened to the man that came in an hour ago? I never saw him
leave”
the girl asked.
Willow understood immediately as he saw the pile of dust next to the
bed.
The window was open and the curtains were moving as the room was soaked
with
the first sunrays of the day. She walked towards the bed and looked at
her
friend’s smile.
“Goodbye Buffy, I’ll leave you in heaven this time” she said, leaned
over
and gave her a kiss in the forehead. But as she looked into the rising
sun,
she heard voices disguised behind the noise.
“Where do we go now?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll go together”
“Did you hear that?” asked Willow.
“Hear what? What’s going on? Where did the guy go?”
“My guess is to heaven”
“I love you Angel”
“I love you, Buffy. Forever”
The
End