EVERYTIME

Disclaimer: No-one here is mine (though Iíd quite like Angel to be!). The lyrics and the title of this story are from the song ëEverytimeí by A1 © Byrne Blood Productions/Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd/A1

Thanx: SMG/DB and the gang

Authorís Note: The bold type is Angel; the Italic is Buffy and the normal font is the lyrics (confused ñ you should be!!!)

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ÖThe look on her face as she made her way to the window convinced me that maybe there was some truth in what I had just been told. To say she looked happy was an understatementÖ

ÖíAngel!í my heart cried. ëAngel, Angel, Angel!í I opened the window and stood back to let him enter. He didnít moveÖ

ÖI didnít need an invitation, but I didnít want to assume that I was welcome either. All the signs were positive, but I had to be sureÖ

ÖI was puzzled. Why was he hesitating? He had an open invitation to my home.

ìCome in.î

A look of relief washed over him as he stepped through the window and then shut it behind him. He straightened up and looked me in the eye. Everything around me ceased to existÖ

I was aware of a song playing in the background. Why was it that every time we met the music was so damn appropriate?..

ëSave me, Iíve fallen from my destiny,

You and I were meant to be, Iíve thrown it all away

Now youíre gone, itís time for me to carry on,

But Baby I just canít go on without you by my sideí

He seemed distracted.

ìAngel?î

He came back with a shake of his head.

ìSorry.î

ìItís good to see you.î

ìYou too. Iím not keeping you from anything am I?î

He looked me up and down and at once I was conscious of the fact that I was hardly dressed for a cosy night in.

ìI decided not to go.î

ìOhî was all he said.

ìSit down. Can I get you anything?..î

ÖI sat on the edge of her bed.

ìNo Iím fine. Come and sit with me.î

ìWhatís wrong Angel? Has something happened? Is it one of the guys? Is it Giles?î

ìNo. Itís me.î

ëLately, Iím not who I used to be

Someoneís come and taken me where I donít wanna go

If I knew, exactly what I had to do

In order to be there for you when you were feeling lowí

ÖI felt my hope fade at his words. So that was it. Heíd come to tell me heíd found someone new. Of all the things I could have said, the words I heard myself utter wereÖ

ìTell me,î she said softly.

ìI shouldnít have left you.î

ìSorry?î Her voice was confused. I guess she didnít expect me to say that.

ìI shouldnít have left you. All the time I was trying to convince myself that walking away was the right thing, if not for me then certainly for you. That you were so sweet and pure and that you shouldnít be tied to a monster like meÖî

ìYouíre NOT a monster!î

He smiled at my annoyance.

ìIíve realised now that I was wrong. Call me selfish but I canít see my ëlifeí without you by my side. I need you. I hope you still need me to.î

She didnít reply verbally. Instead her hand cupped the side of my face and she drew me in for a kiss.

I paused just before our lips met.

ìYou are sure?î

She drew me closer still and her lips met mine with intensity. Her tongue gently forced my lips apart and sensuously explored mine. Her touch. Her scent. Her warmth. It was like coming home.

She broke off for a moment.

ìHas there been anyone else?î

I shook my head.

ìNever. Riley?..î

ÖîNever came anywhere close,î I breathed and resumed where Iíd left off.

ëWe can survive it, all the pain we feel inside

You relied on me and now Iíve let you down

Now I promise you forever I will be the best I can

Now I know we can revive it, all the love we left

Everytime I kiss I feel your lips and

Everytime I cry I see your smile and

Everytime I close your eyes I realise that

Everytime I hold your hand in mine

The sweetest thing my heart could ever find and

I have never felt this way since the day I gave your love awayí

P l e a s e d o n t s u e a s i t s n e a r l y C h r i s t m a s a n d I n e e d t h e p i t t a n c e I e a r n f o r g i f t s ! k e e p d o i n g w h a t y o u r e d o i n g ! ( B u t B u f f y a n d A n g e l s o r t i t o u t ! ! ! )