Armageddon Saga"Go with me Willow." Buffy asked her auburn haired friend. "Please, I can't do it alone!"
Chapter Two: Long Gone
By the Lady Sirona ladysirona@LadySirona.com
Willow looked at the Slayer. Pain was etched in her eyes and they were puffy and red from
crying. Willow nodded.They walked from Buffy's house in quiet companionship. Buffy was remembering Angel
receiving his soul back, only to lose him to the woman who gave it to him. Willow was
remembering her passionate filled dream of Xander that Angel gave her when she donated
blood to him. Willow had never felt so alive, so passionate, so loved. She now felt surer of
herself and more alive. She just didn't know what to do with it.
Buffy produced a key to Angel's apartment to Willows shock, as they arrived at Angel's
door. What vampire gives a key to a Slayer? A vampire in love, obviously. Willow smiled a
sad smile for the star-crossed lovers.The apartment was in an uproar. Clothes were missing from the closet. Books scattered
around the bookcase and some were obviously missing. A drawer was pulled out which was
filled with pictures of Buffy and the gang. Willow looked at them confused; most were taken
during the day, so Angel couldn't have... Then Willow noticed most were at school, and the
Bronze. The high school yearbook photographer Jimmy Rhodes had mysteriously gotten a
new camera with a telephoto lens for some custom work. Willow smiled. Ever the man in
the background, Angel.Willow turned to Buffy who was sitting on the bed reading a letter with tears streaming
down her face. The stationary was the same as Angelus' taunts, but Willow knew this was
from Angel. Willow sat next to Buffy who handed the letter to her to read:
Buffy,
I love you. I am so sorry this all has happened this way. Do not blame
yourself. You had no idea when you gifted me with your love on your
birthday; it would reverse the spell.The Lady restored my soul with three conditions I have given my oath and
bond to adhere to. a) In the future it will save your life and those of our
friends. I do not know how right now, but to save you ...I have no option, no
choice. b) I must serve her one half of my walking years, which as you know,
are 242, so I am in her service for 121 years. She has my service; you have my
heart and soul. c) I cannot suicide. Not now, remembering the pain I caused
you, and the others, nor later, when time takes you away from me forever. It
will be a lonely eternity.I love you with all my heart and soul. I have my Claddagh and I wear it for
you until my hand turns to dust. In all my years as breathing and unbreathing
I have never loved anyone as I love you. I wish I had the courage to tell you I
loved you when I first started to love you. But being pinned to the ground in
an alley under your heel really wasn't the place for it. I was too scared the rest
of the time. Remember you are loved through eternity.I do not know exactly what service the Lady asks of me. I fear it will not be a
long-lived service, and I will possibly die in it soon. She is in battle with a very
evil entity, and total destruction for the loser is the price of failure. I will fight
him willingly, not for her but for you. If I can destroy him, then you will never
face him. I therefore do this willingly.I want you to go on with you life. Forget me and find another love. Do not try
to wait for me; I do not feel I will be able to return to you in a reasonable
mortal time frame even if I survive. Therefore, count me as dead, and go on
with your life. Forget me. Maybe as the years pass you will be able to forgive
me.Love Always, Angel
Ps. see the man on the enclosed business card. Tell Giles I am so sorry. ~ A
Willow found her tears flowing as she read the letter. The love he held for Buffy was clear
to see. Willow held Buffy as she cried. After the tears stopped to a minor trickle Buffy
looked at Willow. "He loved me...he loves me so much! He obligated himself to her for 121
years to save me! He will die in her service! Oh Willow, he's gone from me forever! I have
lost him just as much as when he lost his soul!" Buffy lay down and hugged his pillow. It
smelled of him.Willow watched Buffy. To have held a love like that and lost it was the stuff of legends.
Buffy lost Angel more this way then when he lost his soul... because, when he was Angelus
there was always that hope he would get his soul back... now he was just long gone.Buffy got up and slowly gathered a few things from his apartment to remind her of him and
they left.
While later, Buffy pulled out the business card. "A lawyer?" She wondered out loud to
herself as she dialed the number. The receptionist put her right through when she said her
name. "Good Day, how may I help you?" a strong male voice said. She liked the tone and
sound of his voice."I am Buffy Summers, I was told to call you..." She drifted off not sure just how much she
should say."Ah yes, Angel told me you would be calling. Can you please come to my office and see
me? It is rather important..." She heard his rustling papers on his desk. "Do you need a
daytime appointment or a evening appointment?" She wondered at that. If he deals with
Angel he is used to evening appointments. She smiled faintly as she told him "Daytime is
fine.” He gave her the time and the address.
They entered and sat down after brief introductions. He sat behind his desk, and looked at
her. Well, then. Angelus Boyle asked that I inform you he has left you in charge of his
personal affairs here in Sunnydale. He has essentially made you his heir and beneficiary.""Beneficiary?" Buffy asked swallowing her fear he was already dead. He nodded.
"I understand you are aware of his...state." He looked uncomfortable and Buffy nodded
and pointed to Willow, who nodded also. He continued, "His vampiric state makes 'death' a
hard thing to classify." The girls nodded. "Over the years, he has amassed quite a
substantial estate. I handle the business end of it and assure the proper legalities are
handled appropriately, as did my father before me. I am power of attorney, I follow strict
guidelines as to the daily running of the estate."He continued looking at the girl before him. He wondered exactly what she was to Angel.
She obviously wasn't a vampire. She had the signs of deep mourning, and he thought it was
because of Angel's departure. "Angel notified me last night, or I should say early this
morning you are the new and only beneficiary of his estate. Now we both know death is a
meaningless term when applied to Angel. Should he fail to contact me in a specific way and
time the entire estate becomes yours. He must contact me a minimum of once a month. If
not, it reverts to you. If that is the case I am willing to continue my services as I have done
for Angel, for you."Buffy sat stunned..."He's not... he's not...'' She couldn't even voice her fear.
"Ceased to exist?" He looked at her distress. He shook his head 'no'. It was obvious her
real interest was Angel himself, not his money. The girl obviously loved him and was
devastated by his leaving. "No, he was existing as of 5am this morning. He apparently
accrued a long-term obligation of some sort. What specific type, he didn't say,” Willow and
Buffy both nodded. He continued "And so he has dedicated his resources to you, to assure
you are properly taken care of." Buffy just looked stunned."I will continue to manage the day to day affairs of the estate. I will ask you for your input
when there is a decision to be made that I would take to Angel." He glanced down at
papers in front of him. "You will receive three thousand dollars a month stipend, and any
legitimate expenses your unusual vocation requires, verified in writing by your Watcher.""Three thousand dollars a month?" Buffy was shocked and Willow was speechless.
"Yes, as well as full benefits." He looked up with humor in his eyes. She apparently had
absolutely no idea of Angel's monetary worth. "Apparently your avocation as The Slayer
has neither a paycheck or benefit program. Angel sought to rectify that.""Wow," Buffy looked at him. She didn't think Angel had any money, never mind so much.
Was just like 'Cryptic Guy' to fail to tell her such stuff."If Angel doesn't contact me once a month, then you will be heir to Celtic One,” He told
Buffy gently.Willow snapped up and interrupted, "That is the organization that owns a good part of
Sunnydale," Willow exclaimed. "Celtic one is a corporation with an undisclosed owner..."
She drifted off looking at Buffy who was looking at her amused. "I did a report for
Business class on Celtic One."“Celtic One net worth is millions of dollars. I will have the exact information made available
to you. It includes the Sunnydale nursing home, Sunnydale Bank, and the Ridgeway
Shopping Center and numerous small business, one of which you probably are well aware,
The Bronze. Celtic One is the largest privately owned charity in Sunnydale."Buffy looked shocked. That much? He continued, "As of right now you are secretary to
Celtic One's director, and are on the payroll," He handed her a six thousand dollar check
made out to her, "Your hiring bonus. Your benefit package will be mailed to you."Buffy took the check barely looking at it with tears in her eyes asked him, "Will you tell me
when he contacts you?""I cannot discuss what we talk about, but I will notify you via email that I talked to him and
he is OK." Buffy pointed to Willow who took a notepad and wrote down her email address.
Buffy nodded. He took it and put it in the file.After signing many papers, and giving him her address and phone number, they shook
hands and the girls left to go to the Library and update Giles.
"That's it Mom. Angel made me his beneficiary... I didn't even know he had any money.
But if I could choose between his money and him... I'd want him." Buffy sighed. It felt good
to be able to talk to her mom about everything."I know baby, maybe he'll come back. He is obviously very concerned about your
welfare." Buffy just sighed one of her huge sighs.“Somehow I doubt he will return anytime soon. Not because he doesn't want to... but
because of his oath he is unable to. The arrangements he made were...too final." Buffy
hung her head and walked out the door of the kitchen.
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