They walked in silence for a long time. The garden was huge and ended by the rock face, looking out over the sea.

“Nice place you have here.” Buffy said.

“Thanks but it’s not mine. The firm’s letting me stay here for a few months until I find somewhere.” He paused a second. “How are you feeling?”

“Overwhelmed mainly.”

“Understandable.”

“It’s like I’m waking up from a bad dream, but the reality is just as scary.”

“You will get through this. We’ll get through it together.”

“There’s just so much I missed. I’m 22 years old, I should have a high school education, a degree or a career by now. Instead I feel like a fifteen year old girl, suddenly having to deal with life.”

“One step at a time Buffy. Things usually don’t look so bad once you face them.”

Buffy sighed.

They continued in silence for a while before Angel finally spoke. “Buffy, I’m sorry I left. I should have stayed here, with you.”

Realising ‘the talk’ was about to take place Buffy sat on a fallen log looking out over the sea, Angel joined her.

“Angel, it’s not your fault. You had to go, we both know that.”

“But if I had stayed I might have stopped it.”

“It wasn’t your place to look after me. And if you had stayed you’d have earnt yourself a statory rape conviction and could have kissed goodbye to the Bar.”

“You think that matters?”

“No. Angel I know you loved me but you did the right thing. I could never have lived with myself knowing that you’d given up on your dreams for me.”

Angel smiled and pulled her to him. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“You don’t change.” He said. “Even after all this you think of others first.”

They sat there in silence for a while, looking out at the ocean. The sound of the waves breaking the only background noise.

“Why don’t we look into High School courses when we get back?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m ready.”

Angel kissed the top of her head. “I know, it’s scary. For me, all I can tell you is that every exam I took, every course I passed was another stop away from home, from the life I didn’t want. It felt empowering.”

Buffy knew, she’d been there during Angel’s quest to get out. “How are your parents?” she asked.

“Um, Mom died, dad’s doing 15 to life for it.”

“Oh god! That’s awful.” Said Buffy siting up and looking at him.

“It was their life. They didn’t have anything to do with me after the money incident anyway.”

Buffy remembered. His mother has asked him for cash about six months before he left. Angel wasn’t rich, far from it but he did have some savings. He promised his mother everything he had if she and his father enrolled in AA. His mother called him every name under the sun then hung up after telling he was no longer their child.

He had been so upset that night. That was the first time she had kissed him.

“I’m so sorry. What happened?”

“They got into a drunken fight again, he pushed her down stairs, broke her neck.”

“When?”

“About two years ago. Dad even had the gall to call me to represent him.”

“Did you?”

“I couldn’t. I also couldn’t leave him with a PD so I found a local lawyer with a good rep, hired him. Didn’t help though, he was as guilty as hell.”

“I’m so sorry Angel.” Said Buffy hugging him.

“Don’t be. It’s over now.”

“Still, of all the outcomes, that cant be the one you wanted.”

“No, but it wasn’t my choice. Besides, we have more important things to worry about now.”

“Yeah, I guess we do.”

Angel hesitated before continuing. “Buffy, I know what happened. At least part of it.” Buffy sat up and looked at him. “Want to tell me about it?”

Tears began forming in Buffy’s eyes, Angel pulled her into an embrace. “I don’t remember much, just hazy visions of these awful, deformed looking people… Hurting me.” She paused to wipe away tears. “I remember a hospital. I tried to tell them the truth, about the vampires but they didn’t believe me. Then the police came and I tried to tell them but they thought I was crazy too. I decided I wouldn’t tell anyone else.”

“Where were you when they hurt you?”

“I was with Tyler, at his friends birthday party. I felt strange, I couldn’t find Tyler. The next thing I remember is them.”
“And what happened in the school gym?”

“I felt strange again and the next thing I knew the place was full of vampires, all with their deformed faces and fangs. I knew the only way to get rid of them was to burn the place down.” Buffy paused and wiped away her tears. “So, do you think I’m crazy?”

Angel kissed the top of her head. “Never.”

“But they don’t exist right? How can I be sane?”

“No body is completely sane Buffy. I don’t know why you thought they were vampires but I don’t think your crazy. I think you're wonderful. We’ll figure it out, together.”

Buffy dried her tears and they stood to carry on walking.

Buffy eventually broached the subject she had been wanting to. “I’m surprised you aren’t married yet.”

Angel laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. It’s just I haven’t had a relationship over two months, let alone marriage.”

“Why not?”

“They weren’t right.” He paused. “Besides, I still had a thing for my ex.”

Buffy smiled and he took her hand. They walked in silence back to the house.