Title: Always Apart
Author: Eaglewolf
Spoilers: Don't think so..
Summary: Buffy makes a choice
Rating: PG-14
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Distribution: I want visiting rights... just tell me where you're taking my baby.
Feedback: Is Grass usually green?
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the mighty god who is Joss, and his playmates in the sandbox.
Dedication: For anyone who ever had to make a choice between their past, and their future. Sometimes even though we *think* we made the wrong choice, it was the right one all along. (Unless it involved orange taffeta with green polka dots..)

I can't stand how much I miss him. It was so hard to walk away, I haven't stopped crying since I left him. He had the choice and he chose not to come with me. Oh my heart is breaking. All I can do is cry, I'm moving on autopilot. I look up suddenly and realise I'm not on the plane any longer.

Where am I? It's dark, but there's a bright light in front of me I run towards it. I stop suddenly; my path is blocked by a figure.

I gasp as I see the figure's familiar face, I smile and hug him the way I never had the chance to do in life.

"Merrick," I whisper. He hugs me and smiles.

"Hello Buffy."

I stop smiling as all of a sudden I realise what Merrick being here means. I gulp and look at him as more tears threaten to overwhelm me.

He smiles at me sadly and smiles again, "Would you like the chance to talk to him again? You will never get a chance quite like this again." I know exactly who he's talking about and I nod, chewing on my bottom lip.

Suddenly I'm standing in front of Giles. He's sitting in a chair that reminds me of Cookie Monster when he's reading Monsterpiece Theatre; he's surrounded by books, even here. I can't hold back the giggle as I think of Giles eating a cookie in the same way the Cookie Monster would. But I stop as he looks up at me and I see the pain in his eyes. His green eyes are rimmed with red, looking as though he hasn't stopped crying since I left him either.

"Oh Buffy, love, I'm so sorry... I loved you too much to go with you, but now I see it's killing you as well as me." and with that he stands and gathers me into his arms. I cling to him tight, and trace my finger along his face like I did oh so recently. I shush him and kiss him gently all the while thinking this may very well be the last time I see him. He sits back down, and arranges me on his lap murmuring sweet nothings all the while.

I've had out of body experiences before but somehow this feels different somehow... more final. I look around for a moment searching for Merrick. He nods at me, smiling, before he fades out slowly. He raised his hand, holding his index finger up, just before he disappeared completely and mouthed the word hour. I have one hour left with Giles, to make him understand how I love him. But as I look back into his eyes, I find words fail me. What can I tell him that I haven't already said? He's smiling sadly at me.

"Giles, I don't have long." I whisper and he smiles gently at me placing his finger over my lips, much the way I did only yesterday.

"I love you Buffy. We have now, that's all we've ever had... Only now."

I bend to kiss him gently and tell him how much he means to me. We kiss slowly, as if we had all the time in the world, and it feels like we do have eternity. I wonder desperately how much time has passed since Merrick disappeared.

Suddenly I hear another voice from my past speak out from behind me.

"Hello lover." I turn and come face to face with Angel...us?? At my quizzical look he smiles at me and says "Angel."

He holds his hand out to me, and I turn to look at Giles with shock written all over my face. Giles nods at me, and whispers "It's not Angelus love."

Suddenly he stands, and I find myself standing next to him. He turns and walks to where Angel stands. I look at them both, confusion clearly written on my face.

"You have to choose Buffy. Darkness or Light... Life or Death. Fate or Destiny." Merrick walks up beside me.

I turn to look at him, and whisper "There is no choice to be made. How can I chose anything but the light?"

Merrick smiles sadly at me and whispers, "You can only have one when you destroy the other. You choice now will last for all of eternity." He hands me a stake. "Choose Slayer."

My eyes widen as Angel smiles at me, his eyes betraying only a hint of fear. My gaze flickers over to Giles. My dear sweet lover, and in his eyes I see pain and even resignation. He thinks, even now, that I'll choose Angel over him. I smile gently at him, and tilt my head to the side. He understands now, I'm his. We are marked for each other. There could never be anyone but him.

I walk towards Angel slowly; I pull his head down towards mine and kiss him gently on the cheek. "I'm sorry."

He smiles at me, and whispers back "I understand. Just promise me you will be happy." I nod, and drive the stake home.

Suddenly I sit up gasping to hear the captain tell us we are only half an hour out of New York. I must have slept for the longest time. My dream wafts back over me, it felt *so* real. I gasp as I notice a splinter in my finger; there is only one way it could have gotten there. A tear trickles down my cheek. But for the first time since the prom I feel totally free. Angel was the past, and Giles is my future... My eternity. I need to convince him of that. It's time for Plan B; I just need to get home to talk to Will. She can help me organise a Plan B.

I walk slowly towards where the connecting flight is waiting. My eyes are still filling with tears; I can't live without him. It hurts too much. I could always go live in England, then the council would be happy I'm sure. I bite back a bitter laugh at that thought. Although I would lie back down in bed with them again in a heartbeat if it meant having my Giles back by my side.

I sit down and close my eyes. I hear someone crying softly, and open my eyes to scan the crowd. If it weren't for my supernatural hearing I wouldn't have realised. I see a man sitting across from me, dressed in black jeans and a faded blue denim shirt. He's got Giles' build I think to myself. He's sitting with his head in his hands, trying to calm himself. I walk over and sit down next to him, wanting to be closer to Giles in any way. This guy even smells like Giles. I do a double take... If he smells like Giles... If he looks like Giles...

"GILES?" I whisper.

His head snaps up, and a familiar pair of green eyes stare back into mine.

"Giles!" I whisper again.

"Buffy!! Oh you're okay! I was so worrieooomph" I don't let him finish what he is saying. I'm kissing him all over, holding him, touching him in anyway I can. Giles has come home to me, Giles has come home.

ALWAYS TOGETHER