You say that now but, what if you fall into one of those deep sleeps people around here have fallen into and wake up with more memories and more excuses ─ sorry, reasons ( she corrects immediately and with bite. ) to stay away from me? ( she can't take being rejected again. even if he doesn't see it that way, it's what it feels like. like he won't put in the effort to try to work things out. he'd rather just bail on her ─ on them. and yes, she knows it's not fair to put the weight of what if on him. on something he, the Angel in front of her, has no control over. (whether it happens or not.) plus, it goes both ways.

any fight she has left in her dies at how broken he suddenly sounds. gone is the light from their earlier teasing, replaced by grief and loss.

not wanting to see him in pain, and wanting to comfort him, she's off the couch and stepping around the coffee table in a heartbeat. ) Angel, you didn't lose me. Not now, and not later. And don't tell me I don't know what happens, besides what little you've told me, because I know no matter what happens between us, good or bad, I'll be there whenever you need me. ( when he shrugs the light from the lamp reflects off the ring on his hand. not just any ring though. the same one he's worn since she can remember. but more than him wearing the ring is the way he's wearing it. pointed toward him, not out. "Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody." he'd told her. and just like then, Buffy's hand reaches for his, fingers skimming over the shape of it, remembering it before sliding her hand under his. bending her head and drawing his hand up to her lips she kisses the ring, same as she'd done the night of her birthday, when he'd given her a matching one. ) Always.