Do not Weep- (Epilogue to What We Lost Collection)

by Isabelle

-Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, they are all Joss.

-Summary: Sequel to "To Part Now", The aftermath of Spike's second departure.

-Distribution: People who have contacted me and I've given them an ok, other than that please ask!

-Rating: R (Language, Violence)

-Author's Note: Feed me FEEDBACK!!!! :) [email protected]

-Dedication: To all the reviewers who hated the conclusion of What We Lost Collection, this is for those who wanted tears other than sorrow :o)

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Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you.....

Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. And where I am going you can't follow. What I've gotta do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that......Here's looking at you, kid.

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The small girl clutched the worn piece of paper in her pale hand as if the world would disappear. She walked silently, her steps small as if she had all the time in the world. She clutch on to the paper, fingers ripping the flaky white material that had been a her disenchantment from this world.

She knew where she was going but she didn't know why. She knew he would already been gone. He was like that, came and went when you least expected it.

She remembered that night at the hospital, she had asked him not to leave her and he said "never".

Well 'never' was a short time. Too short for her liking.

She needed forever, even if forever meant one last kiss. She just needed him to hold her one last time, just one. If he would do that she would be all right, she could go on.

But not waking up with a papered goodbye and his scent on her brow.

This was not his way of doing things, this was Angel's way and she was not in love with Angel.

She walked in the sunlight, for she knew he couldn't escape her confrontation.

The note said he would leave and she will not see him again, but when has he ever kept his promises? Not to her, and in a very conscious level she was glad he didn't.

If it weren't for his empty threats, his white lies, she would not love him as much as she did at that moment.

So pure was her love that is was blinding, brighter than the fire, it consumed her and all that she was. It was a burning incense within her that needed to be depleted. And only one man ignited that in her, and she'll be damned if she let him walk out of her life, not by a long shot, not now, not ever.

She reached the door to his crypt.

Reaching out her thin pale hand she opened the creaky door revealing the steps that went into the pit of despair.

She closed the door behind her to shut out the sunlight, walking to the middle of the room she found it empty. All his things were gone, but his scent was alive.

She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She felt his presence warm her and with her eyes closed she smiled sadly. "I thought you were leaving?" she whispered, she knew he could hear her.

"So did I."

"What stopped you?" she asked still with her eyes closed.

Silence, but she felt him so close, so close the hairs on her arms could touch him, sense him, feel him.

She felt his non-existent breath on her face. "You."

"Me?" she whispered.

She felt him nod and opened her eyes to look at her love.

He was dressed to leave, with a black duffel back on his hand.

"Still leaving?" she asked silently, taking in his luggage.

He looked at her for a long time, until their eyes met. A short wasp of energy went through them. It was desire, it was something so powerful she couldn't describe.

It was like drowning and breathing at the same time, it was like living and dying all at once, it was like flying and falling in once single leap, it was hot and cold in one beat.

His hand reached out and touched her cheek lightly.

She closed her eyes and leaned into him, savoring the coolness of his skin. That reassurance that he was still un-dead but very much alive in every sense of the word.

He clutch to her warm skin, feeling the tingling sensation that her skin made him savor.

She was a burning fire, incarnated into one human being. Touching her made him feel real, with just a brush, a sweep, a caress.

She waited for his answer but it never came so she looked at him once more.

"Would it make a difference if I want you to stay?" She whispered, her eyes filling with unshed tears.

He swallowed.

"I love you today, more than I did yesterday and more than I will tomorrow." he whispered so close to her face he thought he might drown in her essence. "Being next to you will not change that."

"But it makes all the difference." she replied still looking at him as tears warmed her cheeks. He gently glided his thumb across her face to sweep her tears away. The warm substance burnt him in more ways than holy water ever could.

"Promise me somethin', pet." he said bringing his forehead to met hers.

Her bottom lip trembled. She couldn't nod, what if it was something she couldn't promise, something she refused to accept. Something along the lines of live on, love on, I'll always remember you.

"I want you to promise me that................you'll not be...............ashamed..............of what.........we have."

Her eyes shot up to met his and she recognized the little sparkle his blue eyes made when he pulled her leg.

The ends of his full lips slightly turned into a smirk and she stared at him in disbelief.

Then it dawned on her. She was so happy she was mad. So she punched him hard and square on his jaw.

"I hate you!!!" she yelled at him.

He looked at her and smiled, he knew exactly what this was about.

She tried to place her 'I am mad' at you face but his knowing smiled evaporated her try. She couldn't hide anything form him, he read right through her.

So she gave up the struggle and grabbed the lapels of his coat, crushing her mouth to his.

He was stunned at first but them promptly dropped his fake bag and lifted her up as their mouths dueled with each other.

It was desperation, wanting longing and pure unconditional love.

He pulled away and showered her with kisses all across her face. She held on to the back of his hair caressing the tender skin behind his ears and at the nape of his neck.

"I love you, oh god I love you." She whispered through his raining kisses and her tears.

He pulled back and looked at her. "I thought you hated me?" he asked arching an eyebrow.

"I though you were leaving." she replied.

He looked pensive for a moment then smiled at her. "You're right, we're both rotten liars."

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And while Cinderella and her prince did live happily ever after the point, gentlemen, is that they lived

from Ever After

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THE END-for all those who begged for a different ending and I promised one, here it is I hope everyone liked this ending better. :o)