Angel looked at the people around him groggily. His head was in a fog, and he had trouble focusing. The only thing he knew was Buffy was with him and she wanted him to survive.

Buffy climbed onto the bed and sat in front of Angel, careful not to hurt him. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and remained perfectly still.

"I'm ready."

Angel struggled to get up and when he gained his balance, gently brushed the hair away from the base of her neck. He felt a knot in his stomach just thinking about drinking blood again. Drinking hers would be much worse, but he had to do it. She asked him to do it because she wanted him to live.

Leaning forward to her ear, he whispered, "I love you, Buffy," before putting on his game face and sticking his fangs into her neck...

Giles picked up the girl and carried her over onto the couch, gently lying her down. Willow came over with a piece of gauze from the first aid kit Giles had brought that morning and bandaged her cuts while Xander watched.

"Go to sleep, Buffy," she told her friend, smiling. "We'll watch after Angel for you."

Deciding not to argue, Buffy nodded and immediately fell asleep. Being vampire food definitely was tiring.

Giles helped Angel lie back down and urged the vampire to go back to sleep. "Buffy will be fine in a few hours," he assured him. "Try to rest." The vampire was overwhelmingly tired and had no choice but to obey.

"How is she?" he asked as Willow and Xander came up beside him.

"She's sleeping," replied Xander quietly. "How is he?"

Giles looked at the sleeping form in front of him. "Well, his color looks a lot better." He felt Angel's forehead with the back of his hand. "His fever appears to have gone down a bit, too. I'd say Buffy's plan worked."

"Uh, guys?"

The two men stopped talking and turned to look at her. She stood beside them, her eyes wide open.

"Yes, Willow?" Giles asked, concerned. The girl looked like she had seen a ghost. Not to mention the fact she had once been one...

Willow was speechless for a moment and nodded to Angel. "Look."

The two turned around again and their jaws dropped open when they saw what she was looking at. Angel slept peacefully, deep in slumber, his eyes shut and his mouth curved in the tiniest of smiles, despite everything that had happened. The one thing that stuck out the most, though, was... he was breathing.