Trilogy: Swords of Light I
Title: Immortality's Gift
Author: Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn
Rating: PG
Summary: What if Buffy had been Immortal when she died in The Gift? A Buffy/Angel/Highlander Crossover
Spoilers: Buffy and Angel--The Gift and There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb, Highlander--general knowledge
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. But if they were mine, do you think I would put us and them through this agony! Damn you Joss! I also don't own any of the Highlander stuff either.
Feedback: YES! I beg of you! I get too little of it as it is!

Author's Note: All I can say is that I was reading a Highlander fanfic, and this suddenly popped into my head. I spent the rest of the night thinking about it. Oh, this also starts right at the end of Angel's season finale, then becomes AU. You'll understand as you read it. The Highlander stuff won't fully appear until like the third part.

Notation: Inner-thought, "mind-speech"

Part 1

"Willow?"

Angel stood staring at Willow, his gut twisting with a certainty of something terribly wrong. As Cordelia began to ask "What's...", Willow slowly stood up, keeping eye-contact with Angel the entire time. Her expression was pain-filled and haunted. It was then he understood.

In a whisper, Angel said, "It's Buffy."

After a moment, Willow nodded, and said, her voice trembling, "She needs you."

Sunnydale, two days ago

All who had been in the battle against Glory stood around Buffy's lifeless form, each grieving in their own way. The sun had risen, and Spike had been forced to seek shelter from its deadly rays. Willow and Tara clung to one another, both seeking comfort from the other. Xander, as well, held tightly to Anya, as faint tremors ran through his body. Giles held Dawn close to him, as she quietly wept, telling him what Buffy had told her.

As the sun's rays gently caressed Buffy's peaceful face, her body stirred...then gasped awake.

Everyone froze in shock, gazing wide-eyed at the Slayer, as she drew in ragged breaths. After a moment, she began to shake uncontrollably, screaming in agony for the only comfort she had ever truly known.

"AAAAANNNNNNGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"An-and th-that's wh-what h-h-happened," Willow stammered, tears falling down her face. She paused, composing herself, then said more calmly, "She won't rest, or eat, or do anything...but lay on her bed, staring at nothing. And when we ask her what she wants...all she says is your name, Angel."

Willow looked up from her hands, and gazed at the souled vampire. She grew uneasy. His face was blank, but his eyes...his eyes were so dark with emotion that they were black.

In a dull and lifeless voice, Angel said, "Somehow I knew. I felt her death in my sleep."

"We thought you might," Willow said quietly. At Cordelia's strange look, and Wesley's shocked expression, she added, "Giles and I often talked about stuff. A lot of the time it was about Buffy and Angel and their connection to each other."

"Huh," Cordelia said, then focused her attention on Angel. "I guess me and Angel are going to Sunnydale."

"I'm going as well," said Wesley quietly but firmly.

For the first time, Angel seemed to pull out of whatever state he had fallen into, and turned to look at Cordy and Wesley. He gazed at them for a long moment, then nodded slowly. Unspoken was the reason why the two humans were going with the souled vampire. The true purpose was to lend their friend and associate their support in the difficult days ahead.

Do you want more? Tell me. Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who wonders what she has gotten herself into)