"So here we are."

"Um."

"Are you just going to take your time?"

"Yeah. It would be a shame to end a life-long wait with just a quick snap. It would make it less meaningful or something..?" Words failed the man.

"Yeah, the poiniancy would kind of get lost in the rush."

"So where've you been these past 15 years?"

"Here and there. I spent nearly five years in Boise before I moved."

"Boise? Idaho? Man, that's out there. Even I didn't think of looking there."

"Why do you think I stayed there for five years?"

"Oh."

"..."

"So other than that?"

"Hm? Oh, um, let's see... Boston, Savannah, Toronto, Grenada, Guam, Indonesia, Juneau, Toledo - Spain-, D.C., Boise, Vancouver, the Gaza strip, back to Juneau, Rekovenshik, Australia, New Zealand, and finally, Chicago."

"That's a pretty decent list."

"I tried to stay in areas with the lowest crime rate and highest sun vector."

"Hence doubling back to Juneau?"

"Ding."

"How have you been though?"

"Eh. Can't complain. I've seen some wonderful things. I've loved every friend I ever made, and still converse with most of them."

"That must be an even more impressive list."

::smile:: "Kind of. How have *you* been?"

"Hm. Okay I guess. After... I travelled around a bit. I tried finding you pretty hard for the first ten years but kind of gave up. You were always good at covering your tracks."

"Hey, if you can work your way around a database, you're set for life. I mean how are *you*?"

"You were always the perceptive one, you know that? I haven't been that good. Not really. Once you "get into a isolationist funk," it's pretty difficult to get out."

"Did you help out the last one?"

"Yeah. I pulled the "cryptic warning guy" thing off without a hitch. It was much easier than last time."

"It should be. They aren't the same people. Was she pretty?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

"Heh. I guess not."

They were quiet for a moment.

"Did you ever marry?"

"And give up my freedom!?" ::exaggeratted gasp::

"Heh. I guess not. Do you regret it?"

"It's not like I had a helluva lot of choice, is it? Sorry. This isn't your fault. Yeah, I do wish I had. I would have loved to have been a mother and wife. But. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

"Yeah. I felt the same way. After."

"Hm. After. Besides, I would always have this deadline hanging over me."

"You could have skipped it. Kept going."

"It wouldn't have been fair to anyone. Besides, I promised you. I don't go back on my promises."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me."

"I do."

"No. You don't. This was my choice. My decision. You just happen to be the catalyst. Besides. You're my friend. I won't.. no, *can't* leave you alone."

::tremulous smile:: "Are you ready?

"I think so. I've lived my life. It's time. That *is* why I came. I do wish you'd done this years ago."

"You needed this time. You had to be you."

"And I have been. For the last twenty years."

"You left 15 years ago."

"Like I said, the last twenty years."

"You are beautiful, you know."

"I do now." ::smile:: "I didn't then."

"You were then too."

"You're kind."

Angel pulled back to look at the small woman standing before him. In truth, time had only exuded very little pressure on her outward appearance. She still had the same pixie-ish features that had originally drawn him, the same long red hair. However this woman possessed a maturity missing in the 20 year old girl he'd first loved. The woman standing in front of him was just that, a woman. Delicate of stature and feature, she was the strongest person he'd ever met and the only one he'd ever *truly* loved. She was his home.

"I'm honest. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. I'm glad I'm home."

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