"You didn't tell me Mands was in hospital...and how was I supposed to be?" She blew out a shaky breath. "They weren't here...and on the road, very bad things happened."
"I was going to. I think my brain just stopped working when you said you were leaving." He gave a small shake of his head. "I don't know. Probably exactly how you were. You did nothing wrong." He raised his head to look at her. "I should have just said. Shouldn't have let you go, or at least, not alone."
Her hand slipped from his. "Who'd you have sent?"
Daniel blinked at his now empty hand. "I meant me. Us. I meant, we should have come with you." His shoulders sagged. "I let you down."
"You have no idea," she muttered
Daniel took an breath to speak but the words died and he squeezed his eyes shut. "I know I can't make it up to you, can't change what happened... make it better... but... w-we're here."
"The car died...I walked, I was attacked ra- attacked, ended up pregnant, lost it when I got here and my family were gone," Angel spoke in a flat, emotionless tone
Daniel's head snapped up to look at her, unable to speak, not even sure words would do anything. He shifted and slid his arms around her.
"So there's that," she leaned into him, tears sliding down her face. Unbeknownst to her she was shaking violently. "How long after Mands died did you come? How long after I left?"
Daniel rubbed her back. "A little over a month. Would have been sooner but... We found Dylan at the hospital and I needed to gather things."
"At least you had them," Angel murmured, moving to scratch at her scars.
"It's probably a good job I did," Daniel whispered absently, still holding her.
"Just because of me?"
He nodded before resting his head against her shoulder, his fingers still moving over her back.
"I wish I hadn't made you feel that way," she whispered
"I wish I hadn't hurt you and screwed everything up."
"I wasn't enough, I know that,"
"No. You were, are.. It was never that. I... I know I can't make up for it, or change what happened. I would if I could, I really would."
"Then what was it? I need to know," Angel asked
"Mhm," Angel leaned into his touch
He brushed his thumb over her cheek, searching her features, squinting slightly due to how close they were. But they didn't change or evaporate like that had so many times before. A sob caught in his throat and he hugged her.
"You're here. Oh god, we found you.." The words were a whisper but loud in the quiet night.
"I didn't think you'd look," she whispered, wrapping her scarred arms around him
"Did. Course did." He couldn't decide if it was him or her that was shaking. "I can't believe you're here."
"Been here years," Shine murmured
Daniel leaned back to look at her. He brushed his thumb over her cheek again, meeting her eyes with his before he kissed her.
Angel leaned into the kiss, "why are you here?"
"For you. To find you. She said... I don't know her name, or I've forgotten it.... she said you were here. Told me where to go. Gave me this." He held up the torch.
"I'm here, and that's Honey's, she likes purple," Shine murmured. "Where's my girl?"