"That's not true and you know it," he said of her accusing him of not caring. Angel cared, he would always care. "What I felt--feel, it hasn't gone away and probably never will. It's because I care that I didn't... It wasn't the right time. I was waiting until after the holidays, after things calmed down from the chaos of last month. Trust me when I say I wasn't planning on keeping this from you."

Angel reached out as if to touch her shoulder, but stopped and let his hand fall to his side. "I don't like seeing you like this. Hurting. And knowing that it's because of something I did." It was his turn to turn away so that their backs were facing, adding softly, "All I do is hurt you."

He knew she wouldn't have handled this well. He was anticipating it, expecting it.

"But you've hurt me, too. Hurting's unavoidable. Think we'd be used to it by now."