What's the difference between a trip and a journey?

Title: Hope Springs
Author: Fluff

Summary: "When will it be enough?” she asks, but there is no reply, and she stands alone amongst the stars." Half a decade after Chosen, Buffy risks everything to protect the thing she loves most.
Pairing: Buffy/Angel

Rating: PG
Word count: 14875
Spoilers: All of Buffy and Angel to be safe, but nothing particularly specific other than a couple of references to Chosen and Damage

A/N: This story is my frilled shark fic, so named because frilled sharks have been known to have gestational periods of three and a half years, which is how long it has taken for me to finish it (the first draft I have is from 2009 and Ren's name was Molly). So, many, many thanks to my midwives: Bean, who almost undoubtedly read the first two or three drafts of this back in high school; Kairos, who was so encouraging when I was trying to get my mojo going while I was away in Israel; and MoragLee, who betaed for me (AKA talked me down from the ledge) now that I'm in college.

Title from Alexander Pope and summary from The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Few characters are mine.

(It would be unbelievably sweet and awesome of you to review this)