Disclaimer: I don't own any of the BtVS characters. They belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox. If I did own them, I'd treat them much better than Joss Whedon But, oh well. I'm just having fun. So don't sue me.

I sat in class, idly twirling my pencil. I was bored stiff. Professor Johnson, the art teacher, was out sick, and I was impatiently waiting for the sub to show up. I felt like I wanted break the pencil in two. I didn't know anybody in the class, so I just sat and didn't talk to anybody. I wondered what Angel was doing right now. Probably still looking for a job. I thought cheerfully, my spirits lightening.

My new hubby had been unsuccessfully looking for a job for about a week now. He'd been to the art gallery where my mother worked, and turned down because he didn't have a last name. I grinned at that memory. Angel was such a good artist; he should have been able to find a job anywhere. But he couldn't exactly tell the guys at the gallery that he was a 246 year old ex-vampire who needed a job. They'd probably send him to a mental institution. I was jerked out of my thoughts when a teacher introduced the art sub. Since I'd been daydreaming, I only heard the last part of the teacher's words.

"May I introduce your substitute, Mr. O'Conner."

I was way at the back of the room, and couldn't see the sub too well. I noticed that he was wearing all black. Hm. Dresses like Angel. I thought, surprised. I soon discovered that he talked like Angel as well, except with an Irish accent.

"Good morning, class." he said pleasantly. "My name be-" He stopped and scanned the room, looking for someone. His eyes settled on me. He was wearing a black hat, and dark glasses, hiding his face. "Ms. Summers." he said calmly, grinning. "There ye are."

Now I was certain that he *was*, in fact my hubsand.

I raised my hand eagerly.

"Yes, Ms. Summers?" he asked cheerfully, laughter in his eyes.

"Ang- uh, Mr. O'Conner." I said, grinning to cover my slip. The college student wasn't supposed to know the sub's first name. "How old are you?"

He smiled. "I'll be 28 in a week or so."

I gaped at him, feeling faint. "28?" I echoed.

"Aye, lass."

I nodded slowly. "Oh. Okay." 28! I thought, shocked. He was 27 when he was turned! I had no idea he was so old!

I shoved that thought of my head guiltily; I didn't care about how old he was, the good thing was that he would age now. I'll get to see if he looks this good in 5 years. I thought.

"So, Mr. O'Conner." I asked casually. "You can draw, right? I mean if you're a art sub, you must be able to draw."

"Of course I can draw!" Angel said indignantly. "I'll draw you, ya wench!"

He tossed the hat and sunglasses on the desk and went to the chalkboard, swiftly drawing me. I lay in a bed. I was smiling in my sleep. My throat went dry. It was exactly like one of the ones Angelus had drawn when he was tormenting me.

"That's great." I said weakly, trying to keep in the present. But the gate I'd kept tightly sealed in my mind was now unlocked, and the memories tumbled through. I'm crying, because Ms. Calender is dead. I'm running to the library, my heart filled with fear. I find Kendra dead, and all my friends injured.

Dimly I realized that Angel is calling my name. He's got rid of the accent in his concern, and is shouting at me. "Buffy?" he yelled anxiously. "Are you all right?"

"I think I'm gonna faint." I said weakly.

He was up to my seat in an instant. The other students moved out of his way quickly, muttering about how weird this college was.

Angel gathered me in his arms clumsily. "Buffy." he whispered in my ear. "I need you to breathe, okay? I'm sorry about the drawing. Just don't faint on me."

I got my bearings back quickly, and felt somewhat sheepish for my actions. "Yes, coach." I whispered back, kissing him on his ear.

"That's what I want to hear, Summers." he said softly, imitating a football coach.

I giggled, and sat up. "Let go of me now, honey." I mumbled quietly.

"People are looking at us like we're married."

He laughed aloud at that. "We are." he reminded me.

I smiled. "Yeah." He released me, and went back down to the front of the class. I followed, wanting to sit up in front so I could keep an eye on him.

Some of the girls in the class were eyeing him suggestively. I poked one of them in the ribs with my elbow, adding a little Slayer strength. "Oh, I'm sorry." I apologized gleefully, enjoying watching her gasp for air. "My arm slipped."

For a while I was allowed to adore Angel in blissful silence, as I watched him teach art. Riley Finn, who had the hots for me, noticed my amorous gaze, and commented on it.

"Hey, Buffy?" he whispered, nudging me in the ribs gently.

I tore my gaze away from Angel, and focused on him. "Yes?"

"Why were you fondling the sub earlier? And just now, you look like you're in love with him. Are you?"

"I-uh -I well you see-" I stuttered, having no clue what to say.

I was saved from having to tell Riley Fishface about me and Angel's relationship by Angel himself.

"You there!" Angel barked at Riley. He had long ago discarded the Irish accent. "Now how dare you presume to interrupt my class, when I was teaching a language that you should cherish with your whole soul!"

Riley made the mistake of grinning at that. "Art's not a language, sir." he said, trying hard to sound respectful, and failing utterly.

"It is to me!" Angel continued. "Art is a language in itself! Everything you draw, everything you imagine, has a story all its own. And if something has a story; that thing must have a language!"

"Don't make the mistake of talking to my wi- to my classmate Ms. Summers when I'm talking ever again. Do you understand me, you filthy Ken doll?!" he bellowed, not even noticing that he'd almost said "wife".

"Y-yes s-sir, I do." Riley stuttered.

"Good! And that goes for all of you!" he yelled, glaring at the whole of the class, except, of course, me.

Fortunately, for the class, the bell rang.

"Dismissed!"

All the class filed out, giving Angel the various odd looks. But they said nothing.

Once they were all gone, I exhaled in relief.

I tumbled out of my seat, and hugged Angel senseless. I buried my head in his shoulder, just breathing in the wonderful scent of him.

At last I surfaced, and smiled up at him. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

"You're right, I don't." he replied. "But you have no idea how long I've wanted to do this." And he bent and kissed me.

I wanted to stay fastened to his lips, just enjoying the pure pleasure of the moment, but I needed to breathe.

I pulled back with a gasp of delight. "Is O'Conner your real name?" I asked, teasing.

He grinned, and laughed. "No. 200 years ago, I was known as Angelus of Galway, Ireland. Some of the townspeople had last names, but they were from another country. My mother used to tease me about how I always used to ask her why some people had last names and I didn't. She'd say, 'Angelus, why do ye want another name, anyhow? Aren't ye satisfied with the one ye have now?'" Angel looked down at me, a shadow crossing his face. "But she's gone now." he said softly.

I could tell he was on the verge of a good brood, so I squashed it quickly with a scolding. "Now Angel, what did I tell you on the day we were married for the 2nd time? I told you, 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life.' That means that you need to look ahead at the future, not back at the past."

He shook the guilt off, and did that half smile I loved so much. "My future with you."

"Yeah." I said blithely. "Your future with me." And I leaned forward to kiss him some more.

We pulled apart again, and stared at each other.

"You know, I was ready to kill that guy who was so obviously had a crush on you." Angel said.

I laughed. "Yeah, I noticed." I said dryly.

"But instead I just yelled at him."

"You are so cute when you yell."

He grinned. "You're cute when you're poking girls in the ribs."

I giggled. "You noticed that?"

"I noticed everything about you." he replied seriously. "You wanna go? Do you have anymore classes today?"

"Nope. Let's go."

We exited the room, so obviously in love.

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