Angelus leaned over Buffy and whispered in her ear. "I'm starved. If you want, we can ask Mrs. Jamison to watch the boys, and we can go out."
Buffy smiled. "Yeah, that sounds like fun. We haven't been out for a while.
"You know honey, we have to invite them."
"Who?" Buffy said innocently thought she knew perfectly well who.
"You know who. Giles and Co."
Buffy shuddered at that thought. She has missed them but she really didn't want to waste a perfectly good evening with her mother and her ex, when she could be with her husband. It was bad enough that they stopped by without
being invited.
Angelus saw the look on her face. "Don't worry, I promise that we'll make up for lost time when they leave," he whispered.
Buffy smiled seductively at Angelus and Angelus returned the look as well as a nod of his head in response.
Even though he was a mortal demon, he was a typical male, which meant that he would do anything for sex. Buffy was a lot like that as well, always wanting to lock him in their room with her and stay their all day. Angelus and Buffy often used that to their advantage to get what they wanted.
********************************************************
Forty-five minutes later
Cordelia smoothed her hair and sat down in the bleached pine
chair that Spike had grabbed from another table for her. His eyes skimmed over Cordelia, who was clad in a short, rather tight, sun-dress. Only Drusilla noticed and smacked his arm playfully. Spike gave her the 'I'm-innocent' look and seated himself at the table.
Earlier in the evening Angelus had suggested that everyone go out for dinner. Rory and Shawn were with an elderly neighbor who often watched the boys when Spike and Dru weren't around. Buffy had chosen to eat at The Blackbird, an elegant restaurant in the heart of Chicago. Spike and Drusilla had planned on eating out that night anyway,
and so they were dressed in evening wear. Angelus and Buffy hadn't had the time to change after getting back from work, so they were presentable as well. And the Scooby Gang had been traveling, so they too had on appropriate clothing for the restaurant.
Xander picked up his menu. He could barely read two-words on the damned thing, and what the hell did "bisque" mean anyway? Glancing around the table, he noticed that nobody else had any trouble with the menu at all, which made him feel even more stupid. The waiter came.
"May I take your...Angelus! Buffy! So nice to see your faces
again! What can I get for the two of you?" asked the waiter. Xander noticed how pleased the waiter looked to see Buffy and Angelus. Angel noticed how the waiter's eyes went over Buffy's slim figure and fixed themselves on her chest.
Angelus noticed this too, and casually he slipped his arm around her shoulder.
"I'll have the salmon, Jonathan," said Buffy.
"Excellent choice. Would you like the soup or the salad?" asked the waiter.
"Neither. I think I need to cut back on my calorie intake."
If Angel lived to be one-hundred, okay, three-hundred, he would never understand women. Buffy had one of the slimmest waists he had ever laid eyes on. Actually, the slimmest waist he had ever laid. *And now Angelus gets to do that,* he thought bitterly. *Man when did I turn into Xander?* Angel thought.
The 11 of them sat in an uncomfortable silence, looking into each other's faces until the food was brought up; only then did any conversation start at all. The topic wasn't very pleasant, and was all about the past and how Buffy ruined all their lives by running away. Buffy tried hard to keep
her temper, and Angelus was going to have red marks in his hand the next day from her nails digging into his skin. While trying not to make a scene and ruin her social reputation in Chicago, Buffy managed to swallow her anger
and say "Now is not the time to be bringing
this up, especially here," and then excused herself to freshen up.
Cordelia joined Buffy in the Ladies Room. The brunette leaned against the wall and watched as Buffy reapplied her make-up.
"So, Buffy, there's a lot of tension at the table. What're you gonna do about it?"
"Why do you care?"
"I don't. I just so do not want my first evening in a big, city ruined by some tired, angry slayer who isn't to blame for this mess."
Buffy looked over at Cordelia, startled by her previous statement. *Cordelia agreed with her! She was on her side!*
"Thanks, Cordelia. You have no idea of how much I needed to hear that. My mom hates me, hell, I never liked the bitch much anyway. But everyone else, do--"
"No, they don't! It's been a long trip, Willow's PMSing and
they're all so shocked to see you here that you're a perfect target for them to vent their anger," as Cordy interrupted Buffy.
"Fine, maybe. But what about Angel? I mean, did you see how hurt he looked when he heard about Angelus and I? There'll probably be a showdown between them!"
"So, what the hell is wrong with that? Haven't you ever had two guys fighting over you?"
Buffy shook her head.
"Well, it's great. They both try to win you over with there
affection, and you have immense power over both of them."
"Maybe I don't want that."
"Maybe you should."
Once again Cordelia's total lack of tact, and rather selfish
perspective drew Buffy in. *Why not see the glass as half full?*
Cordelia gave Buffy an encouraging smile. "Work it, girlfriend."
And with that they picked up their purses and made there way back to the table.
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