Finding You

Part One

The screaming sounds of taxis and people yelling filtered up through Buffy's hotel bedroom window. She stared morosely out into the street before finally shutting the window and drop down on the bed with a huff.

"I'm in New York thinking I have nothing to do," Buffy grumbled and stood back up to view herself in the floor length mirror. "He wouldn't mind..." She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, straightened her clothes and with key in hand, marched out the front door of her hotel suite.

"Probably not a good idea," Buffy said to herself as she looked either way down the street. "Perfect."

She'd forgotten how to get back to the hotel and now she was lost. Buffy pushed frantically through the crowd until she ran smack dab into a "homeless" man. She backed up and looked up at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry...I didn't see where I was going -- have I seen you before?"

The man looked down at this glowing, bright, beautiful girl in awe. "S-sorry...my fault."

Buffy blinked, confused. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I didn't mean to bump into you like that. I'll go now."

"No wait...maybe you can help me. I'm sort of lost and hoping you'll be the one New Yorker who doesn't tell me that my hotel is in their crotch."

His eyes grew sympathetic. "I'll help you. What street?"

"Well, its the Four Seasons...does that help?"

"Is it on this side of New York?"

"Manhattan. We are...in Manhattan right?"

"I know of it. I'll take you."

She eased into relief. "Thank you. Hey, maybe you could be my new chauffer-y best friend around town when my b--husband isn't home."

"I'd like that," he found himself saying.

"I'm grateful then," she beamed. He found his heart to be melting. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude...my name's Buffy Su--Finn. Yours?"

"I'm Angel."

"That's a pretty name...for a guy." She recovered with a sheepish smile.

He laughed. The first genuine laugh he remembered emitting in years. Then her name clicked. "You said you're married?"

She seemed to get uncomfortable. "Well, yeah."

"What's your maiden name?"

"Summers. Look..."

"Sorry, just curious. Your name sounds familiar to me. I didn't mean to scare you."

So this would be the Slayer. I wonder if she's been called yet, Angel mused.

"It's okay." She calmed herself down. Was following her instincts okay here? Come on Buffy, this is New York...city of the non-trust issues..."I'll save you the pry and tell you I'm fifteen, married to a seventeen year old."

Angel checked to make sure his jaw was in tact. "Why? I mean -- that came out wrong."

"I'm in love with him, I followed my heart. He's got a *major* job here."

"Well, I would think so, since you're staying at the Four Seasons..."

"...As the manager there. Hence the stayage. Okay, maybe not manager but, sub-manager. Training, kind of. I like it here though, it's noisy in a loud way, but..."

"You're originally from..."

"California. We eloped."

"Isn't that--"

"My parents *amazingly* consented post-elope. So no, not illegal. They said if I get pregnant before I'm eighteen I'm disowned, but Riley and I...we're don't really -- I mean we do but we don't...do."

"I understand," Angel's swelled heart began to deflate. "We've been talking for an hour here."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Anything."

"Are you really homeless?"

Part Two

"You do costumes for the big Broadway productions?! Wow! So why--"

"I play an extra every now and then...It's gratification for my work," Angel said.

"Did you do CATS?"

"No, I didn't do CATS, I'm ashamed to say."

"Good. Because the costumes scared me to death."

Angel nodded and looked around her luxurious suite. "This is impressive. I just have a small apartment down the street."

"You live on this street?"

Angel glanced from side to side and blinked. "Down there."

Buffy dropped down on the bed. "That's neat. So, Angel, Riley won't be in for an hour or so, wanna do something?" She winced, hoping she didn't come off like a slut.

"Such as?"

"I dunno...Something fun. We could watch a movie."

"Movie. All right, sure."

"I know!" She darted to her closet and retrieved a video. She held it up for him to see. Angel took it and bit back a laugh. "What?" She pouted.

"Dracula?"

"Something wrong with it? Hey, it's either vampires or aliens. Neither of which are real, so--"

"On the contrary," a British voice from the doorway said. "Vampires are quite real."

Buffy scowled at him. "You again? Look, I have company Merrick, so--"

"Merrick," Angel restated. "You've come to call her."

"Any minute now the Slayer will be dead. Buffy is next, she must be ready," the Brit informed.

"Angel -- something you wanna tell me?"

"Vampires are real?" He pitched with a hopeful tone.

"Besides that."

"I'm not here because of Merrick, if that's what you're thinking. I recognized you, that's all."

"Oh. So vampires...have you thrown a loop in your mind or are you sober and telling me the crazy truth?"

"I speak no lies, Ms. Summers," Merrick answered gently.

"Mrs. Finn. I'm married you know," Buffy corrected. Then she noticed the jealous look in Angel's eyes and grew all the more affectionate for him. Riley never did that when other men "noticed" her.

"Will you come with me?" Merrick asked politely.

"Uh, for how long are we talking?"

"Long enough to make it to the alley."

"Okay," Buffy glanced back to Angel. "I'm feeling majorly naive today it seems so I'm gonna check this out. Stay here for me and if Riley gets back before I do tell him I went down to get ice. And dump the ice we already have, would you?"

Angel stood in awe yet again. She was certainly an elaborate liar. She could get away with a lot, it seemed. A good quality for a Slayer. "Of course," he finally replied.

"Thanks," she and Merrick left with the ice container.

"She'll be a good Slayer. Follows her instincts." Angel nodded at himself and sat down on the bed. Then he remembered to remove the ice. He melted it in the sink. Minutes later, the man of the hour showed: Riley Finn. He opened the door and immediately scowled at Angel's presence.

"Who are you?" Riley demanded.

"I'm a friend of Buffy's. I ran into her outside and we came up to talk. She's getting some ice."

Riley checked out his story. There wasn't any ice in the freezer and the container was missing. He relaxed.

"Sorry, you just never know what to expect in Manhattan."

"Tell me about it."

"My name is Riley, by the way." He extended a hand. Angel shook it.

"I'm Angel."

"She's never mentioned you before..."

"I knew her years ago back in California."

"Ah, an LA man too I take it?"

Angel had figured Buffy to be from there. "Yeah, I dropped out and moved up here. I work out on Broadway."

"Seriously? Wow, that's something. Yeah, Buffy and I dropped out of High School too. I know she didn't really want to leave, but you know, I helped her through it."

"Yeah, you know women," Angel tried to agree. Now he *really* disliked Riley.

Buffy stepped through the door, fumbling with the ice container. Her hair was matted and slicked back and she was almost to the point of hyperventilating.

Riley moved to her side. "What happened?"

"I was jumped out of nowhere--"

"Getting ice?"

"No. On the way to the machine, but I got the ice." She triumphantly held up the ice-filled container.

"How'd you stop them?"

"I kic--called for help. Screaming, yelling, flailing -- the works. This guy helped me. May I say -- that this is my next most interesting New York experience ever."

"And the first?"

"Um, Riley, do you even care if I'm okay?" Riley's fist clenched. She dropped the bucket of ice. "Sorry...sorry...I don't know where that came from. I'm sorry."

"You better be. That was uncalled for."

"Angel maybe you should go," Buffy said slowly.

"I'm not sure if I should."

"I'll see you tomorrow," she insisted.

"Buffy," he already felt protective of her. "--Take care of yourself. Nice meeting you, Riley."

Angel got up from the bed and walked over to where Buffy and Riley stood. He looked Riley over with an almost menacing gaze and followed it up with a faint smile to Buffy before leaving. The next few days were apt to be very interesting.

Part Three

The following day, Angel made his way to the Four Seasons and up to Buffy's room. He heard her crying inside and knocked furiously on the door. If there was one thing he hated to see, it was a woman crying.

"Buffy?" He called through the door. "It's Angel."

She sniffed, hurriedly dried her tears and answered the door. "Angel...you're early. Riley's in the shower--"

"I don't mind," Angel interrupted. "Did he hit you?"

"What? No!" Buffy retaliated in a fearful tone. "Riley just gets mad. He didn't hit me, I swear. I would *never* let our arguments go that far anyway."

"If he *ever* does..."

"I know. Thank you." She held his hand briefly before leading him inside. "It's good to have a friend that cares about me. And I just barely..."

"Moved here, I know." Angel cut her off abruptly. He looked over her head to nod a greeting at Riley. "Hello."

"Gonna be visiting here a lot, Angel?" Hositility shone in Riley's voice.

"I've got a lot of things to catch up on with her," Angel smugly replied.

"Yeah," Buffy gradually turned to see Riley. "I mean the last time we talked was my thirteenth birthday..."

"That was fun," Angel commented.

"With the cake on your nose and everything!" She was relating him to one of the party guests, Micah, at the time.

"It was rather embarassing."

"He was the oldest guy there," she feigned a giggle.

"How old are you, Angel?" Riley asked blatantly.

"Nineteen."

"Next to her parents then, you were the oldest one there. I see."

"Riley, stop it. You act like I'm having an affair with Angel or something."

"Well, it'd be a change of pace."

Buffy glared a him. "Angel, let's go."

"Go where?" Riley questioned as he buttoned up his shirt.

"Central Park," Angel replied in her stead.

Buffy's face lit up. "I've never been there."

"Good. Then we'll have fun."

"Save some for me," Riley sneered.

"Don't wait up," Buffy ignored his statement and latched on to Angel's arm. He shot Riley a look that simply said "I'm better than you are" before he and Buffy turned to leave. She wanted out of the hotel as soon as possible -- she had a lot to say and didn't want Riley anywhere nearby when she said it.

Part Four

Buffy plopped down on the bench next to Angel, lapping up some of the now-melting ice cream he had bought her. It was a chocolate, vanilla swirl --her favorite.

"Are you really nineteen?" She finally asked.

"I'm twenty-one now, actually."

Buffy's eyes went wide. "Startling confession. I have one to make then. Two, actually...I feel like I can trust you, so..."

"What?" He focused all his attention completely on her.

"I turned fifteen yesterday. I'm not married, I ran away from home with Riley. We're not even engaged. He told me not to leave the room like...ever without him or permission. But I did last night. He almost hit me over it, it was kind of like...maybe a slap? Not a punch. There's not even a bruise -- because it wasn't hard -- or maybe that weird old man's right with the Slayer thing."

"The Slayer," Angel acknowledged. "You're not a poor choice." He cupped the side of her cheek, smiling softly.

She cast her gaze down to her ice cream. "I'm picked for--for what? To save the world? What's a girl like me gonna do?"

"Make a difference. I've fought vampires since I was about your age. I wasn't picked for it, but since my Father turned up one day wanting blood with his cabbage...I sang a different tune."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I killed him and the vampires that helped turn him."

"H-how was your mother?"

"He killed my mother and my sister."

She didn't show pity, just consolation that everything still could work out okay. "Were you always called Angel?"

"I picked up the stage name of 'Angelus' while working. No one wanted to pronounce the 'us' so it just ended up Angel."

She smiled fondly at him. "I like it. It suits you."

"Thanks. I--"

"Gonna try to compliment my name? Don't waste the air, there's nothing cool about Buffy but the mere fact it sounds cool next to 'Vampire Slayer'."

"Well, it suits you."

"That'll work," she grinned.

He could sense an oncoming silence, so he thought quickly on a new topic. "Why don't you go home -- to Los Angeles?" He hoped it didn't sound too rude.

"What do I say to my parents? 'Sorry I skipped out, I was following someone I could have sworn loved me too'?"

"You were under the influence. You should go home to LA. Where the people you love don't strike you."

She finally met his gaze, "But then how would I see you again?"

"I'll be around."

Buffy sat within her own thoughts before finally assenting.

Part Five

Bravely the newly called Slayer raised a shaky hand to knock briskly on the door of her own home. In a second, the door flew open to show her Mother's anticipatory face.

"Buffy," she breathed. She gathered her tiny little girl up in her arms, crying as she pulled her into the house.

"Mom..." Buffy clung tightly to her, her mother's tears bringing about her own. She'd come home. "Where's dad?"

"At work, Honey."

She'd really come home.

Weeks had passed and still Buffy had gotten no messages from Angel...or Riley. Not that she minded the latter. Her parents wanted to meet the man that "saved" Buffy from Riley, she just wanted to see him again. He was so easy to talk to.

Sighing, Buffy rose from the couch and meandered towards the kitchen. There was a knock on the door, immediately catching Buffy's interests. She didn't want her hopes to get too high, but she couldn't shake the fuzzy feeling wandering through her system as she neared the knocking.

Once at her destination, she practically threw the door open -- inexplicably breaking both the chain lock and dead bolt. It was a miracle the door itself didn't become unhinged, although none of this she took the time to notice. Her gaze was locked on the man standing before her.

"Angel!" She practically leaped into his arms, hugging him tightly to her.

He laughed, blushing at the attention as he returned her embrace. "Hey, Buffy."

"You came! I was wondering when you were. My parents are *dying* to meet you. Not literally though."

"All right." He stepped past her and into the house. "This is a really nice place."

"Yeah, you get used to it after a while." She shut the door and yelled loudly so the whole house could hear her: "MOM!"

Angel winced and rubbed his ear. "Got a good set of lungs there."

She giggled, "Yeah, yeah. I wasn't a cheerleader for nothing."

"Ah, you're a cheerleader."

"Was. We're...we're moving. My parents got this divorce while I was gone, I'm pretty sure that it was my fault -- that I split them up. But then again, I really can't believe that 'cause it was sort of coming anyway when I really look back, so I don't know...anyway, Mom gets more of me out of their breakup. We're leaving to some town called Sunnydale after I finish this semester out."

Something familiar about the town struck Angel, and his awkward shift said the same. "Sunnydale."

"The one and only!" Joyce exclaimed behind. "Who's this, Buffy? And why are you standing in the hallway?"

Buffy looked irritated. "Sorry, Mom, this is Angel. And Angel -- wanna sit down in the living room where it's less tense?"

"Sure," he held his hand out for Joyce to shake. "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Summers."

Joyce politely bowed her head while shaking his hand. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you as well, Mr. Angel."

"Eh...just call me Angel. The 'mister' makes me sound too important."

Buffy tugged on his hand and pulled him into the living room with her Mother tracking behind. Angel sat next to Buffy on the couch and looked calmly at Joyce.

"Are you uh, excited about the move?"

"Mostly," Joyce heaved. "I've secured a job and a house, and my car here of course...I just hope Buffy fits in at the High School."

"Mom! Of course I will! It's not like...like I'm a bad person to be around."

"Buffy," Joyce cautioned. "Where do you live, Angel?"

"I used to live in New York -- which is how I met your daughter, but like you now...I have a place in Sunnydale."

Buffy stared at Angel. "You never mentioned that."

"Must have slipped my mind."

"Well, you'll have to come visit us then, Angel," Joyce smiled.

"It would be my pleasure."

"I have some things I need to pack so Buffy, ask your friend to stay for dinner. It was nice meeting you, Angel." Still retaining her smile, Joyce left the room and Buffy let out a breath of relief.

"Sorry about the grill."

"That's fine. You know, I didn't tell you then but my birthday's on the same day as yours."

"So you just barely turned twenty-one when I'd turned fifteen." Which means that he's only six years older than you. Stop that Buffy...

"Yeah. It's that age where I should be sleeping around and what not, but that's not my thing."

"Yeah, I mean. Who needs AIDS?"

Angel grinned at her. "Do you even know what that is?"

Buffy wrinkled her nose in disdain. "Hey, let's have the disease control lecture later. Since when do you have a place in Sunnydale?"

"Since the Watcher's Council reimbursed the thought of a Slayer getting backup. I'm to help you settle down, get you acquainted with your new Watcher there and probably help you slay until you decide you don't need me anymore."

"Why would I do that?" Buffy teased. His living in Sunnydale was making her all the more excited about moving there. He'd make it easier to cope while getting adjusted at the High School. And the slaying only gave them more than enough reason to see each other more -- he was required to help her. Oh yeah, she'd definitely like it in Sunnydale.

Part Six

Angel's mouth sealed over Buffy's in a heated, warm passionate kiss. He lifted one hand to brace her back while the other went around her waist to pull her closer to him. In response, she hopped up -- legs clamping around his torso. She slid her arms around his neck, fingers combing through his short dark locks.

Something about the cemetery always got them riled up after a good slay. Repressed passion and all that. Slowly their lips parted and eyes met. Angel strained for air to speak. His voice came out husky and lust-filled.

"I love you."

Her green eyes widened in delight. She found her breath quickly to reply, though her voice trembled. "I love you, too."

For what seemed like hours (and in reality was around ten minutes), they shared intimate, loving kisses until Buffy's senses picked up on something shuffling in the bushes. Angel gently lowered her to the ground and she retrieved a stake from her shirt sleeve.

"Stay," she ordered and went off to find what was lurking. Angel huffed but stayed put as asked.

She neared the noise and as she could tell it was coming out, she lunged at it -- pulling the figure into the open before it was able to. Xander yelped and held his arms up submissively.

"Don't stake!"

"Xander!" Buffy reviled, adding to her forthcoming tongue-lashing with an easy shove to the boy's shoulder. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Giles wanted me to stop by. Make sure you were actually slaying things."

"Funny," Buffy said in her less than amused tone.

"Actually there's someone at the library wanting you."

"Who?"

"Finn -- Fish -- Crappie, I dunno. Everyone's giving him the third degree right now. Especially Cordy -- she's definitely giving him the verbal lashing I get everyday. He's just lucky. Willow looks like she'll turn him into a toad any second now."

"I can't believe him..." Buffy muttered and glanced back. "Angel!"

"Ah, so you really weren't patrolling," Xander nodded. "I see how it is. Ever had that talk about 'responsibility'?"

"Grow up. We were hunting."

Angel trudged up behind Buffy, setting his hand on her shoulder while shooting Xander a haughty glare. Xander took a step back as Angel talked.

"What's going on?"

"So you like, dated Buffy when she was three, huh?" Cordelia asked in her without-tact manner.

Riley shook his head. "Fourteen. We were very much in love. I just never told her that. I've taken forever to find her...and I wanna tell her that."

"You know this could be considered stalking in a lot of states, like this one," Willow said innocently.

"I would never do that. I've been so desperate to find her. God I finally found her dad, he didn't remember me anymore -- which is good -- and he said Buffy lived here. That I should look in the library because that's where he knows to look."

"I think it is stalking," Cordelia nodded.

"I'm not--" He broke off as he heard the doors open. He turned, smiling widely at Buffy as she entered -- even though all she did was glare and tighten her grip on the man's hand -- Angel he remembered.

"Riley," Buffy stopped in front of him with a look of hate running across her features. "What do you want?"