Buffy finally managed to turn her attentions away from thoughts of Angel and back to the novel, but soon gave up and tossed the book aside. The worst of times, yes, she could see that; more often than not, that's all she ever really did see in her world. But when was it ever the best of times? 'With Angel...' she smiled, snuggling down further into her comforter. For a second, her need and want to just hear his voice was so overwhelming, she considered calling him, but instead decided to just stop by in the morning before school. 'Yeah- that'll work out great, and then everyone will wonder why I wasn't in school all day' she let out a small laugh. She reached for her light...
And Angel turned his light off. But sleep continued to elude him. He tried facing left, then rolled over onto his right side, facing the expanse of an empty bed.
As if to accommodate him, Buffy shifted position, staring into the predawn darkness of her own room as sleep finally took hold of them both.
Part 2
"Angel?!" After five minutes of steady knocking at the apartment door, Buffy was petrified that something was wrong. After a brief moment of debate, she easily broke the lock and shoved the door open. "Angel? Angel?!" she called out to him, tossing her bag onto his desk. Seeing a bunch of papers strewn about, though not bothering to look at their contents, she became even more concerned. "Angel?!" she cries out in terror as she walks into his bedroom. The red blankets were tossed about, Angel's prone body lying underneath on his stomach. His head gently tilted to the side, his right arm thrown over the side of his bed.
"Angel?" she began shaking his shoulder, trying to rouse him. "Angel?!" this time her voice and shoving were hard enough to wake him.
"Huh?" came his drowsy voice as he lifted his head. The scent of warm vanilla and sugar quickly let him know who the early intruder was. "Buffy? What's wrong? Are you okay?" he nervously asked, rolling over to face her. "You're not hurt, are you?" Wordlessly, she launched herself into his arms. As content as he was to just let her stay in his arms, Angel was still worried about why she was paying him such an early morning visit. "What's wrong, Buffy?"
Lifting her head from his chest, she sat up off the bed, her eyes fixed on him as he threw off the covers and got up himself. "I just wanted to stop by before school this morning because I wanted to see you so badly. But then you didn't answer the door, so I kinda broke your lock again. But then I saw you lying motionless on the bed, and I thought you might be hurt, and-"
"I was sleeping," he quietly responded.
"But it didn't look like it. You weren't breathing-"
"I never breathe," he let out a small laugh. Finally realizing that she had let her emotions and imagination run wild, Buffy began to calm down.
"I'm sorry...I didn't even think. It's just- I woke up and I wanted to see you, and you were just laying there, and I can't imagine if I ever lost you, and what if-" Buffy is silenced as Angel places his lips over her own in a soft kiss. "What if what?" Angel asks her when they finally break away.
"I'm sorry," she smiles with a light blush. "Were we talking?" She pulls him closer to her body, drawing him in for another passionate kiss. As her hands reach up around his neck, Buffy finally realizes that he still hadn't put on a shirt and his broad, muscular back just called out to be touched.
Sliding one arm down, feeling the taught muscles that his dark attire always kept hidden, she noticed the expected coldness of his skin. Yet this coldness did nothing to chill the warmness radiating throughout her own body as one of Angel's hands tangled in her hair. If anything, it only helped to flush her own skin more. She also noticed that if she didn't pull away now, she was going to be late for classes.
"I- I'm sorry...I, um...I-I have to...go to school," Buffy finally stutters out, turning to head for the door.
"I know." Suddenly she can feel Angel grab her by the arm, spinning her around back into another passionate embrace. She reaches up, running a hand through his slightly mussed hair. Bringing her other arm up under his own, she pulls him flush against her, trying to make as much contact with him as possible. "God, you feel..." 'Incredible' she wanted to say, but her lack of breath and coherent thoughts prevented her.
"You have to go to school," Angel sadly reminded her, not wanting to end their early morning rendezvous but knowing that she had to go. Walking along with her as she nimbly backed towards his front door, Angel was a little surprised to hear Buffy's hand reach out to shut the door before leaning back on it.
"Right- I know. This is me...I'm going," she whispered up to him as she shut the door completely. With a soft, warm gaze, Buffy leans up to him again, capturing his lips once more. Placing a hand to the side of his face, she cranes her head to the side, giving his roaming lips easy access to her neck. She whimpers lovingly as she feels his cool lips graze her skin before he finally wills himself to pull away. He smiles out of the kiss, "You still haven't told me what you wanted for your birthday."
"Surprise me," she whispers, passing him an innocent, child-like gaze.
"Okay...I will" he answers with his own radiant half-smile. He reaches down to place a gentle kiss upon her lips, knowing that with anything more, her chances of arriving at school on time would decrease even more.
"This is nice," Buffy smiles, breathing in his scent- that loving, familiar safe scent she was in such desperate need of all night. "I like seeing you first thing in the morning."
"It's bedtime for me," he smiles.
"Well then I like seeing you at bedtime." The words had already poured out of her mouth before she even realized it. 'Smooth move...very lame, Summers.' "Um...uh, you...know what I mean," her eyes nervously averted to the ground, awaiting his response.
"I think so. What do you mean?" Buffy's eyes were still towards the floor as she answered him.
"I like seeing you," she shyly looked back up at him. "And the part at the end of the night where we say goodbye...it's getting harder."
"Yeah...it is." Angel pondered for a minute, debating whether or not to reveal things to her now or wait until the surprise party her friends were throwingfor her.
"What are those?" At the sound of her voice, Angel was knocked clear of his thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh-" he noticed her slowly inching over towards his desk. "I, uh- I draw sometimes. A lot, actually. It's- it's nothing really," he tried clearing them out of her reach but was too late.
"This is me..." she carefully inspected the beautiful portrait that laid first upon the pile. Lifting a few of the others up, she noticed a trend. "A lot of these are me," she smiled over to him. 'This is how he sees me...' she smiled to herself. 'This is amazing...these are so beautiful...'
"I couldn't really sleep last night after patrol. I tried reading a little-"
"Me too," she admitted.
"I finally just decided to start drawing. I do that a lot during the day. And since you're all I ever think about, you're all I ever really draw." Angel wanted to kick himself for being so blatantly stupid. 'Great...let her think you're some obsessed, stalking freak. She'll love you even more then.'
"Really...?" Buffy asked hopefully, placing the drawings back on his desk.
"Of course," he softly brushes the hair out of her eyes and kisses her on the lips. After a moment, he goes to break the kiss and she pulls him back, making the kiss longer and deeper. Finally breaking away for need of air, Buffy smiles up at him. "You're all I ever think about too."
"Buffy..." 'I'll lose my nerve again if I don't tell her now. Why is this so hard? It's only three simple words she already knows. But I have to tell her...' "I..."
"Oh god- I'm going to be sooo late. Snyder's going to have a field day if he catches me again! I really have to go Angel." She grabs her bag off of his desk, sliding it over her shoulder as she walks to the door. "You're still picking me up tonight- right after sundown, 6 right?" Not waiting for an answer, she reaches up to give him a quick kiss, then heads out the door.
"I love you..." Angel sighs, watching his front door shut- the love of his life leaving, along with another missed opportunity.
Part 3
" 'I like you at bedtime'? You actually said that?" Willow passed her best friend a smile as they walked along talking.
"I know, I know."
"Man, that's like...I don't know, that's moxie or something."
"Totally unplanned," the slayer defended, turning slightly to face the red-head. "It just...came out." Willow tried to supress her giggle.
"And he was into it? I mean, he wants to see you at bedtime too?" Willow hopefully asked.
"Yeah, I think he does. Well, I mean he's cool about it."
"Oh, of course he is. Cause he's cool. I mean, he would never.you know-"
"Push." Buffy finished her friend's thought, knowing Angel's pure and thoughtful nature. But still, she knew that their recent encounters had left both of them yearning for more.
"Right. He's not the type."
"Willow, what am I gonna do?"
"What do you *want* to do?"
"I don't know...I-" the two friends took a seat on the nearby marble bench, anxious to talk in further detail about Buffy's situation. "I mean, *want* isn't always the right thing to do. To act on want can be wrong."
"True," was Willow's simple reply.
"But...to *not* act on want..." Buffy leaned in closer to her friend. "Will, I know that I'm never going to feel this way again. I mean...Angel's the one. I love him," she told her, a bright smile beaming across her face.
"No- really? Buffy, thank god I was sitting down when you made that earth-shattering revelation." The slayer could only stare at her best friend, a bit taken back by her attempt at sarcasm. "Hey- since when does Xander hold total control over the free use of bad sarcasm?" Will slightly blushed. "Buffy- all I can tell you is carpe diem. You told me that once," she reminded her proudly.
" 'Fish of the day'?"
"Not carp- carpe. It means 'seize the day'."
"Right." Buffy sat pondering for a moment, her emotions sending a sudden rush to her head. "I think we're going to- to seize it. Once you get to a certain point, seizing is sort of inevitable." She waited in eager anticipation for her best friend's reaction.
"Wow," Willow's jaw dropped once she finally managed to put her thoughts into a coherent sound.
"Yeah," Buffy smiled.
"Wow."
After her last class, Buffy joined Giles, Ms. Calender, Xander, Cordelia, and Willow in the library for some research on Spike's latest attack plans.
"Hey guys-"
"Buffy..." Xander immediately hopped up from his seat, eagerly rubbing his hands together, "I feel a pre-birthday spanking coming on..."
"I'd curb that impulse if I were you Xander," Jenny said, shoving a heavy book at him. "I don't think Angel would appreciate it much." Scoffing a bit at her mention of the vampire, he reclaimed his seat beside Cordy. Rolling her eyes at him, Buffy finally took a seat beside Willow. "So Will, what've we got so far? Find anything interesting?"
"Wow..."
"Will, you've been saying that all morning," Buffy laughed.
"Huh- oh, sorry, sorry. It's just that- you...and Angel are-"
"Whoa-" Xander snapped his head up from his book, passing a glance towards the slayer. "You and Angel are what, exactly?" Buffy and Willow merely exchanged a knowing smile before Buffy sat up. "Angel and I are going out tonight," she spun around on her heel, headed for the library's doors. "And that's all you need to know, Xand."
"Buffy-" Giles' voice called her attention back to the group. "This is rather important. Surely you could stay around a little while longer...?" he pleaded with her, trying to put on a good show for their deception.
"Sorry Giles- I've got to go home and get ready. Angel's picking me up at 6-"
"Meaning she's already two hours late if she wants to make a somewhat presentable appearance," Cordy yelled after her as she watched Buffy almost skip out of the library. "What's with her? Never seen her so happy."
"Do you think she knows about the party tonight?" Jenny asked Giles.
"No, no. It will be wonderful," Giles returned a few of the books to his office. "Everything's all set?"
"Ya know Giles, I'm not too sure Buffy's gonna be happy that you invited her mother to this surprise party tonight," Xander warned the watcher. "I mean, the whole point of your friends throwing you a surprise party is to avoid as much contact with annoying parents as possible."
"Thus freeing yourself up for spending time with your even more annoying friends?" Cordy asked him, not waiting for another one of his smart-ass remarks as she grabbed her bag. "I'd better get going- I'm on food duty- better get started cooking."
"I thought you were bringing chips and dip?" Jenny asked.
"That requires stirring, doesn't it? That counts as effort in my book."
"Plus I think it's only fitting-" Xander stood from his seat, approaching Cordy. "The ultimate 'dip' herself is bringing the dip."
"Oooo...Xander got me good, didn't he?" Cordy laughed. "Just for that wise-guy, you're carrying my bags from the store."
"Oh- I live to serve, Queen C," Xander eagerly complied, knowing that their trip to the store would be pre-empted by a little broom-closet action.
Part 4
Buffy paused a moment while applying her makeup with a shaky hand. 'Why are you so nervous?' she asked her reflection. 'It's just a date...a date with your gorgeous boyfriend...who's really sweet...and nice...and who you plan on trying to seduce later tonight- ugh!' Buffy knew that tonight would be *the* night. With her mother out of town on business for the rest of the weekend, she had no hesitations about spending the next few days, and nights, with Angel. She ran her hand through her hair once more before heading downstairs at the sound of the doorbell.
Angel couldn't pull his eyes away from her as she opened the front door. Dressed in a simple black skirt, and a cream two-piece blouse, Angel couldn't imagine anyone more stunning. "You look amazing, Buffy," he smiled, handing her the rose bouquet he had carried with him.
"Aren't you sweet...as always" she smiled, gathering him into a hug. As they pulled away, her gaze fell quickly upon him. 'And I thought he looked gorgeous this morning.' Though he was still covered in his usual black from head to toe, the blue silk shirt he wore beneath his duster had the top few buttons undone, giving just a glance of the smooth skin that she had introduced herself with earlier.
"Where's your mom?" he asked, trying to hide his knowing grin at Joyce probably already at the Bronze with the others.
"Oh- mom's out of town for the weekend. Gathering some stuff for her big art expo next week. She said she'd be back Monday morning. Figures she would leave her only daughter during her 17th birthday...probably just wanted to avoid having our driving talk again."
"Driving talk?" Angel inquired, shutting Buffy's door behind them as he escorted her down the front stairs.
"Mom has this little fear of me getting behind the wheel- actually, *her* wheels. But I'll deal with her when she gets back. So..." she casually laced her fingers with his, "where are we going?"
"You'll see...but, I really don't think we're going to need luggage," he pointed towards the small duffel bag he finally noticed her carrying in her other hand.
"Oh...well, seeing as how mom left me all alone for the next two whole days, I figured I could...maybe...stay with you?" she glanced up at him, a hopeful glint in her eyes. "If that's okay, I mean...I don't want to...to put you out- I should've checked with you first to-" Buffy was quickly silenced as Angel's lips fell upon her own.
"I'd love to have you stay at my place," he smiled at her when they finally broke away. 'I just wonder what her mom's going to think about this- considering she's not going to be out of town.' Angel silently pondered as they continued walking. After a few minutes, Buffy realized just where they were headed.
"Angel? Why are we going to the Bronze? I thought you said-"
"Oh- I promised Willow that I would drop by to give her something. A book we were discussing once.at the library while we were doing research for Giles. It will only take a minute." Angel led her in through the back door, explaining that he just wanted to "get in and get out".
"Okay- what gives? The Bronze is never dead on a Friday night. I've seen cemeteries with more action." Buffy slowly paces further into the darkened club, and as she reaches for the light...
"Surprise!!!"
"Oh my gawd! What..." the slayer was in complete awe of the sight that was before her. Balloons and decorations filled the rented-out Bronze, as well as all of the Scoobies- Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Giles, Jenny, even Oz were all standing around the large pool table, cheering and clapping, blowing their little noisemakers. And Angel was standing behind her, his arms open to embrace her. "Happy Birthday," he smiled as he gathered her into his arms.
"You guys did all this for me? That is so sweet," she slightly blushed, wrapping her arms around him even tighter. Just as she reached up to capture his lips with her own, she felt a sudden tap on her shoulder.
"Happy Birthday honey," Joyce greeted her.
"Mom!?" Buffy quickly turned around in Angel's arms to see her mother, beaming ear to ear. "Uh- what...what are you, um...doing here?" Buffy nervously asked her, happy to see her, but surprised nonetheless that she was in fact, still very much in town.
"Well when Mr. Giles and Willow told me about this surprise party they were throwing you, I just had to cancel my plans and come and help..." she trailed off, mentally noting that the young man whom her daughter seemed very close to a few moments ago still had his hands around her waist. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"What? Oh- of course! Of course I am. I'm just...really, really surprised, that's all. But in a good way...a really good way," she lied, inwardly pouting that her weekend plans with Angel were quickly coming to an end before they even started.
"Well that's great," Joyce smiled, gathering her daugter into a hug. "Now here's my next question- aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" her eyes quickly glanced back up at Angel.
"Who? Oh...right. Mom, this is Angel...you remember...my history tutor," she smiled, hoping her mother would remember the previous lie she had planned on sticking to.
"Right, of course...it's...nice to see you again, Angel," Joyce extended her hand to him, still pondering just what her daughter's true relationship with the young man was.
"You too, Ms. Summers," Angel smiled as he grasped her warm hand.
"Okay, okay!!" Xander's shouts broke up their moment. "Now that your mom's been introduced to Dead Bo-er, ummm...Dead Boring old Angel," he quickly covered, noticing Buffy's angry glare, "can we party now or what?"
The friends had all started digging into the food, including Cordy's proudly-boasted, homemade chips and dip, when Xander came up with anidea. "Hey Buffster- how 'bout a few rounds of pool, huh?" Buffy nodded at Xander's invitation. "Great! How 'bout it- who else is in?" he looked around at the others.
"I can't think of anything I'd rather *not* do," Cordy answered first, sitting down on her stool.
"Darn- and I was really hoping to mop the floor with you," Xander snapped back. "Will?" he looked on towards his red-headed friend.
"No thank you- the last time I played pool with you, you rubbed all that icky chalk over my face. I gave smurfs everywhere a bad name."
"Oh come on- that was sooo long ago-"
"It was last month," Willow reminded him.
"Ooookay...Oz- Oz, my man...somewhere below that silent exterior is a pool shark, am I right?"
"Nah...I'm cool," Oz took a seat beside his blushing date.
"Isn't there anyone here willing to take on the master?" Xander almost shouted.
"I will." The friends were more than a bit surprised to hear Angel's voice finally speak up.
"You?" Xander almost dropped his pool cue. "You...play pool??"
"So do I," Jenny took a step towards the pool table, set to do battle with the teenagers- and a 243 year old vampire.
"Great- we can pair off. We'll flip a coin. Call it, Deadboy..." Xander flipped his quarter watching as it landed on the purple felt of the pool table.
"Heads," Angel muttered, relieved to see he had won the toss.
"Fine- who's on your team?" Xander asked him. "As if we all don't know you're going to pick-"
"Buffy."
"Right...and who amongst us didn't see that coming?? Fine...me and Jenny will have a swell time beating the both of you..." Xander began racking up the balls as Buffy leaned against her teammate.
"I never knew you played pool," she smiled.
"I haven't played in a while..." he admitted. "But I'm pretty good."
"Great...we've got this," she tried hyping him up, though not admitting that she was about the worst pool player to ever hold a cue stick. "Bring it on, Xand."
"Well how about we make it interesting, birthday girl? I'd say...five bucks each is about right," he looked towards Jenny, who nodded in agreement.
"Fine with us," Buffy answered for her team. "Five bucks each. Uh...Angel..." she lovingly tugged in his arm as Xander broke the first set, sinking three on his first shot "you got five bucks I could borrow?"
Part 5
After losing the first game in a matter of eight minutes, Angel was ready to call it quits and hand over ten dollars to Xander and Jenny. Until Buffy shouted the three words that began their night of defeat...
"Double or nothing!"
"Hey- fine by us," Jenny smiled, racking up the brightly colored balls again. She playfully winked at Giles who stood by, watching the massacre about to unfurl.
"Are you serious?" Angel asked his teammate. After witnessing her less-than admirable playing during their first round, he was surprised she wanted to continue.
"Don't worry, don't worry..." she assured him. "We've got this..."
"With *my* money," he sighed.
"I'm good for it, I'm good for it..." she flashed him a dazzling smile, leaning up against him softly. "Don't worry though- we've got this..." Five minutes later, Xander and Jenny were ready to collect Angel's twenty-dollar bill. Laughing as they approached him to snatch the money away from him, they almost didn't hear Buffy's outburst...
"Triple or nothing!"
"Buffy," Angel's voice was almost a shout as he neared his girlfriend. "I don't know if you've noticed a pattern here but...we're not doing so well."
"Don't worry...this is our round- I can feel it..."
"That's funny- the only thing I feel is thirty dollars leaving my pocket..." he sighed, giving in once again to his girlfriend.
"Okay, now let the cue stick rest between these two fingers, and just slide and follow through." Buffy let out a triumphant cheer as she watched the pool ball sink into the corner pocket.
"Alright! I finally got one in! I finally scored!!"
"Yeah Buffy, you got one in, but- uh...," Angel didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he tried once again to explain some of the basics of pool to her, "...it doesn't count when you get the white cue ball in." As he leaned against his own cue stick, Buffy looked up at him with a pout. "It doesn't?"
"Well that could explain why you guys are losing," Xander laughed as he passed by her, eyeing his shot, and easily sank the eight ball. "I believe you owe us thirty dollars, Deadboy." Angel quickly handed him over the money and raced to Buffy's side as he saw her mouth begin to open.
"Quadruple or noth-" Buffy quickly felt her boyfriend's hand softly cover her mouth.
"Why don't we call it quits for the night and gracefully accept defeat?" he urged her to comply. Laughing, she playfully gave him a quick kiss before she heard Willow turn up the stereo as a song both friends had loved began to play in the background. Seeing Oz ask Willow to dance and Xander doing the same with Cordy- for some strange reason to everyone, Buffy began leading Angel over to dance.
"I'll call it quits if you dance with me and let me make up for dragging our team into the mud." She grinned up at him, staring up into his glossy gaze. She softly grabs him and begins dancing with him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he wraps his arms around her waist, holding him closer to her.
So let them say it's wrong
For me to love you
They could never feel
The way that I do
When we kiss
When we're close like this
They can't see inside my soul
They can't know the love we know
All they do is waste their time
They can never change my mind
It's what my heart says
And that is what I listen to
It's what my heart feels
That tells me, that tells me what to do
It's what my heart knows
And that's the only, only truth I know is real
All I know is what my heart says to feel
Buffy felt herself go weak in his arms. She pressed her body closer to his and felt his arms tighten around her. His hand traced light circles in the small of her back and she shivered as she brought her arms around his neck, resting her head against his chest.
Let them say that I'm a fool
To fall so deeply
Cause they can never, ever be
Loved so completely
How can they
Even talk that way
They can't see you through my eyes
They can't feel this love inside
All their words don't mean a thing
They can't change the way I feel
It's what my heart says
And that is what I listen to
It's what my heart feels
That tells me, that tells me what to do
It's what my heart knows
And that's the only, only truth I know is real
All I know is what my heart says to feel
Angel brought one hand up from her back and placed it gently against her head, brushing against her hair and tucking it back behind her ear as he inclined his head and met her lips halfway. The kiss was long and sweet and filled with the promise of more. Buffy ran a hand through his hair, and she sighed against his lips, silently pleading with him for more.
"Mr. Giles..." Joyce took a seat beside the watcher and computer teacher who were sitting together drinking their punch. "Do you know this young man- this...Angel?" she nodded her head towards the tall, dark, and admittedly handsome man who was kissing her daughter.
"Angel?" the librarian nearly gagged on his drink as he attempted to answer her as best he could. "Oh Angel's a fine...a fine young man. He and Buffy have been, um...close for- for quite some time now. Isn't that right, Jenny?" he looked towards the young girl for help.
"Hmm? Oh...yeah. Angel's...a wonderful...guy."
"Just how close are they?" Joyce was still a bit leery. "From what Buffy's told me, he's her history tutor. Is there something more going on?"
"Perhaps you should talk with Buffy about that, Ms. Summers," Jenny advised. 'I think she'll handle it well when she finds out her daughter's dating a vampire old enough to be her ancestor' she smiled in spite of herself.
And I have never felt so sure about anything
Cause you are the one, the one that I need
It doesn't matter what they think or what they say
I'm loving you more everyday
It's what my heart says
And that is what I listen to
It's what my heart feels
That tells me, that tells me what to do
It's what my heart knows
And that's the only, only truth I know is real
All I know is what my heart says to feel.
The song ended as softly as it had begun and the slayer and vampire remained trapped in one another's embrace. Her hands slowly caressed the back of Angel's head, and she pulled his lips down to hers once again and felt his mouth devour hers. Angel sighed softly as Buffy fell forward against him into the kiss. 'Now...tell her now- it's perfect. Tell her, then give her the ring...'
Part 6
"Buffy...I..." Buffy pulled slightly out of his embrace to face him completely in eager anticipation of his words.
"You what...?"
"I...I love you..." he whispered, though it was barely audible above the dance music Xander was now blasting.
"You what? I- I couldn't hear you...Xander-" she shouted to her friend, "turn that down?"
"I love you," he repeated, a bit louder but still unheard by the slayer.
"I still can't hear you- wait...Xander!!" she shouted louder, a sheer annoyance clearly evident in her voice. "Would you turn that down!!" Just as Xander finally shut the entire stereo system off, Angel shouted his proclaimation, not knowing that the entire party would be silent as his three words echoed off the walls.
"I love you!" Angel's glance shifted from Buffy to the quieted room as the couple was met with stares from their friends. As Buffy stood before him, tears of happiness beginning to form in her eyes, a harsh voice was heard along with the crash that came through the back door.
"Isn't that sweet...hope you enjoyed your time together then..." the first of the five vamps shouted. Spike's henchmen began a full-on attack on the party.
"You're not gonna have much to celebrate, slayer," one of the fledglings shouted, diving for Buffy.
"How come we weren't invited," another spoke up, delivering a sharp blow to Angel. The other vamps scattered, going after any random Scooby as the first two learned first hand why not to mess with a slayer and her boyfriend.
Angel quickly recovered, plunging the end of a broken cue stick through the vamp. Seeing Buffy quickly dust the first one, he raced over as he saw one of the vamps heading for Joyce. His path was blocked as two of the remaining three demons stopped him, picking him up and slamming him straight through the pool table.
"Angel!" Buffy shouted, racing over towards him. Spotting another vamp chasing after her best friend, Willow tossed Buffy a stake from her bag. "Buffy- behind you!" The slayer caught the stake, spinning around to dust the third vamp. She hurried over to Angel's side after seeing her watcher and Xander dust the last two.
"Oh yeah!" Xander began his little happy dance, a recent habit of his after getting the better of a vamp. "I'm so good I feel like kissin myself!"
"You're the only one who does," Cordelia spat, brushing past him to grab another slice of cake.
"Angel! Are you alright?" Buffy asked him, checking his body for any serious damage.
"Yeah...I'll be fine. Your mom..." he suggested, shaking his head slightly at the hard knock it received going through the wooden table. Buffy left his side for a moment to check on Joyce. "Mom...mom!!" she shouted, snapping the still-stunned Joyce to attention. "Are you okay?"
"Buffy...what is going on?" she asked, pulling her daughter into a tight hug, making sure she was alright after fighting with those.things. "What just...how...?" Passing a questioning glance to her watcher, Buffy knew that the time had finally come. Giving Giles one final look of hesitation, the englishman nodded, removing his glasses and preparing himself for a night of explanations. "Mom...I'm a vampire slayer..."
"A- a what? A...vampire...slayer...? Uh-huh...honey...I think- I think I need to- to sit down for a minute..." Joyce steadied herself on her seat, regaining her senses and finally finding words to speak again. "Now honey...what did you say? A- a vampire slayer...? What exactly...is...a vampire slayer??"
"Mom, I know it's a lot to take in, but...I slay vampires..."
Angel pulled himself to his feet as Willow and Xander helped him. Slowly, he made his way over to where Buffy was sitting talking with her mother. Holding his head, still reeling from the sharp pain, he had forgotten that his face still bore his vampiric features. But upon hearing Joyce's scream as he approached the two Summers women from behind, he soon realized that he was still in game face.
"Mom- calm down. It's alright-" Buffy turned to grab Angel before he could run.
"A vampire! He's a vampire! You're supposed to be a slayer?- slay him! Slay him!!"
Part 7
Everyone had made their way back to Buffy's house to explain things in more clear detail- to both Joyce and a very understanding and easy-going Oz. Buffy and Giles took turns filling in about Buffy's nights spent moonlighting as a superhero. Though it was an awful lot to take in in a few hours, Buffy was surprised at how well her mom was taking it. The only problem that arose was when Joyce began questioning about...
"Angel? How does he fit into all of this? I mean..." she leaned over to whisper in her daughter's ear, noticing Angel sitting at the bottom of their stairway, holding his head in his hands. "...he's a vampire, right? It wasn't just the shock of everything that made me delusional, was it? He's really a vampire?"
"Yes," Giles answered for his slayer, "but a very good one." He proceeded to tell Joyce about Angel's past-the curse placed on him and all the good that he had done in aiding the slayer in her battles.
"A vampire..with a human soul..." Joyce spoke aloud, to no one in particular, "...who loves my daughter..." she looked up at her daughter, a smile growing on the young girl's lips as she took in what her mother just reiterated. "And I guess it's safe to assume...you love him?"
"Very much..." Buffy smiled, pausing to look over at her petrified boyfriend who was now joined by Giles.
"Angel- you need to calm yourself. Just try to relax, and-"
"Giles," Buffy approached him by the stairs, "what's wrong with him?"
"He can't change," Giles whispered, waving a hand in a circle around his own face, signifying Angel's difficulty in reverting back to his own human facial features. "I've been trying to get him to calm down- that's the only way he's going to be able to change back-"
"It's never taken me so long before-" Angel sighed, shaking his head helplessly, somehow hoping to shake off his game face. Buffy reached over to grab his hands, pulling him up to his feet as she began to lead him into the living room. "Angel...it's okay. My mom knows...she knows everything now..."
"That's exactly why I don't want her to see me," he tried pulling away from her. "I don't even want you to see me..." Stopping in her tracks just as they reached everybody in the living room, she reached up with a gentle hand to caress the side of his face.
"Angel..." she whispered, "I told you before...this doesn't make any difference...I don't even notice it..." Buffy gently ran her hand through his hair as she reached to softly press her lips to his. As the kiss drew on, Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck, only pulling away once to smile up at him. "I love you," Angel sighed, looking down at her smiling face with his still-golden eyes. "I try not to, but I can't stop," he whispered, in an almost apologetic tone at having the audacity to love such a beautiful and wonderful creature as the slayer.
"Me too," Buffy whimpers. "I can't either...I love you..." she pulled Angel closer against her, softly brushing her fingertips across his cheek as they embraced once more in a kiss. When their kiss finally ended a few minutes later, Angel recollected his thoughts and touched a hand to his face, finally returned to it's human form.
"My..." Joyce's voice broke the couple's touching moment as she approached them. "You, ummm..." she turned to Angel at a loss for words. "You know, you're very handsome...even with...you know-" she made a hand motion towards her face, hoping Angel would understand what she was trying to say without having to actually voice it.
"Thank you, Ms. Summers..." Angel smiled up at her.
"Oh- Joyce is fine...you make me feel old calling me Ms. Summers. I guess you would know...about feeling old..." she trailed off, unsure of how he would react.
"Mom!" Buffy was more than a little embarrassed at her mother's remark, hoping Angel would not be offended.
"I suppose I would...Joyce..." Angel quietly replied, averting his eyes to the ground.
"Just, uh- how old...are you, Angel?" Joyce asked, motioning for him to have a seat beside her on the couch. Buffy sat beside him as he answered.
"Two-hundred and fourty-three..."
"Really..." Joyce was really taken back by his revelation. "It doesn't show...you, uh- don't look a day over twenty," she nervously laughed, still unsure as to how to be dealing with her daughter's vampire boyfriend.
"Joyce..." Angel spoke up, "I know that...Buffy and I...together...isn't...typical, and it goes against everything, but..." he reached over to squeeze Buffy's hand, "I love your daugher with everything that I am...I just want you to know that."
"I'm pretty sure everyone within a five block radius knows that, Deadboy- after your little outburst at the Bronze," Xander tried lightening the mood in his typical fashion.
After the friends broke into a warm laugh, Giles took it upon himself to break up the group meeting.
"Well...it's been a long night for all of us...I'm sure Buffy and her mother would like to get some sleep, yes?"
"That's a good idea," Joyce muttered, headed for the stairs. Though she was over her initial shock, it still threw her for a loop, and a good night's sleep just might help her to take things in. "Buffy, why don't you say goodnight, and-"
"Oh- actually mom..." Buffy stood from her seat to approach her mother. "I was planning on sleeping over Willow's tonight-"
"You were...?" Willow's voice echoed from the doorway as she turned around to see what Buffy was talking about. Noticing the pleading stare she was giving her, Willow finally understood. "Oh...oh yeah...the sleepover thing- the thing where you...sleepover, and stuff. Sorta a girls only deal for the birthday girl," Willow smiled as she hugged her best friend.
"And how come I wasn't invited?" Cordy whined, "Not that I would go to some stupid little sleepover, but still- it would've been nice if-"
"Cordy- shut up and start driving," Xander told her, ushering her out the front door. "I need a ride home anyway..."
"You think I wanna be seen with you?! You can ride in the trunk if you're that desperate for a ride. Either that or walk!"
"So mom, can I? Stay at Willow's tonight?" Buffy gave her mom her best, most convincing and sweet smile, hoping to hide the deviousness that lurked beneath.
"All right..." Joyce finally conceded, bracing herself against the wall as Buffy leaped into her arms to hug her. "Actually...Willow," she looked over her daughter's shoulder to address the red-head, "do you think it would be alright if Buffy stayed the whole weekend over your house? Right about now, a few days away is looking very tempting. And if I leave tomorrow morning I can still make it by 9 tomorrow night..."
"Of course," Willow's beam grew wider in happiness for her friend, knowing full well that she wouldn't be spending the weekend watching sappy movies in her bedroom.
"Great. Have fun sweetie...and be careful- you know..." she made a stabbing motion with her hand as she turned around to head up the stairs. Stopping for a moment, she came back down. "It was nice seeing you again, Angel," she called to him. "You'll have to come over for...dinner...sometime..." she trailed off, headed back up the stairs, muttering under her breath. "Does he even eat...?"
Buffy grabbed her small duffel bag in one hand, her boyfriend in the other, as she headed out the front door with Willow and Oz.
"So how'd you enjoy your party, Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Definitely one of the more interesting ones," the slayer replied, linking an arm with Angel. "You guys headed home?"
"Actually..." Oz spoke up, "I was thinkin...it's not too late to catch a movie...you feeling up to it?" he turned to ask Willow.
"Sure...that'd be nice..." She hugged her best friend, gave Angel a sweet smile, and left with Oz for the movie theater.
"Still okay to spend the weekend at your place?" Buffy smiled up at Angel, already knowing the answer as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling him close to her as they walked to his apartment.
Part 8
"Do you think your mom will be okay by herself?" asks Angel, tossing his keys onto the desk as he and Buffy reached his apartment. He shrugs off his duster, draping it over the back of the nearby chair.
"Actually...she took it a lot better than I ever thought she would have. No head spinning, no spitting up any nasty pea soup...I think we're in the clear." As she observes Angel sliding off his shoes and socks, she decides to get more comfortable as well. She begins to slip out of her own jacket, smiling up as she feels him help her ease out of it. He places it alongside his own, watching her toss her bag and shoes, leaving them in a pile off to the corner on the floor.
"Buffy...?" he follows her into his bedroom, removing a small piece of silver from his pocket before sitting down on his bed beside her. "I have something for you- for your birthday. I was gonna give it to you earlier at the party, but..." he held out the small ring before her as her eyes lit up.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, admiring the ring's intricate design.
"My people- before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty...and the heart...represents love. Wear it with the heart pointed towards you. That means you belong to somebody. Like this-" he lifted his right hand to proudly show her his own.
Buffy gently took his hand, placing a gentle kiss over the ring that symbolized his complete devotion to her. "Put it on," Angel whispered, slowly slipping the ring onto her finger. "I love you," he uttered the words again, his mind still racing from the happiness he felt in repeating them.
"I love you," she locks eyes with him, reaching up to kiss him, deeply and lingeringly. As the kiss escalated, Angel could feel Buffy's arms press against his chest, seemingly trying to urge him back down onto the bed.
"Buffy..." he uses all of his willpower to pull away from her, fearful of letting their passion get out of control, leading them into something she may regret. "Maybe we shouldn't-"
Buffy presses her fingertip softly against his delectable lips and addresses their situation, "Don't..." she gives him a deep kiss. "...just kiss me," she whispers, falling back with him onto the bed. She keeps her arms wrapped around him, slowly deepening their fervent kisses as their bodies cradle together. Gently pressing further against him, Buffy could feel his growing arousal beneath her. To her surprise though, Angel slowly broke the kiss, sitting up with her still in his arms.
"What's wrong, Angel?" Buffy nervously tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, massaging his hip and reaching up to give him a soft kiss.
"Buffy wait-" he softly pushes her away at arm's distance and he stares into her glossed-over eyes. "Buffy, we shouldn't be doing this."
"Why?" her teeth began to worry at her lip-gloss smeared bottom lip. "You...you don't want to-"
"Buffy, it's not that," he assured her, pulling her back over to him. "I want to be with you in every sense, but...Buffy- are you sure? Is this what you really want?"
"I want *you*, Angel..." Buffy craddles his head with her hands and kisses him. "That's all I want...I need to be with you. I need *you*..." she urged, smiling as she felt him once again slip an arm around her waist pressing his lips against hers in a passionate kiss, stealing away her breath.
Slowly pulling her lips away, with slightly shaking hands she reaches out to undo the buttons of Angel's blue silk shirt. Sliding it completely off of his muscular frame, letting it fall to the floor, Buffy leans to place a gentle kiss on his smooth chest over his heart. He was sure that if he could have, he would've blushed, staring up at her as they share word-less communication, just by looking into each other's eyes, they find a gateway to their souls, basking in the closeness and intimate feelings they shared.
Angel gently traced a path with his hands along the outside of Buffy's stomach through her blouse. She whimpered and fell into his arms, giving him better access to her. It only took a fraction of a second for him to study her form, arched within his grasp, the curve of her neck and the way her hair fell loosely behind her. Her eyes were closed and she sighed as she felt his hands move higher. As his fingers reached the edge of her shoulder, Angel deftly hooked his hand around to her front, quickly undoing the few buttons, and gently slid the shirt off of her and onto the floor.
Angel used both hands to caress her arms at each side while he tenderly kissed her neck. She sighed with a smile, stripping of her silk bra as he watches her in awe, kissing at her neck as she rids of her clothes. Tossing the final article of her outfit to the growing pile beside the bed, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him even closer to her. He brushes his fingertips past her cheek, as she kisses at his fingers. In surprise, he gasps, closing his eyes, as she reaches around his waist to pull his pants and boxers down in one motion.
Buffy eyed his body totally as he pressed his forehead against hers, caressing her body in his arms, pulling her shapely figure flush against his. But at Buffy's sudden whimper, he pulls away. "Are you okay...?"
"Yeah...it's just...your skin...your body feels-"
"Cold," he immediately frowned, loosening his grip around her waist even more until she pulled him back against her.
"No...you feel incredible..."
"God, Buffy..." he sighs, pulling her down and rolling them over so that she was beneath him. "Do you know how beautiful you are...how heavenly you are..."
"Angel..." she whispers his name lightly, staring up into his eyes, as he looks back down at her and kisses her forehead. After a few timely moments of building their arousal level to a bare maximum, Buffy begins to breathlessly whisper into Angel's ear, reaching down to lightly brush her fingertips against his chest. He buries his nose against her neck, taking in the intoxicating scent of her soft skin before reaching her lips again. Angel slowly breaks the kiss, his mouth traveling down her body as he softly kisses at her navel, grinning up at her as she sighed softly, completely relaxing in their embrace. He continues nipping at her skin as he slowly travels his way back to her mouth, kissing her passionately before enclosing himself between her legs. "Buffy...Buffy, we can stop-"
"No-" she reaches down lightly to touch him, "I love you," she sighs, already breathing hard against him.
"I love you," he closes his eyes, lost in a world of passion and love as she gently settles her legs alongside his waist, her arms folding underneath of his own, sighing as he enters her as gently as possible. He opens his eyes slowly, tears nearly springing to his eyes at the beautiful sight of her. Her hair tussled over her shoulders, her eyes closed in pleasure, and her flushed but perfect face. He smiles lightly, wrapping his arms around her.
Buffy gasped softly, the feeling of Angel filling her completely sending her into heaven. The sight was utterly breath-taking, the two lovers embracing each other passionately, almost as if they were forbidden to see each other- their bodies molding together like the perfect pieces to an intricate puzzle. Angel finds himself overly enjoying every single minute of being inside of her, choking back the need to cry at how perfect and beautiful being with her is.
Buffy begins softly moaning his name as their eyes meet, lost in a world of the most loving type of passion. He deeply kisses her as he moves within her, leaning over to kiss at the soft spot on her neck, her body gently shuddering against his as he takes her to new heights. Buffy's reluctantly closes her eyes again as she clutches at his shoulders, pressing her body against his with a muffled moan, cherishing their intense journey of soft caressing and joining together as one.
Time continues to pass as their need for a release begins to build up, pushing them near the edge with every passing moment. Buffy suddenly finds it to be too much and wraps her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth to his neck and gasping, as she shudders at her strong release.
Time stood still as they pulsed slowly together, pouring their intense love into each other. Angel softly moans and covers her lips with his own in a deep kiss, softly sighing her name as he releases with her, the intense feelings engulfing them as he softly explodes into her most secretive inner confines, kissing at her neck, whispering words of love as he does- the complete feeling of true happiness sweeping over him, making him tremble softly.
"Buffy...", he gives a heavy sigh, his hair matted as he brushes some strands of damp hair away from her face, exposing her sparkling green eyes. Buffy smiles up at him, her heart filling with love and devotion at the mere sight of him, her heart still beating rapidly.
"Angel..." Buffy gently sighs his name, as he leans over her, gently pinning her beneath him as he nuzzles her neck.
"I love you..." he whispers, feeling her heartbeat beneath him still racing.
"I love you," Buffy slowly pulls him down ontop of her, as he leans off to her side, slinging his arm around her waist, not wanting to hurt her with his weight. He gathers her into his arms and nuzzles her neck as he pulls her close to him, and they lay together- kissing and caressing one another, whispering their undying love, and gently drifting off to sleep together.
Part 10
"So...do I give you mine now?"
"Well seeing as how you just told me you had some..." the slayer smiled at her boyfriend, still trying to teach him the fine art of playing Go Fish. "Hand 'em over." Buffy giggled happily as Angel handed her his last two cards. "I can't believe you've never played this game."
"I've never even heard of it," he chuckled. "All I've ever played is poker. Maybe a few games of blackjack, but that's it. I don't even think they had this game while I was growing up."
"My dad and I used to play all the time," Buffy crawled over to sit next to him on the floor beside his bed. "He was good- but I always kicked his butt," she proudly cheered.
"Yeah...my father..." he hesitated, still bothered by the painful memories of both his human and demon past, "he was really good at poker. My mother...she always hated it. Thought it was..." he looked beside him, finally noticing Buffy staring up at him, studying his face. "What...?"
Buffy pondered for a moment, still leery of trying to delve further into his past. But feeling now that they had no reasons to hide anything from one another, she decided to go for it. "Nothing...I just..." she reached a hand up to trace a finger alongside his jaw, "looking at you, and seeing how...beautiful you are, I was just wondering who you look like- your mother or father." Angel regarded her sincere face warmly, a half-smile forming on his lips before answering her.
"It's been...a long time since I've really...seen myself, but...I remember everyone used to say I looked just like my mother. Kinda like you do," he pulled her to him for a sweet kiss. "You look just like your mother- sweet and beautiful."
"I'm sure your mother was too...she'd have to be with you as a son," she threw him a hopeful glance, anxious to have him share as much as he would with her. Angel's emotions were mixed. While he wanted to leave her questions unanswered, he couldn't deny the powerful and understanding connection they shared and was finding himself eager to let her further in to his memories.
"My mother was wonderful..." he finally whispered to her. "She was always there for me- even when my father wasn't." His eyes fixed upon the wall across from them, his expression darkening. "My father wasn't a very patient man. We- we never got along...but my mother- she was so gentle. Not just to me...she was so good," his voice began to waiver as his glance fell back upon Buffy. "She didn't deserve any of the pain she had to deal with from my father either. But the both of us...we had each other...and that was enough. Until..." his trembling voice came to a sudden stop as he approaced his darkest memory of the last time he saw her, his demon taking the last breath of her life.
Buffy slowly pulled him into a hug, realizing from his curled and solemn posture that it was getting to him. "It's okay..." her voice, barely above a whisper, began to calm him. "I'm sorry, Angel. I shouldn't have-"
"No," he pulled out of their embrace to face her. "I'm glad you did, I- I've never told anyone about...anything, and...you're the one I want to share it with...the one I want to share everything with." As they reached for each other, both groaned as they heard the phone ring. Raising an arm, Angel grabbed the phone from his nightstand. "Hello?"
"Uh- hi...Ang- Angel," Willow's voice nervously spoke.
"Willow? Hi- umm...how...are you?"
"Oh- good. I'm good. How...are you?"
"Good."
"Good- we're both...good. That's good- that we're both...good."
"Do you want to talk to Buffy?" he smiled into the phone at the redhead's shy and quiet nature.
"Oh- sure. That's not the only reason I'm calling though- just to talk to her," she quickly added. "I like talking to you too."
"Yeah- me too, Willow. Umm...here's Buffy-" he handed the phone to her before grabbing another pillow down from his bed for them to relax against.
"Hey Will- what's up?"
"Hey- just wanted to see how you were enjoying yourself. And Angel too- well, not how you were enjoying Angel, cause I'm sure you're enjoying him...not in any particular way- just enjoying being with him in...whatever way you're...being with him."
"Will- you're not making any sense," Buffy giggled.
"I know, I know. That's what everyone just told me."
"Everyone?"
"Yeah- Xander and Cordy are both here at my house. Oz too," she beamed into the phone. "I just wanted to call to see how you two were."
"Great...great doesn't even begin to describe things though."
"Oooo- I knew it! Smoochies, right? We're talking major smoochies, right? Right??"
"*Willow*," Buffy laughed, noticing Angel eyeing her with a raised eyebrow as he heard bits and pieces of their conversation. "Say- why don't you guys come over," she looked up at Angel, as if asking him if it was okay, smiling as he nodded. "Bring some games or something. It'll be fun!"
"Oh- ok- okay! We'll be over in a little bit. Wait...even Xander?"
"Sure- who do you think is going to pay for the pizza?" Buffy giggled, determined to get back some of the thirty dollars of Angel's she lost for him any way she could.
Part 11
"What is that?"
"*That's* my word, Deadboy."
"Xander," Buffy warned for her boyfriend, "I've got to warn you- if you don't stop calling him that, the phrase 'God help you' is going to take on a new meaning for ya because only God could." Xander playfully stuck his tongue out at her as he looked back towards Angel. "What? You've never heard of that word?"
"I'm not even sure I can pronounce it," Angel chuckled, wrapping his arms even tigher around his girlfriend from behind as they sat around playing their first game.
"Well, if you'll take enough time to detach your eyes from Buffy and focus, I'll help you pronounce it. Now say it with me- Skitzo. Ski-i-i-i-t-t-t-z-z-o-o-o...Good?"
"That's not a word," Angel defended.
"It is so! Someone who skitzes all the time is, by definition, a skitzo-"
"Like you for example?" Cordy laughed.
"Ha ha- your total lack of humor astounds me," Xander snapped back. "Look- just because they didn't talk normal like us back in your days doesn't mean it isn't a word. Someone back me up here. Buffy-" he looked helplessly towards the slayer who just rolled her eyes. "Oz?" Xander was met with Oz's gentle head shake. "Willow? Isn't that a word??"
"Technically, it's not a word- its slang...not exactly proper for use in the game of Scrabble," the redhead explained.
"Come on Xand," Buffy sighed. "I'm sure if you tried hard enough you could think of a better word."
"Well I can't focus! It's that damn music-" he stood up from the floor to march over to Angel's stereo. "It sounds like something that should be played in a funeral parlor or something!" He removed the cd, reading the label. " 'Chopin'? It sounds like some sort of chinese dish. 'Excuse me, would you like some Chopin with your MooMoo Gai Pan?' " he laughed to himself.
"Speaking of food-" Cordy spoke up, "since I took the time out of my busy schedule to come and associate with all of you, I think it's only right that I'm fed..."
"Sure thing, your highness," Xander sat back down next to her after changing the cd, "Angel- you got a dish of water you can give her? And I think I still have some of my dog's treats with me," he began fumbling through his pockets before receiving a sharp slap across the chest from his somewhat-girlfriend. "Ouch- geez, what was that for??"
"For being the annoyance that you are! Why do I even bother with you?? Uggh!"
"Alright, alright. That's enough guys," Willow took charge, trying to settle things back down. "Xand- since I know how much you hate apologizing, you can just buy us all lunch and call things even, ok?" She stood, along with Cordy, holding a hand out to her friend. "Well? Fork over some cash for the pizzas."
"Huh? Oh- yeah." Xander retrieved a wad of dollars from his front pocket which was quickly snatched by Cordy. "Share the wealth, that's what I always say. Isn't that right, *Angel*?" he laughed, still gloating about his three victories over him in pool. Angel simply smiled, leaning his chin on Buffy's shoulder.
"Yeah right. 'Share the wealth' " Cordy mocked him. "That's considering you ever have money that you haven't swindled from someone." Before Xander could respond, Cordelia and Willow grabbed Buffy, pulling her out of the comfortable position she was in relaxing in Angel's arms. "Hey! Why do I have to come? I was comfy," she whined as she was being pulled towards the bedroom to order their lunch.
"You've been sitting like that since we got here. You've got to move around," Willow argued. "Get a little exercise in...and a little girl talk with your best friend," she reminded her, wanting to know all about how things were 'so much better than great' with Angel.
"Hey guys- what do you want on 'em?" Buffy's voice called out to them.
"Anything and everything," Xander answered for both him and Oz. "Cool with you man?"
"Cool," Oz simply nodded, busy looking around at some of the art and sculptures Angel had collected over the years. "These are really nice, Angel."
"What? Oh- yeah. Thanks," Angel finally answered him, his eyes too busy watching Xander as he was playing around with one of Angel's vases. "Uh, Xander...? That's kinda...fragile...you might wanna-" *crack* "-be...careful with it..." Angel hid his anger pretty well, considering one of his oldest pieces of art now had a rather noticeable chip in it.
"Okay, thanks." Buffy hung up the phone, flopping back against the pillows facing Cordy and Willow. "Pizzas will be here in a little bit." Waiting for any kind of response, Buffy was met with two pairs of questioning eyes. "What?"
"Don't what us," Willow answered. "Spill it- what happened with you and Angel last night?" the redhead smiled, as if she didn't have a pretty good idea as to how they spent their evening.
"Wait- you spent the night here?" Cordy sounded honestly surprised by the notion.
"Duh- where've you been?" Buffy laughed. "I'm here until Monday morning."
"Well forgive me if I'm too busy having a life of my own to take an interest in yours."
"So what happened?" Willow steered their conversation back to the question at hand. "Did you take my advice and, uh- carpe diem, or what?" she beamed. Her only response from Buffy was a wide grin at which point the best friends fell into a fit of giggles, grabbing each other up in a hug.
"Wait- what's going on?" Cordy still sat beside them in confusion. "Hello?? I am invisible or something? What's this about fish?" The two friends finally separated, laughing at Cordy's remark. "Fine- you two don't want to tell me what's going on? I'll just ask another source. Angel!! Angel- come here for a second!!" she yelled, intent to find out what the two were keeping from her. "Now watch- whatever secret you've got going on, I can get out of him in three questions. Just watch the master at work."
"Master of what is the question," Buffy whispered to Willow, lifting her head up to see Angel approaching.
"What? Is something wrong? What's going- Xander! Don't try and glue it! Just-"
"Don't worry- I can fix it!" Xander shouted after him. "It went this way, didn't it Oz?"
"I think you have it upside down," Oz reached to turn the broken piece around.
"Xander! Just leave it!" Angel let out a heavy sigh in defeat as he entered his bedroom fully.
"Angel," Buffy smiled, "what happened?"
"He broke my vase," Angel muttered through gritted teeth. "Xander...chipped my...vase."
"Yeah yeah- that's nice," Cordy consoled him in her typical fashion. "Say Angel-" Cordy smiled as she set out to her task, "what do you think of this weather we've been having?"
"Come again?" Angel's face held the same confused look as Buffy and Willow's.
"It's a simple question. What do you think of the weather?"
"Uh...well, I know the nighttime weather has been...nice," his eyes fell upon his girlfriend, sitting beside Willow, whispering something to her. "It's been beautiful, actually."
"I see..." Cordy pondered. "Ever been to Australia?"
"Cordelia- what in the world does that have to do with anyth-"
"Willow- would you just let the man answer," Cordy snapped back at her.
"Uh, no...but I've always wanted to see it," Angel asked, still wondering just what she was getting at.
"Interesting..." For her final question, Cordelia held up her hand. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Two?" Angel's mouth formed a half-smile as he answered.
"Fine. You can go back in the other room now," she informed him. After reaching over to give Buffy a short kiss, Angel, somewhat dazed by what had just happened, slowly made his way back into the living room to see how Xander was further destroying his vase. Once she was sure that he was out of listening distance, Cordy turned to Will and Buffy to announce her discovery. "You two screwed like wild bunnies, didn't you?"
Buffy and Willow's jaws were on the floor as they sat back, stunned by what Cordy had just found out in her three unusual questions and bluntly told them. "Cordelia? How did you...?" Buffy, forgetting completely about how the brunette had totally made her's and Angel's amazing experience sound like a romp in the woods, was more shocked by how she had just found out. "That was amazing- how did you do that??"
"Oh please," she waved a hand in the air as she smiled. "You're talking to the master here. Plus...I overheard you and Angel talking about five minutes after we got here. I think it was the whole thing you said about- what was it again? 'I can't wait until they leave cause I swear I'm going into trances over you.' That was the first thing that caught my attention. Ya know, besides that whole part where you said, 'There is something so incredibly sexy about the way you're standing there. I could make love to you again right here.' That kinda sealed it for me."
Buffy's face was about as red as Angel's comforter as she tried burying it in Willow's shoulder. "Oh my god..." she finally sighed, trying to regain her composure.
"So...what was it like?" Willow's curiosity got the best of her as she tried bringing Buffy back to a coherent state.
"Will, it was so...amazing, wonderful, intense...I can't even think of a word to begin to describe how perfect it was."
"I just still can't believe you actually slept with a vampire," Cordy announced in her tactless manner. "Wouldn't that make a good entry for the Watcher diaries? A slayer sleeping with a vampire. Wasn't he cold?"
"No-" Buffy sharply answered her. "He's wonderful...and beautiful-" a dreamy look formed upon her face.
"Guys aren't supposed to be beautiful," Cordy asserted. "Though I proudly admit...Angel's pretty gorgeous."
"You *do* know that there's more than just a person's physical appearance that makes them beautiful- oh wait! This is Cordelia- of course you don't," Buffy laughed along with Willow. "I don't care how lame it sounds...Angel is beautiful. He's sweet, and caring, and-"
"Dead...or am I the only one who remembers that vampires are the living dead..."
"Ummm...that would be zombies," Willow corrected her. "And besides- you're probably just jealous that Angel's totally in love with Buffy without even giving you a second glance," she proudly defended her best friend.
"Well I'm pretty sure after 'beautiful boy's' little outburst at the Bronze the whole town knows that," she scoffed as she sat up to walk out of the bedroom to join the others. After a few seconds though, she returned with a huge grin on her face. "Uh, Buffy? I wonder if you're...still gonna think Angel's so...*beautiful* after you see...what he did," she managed to get out between laughs.
Buffy and Will exchanged glances before heading into the living room, only to find, to their amazement...nothing out of the ordinary. Angel and Oz were sitting on the floor, and Xander was sitting in Angel's desk chair, looking around through a few of the desk's drawers.
"Cordelia- what were you talking about? Everything's fine," Buffy assured herself, scooting over to Angel, stretching herself out across the floor, resting her head in his lap.
"I would hardly call *this* fine!" Xander shouted from his firmly stuck position in Angel's chair as he tried helplessly to stand up. "Deadboy glued me to his chair!!"
"That's not entirely true," Angel slyly smiled.
"Yeah," Oz spoke up for the first time all day without being spoken to first. "I helped."
Buffy lifted her head slightly to look up at her friend, tugging desperately at his pants as he tried freeing himself. With a huge smile plastered across her face, she joined the others in a fit of laughter. "Angel! You glued him to the chair?!" she giggled, playfully smacking him across his arm. "Why?"
"He wouldn't leave my vase alone-"
"I was trying to *fix* it! Hmph!- some thanks I get for trying to be nice," he groaned, continuing his search through the drawers to find a pair of scissors.
Part 12
The friends were gathered around, playing their second game of the afternoon after their lunch had arrived. As Angel sat, enjoying the fact that Buffy was having such a great time while doing such simple acts as spending time with her friends and eating pizza, Buffy could feel him softly chuckle against her back as they all watched Xander walk into the kitchen to grab another drink.
"Is anyone else here cold?" the young boy's waivering voice echoed into the room. Receiving an answer in the form of a roar of laughter from his friends, Xander raced back to his seat beside Cordelia. "Haha...laugh it up. Go ahead- all of you...just keep laughing at my misfortune-"
"We plan to..." Buffy smiled, leaning further back into Angel's embrace.
"You know-" Xander's eyes looked over at Angel, "if you were really a friend, you would offer me a change of pants instead of just rolling around on the floor laughing."
"We're friends? Really??" Angel looked around at the others for mock reassurance.
"Don't go getting all sarcastic- that's my field of expertise-" Xander crossed his arms in front of him as he pouted.
"Well that and freezing your butt off in your..." Cordelia tried supressing her laughter, but it was no use, "adorable little rubber duckie boxers..."
"Hey- leave my duckies alone!!! They're not used to so much display in public!!"
"Which is a very good thing-" Cordy quickly replied.
"This is all your fault, *Deadboy*!!!" he accented every syllable of the name he was well aware Angel despised so much. "All I did was try and fix your vase-"
"A vase you broke in the first place," Angel muttered. Finally deciding that Xander had suffered enough humiliation for one day, Angel stood and walked over to his closet to grab a pair of sweatpants for him. "Here- keep them."
"It's about time!" Xander quickly slid the black sweats on, thankful to be covered as well as warm once again. "I swear- this is the last time I spend an afternoon with Deadboy!!"
"Can I have that in writing?" Angel pleaded, sharing his sentiments.
"What did I say about the sarcasm? Stay off of my territory," Xander smiled. "Okay, okay- who's turn is it?" he sat back down next to Cordy, anxious to get back to playing.
"Xander...you are soooo Gloppy," Willow giggled as she moved her turn.
" 'Gloppy'?" Angel asked, taking a brief pause to feed Buffy another bite of pizza as she sat in his arms. "Is that another one of those slang words...like Skitzo?"
"No- it's a character in the game-" Willow began, trying to explain some of the fundamentals of Candyland to the 243 year old.
"By the way- how deeply disturbing is it that you still have this game?" Cordy almost shrieked. "Oh god- how deeply disturbing is it that I'm actually playing it with all of you??"
"Whatdya mean I'm soooo Gloppy?" Xander asked between mouthfuls.
"Just what I said. You're all...I don't know...Buffy- how would you describe Gloppy??"
"An awkward and silly whiner?" she offered, not supressing the laugh that followed.
"Like a skitzo?" Angel chimed in, his voice hopeful at the chance to use his newly learned word appropriately.
"Hey! I may be awkward and silly, but...what was the third thing you said?"
"Whiner," Oz answered for Buffy.
"How am I a whiner?"
" 'Oooo, this apartment's too cold. My leg's are freezing. It's not fair- what did I do?' " Buffy continued imitating his demeanor once he finally sliced and diced his pants, freeing himself from his glued position on Angel's chair. " 'These were my favorite pants. I think I stabbed myself with the scissors-' "
"Alright, alright. You've made your point." Xander surrendered in defeat. "Well if being concerned about catching my death of cold from strutting around in my underwear, thanks to certain vampires-" he craned his neck towards Angel, "-who shall remain nameless, makes me a whiner, then just color me whined!"
"Oh come on- all you've talked about for the past 4 hours are your damn ruined pants- which, by the way-" Cordy gave him a quick once over, "were nothing to brag about even before you cut them to shreds."
"Right now I'm thinkin I should've cut something else to shreds..." Xander replied. "Fine- if I'm Gloppy, then you're Queen Frostine," he chuckled towards Buffy, trying to one-up the slayer.
"Hey- I could live with that...she's got a cute outfit. Plus- Angel would be Lord Licorice, so it's all good," she smiled, leaning further back into her boyfriend's embrace. "So come on- move Xander."
By the time they'd wrapped up a few rounds of Candyland, Cordelia surprisingly winning every single one, it was already nightfall and Buffy and Angel were anxious to get started on a few quick patrol sweeps. "You two sure you can handle things by yourselves?" Willow worried, grabbing her games as they all headed for the apartment's front door.
"We'll be fine, Will. Don't worry about us- have fun on your date tonight," the slayer smiled, passing a glance over to Oz, happy that her best friend would be enjoying another night out with the silent musician. "I'll call you tomorrow morning to fill you in on all the wonderful creepy-crawlers we encounter...plus, I'm gonna want on the details from tonight's Oz-fest." The two friends embraced in a hug and the group parted ways as they headed into the night.
******
The slayer retrieves another stake from her inside pocket, readying herself for the hopefully-last vamp to cross their path that night. Seeing the creature's smug grin, she uses a bit of intimidation. She movess back a few steps and laughs. "Now, now scout! Calm down a bit before I have to kick your demonic ass just like all your other buddies!" The vamp goes directly for her as he dives and tackles her to the grass in the cemetery. He manages to get in one solid punch before Angel's arm wraps around his neck from behind, dragging him off of Buffy.
Angel nails him with a sharp kick to the head, sending him reeling to the ground. Not giving him any chance to recover, the spikey-haired vamp lifts the fledgling by the neck with one arm. Seeing Buffy recover off the ground, Angel suspends the helpless vamp in the air, feeling his body reduce to ashes as Buffy's stake plunges through his heart.
"Are you okay?" he wraps his arms around her, checking for any injuries.
"Just another day at the office," she weakly laughs. "I'm okay- really." She slips her hand into his as they begin the walk back to his apartment. "Not a bad haul tonight- 6 vamps and one...what was that big, slimy demon thing called again?"
"An Asinof," he replied, instintively pulling her closer to him.
"See...that's just another one of the many things I love about you," she smiled, melting into his comforting embrace. "You have a never ending supply of knowledge. Kinda like Giles...only a *whole* lot sexier," she reached up to teasingly place a kiss right behind his ear, sending shivers through his already cold body.
Angel stood by his sink, cleaning up his countertop as Buffy was rooting through his closet, still fascinated by everything contained in her lover's home. One glance at the rest of his clothes revealed them to be as mundane as she suspected. "Angel? Let's take a mintue here to reflect on some of you fashion choices, shall we?" Angel eyed her questioningly as he joined her by the closet. "Hmm..." she placed a finger to her chin as she leafed through the hung clothes. "Black, black, black, black, oooo- blue, but *dark* blue, black, black, gray, gray, black, ah- red, but again- *dark* red. Are we sensing a pattern here?"
"Neatly hung clothes?" he offered, a bemused smile on his lips. He kissed the top of her head before returning to the kitchen.
"Angel- I'm serious," she called after him, following only a step or two behind him. "I really need to take you shopping one night for some more...Twister!"
"Some more *what*? I'm really not liking the idea of wearing anything called a twister," he peered over his shoulder, more than a little taken back by her last comment.
"No- it's a game. Willow must've forgotten it," she explained, fumbling around with the game's box, eager to set it up for play. "It's fun- come on, you'll love it!"
"Buffy- it's almost two in the morning-"
"You've got an early day tomorrow?" she laughed, grabbing him by the hand, leading him over to the mat.
"Well no- but what about you? Don't you need sleep?"
"Angel, the weekend is a person's excuse to sleep in late," she defended, quite liking the idea of spending as much time as possible just lazying about in bed with her boyfriend.
"I've never played before," he sighed.
"Well then it'll be even more fun as I teach you. So come on- down on the mat mister!"
Part 13
"Just so you know- I really don't think human bodies were meant to bend this way."
"Well then, just be thankful I'm the slayer and you're a vampire...not exactly typical 'human bodies'. Okay- left foot green." Buffy was the first to try and make the move, having to lift her leg over Angel's arm to reach the large green dot. After five attempts and an aching back, Angel's foot finally landed on a green circle as well.
"I think going a few rounds with a group of demons would be easier than this," Angel sighed, trying to keep his balance.
"Well yeah- but this is a lot more fun. Plus, it gives people an excuse to get all tangled up together." She blew a few loose strands of her dangling hair out of her face before reaching for the spinner once more with her free hand.
"Well in that case, I'm glad we didn't play this when the others were here," Angel chuckled. "I don't think I would've been able to put up with being wrapped around Xander in his boxers-"
"Angel please- I *so* did *not* need that image," Buffy spun the red arrow, trying to shake the mental picture of Xander and his rubber duckie shorts sprawled across the mat. "Right hand blue." As Buffy twisted herself around to reach the dot, her leg accidentally knocked Angel from his balanced position, landing him ontop of her down to the mat.
The two were tangled together, warmly smiling and laughing at the silliness they were allowing themselves to enjoy together. 'I don't think I've ever seen Angel smile this much in a whole month. God, I'd do anything to keep that smile on his face.' "Now *this* image I enjoy," she smiled, pulling him down to her for a deep kiss.
"So who won?"
"Me, of course," Buffy proudly declared.
"How? I mean, you hit the floor first and you pulled me along for the fall," he chuckled.
"I didn't hear you complaining," she flashed him a sly smile. "But if you want, we could play again-"
"No no," he quickly silenced her thought. "That's okay."
"Oh come on- double or nothing!" Buffy smirked.
"Oh no- let's not start that again! Fine, fine. You win. You always win..."
"Yep. Me, and Mighty Mouse- we always win," she giggles, feeling Angel wrap his arms around her waist as he picks her up and wisks her to his room.
"But you don't play fair, you know that?" He gently lays her down on the soft mattress, giving her a sweet half-smile as he lays down beside her.
"Of course- that's why I always win," she laughs as she relaxes back onto the bed in his arms.
"So why should I play any more games with you if I'm always going to lose?" he jokes with her, loving the feeling of her steady heartbeat against his chest.
"Because..." she leans in to give him a kiss as she giggles against his mouth, "...I love you so much..." She softly sighs into his mouth as he kisses her again and wraps her arms around Angel's neck, pulling herself ontop of him. She begins passionately kissing him, slowly sliding her tongue into his welcoming mouth. As their kissing becomes more intense, Buffy slowly runs her hand along his side, slipping her hands underneath the back of his shirt, quickly shedding him of it.
"I love you too." Angel pulls her into a deep kiss, his hands gently caressing the folds of her blouse as Buffy trails her fingers across his now shirtless chest. Buffy sighed, and pulled on Angel's lower lip with her mouth, playfully bringing him forward into another sultry, exploratory kiss.
As his hands began their wonderful exploration of the creamy skin that was slowly being exposed as he slid his hands further up her back, he captured her lips with his own in a kiss that sent a course of ultimate desire rushing through both of them as the two lovers moved in gentle exploration of one another in their own peaceful picture of simple, unhurried love.
******
Worn out and sated by the beauty of the warm body lying beneath his cold one, Angel breathes her in. Resting his head alongside her neck, his lips just grazing her glistening skin, he inhales the warmth escaping her. Feeling her smile radiating, searing into his shoulder, he lingeringly kisses at her neck, lightly sucking at the sweat-beaded flesh as she giggles lightly and runs both of her hands through his hair, clutching his body even tighter down ontop of her own. "I could drown in you..." Angel whispers as he relinquishes an arsenal of kisses to her neck, stopping only at her soft spot just below her ear.
"Ya know," murmurs Buffy, thoroughly enjoying the feel of Angel's cool lips against her neck, "we could both use a shower...we're all sweaty..." she turns her head to capture his lips in a gentle kiss.
"Mmm...you should sleep though," he softly protested. "It's already..." he raises his body slightly to glance over at the small clock, "seven in the morning and you haven't slept since Friday night."
"It's Sunday morning already? I guess I was having so much fun," she says, snuggling into his arms, "that I totally lost track of time. Sleep later...shower now" she resolutely states, grabbing the sheet along with her as she gets out of bed, headed for the bathroom.
Buffy laughs softly, yawning as she runs her fingers through her sweat-dampened hair as Angel follows after her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, kissing the outer shell of her ear as she giggles, craning her neck to look up at him. He grins down at her, bending over and holding her as tight to his body as he can without crushing her. Burying his nose against her hair as he relishes in her scent, he nuzzles his chin against her neck. "You're really having a good time here?"
There's no place I'd rather be...no other place that I belong except here in your arms," she blushes lightly, feeling him slip the white sheet from around her body and the sudden comforting warmth of his cold as he presses his chest against her bare back. As she turns around to push him down onto the side of the tub, she reaches over to turn on the water for their shower. He eyes her body totally, reaching over with a grin to grab her around the waist, but she playfully slaps his hand away with a laugh. "If you keep that up, neither one of us is going to really get clean anytime soon..." she giggles as Angel ends their innocent chatter with a soft kiss to her lips, picking her up by the waist and moving closer to the glass shower door.
He grins and slides the frosted-glass door shut, setting her down in the shower as well as himself, giving her a tender kiss underneath the hot, rushing jets of water. Buffy reaches for the bar of soap and begins to lather his well-sculptured body until he grins and grabs her hand. "What are you doing?" She looks a little confused and blushes as she answers him. "Well...about to wash you." Angel shushes her with a hug and brushes by her ear. "Ladies are always first," he softly whispers and she slips him the bar.
He gently moves her hair from her neck and soothingly rubs the soap on her back as she closes her eyes and melts into his embrace. He softly kisses her neck and she sighs at his toying with her soft spot. "Ya know...you do take such good care of me. I don't think I would've gotten this kind of treatment at Willow's," she chuckles.
"I was thinking..."
"What...?" Buffy urges him on, but her voice drops an octave just as the washcloth lowered to her abdomen. Angel smiled at her response to him as he continued. "Maybe we could just spend the afternoon lounging around. Maybe you'll let me read to you a little." Buffy sighs her agreement as she shudders under his touch. He shuts off the water and picks her up by the waist.
Buffy leans her head over his back, about to fall asleep from his touch as he throws a towel over them and heads back out towards the bed. He dries her off and puts one of his shirts over his lovely girlfriend. She giggles tiredly and lays down on the bed, never taking her eyes off of Angel as he smiles at her and steps into some black boxers. Noticing her staring at him, he tries his hand at joking with her- something he was growing more accustomed to. "Sorry...no rubber duckies."
"Believe me when I say it's okay," she laughs. "Besides- my boyfriend is too cool for rubber duckies."
"Oh is that a fact?" he says, leaning against the bed. "This boyfriend of yours...anyone I know?"
"Maybe," she giggles. "He's really tall, he's got these dark, gorgeous brown eyes, really soft brown hair, a beautiful smile- all in all, he's the most beautiful person I'll ever know."
"Well, I'd like to meet this guy one day," he smiles, loving their teasing exchange. He flops down on the bed next to her and Buffy snuggles up to him, laying her head on his chest. "Did I ever tell you about the girl I'm in love with?"
"You might've mentioned her once or twice, but no specifics," Buffy giggles before closing her eyes, as Angel slowly ran a hand through her drying hair.
"You two should really get together one day. You'd love her. She's got the brightest sparkling eyes anyone's ever been privileged to see, silky-soft blonde hair, and her legs-" he says, running his hand alongside of them, "are to die for. In short, the most beautiful, amazing woman I'll ever know and love."
"Sounds like your girlfriend and my boyfriend were made for each other," she blushes, reaching up a hand from her laying position to gently caress the side of his face.
"My thoughts exactly." Angel leans down slowly to capture her lips with his own. Buffy wraps an arm around his neck, pulling him down for another short kiss. "Mmmm...so, what are you going to read me?" Buffy closed her eyes as Angel's soothing voice reading a few of his favorite sonnets began to lull her asleep, and in a short while, his eyes close too as the peaceful couple enjoy a few hours of dreamy rest in each others loving arms.
Part 14
"Why don't you go pick something else out from the bookshelf...alongside the desk."
Buffy sat up off of the bed at her boyfriend's suggestion and raced over to find another book for Angel to continue reading to her after finishing her lunch. Angel, attentively watching his beloved, smiled to himself, loving any chance he got of getting to spend time with the young woman who had stolen his heart. As he propped his head up with another pillow, Buffy came running back over to him with a fairly large, red and blue book.
She pauses for a moment to look at the cover in her hands. 'I didn't even know he had this. And he says I'm like a little kid?' She handed him the book and layed down with him- her favorite pillow- as he gathered her into his arms. "I think you're gonna like what we're reading. I mean, Shakespearean sonnets are nice and all, but too many 'wilts' and 'henceforths' are enough to drive a person insane!" Angel smiled, running his fingers through Buffy's hair as he began to open the book.
"The Cat in the Hat??" his shocked expression is enough to send her rolling in laughter off the side of the bed. As Angel begins laughing at her, the slayer retaliates. "I don't know what you're laughing at because you're the one who had it on your bookshelf."
"Well...I...keep it here for when...you stop by..." Seeing her raise an eyebrow, Angel begins to explain. "Don't you remember when we were talking about our favorite books? I remembered how you were going on and on about how your mom used to always read Dr. Seuss to you at night. Well one night while I was at the bookstore, I saw this huge display and just thought that I'd-"
"Whoa whoa- back up there. You...were shopping? At a store???"
"At a *bookstore*, Buffy," he smiled at her surprise.
"Whatever- its still a store...a very plain and boring store- but it still counts as shopping."
"Glad my shopping habits meet your approval," he leans over to give her a quick kiss. "I just bought a few in case you were ever over and...I don't know..." he shrugged, not really being able to express his intentions. Buffy tilted his chin up to face her, letting her hand lightly trace over his cheek. "You're so sweet...and wonderful...and about a million other fantastic things...I love you."
"I love you," Angel whispered back, settling back down onto the bed as he opened the book. " 'The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play...' "
Buffy had always longed for peaceful moments like this growing up- even before being called as the slayer. Moments free of worry, when time seemed to stand still. Her parents were devoted and loving, but somehow it had just all fallen apart. And while she had always known that no matter what happened, they would always both be there for her, she knew she would somehow find herself in the midst of her own craziness. Throughout junior high, after being called, she had kept mostly to herself- part of the raw deal she had been dealt. Now she had her circle of friends, friends with whom she bore her burden and found acceptance with. But she had it deadset in her mind to be totally independent, "without need of anyone" as her father and Merrick had so constantly drilled into her mind. How quickly that notion changed the day she came face to face with her guardian Angel.
******
Angel looked down at his sleeping love, curled up ontop of him, a small sigh escaping her lips in her sleep as he gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Softly tilting his head, he glanced towards his nighttable. Seeing that they'd both slept a good few hours, he hated to wake her. Just as he was about to rouse her, Buffy rolled onto her back. She yawned and stretched herself out, finally lifting her eyelids to gaze up at him.
"Hello sleepy head," Angel says, gently kissing her forehead.
"Well I can't help it. I feel safe when I'm in your arms..." she warmly smiles, wrapping herself around him.
"I'm glad to hear it...I love having you in my arms," Angel says as he tips Buffy's chin to stare into her luscious eyes. He seems to get lost in those eyes every time, but he loves it.
"What time is it?" Buffy lazily sits up, running a hand through her hair as Angel glances over at his clock.
"Almost 7...I guess we both over did it with our nap."
"You won't get any complaints from me...though I am a little hungry..."
"I have some ice cream," he proudly smiled. "The last time I went to the store I got some for you. I didn't really know what kind you would like, so I-"
"You have ice cream here and you're just telling me now because...?" Angel helplessly shrugged, realizing that he probably should've let her know sooner. "Angel??? You were hording out on me?! Ugh- that is *so* wrong!"
"Well if you promise to forgive me, I'll get you some now," he made his offer, which the slayer eagerly accepted. Giving him a playful slap across the back, she laughed as Angel immediately scampered out of the bed, headed into the kitchen. "Chocolate, strawberry, or mint chocolate chip?" Noticing Buffy's matching look of disapproval for mint chocolate chip, Angel brought the gallon of chocolate ice cream over to the bed. Folding his legs underneath of him, he gathered a huge scoop onto the spoon, but as he offered her some, he finally noticed the far-off look on Buffy's face. "Buffy? Is something wrong? I'm really sorry that I didn't mention the ice cream earlier..." he apologized again.
"Hmmm? Oh no, no- I was kiddin around about that."
"Then what is it?"
"It's nothing. Sorry." But as she reached forward for the spoon, Angel quickly pulled away.
"Uh-uh. Come on, out with it."
"Just can't fool you, can I?" She took the ice cream from him and placed it back in the freezer. Slowly, she walked back over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Angel," she begins, taking a deep breath. "I love you."
"I love you too," he says, gently stroking her cheek.
"I love you so much, and I want to be with you so badly..." she pauses, feeling a bit childish in what she was about to confess. "I just...I- I don't want to go home tomorrow morning," she blurts out, averting her gaze to the floor, afraid of what Angel's reaction would be. Honestly, she was surprised that he was able to put up with her for this long- she was sure that he had probably had enough of playing manservant for both her and her friends. "I'm sorry...I don't know where that came from...I've just been so happy and it's really been my best weekend ever-"
"I don't want you to go either..."
"-getting to spend time with you, but I'm sure you were probably tired of me after just one hour, and..." Buffy stopped in midramble as she finally realized what Angel had said. "You...really?"
"Buffy..." he gently took her hand, pulling her into a strong hug. "I've loved every single minute you let me spend with you this weekend." Lifting her head, her heart melted at the sincerity in his eyes and she softly captures his lips in a gentle kiss.
"I love you," he whispers, pouring all of his emotions into the three words. Lacing his fingers with hers, he lifts their hands together, bringing the silver claddagh rings they shared to her attention. "Know this, Buffy...any time that I get to spend with you I cherish. I am so completely in love with you, and it kills me that I can't be with you all the time during the day. But I *belong* to you, Buffy..." he kisses the ring resting so lovingly on her finger. "It's as simple as that." Locking his mouth to hers for a heated kiss, Angel's mind trails back to something else that might cheer her up. "So..." he asks softly against her lips, "how about that ice cream?"
Part 15
"Remind me again why we're out food shopping at 9 at night?" Angel was helplessly being dragged through the local grocery store as his girlfriend was tossing various food items, mostly junk food, into their basket. Angel allowed his mind to wander for a moment, looking back fondly on their last food shopping trip together when she stayed with him when the Order of Taraka was sent after her. That night was the first time she had fallen asleep in his arms and the idea that it was now the first of many sent his unbeating heart soaring.
"Two good reasons," Buffy's perky voice snapped him out of his dreamy state. "One- between me and the rest of the gang, we've pretty much cleaned out your fridge so you need to stock up on food again. Two- I am in desperate need of some double chocolate cookie dough mint ice cream. Oooo- and we've got to get some chunky peanut butter. Some chips would be good too, and some whipped cream, and-"
"Buffy- I'm really not planning on having Xander over anytime soon, so I don't think I'm gonna need enough food to fill his bottomless pit of a stomach."
"You'd be surprised just how much a growing slayer can eat," she nudges him lightly with her hip, pulling him down another aisle.
"Quick question- do you plan on getting anything with some nutritional value?" Angel laughs, watching as Buffy tosses a box of popsicles into their cart.
"Hey- these have plenty of nutrition. Plenty of fruity goodness."
"Sure.and I suppose you're going to tell me those potatoe chips have plenty of 'vegetable goodness' right?"
"That's right- potatoes are a vegetable," she proudly defends, but still can't hold back a small laugh as Angel wraps an arm over her shoulder and they head to check out.
Outstretching an arm, Buffy leans over Angel's stomach to retrieve the canister of whipped cream. Angel's bed was quickly becoming Buffy's ice cream parlor and he could only lay back in amazement as he watches his lovely girlfriend spray the fluffy concoction straight into the gallon of ice cream and starts digging in. "Mmm.now *this* is ice cream."
"I'll have to remember what kind to get you now that I know for sure what kind you like," he smiles.
"Oh I like any kind.but this- *this* is the best. I just wish you could enjoy it, because this is sooo good," she waves her spoon in the air, accidently dripping some onto Angel's bare chest. "Oops." she playfully giggles. "Well.only one way to clean it up." she smiles, leaning over to lick the small droplet from his smooth skin, placing a gentle kiss to the spot after it was gone.
"Well that's one way I can enjoy it." Angel caresses her arm, loving the feel of her lips, like the softest of velvet, against his skin. Buffy smiled, setting the almost empty carton aside as she wraps her arms around his neck, pulling herself ontop of him. She wraps her arms around him, melting into the deeply passionate kiss, soft tresses of her blonde hair shadowing their mouths as they lost themselves to the heated embrace.
******
Angel's face was only inches from hers, and Buffy spent the next few minutes just watching him as he slept, her love for him nearly bursting through her chest. He looked so perfect lying there next to her. Her hand reached out across his features, and Buffy took them all in- his soft, pale skin, hard chiseled jaw, and his dark, intense brown eyes that held so much warmth and love in them when he looked at her. She was lazily tracing random patterns across his chest as Angel stirred. She watched as his eyelids fluttered open, then his eyes met hers and he smiled softly. The love he felt for her filled his eyes and made Buffy's heart melt with sheer happiness.
"Morning," he said, his arm tightening around her waist. "Do you know how beautiful you look first thing in the morning?" Buffy smiled happily. "No, but you can tell me, if you'd like."
Angel laughed. "Okay. You look very beautiful first thing in the morning. And during the day.and the night.and any other time." he continued, softly kissing her neck.
"Well, thank you," she said, still smiling happily. She met his kiss halfway, and Buffy was amazed at how it felt to wake up next to this wonderful man she could now call her lover. It felt like heaven. When their kiss finally ended, Buffy rested her head back onto his arm. "Mmmm," she murmured dreamily. "This is nice.have I mentioned that I like seeing you first thing in the morning?"
"I seem to recall a conversation a few days ago when you might've mentioned it."
"Well let me correct myself.I *love* seeing you first thing in the morning," she murmured, edging closer to him so that she could kiss him. Several minutes later, Angel finally pulled back from their kiss. "Buffy, as much as I'm enjoying this." he grinned at her, pausing once he saw the disheartened look strike her features.
"I know.mom's going to be expecting me back from my fun-filled brithday sleepover at Willow's," she sighs, dreading the thought of having to leave his arms. "Plus school.and Giles-" As if on cue, with one last kiss, Angel props himself up on an elbow, reaching for the suddenly ringing phone that was so rudely disturbing their peaceful moment.
"Hello? Oh- hi Giles." Angel swung his feet out of the bed and sat on the edge of it, only his waist and lap covered by the sheets. Buffy scoots over to him and sits up, wrapping her arm around his waist and laying her hand on his taught stomach. She plants a firm kiss on his shoulder blade, then presses her ear and cheek against his back, listening to the rumbling of his voice as he speaks to her watcher with the worst timing on the other end of the line.
Starting to feel ignored, Buffy smiles mischievously against his back and ran her hand lightly down his stomach toward his navel. Angel's skin burned where she touched him, and his stomach clenched inadvertently as her hand reached yet lower. "Buffy, stop!" he whispers, trying his hardest not to laugh. "I can't think when you do that."
"I know," she tells him wickedly as she continued on. Angel was having an incredibly tough time talking to the librarian on the phone with this kind of distraction. He tried his best to ignore the fiery sensations starting to burn within him, and forced himself to concentrate on his phone conversation. Buffy couldn't help but giggle in his ear, knowing what a distraction she was being, and loving the fact that she was able to have this kind of effect on him.
After a minute, she heard him say, "Oh, ummm...just a second." He turned his head slightly so he could look over his shoulder at his playful beloved. "He wants to talk to you." Buffy stopped what she was doing and stretched up to grab the phone from him. "Hey Giles." She tried listening to what her watcher was rambling on about having to do with Spike's latest plans but her attention quickly shifted as she noticed Angel climb out of bed and begin to get changed. She reached out an arm to snag him, but he stepped back a bit out of her reach.
Hearing her moan of protest, he pulled his black sweater on over his head then leaned in to give her a soft kiss. Unable to resist, he works his way down her neck, leaving a trail of kisses. As he begins to slowly and deeply kiss her soft spot at the back of her neck, Buffy begins to melt on the phone, trying all the while to pay attention to Giles, but it was no use when Angel was working on her like this.
"Uh-huh, Giles...mmm...uh-huh...wha- yeah Giles, I'm listening."
"Well if you had been, you would have heard me tell you that I think I'll let you go to, 'take care' of Ange, in a matter of speaking. I'll see you in a little bit. Make sure you come straight to the library once you arrive at school. I have a few things to show you that may help us."
"Sure Giles...mmm- I'll take care of him alright. Bye Giles." After hanging up the phone, Buffy pulls Angel into a deep kiss, then pushes him away, exclaiming jokingly, "you're so bad!"
Angel chuckles, shaking his head as he tickles her, "Well...not really." The slayer laughs softly as she finally gets up herself, setting out to get dressed as well.
"Do you want anything to eat?" Angel calls out to her as he starts looking through his fridge.
"Mom will probably have something out for me when I get home." she sighs, pulling on her pants. "Besides.if I stay for breakfast." she slowly walks to the front door, bag in hand, "everyone will be having a fit about why I never showed up to school." Nodding his head in understanding, Angel pulls her into a strong hug, not wanting to let her out the door but knowing that she had to go.
"I don't want to do this." Buffy sobs, pulling out of their embrace to face him.
"I know." he sighs, not knowing how he would face the loneliness that would come once she left.
"How am I supposed to sleep tonight without your arms around me.?"
"I'll be with you. I'm always with you." he reaches up, cupping her face gently in his hands. "I love you."
"I love you." he voice cracks as she leans up for a final kiss. She whimpers lovingly as she feels his cool lips over her own before she finally wills herself to pull away. "I hope that's enough to get me through the day." she smiles, reaching a hand back to open his door. "I'll be back tonight.we can patrol," she promises, silently urging the day's end to come sooner. "Angel.thank you for.everything. For this weekend.for you- for just being you."
"Thank you, beloved. I'm just glad you had a great time at this 'sleepover' instead of Willow's," he smiles.
"Well you know what this means, don't you?"
"What's that?"
"You have to sleep over my house next time."
The END
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