There Had To Be a Reason
Part I Rating: R with possible NC-17 in later episodes. Distribution: Let me know if you want it. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: This is the first chapter of my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think.
Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return.
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Distribution: Let me know, if you want it.
*** Buffy had to get up, even though she was still in that lethargic mood that hits afterward. She could hear Spike rustling around in the bathroom. She was afraid to face him, but she had to get to work. So that meant shower, coffee, and conversation - not necessarily in that order. The Gallery had thrived since she had taken over about six months ago. After her mother's death , and her death and subsequent resurrection, Buffy had managed to go back to school: part time at first, and then full time with summer classes as well. The Gallery had hired a new director after her mother had passed away, but he turned out to be a Brugah demon. His demise (by her hand) happened to coincide with her college graduation, and the owner was so grateful to her for saving his life, he offered her the job. Having gotten her degree in ancient civilizations didn't hurt either. Buffy sat up and plopped her feet on the floor. Her mind again wandered to the dream. It had been so long since she had thought about Angel. She couldn't even remember the girl that was in love with him. She just knew that she wasn't that girl anymore. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to feel the past, and remember the way he made her feel. She didn't even hear Spike come up, she was so entranced in the memories. "Buffy, what are you doing, luv?" Spike said. Visibly startled, Buffy replied, "Oh just thinking about work. Speaking of which, I need to get ready. I hope you left some hot water". "Come on, Slayer, you know I like my early morning fun. You can make time for me". Spike reached for her and she jumped away. "Uh, I have a meeting right at 9:00. I can't be late, so I need to get ready now". Buffy lied, and then practically ran to the bathroom.
Spike sat down on the bed, and reached for his cigarettes. He needed to make a phonecall, but he had to wait for her to leave. He wasn't going to lose her now, not after all he had done to get her.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Since his shanshu two years ago, he had taken up his drawing again. He was even making some money, though he hadn't become an overnight success like some people. He had an appointment this morning with his agent to discuss his first one-man show. But it wasn't until 11:00, so he had a little time. He decided to just lay there and remember. That was how Cordy found him. Just staring at the ceiling with a silly grin on his face. She put the coffee down, and sat on the side of the bed. Angel still hadn't noticed her. This would never do, she thought. She reached over and grabbed his crotch. Angel jumped like she had burned him. Still quick on his feet, Angel managed to get out of bed and stand on the other side of the bed - all in one motion. Fear will do that to you. He knew Cordy would be furious if she knew what he was thinking about. She hadn't changed in that respect. She needed to be the center of the world. He wondered why that bothered him now, when it didn't an hour ago. Angel stammered "I need to get in the shower. I have an appointment with my agent today. I don't want to be late." "But, Angel, that isn't until 11:00. It's only 8:00. You have plenty of time, if you know what I mean." Angel was trying to think up a lie. He just couldn't do this right now, not with her, not after that dream. "Uh, he called yesterday and rescheduled it for 9:30. I must have forgotten to tell you."Angel turned and marched to the bathroom, his naked self glowing in the sunlight from the windows. Cordelia was steaming. She needed to make a phonecall, but she couldn't do it with him here. She wouldn't lose him now, she had worked too hard to get him.
Part III
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home.
Email: ttapley5@comcast.net
Spike picked up the phone and dialed the number he knew by heart. It was busy. He cussed, and hung up the receiver. As he hung up, the phone rang. It was her. "God Damn it, what is going on? Angel woke up this morning screaming Buffy's name". she wailed. "Then he wouldn't even let me touch him. We were promised there would be no residual effects, and that this was over. What kind of crooks are you dealing with?" Spike took a deep breath, glad that he was not the one that had to live with this woman. " Cordelia, I don't know, but Buffy had the same kind of dream. We need to go see them. When can you be ready to go?" "Well, I have a leg waxing at 11:00 and a hair appointment at 1:00. I can leave after that I guess." Spike was furious. Not only was he about to lose Buffy, he had to deal with this seriously spoiled women. "No, Cordelia, I meant how soon can I pick you up. We need to take care of this before it becomes a major problem, luv, not whenever it fits into your schedule. You will just have to have the hairs on your body ripped out later. Or I could do it for you". ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Buffy was sitting in her office at work, and found she couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept wandering to the dream and the past. She tried to think happy thoughts about Spike, but couldn't find any. Why is that? She just didn't get it. She had developed a friendship with Spike after her resurrection. He was the only one who really seemed to understand what she was going through, and they continued this way for several months. Then one day it hit her. She loved him, and wanted to be with him forever, They had been together ever since. She brought him blood, and he stopped killing humans (so he says). He was the man in her life and that was the way she wanted it, wasn't it? She hated the doubts and questions that were creeping into her brain. They were giving her a headache. She had already eaten lunch, and didn't have anything scheduled for a couple of hours, so she decided to close her eyes for just a minute.
She was in a bed, not her bed, but a bed none the less. And he was towering over her. Her nipples were taught, her juices flowing, and he hadn't even touched her yet. His beautiful chest was glimmering in the candlelight. Yes, there were candles, her mind just realized. He leaned over and kissed her, his tongue probbing for hers. Over and over again, he delved deeper in her mouth like he was looking for a lost treasure. Buffy's tongue fought with his, to gain her godgiven right to claim him as her own. As he continued the attack on her mouth, his hands began explore her flesh. He started with her throat. His hands encircled her neck,and began rubbing. If she didn't trust him so much, she would have been intimidated by this contact. Then he began to rub her "mark" and she responded accordingly. "Mine, always mine" he began to mutter. Buffy was beyond herself. As his hands left her throat, they began to move lower. His mouth went with him. He kissed her nipple, and then began to suckle her. She thrashed on the bed like an untried schoolgirl. As he continued at her breast, his hand continued even lower. He massaged her belly, and rubbed her inner thighs. All the while, neglecting the thing she most wanted. Then he arched up, ready to complete this dream loving, and Buffy couldn't take it any longer, She began chanting her pleas. 'Please Angel, don't stop, don't stop, Angel don't stop!" "Miss Summers, are you all right?" Buffy almost fell out of her chair. She had that dazed look on her face, wondering where she was. "Oh, Jim, I am fine.. I had a long night, and must have dozed off. Sorry, that is not like me." Jim had been her assistant for two years and had never seen her at anything but her best. Jim, trying to be politically correct, said " That's OK Miss Summers.. I thought something was wrong. You were kind of talking in your sleep, I guess." "Sorry, Jim, just a strange dream. Let me know when the next appointment gets here". "OK, no problem. But just out of curiousity, who is Angel?" "Just someone I used to know... I think." she replied. Then she picked up the phone, and called information. But what she really needed was a cold shower. Or another nap.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Angel had to find something to do with almost two hours of his time. Having lied to Cordy, he had to leave the house earlier than the would have. So he went to the neighborhood coffee shop, and had one too many cafe lattes. He never really understood the fascination with the frilly drinks, but it was the first thing that came to mind when the man asked him what he wanted to order. Angel sat brooding at the first empty table he came across. He still had a tendency to brood, even though he was human. He was trying to figure out what was going on. When he had moved to L.A, it was only a chance meeting that had brought Cordy back into his life. They became friends, and she became his confidant. Then one day, he looked up and realized her loved her. He had been with her ever since. And he liked it that way, didn't he? Angel's somber mood kept him from paying much attention to his surroundings until a certain female head caught his eye. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a head of hair that could only belong to one person. There were red heads in the world,but none with that exact color of red. He knew it was her before he even saw her face. He was confused, and wasn't sure he should say anything at all. At the exact same moment, Willow turned and looked him square in the eyes. Instead of the dislike he expected to see, he saw only a genuine smile light her eyes and her face. She approached the table like a long lost friend. "Angel, how are you? I can't tell you how I have missed you." She said, as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "You look really great in the sunlight, in case no one has told you." "Willow, you look great too. I haven't seen you in forever. How is everyone?" "Well, for the most part everyone is fine. A lot of this you may already know, but I will give you the rundown just in case. Giles has move back to England, and he is happy with Olivia. He owns The Magic Shop in Sunnydale, and opened a second branch in London. Xander finally married his ex-demon lover Anya, and they are expecting their first child in about 4 months. And I am still happily with Tara, though I still see Oz occasionally. It's a long story, but suffice it to say we are all happy with the arrangement. Now tell me about you and your clan." Angel was speechless for a moment. He knew exactly what he would have said 5 hours ago, but now he wasn't sure of anything. He decided on a blanket coverage. " Well, Wesley is great, having taken over the agency. I still help on most nights. Since I still have my strength, I didn't see any reason to leave them in the lurch. And it is much more rewarding now that I am not one of them. I should probably see a shrink about that, by the way." This caused Willow to laugh, which made Angel smile. "You met Gunn and Fred once, that day, well you know. They fell in love and got married. Fred gave birth to a daughter, and she is the light of both their eyes. And that is about all there is to tell." Willow looked him up and down until he was sure he had something stuck in his teeth. "Willow, why are you looking at me like that?" "Angel, did you just forget something or someone in your update?" Angel thought for a moment, and it dawned on him. He never once considered including Cordelia in the update of their friends. Why was that? "Oh, you mean Cordelia. I just assumed you knew. It was no big deal." Angel stuttered during this whole question and answer. Willow stood up, and began her goodbyes. " Angel, I have to go. Tara is waiting. But I need to tell you something. This wasn't just a chance meeting. I came here because I was told to. And no, I did not cast a spell or use any kind of magic. Did you notice, neither one of us mentioned Buffy's name once today?" Willow stopped to catch her breath. "Buffy was our connection, but we both seem to have forgotten it. Not her, just the connection we have to her. As have all her friends. I am not sure what it is I am supposed to do or say, but I was told I needed to contact you, so here I am doing the contact-y thing. I don't know where to go from here, but I have a feeling they will let me know. I want my "friend" Buffy back. And I am willing to do what it takes to get it done. Here is a card with my number, and don't worry, I have yours. Call me if anything unusual happens, and I will do the same." Willow turned and left the shoppe. And Angel sat there with a dumbfounded look on his face, unable to utter a word. +++++++++++++++++ Things went well with his agent, and the dates were all set for his showing. He should be estatic, but instead, he was troubled and melancholy. He decided to go home and take a nap. It was only 1:00, and he could catch a couple hours of sleep before Cordy came home, and he had to be at the agency. Angel went to the bedroom and removed all vestiges of his clothing. Who needed clothes when they were sleeping? He laid down, and the thoughts began to assault him. He made a conscious efffort to think only about Cordelia, but then the dark hair turned to blond, the large breasts turned to ripe and perky, and the voice became Buffy's. He knew he had lost, and he didn't care. She was under him, glowing in the candlelight. God, she was exquisite. He leaned forward to taste her mouth, and she met him. Their tongues began to duel in that age old art. Not looking for dominance, just equality. He needed to claim her as his own,, the way he had done years before. His hands found their way around her neck. In the old days, this would have frightened him, reminding him of the monster that once lived within. But now all he could think of was his "mark", his brand, the thing that proved to the world that she was his. He should be ashamed that he had done this to her, but he wasn't. He was proud, and she wore it well. His hands moved lower. He rubbed her breasts, and then followed them with his mouth. He found her nipple, and began to lick and suckle it. She was writhing along with his movements. His hand began to dip lower. He could smell her, and it was driving him crazy. He began to rub her stomach, and then along her inner thighs. He was ready to comsumate this dream loving. He arched up, ready to plunge into her depths, and........ then this incessant ringing bored a whole in his brain. He realized it was the phone and jumped out of bed to get it. By the time he got there, the ringing stopped. He had forgotten to turn on the answering machine. Oh, well. Angel decided he needed a cold shower, after that dream. Things were getting way out of hand, and he didn't know what he was going to do about it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Meanwhile, Spike had picked up Cordelia in L.A that morning. They had people they needed to see, and questions they needed answered. They weren't coming home without the answers they wanted to hear.
Part IV
Distribution: Let me know, that’s all I ask.
Part V
By Angeluslover Rating: This one is definitely NC-17. Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Distribution: Let me know, if you want it. Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. Just why are they so "happy"? This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: Please. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return.
*** Angel stepped out of the shower to hear the phone ringing again. He knew the answering machine was on, so he wasn't too worried about it. He dried himself off, and looked in the mirror. He was still amazed at his reflection, even after all this time. It wasn't that he was vain (well, maybe just a little), but when you haven't seen yourself in a couple of centuries, it makes sense that it would take a couple of decades to get over the shock. As he stared into the mirror, he wondered who it was he was looking at. If you had asked him this morning, he could have written you a book. But now, everything he thought was true was in question. His mind wandered to his meeting with Willow. What had she meant when she said she was "sent" to see him? Why would someone want him and Willow to meet? It had to have something to do with the dreams, but he didn't know what. He only knew he was torn between never wanting to sleep again, and never wanting to wake up. Not a good place to be. Angel walked into the bedroom, and began to rifle through his clothes. He knew he and Cordelia had a special night planned, but he couldn't think of any place he would rather not be. With everything he had experienced today, he didn't think he could properly give her the attention she demanded. And he didn't have an explanation for why he couldn't. At least none that wouldn't send her over the edge. It was then he noticed the new message light blinking on the answering machine. He hit the play button, and sat on the bed to listen. Cordy's voice came on. "Angel, it's Cordy. I was bored today so I decided to drive into L.A. I ran into some old friends from my acting days, and they invited me to a party. I know you have been wanting to spend more time drawing, so this is your chance. I will see you tomorrow, and I love you. Bye!!!"
The first feeling that hit Angel was relief. He didn't know why, but that was what it was. He didn't question the fact that Cordy had talked of nothing but this night for several weeks. He knew she had bought a new dress and everything. He just knew she wasn't coming home tonight. He had bought himself a few more hours. Now what did he do with them? He decided he needed some answers, and he knew where to begin to get them. He reached for this wallet and picked up the phone. He needed to go to Sunnydale, and he needed to go today. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Willow had just gotten back from L.A. a couple of hours ago. She was glad that everything worked out as she was told it would, but she was still worried about the rest. She knew that Angel and Buffy were two really stubborn people, and then pair them with Cordelia and Spike, and it became a nightmare. She can't remember a time when she didn't think there was something wrong with how everything had went down with those two couples. Now that she knew that everything hadn't been kosher, she felt saddened at the wasted time, but relieved that it could be fixed. And she was also relieved to know that she wasn't crazy. That's what they all thought at first, but she knew better. When Buffy had gotten back from LA after the body swapping incidence, she was sullen and angry. Her relationship with Riley continued for a few months until it dawned on him that she didn't really love him (he was always dense). Her mother died, and Angel had come to the funeral. They had spent a few hours together but nothing came from it. Then Buffy had died. Angel seemed to be crushed at the news, but it didn't take him long to crawl into Cordelia's bed. That had started Willow's doubts. It just didn't seem like something he would do. When she brought Buffy back, she was sure that her meeting with Angel would start them both back on the way to recovering themselves. Instead, it was the end. After that meeting, neither one of them ever thought about the other again. At least, not romantically. Willow was sure that there was something other-worldly going on, but she couldn't find anything. And since everyone else seemed content with it, she let it go. Then Buffy decided Spike was the love of her life, and she pulled back from all her friends when they objected. She even let Giles move back to England without so much as an argument. No, things were not right in the world of Buffy. But she couldn't convince anyone else there was something wrong, and every time she tried, it was like she forgot what it was she was arguing about. Magic can be a powerful tool, and used the wrong way, it can be devastating. When she got the visit last night, she knew that she was right all along. It didn't really make her feel any better, it just made her remember Buffy the way she was when she was with Angel. This was the Buffy she loved, and she couldn't wait to get her back. And Angel was the key to doing that. She didn't care if she had to step on Cordelia's head to make it happen. It would happen. But if she remembered the way they were together correctly, Buffy and Angel would do it all by themselves, now that the wheels have started to turn. She sighed in satisfaction. Then the phone rang. She was wondering how long it would take before he called. He even surpassed her expectations. "Hello, Angel" she said as she picked up the phone. 'How did you know it was me?' he answered. "Witch here, remember? Plus, I have caller ID." "I need to see you. I have a lot of questions, and you seem to be the only one who has any answers." She could hear the desperation in his voice. "Well, we could talk now if you want", she said. "No, I think we need to do this in person. Can I drive up?" "Sure, I will be here." she replied. As they said there good-byes, Willow couldn't help but smile. She didn't bother to mention that Buffy was supposed to stop by later. Even though they weren't as close as they once were, they had a standing date for wine and gossip once a month. And tonight was the night. This could prove interesting. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In the meantime, Spike and Cordy had been given separate huts. It was just as well, that way they wouldn't kill each other. They both had a lot of pent up anxiety going on, and it wouldn't do any good to have them take it out on each other. Spike laid his head down, and closed his eyes. He was used to sleeping while the sun was up, so none of this bothered him. He began to think about how he had gotten where he was. He had begun to have feelings for Buffy before she died. When her Mum was sick, it tore him up. Of course, the original thought had been to make Angel suffer, but that changed when she started leaning on him when her Mum was sick. They became friends, sort of. And he liked helping her out with Dawn. And slaying, and anything else that could help him embed himself in her life. It was right about the time her Mum died that he knew he needed something else to get her. She had gotten rid of Fishboy easily enough, but Angel was going to be a different story. He decided the day of her Mum's death that he would not lose another woman to Angel. Dru had been bad enough. That's when this whole thing got started. +++++++++++++ Cordelia laid down on the really seedy cot. Her mind was racing. What was Angel thinking about her not coming home? Was he upset? Angry? She didn't have the leeway at this point to tick him off. She had been through so much for him. If only he knew. But then she thought about the beginning of all this, and realized that if he knew, their relationship would be over. Cordy was thinking about the first time she saw Angel. She was dressed to the nines, and ready to approach him. But he walked right past her, and headed for Buffy. It was the same night that Buffy was at the Bronze with Owen. She was so humiliated. How could that gorgeous man prefer mousy Buffy over her? It still didn't make any sense. That was the night that she decided she would do whatever it took, no matter how long it took, to prove to Buffy that she was better. Angel would be hers, and hers alone. Too many years had past for her to lose now. No, it wasn't even a possibility. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Buffy decided to leave work a little early. Tonight was her monthly night with Willow. They had drifted apart over the years, and she knew that Spike was the main reason. None of her friends had ever really excepted her relationship with him, Not that she cared. She had been to heaven and back, and decided that Spike was the one she wanted. Who were they to judge her? Even Giles had abandoned her when she hooked up with him. But that was OK, she didn't need them. She only needed Angel, she thought. Wait a minute! That wasn't what she was thinking. What was going on? Buffy was kind of glad that she was going to Willow's tonight. She needed to talk to someone who could maybe help her understand what was going on. A witch might be just the ticket. Buffy pulled up in front of her house. It had been her house since she was 16, and she couldn't imagine living any where else. She needed a shower, and a reality check. She realized as she pulled up that Spike's car wasn't there. That was odd, he was usually waiting for her. Not that she was upset. Actually, she was relieved. She didn't want to face him at the moment. Buffy went into the house, and did what she normally did. She checked the answering machine first. Noticing it blinking, she hit the play button. Spike's voice came on, "Buffy, it's me. I just wanted to let you know that I was out today and ran into some old friends. We are just going to hang out and reminisce about old times, so I may not be home tonight. But I will see you when you get home tomorrow. Luv you, bye!" Wow, Buffy thought. This was not like him, but she couldn't find it in herself to be upset. She only felt relief. What did that say about her? She didn't know, she just knew she needed to get into the shower, and get ready for tonight. At least she didn't have to fend off Spike. Part VI
By Angeluslover Rating: This one is definitely NC-17. Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Distribution: Let me know, if you want it. Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. Just why are they so "happy"? This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: Please. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return.
*** Spike could feel the sun going down. It should be safe for him to leave the hut in a few minutes, so he lit a cigarette and waited. About that time, Cordelia barged in without so much as an attempt at knocking. “Don’t you ever knock? I could have been sitting here in the buff, for all you know. Damn inconsiderate woman.” “Oh, shut up, Spike. We need to find out what is going on. Put your shirt on and let’s go.” Cordelia ordered. Spike resisted the urge to slap her. “Lucky for you I was getting ready to do just that. Let’s go see if we can find anyone who might know what the hell is going on.” They left the hut, and headed towards the fire. Several people were sitting around the fire, including the girl they had seen earlier. Spike approached her, while Cordelia followed behind. Spike was the first to speak, “So, what have we found out? When will this “guest” arrive that will have our answers? We can’t stay here forever, you know?” The girl looked up and smiled, inviting them both to have a seat. Spike plopped himself down on ground, but Cordelia just stood there. “Get real. There is no way I am sitting on the ground.” Spike glared at her, and again thanked whatever gods he could think of that he would not have to see her again after this night. “Here, you spoiled bint, sit down on this log, and keep your mouth shut.” Cordy glared at Spike and carefully sat down. Remembering why they were here, she decided to let Spike have the upper hand for now. He wouldn’t be someone she would have to deal with after tonight. Thinking about tonight, she realized that she and Angel should have been on her way to the restaurant right now. Not just any restaurant, but the best restaurant in L.A. It took her two months just to get a reservation. This just wasn’t fair. Why did Buffy always have to try to ruin things for her? Wasn’t being the slayer enough? No, she had to have Angel too. Well, not if she could help it. “Good evening, Miss Cordelia, Mr. Spike. I hope you had a nice rest. Miss Cordelia, we have not been formally introduced. My name is Anna. It is a pleasure to meet you.” “Yeah, whatever. So, what’s the scoop? How soon can we get out of here?” Cordy snapped. “As for your question, we have been in contact with our resource, and expect a visit sometime before midnight. In the meantime, please partake of our hospitality. If you wish, I will take you to the dining area where you may eat or drink, whichever is your pleasure.” “Well, if we have to wait, we might as well enjoy it. Got any scotch around here?” Spike again took the lead, while Cordelia struggled to get up from the log. She just wasn’t meant to rough it. Armani and Gucci weren’t meant for the great outdoors, and neither was Cordelia Chase.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Buffy pulled up to the back of Willow’s house. Since they spent all their time in the kitchen when they had their get-togethers, and the kitchen was in the back of the house, that was where she always parked. She got out of the car, and went to the door. She had always loved this house, and Willow and Tara had gotten a great deal on it. But it wasn’t like they needed the money. Willow had a great job as a computer programmer for a local software company, and Tara owned a retro clothing store that was doing surprisingly well. She knocked on the door and waited for Willow to answer. “Hi, Buffy, you look great as usual. Come on in!” Willow gushed when she opened the door. “Hey, Willow, how are you? You seem awfully chipper this evening. What’s going on?” “Can’t a best friend just be glad to see her bestest friend?” Willow asked. “ We see each other so rarely now, that I find myself really looking forward to these get-togethers.” “Yeah, me too. We should do it more often.” Sitting down in their usual spots, Buffy noticed that Willow couldn’t seem to stop smiling. “Willow, why are you smiling like that? You are starting to give me the wiggins.” Willow needed to get a grip before Buffy got any more suspicious, but couldn’t seem to stop smiling. “I just had a really good night last night, and that was followed by a really good day. Days like that don’t happen very often, so I am just trying to enjoy it.” Buffy couldn’t help but grin. Willow always was the enthusiastic type. Buffy sometimes thought Willow should have been the cheerleader, instead of her. “Well, I am glad for you. So tell me what has been happening in your life these past few weeks.” +++++++++++++ Willow and Buffy had been sitting around the table for about an hour. They had both had a couple of glasses of wine, and were just catching up with each other’s life. The doorbell rang, and Buffy thought Willow was going to jump out of her skin. “Oh, I guess I had better get that. Wonder who it could be.” About the same time, Buffy's skin began to tingle. She hadn't felt that way, well, in a long time. It was a weird sensation, but not uncomfortable. It felt kind of familiar, although she didn't know why. Angel made it to Sunnydale a little after sundown, and pulled up in front of the house at the address that Willow had given him. It was a really nice house: old, big, victorian. He was impressed with her taste. After parking his car out front, Angel went to the door and knocked. His skin was tingling, and Angel somehow knew this meeting had the potential to change his life forever. Willow went to the door, knowing who it was. Angel was at the front door, and Buffy was in the back of the house. Let the fun begin., but three was a crowd when it came to reunions so Willow decided on a plan. "Hey, Angel, glad you could make it. Come on in. Uh, I need to go upstairs to get something, but you can go have a seat in the kitchen. It’s at the back of the house. Just make yourself at home, and I will be there in a second." Angel walked down the hallway, looking for the kitchen. It was kind of odd that Willow would just leave him to navigate her house by himself, but the house wasn't that big. Compared to the mansion, it was a shack. He should be able to find the kitchen. The closer he got to the back of the house, the faster his heart was beating, and the more his skin itched. It was like his essence could sense something that his human self didn't. He had no idea what was going on, but he came here for answers. Finding out what was causing this was the first question he was going to ask! Buffy, meanwhile, sat at the kitchen table, waiting for Willow to return. Her ‘spidey’ sense was on full alert, but that wasn't what she was feeling. She didn't know what this was, but her senses were in overdrive. It was like her soul was calling out to something or someone, and waiting for an answer. Angel opened the door to the kitchen, and looked around the corner. Looking around the corner of the door, he realized he wasn't alone. A blond headed girl was sitting in a chair, with her back to the door. His was stunned by the force that hit him and by the screaming that commenced in his soul. It was her. She was here. Oh my god, she was sitting right in front of him! Buffy was sure there was something wrong. Willow had been gone for too long, and the way her senses were behaving, she just knew things weren't right. No, that wasn't right. She didn't feel that things were wrong, they were just not the same. Buffy started to get up, stake in hand just in case, to find Willow. Then she saw him. "Angel?" "Buffy, is that really you?" he said as he went all the way into the kitchen. She was here, her blond hair, gorgeous eyes and great body, they were all here. Even those great dreams couldn't compare to the reality of his Buffy. Angel drank in the look of her, the smell of her, and couldn't think of any words to say. It felt like his soul was singing. Buffy just stared. Her mind was blank, except for the memories of the dreams, and the past. How in the hell had she forgotten this feeling? The feeling of completeness that comes when you are with your soulmate. She could feel his soul singing with hers. They didn't have to talk, it was like a symphony between their souls, and all they had to do was listen. She couldn't believe that he was here, after all this time. Buffy ran to his arms, and he grabbed her so tight she could hardly breath. God, how could they have forgotten this feeling? Something definitely wasn't right. Buffy regained her composure, and stepped out of the hug. Angel's arms felt empty, but he agreed with the decision. They hadn't been together for a long time, and they both had other people (well, beings) to consider. They needed to talk about what was causing these feelings. Chances are it was magic, and not good magic. At the same time, Buffy decided it was time to sit and talk. None of this was making sense, and her head was beginning to hurt. "Angel, please sit down. It is really good to see you." "You, too, Buffy. It’s been a really long time." Angel replied. As they both sat down at the table, their hands accidentally touched. Both of them recoiled like they were being burned by fire. "Buffy, I don't understand any of this. We haven't even talked to each other in over three years, and now I can't stop thinking about you. I don't know why, and I don't know why how. I have been plagued, well, blessed actually, by these dreams for the past 24 hours. They are incredible, and they make me afraid. How can I go three years without even thinking about you, and then do nothing but dream about you for a whole day? I came here to see Willow, looking for answers, but instead I find you.” "Angel, I have had the same kinds of dreams. I agree that something must not be right. Why would I wake up wanting nothing but you, when we agreed years ago that what we had was over? We have both moved on, and none of this makes any sense. I agree with you, it must be a spell. It's not like people mind screwing with our lives. We seem to be listed under the "Lives to Screw With" category in the demon catalogue". About that time, Buffy looked him in the eyes. There they were, the bedroom eyes that had haunted her dreams for the past day. Buffy was becoming wet just looking at him. God, what was wrong with her? It had to be a spell, but somehow she didn't care at the moment. Drowning in his chocolate orbs was the only thing that she wanted at that moment. He was everything she had ever dreamed of, and Spike was nothing more than a pale comparison. At the same time, Angel was staring at her. He wanted to say something intelligent, but he couldn't even think of anything intelligible. She was staring at him with her looking glass eyes, and he couldn't pull his gaze away. He could always see himself so much better in her eyes than in any mirror. And he didn't like what he saw. She was the one, but he had made a commitment to Cordy. How could he feel this way about another woman, when he had vowed his loved for Cordelia? ++++++++++ Willow wasn't sure what the appropriate amount of time to leave them alone would be. She just knew they were on a time limit, and she couldn't stand it anymore. She was pretty sure that Angel and Buffy would be unhappy with her for secretly arranging this meeting, but, if it worked, the results would be worth it. And they would thank her later. Willow decided it was time to face the music. Part VII
Willow walked down the stairs, ready to face the music. Unfortunately, she wouldn't have answers to many of the questions she knew she was they were going to ask . This was going to be the tricky part, and she needed to have her wits about her. Everything depended on her now, and failure was not an option. Willow peeked her head in the kitchen door. Buffy and Angel were deep in conversation, his head bent close enough to hers to kiss her if he wanted to. Willow couldn’t help but smile. They were so cute together. She hoped they would be open to what she was about to say. Willow cleared her throat, "Hrmph", as she walked into the kitchen. Both Buffy and Angel jumped up when they heard her, and Willow grinned again. They looked like they had been caught doing something illegal, instead of just talking. The looks on their face caused Willlow to blush, it was so guilty. "Hey, I see you two found each other. It's about time don't you think?" Willow remarked. Both Buffy and Angel began to protest that comment. "No, we were just talking." They both said at the same time. "Oh, and you had something in your eye, Buffy. That’s why Angel was so close. Did he get it out?" Willow sarcastically remarked. "I don't know what you are talking about, Willow. Angel and I were just catching up, like any old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time would do.” Buffy remarked. "Yeah, Willow, Buffy and I have both moved on. We are just friends now." Angel commented. Willow looked at them, and shook her head in disgust. "This is the only time you will hear this from me. I agree with something Spike once said. You two will never be friends. It is not in your karma, or in your future, to ever be friends. Sorry to burst your bubble." "Willow, why are you saying this? Your attitude is kind of rude, if not deeply disturbing. Angel and I have been through a lot together, and being friends should be an option." "No, fate has much better plans for both of you. And we are all here to try and get you there." Willow said. Both Buffy and Angel looked at her like she had a third head. They were both at a loss, and couldn't understand what she meant. "Willow, does this have something to do with what you told me earlier in L.A. about your visit last night? Did it have something to do with Buffy and I?" Angel said. Buffy’s face turned white at this new information came to light. "You saw Angel today and didn't tell me? I thought you were my friend, and instead you go behind my back and set me up with my old boyfriend. Why would you do that Willow?" "Buffy, I didn't do anything to hurt you. It's all good, but we need to sit down and talk. There are decisions to be made, and we don't have a lot of time. So why don't you both sit down, and I will tell you what I know." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Spike and Cordelia were summoned from the dining hut to the fire. Their contact was going to be here soon, and their presence was required. Spike did not like being summoned anywhere, it went against the nature of his beast. And of course, Cordy was not much for taking orders either. It was not a happy pair that left to join the others at the fire. The fact that they damn near hated each other didn't help matters. Spike sat down next to Anna, and Cordy sat on her log next to them. Their was an old man at the head of the fire who was obviously an elder. He came over to where they were sitting, and began to speak. "We are sorry that it has come to this. But with all our skill and knowledge, there are still things that are beyond our control. Cordelia, our people have had more than one dealing with you, and until now, all was successful. Now we have seen things go beyond our control, and so we have called in our source from the otherworld to assist us. Please take your positions around the fire, and the ceremony will commence. Miss Cordelia, please sit on the east side of the fire, you will represent life, the rising of the sun. Mr. Spike, you will be on the west side of the fire, representing death, the setting of the sun." Spike and Cordelia both got up to do what they were asked. Cordelia didn't even complain about sitting on the ground. She knew what was at stake, and what did a two hundred dollar pair of pants have to do with it? When this was over, Angel would be hers, and Buffy would be nothing more than a vague memory for him. The old man started his incantation. Cordelia didn't understand a word he was saying, and Spike only understood every other word. But it didn't seem that they needed to understand, because things began to happen. The wind picked up, and debris began to blow. Clouds were rolling in, and lightening could be seen in the distance. As the incantation began to crescendo, thunder could be heard. The clouds moved closer, and the lightening and thunder were right above them. Then it happened. A bolt of lightening hit the fire, and Spike and Cordy were sent flying into the air. After several moments of dizziness, they both stood up. And were shocked by what they saw. This was their contact? How could that be? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Buffy, Angel and Willow were sitting at her kitchen table. Both Buffy and Angel were looking at Willow, waiting for her to speak. She was weighing her words, wondering what to say as to not scare either one off. "OK, guys, let's talk about what happened. First let me say, I haven't been involved in magic for a long time. So this really caught me off guard. Last night, I was woken up by a spirit, who had a lot to say." "By a ghost? Are you sure?" Buffy asked. "No, it wasn't a ghost. It was a spirit. I'm not sure I know what the difference is, I just know there is. She had a lot to say, and it all had to do with you two. You aren't going to be happy with this, but it IS the truth. Buffy, Angel, you were never meant to be with Spike and Cordelia.:" Pandemonium broke loose as both Buffy and Angel began to protest this. "Willow, how can you say that? I love Spike, and I am sure Angel loves Cordelia. We both had a choice, and we made it. This is just ridiculous." "No, it isn't. According to my visitor, you both have been manipulated by an outside source. There were forces that assisted the events that happened, and it wasn’t what was supposed to happen. The universe has been out of sorts since then. The powers have waited for you to find your way back, but they can't wait anymore. That’s how I got involved." Willow stopped to take a breath. What she said now could make or break this whole thing. "Buffy, tell me when you made a conscious decision that you wanted to be with Spike? And Angel, when did you decide you couldn't live without Cordelia?" Both Angel and Buffy stood there and thought about it. "I can't speak for Buffy, but it happened after she was resurrected. After Buffy and I met and agreed that we were over, it just seemed to happen naturally." "Yeah, that was about the same time for me." Buffy said. "I came back from seeing him, and we both agreed it was time to move on. And Spike was the one I really wanted." "Don’t you see? It was just a little too convenient, and way too easy. Think about the dreams you two have shared - yes, shared - for the past day. Do you think it should be that easy for two soulmates to just move on? Don't you see how rare what you two had together is?" Neither Buffy or Angel could think of anything to say at that moment. They were overwhelmed. Then Angel spoke, "So what are you saying Willow? Are you trying to say that what I feel for Cordelia is a spell? That everything I have lived for the past three years has been a lie?" "It isn't that simple. It wasn't just a spell. A spell would have ramifications. This didn't. It was a reversal incantation. All feelings that you two had for each other were reversed. So there was no guilt, no regrets, and very few memories left. Only the chance to move on without each other." "That's not possible. Even if that did happen, it wouldn't make me fall in love with Spike. It must be real then.” Buffy said, grasping at straws. "That wasn't all Buffy. They also had the incantation performed so that you would both would be open to the usually unthinkable. Though it didn't completely cause this, it got the ball rolling enough for you both to fall into their trap." "You keep saying they. Who cast this spell? Who would gain from having me and Buffy apart?” Angel asked. "That is the part I don't know. She never said who, but she said we only have until sunrise tomorrow to fix it. If we don't, the world is doomed." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cordelia pulled herself up from the ground, and stared at the new arrival. This just couldn't be. Why would she have anything to do with this? She was never there before, so this had to be beyond her. But them she remembered. She had reason to hate Angel, and this was a something she could work with. This was going to be a piece of cake. By the time that Cordy was getting up, Spike was already roving the area, cussing about the circumstances, and wondering how he could use it to his advantage. 'She' hated Angel, she had to. This should give him the leverage he needed to finish this deal. But he didn't understand what the big deal was. She was a spirit, not a god, why all the hoopla about her visit? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Willow looked into the faces of Buffy and Angel. They both seemed stunned, and were looking to her for guidance. She aimed to please, and decided to get down to business. "OK, kids, here it is. According to my visit, there are certain things that must happen before the sun rises. First, there is a ritual that needs to be performed. I have asked Tara to come perform it, since I don't do those things anymore. Addict, you know. Once this is done, the hard part starts." "How can it be any harder than this? The not knowing what is happening is killing us both." Buffy said. Angel shook his head in agreement. "Here is the scoop. You will be locked in a room together until the sun rises. You can do whatever you want during the time, but you cannot consummate your relationship. If you do, everything that happened in past 24 hours will cease to be. You will go back to your lives that were, and forget about each other once again. Buffy, you will be back with Spike, and Angel, you with Cordelia. During this time, you will be tempted by more than each other, but must remain pure. If either of you fail, and have intercourse with anyone, then the altered world will be restored. Spike and Cordelia will be your future. And the course of the world will be changed forever. Though I wasn't told what the results would be, I got the distinct feeling that failure would not be pretty, and the results would be tragic for us all. Do you think you can do this?" "Sure, no problem." Angel said. "Of course, we're both adults. Shouldn't be an issue." Buffy commented. Willow looked them both in the eye, and decided to drop the bombshell, "Great, then let me tell you the rest. When you go to the room to spend the night, you both have to be naked." Buffy's mouth dropped, and Angel's fell on top of it. Willow had never seen so much blushing in her life. "Oh, come on you two. You are both adults, and it's not like you haven't seen each other naked before." Part VIII By Angeluslover Rating: This one is definitely NC-17. Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. Just why are they so "happy"? This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: Please. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return. *** "What do you mean naked? We can't be naked, in front of each other. We have only been together one time, and that was years ago. This is totally unacceptable." Buffy cried. Knowing that wasn't quite the truth, Angel echoed Buffy's sentiments. "Why naked, and why all night? This doesn't make any sense.:" Willow had know this would be a challenge. Everything that she said now would impact the rest of their lives, and the rest of the future. Just as she was about to respond, Tara came walking in. She reached down and kissed Willow on the cheek, and turned to greet their guests. "Hey, Buffy, it's nice to see you. And Angel, it's nice to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you." "I have heard a lot about you, too, Tara. It's nice to finally meet the person that makes our Willow happy." Angel replied. "Well, I wouldn't bet that it's just me, but I do my part, as does Oz. Speaking of Oz, I invited him here tonight. He should be here any time." "Really? But why? You know we have things to do tonight that can't wait, and he hasn't been involved in any of this in a long time. Since he got his "grrr" under control, he has steered clear of the wild and wacky life of a witch." Willow said. "I had my r-r- reasons, “Tara said. "The most important being that I need two witnesses for the ritual to work, and Buffy and Angel don't count. Y-Y-You wouldn't want me to ask a complete stranger, would you? He was a little reluctant at first but when I told him it was for Buffy and Angel, he jumped all over himself to volunteer. Seems he has some fond memories of them together." Willow felt guilty for questioning Tara. One, because she was looking forward to seeing Oz, and the other because she could sense the stress that Tara was under. Tara had grown alot and only stuttered when she was really stressed or angry. She knew that the two of them would talk about it later, but there were more important things that needed to be dealt with first. "Oh, well, then. I guess I was jumping to conclusions. Sorry, Tara. And thanks for all the work. I wish I could have done it myself, but we know how that turns out. Not a big happy for anybody. “Willow almost mumbled. Sometimes her mouth just sprouts things that she would be better off letting lay. Just as Willow finished with her apology, there was a knock at the back door. All of their long time friends used the backdoor, so Willow assumed it was Oz. She opened the door without paying attention, and said "Come on in". This added to another list of really dumb things she had said that night. "Angelus, we heard you were back in town. Thanks for the invitation." The leader of the vampire gang sneered. Tara and Willow were the first to notice what was going on, and jumped into the laundry room, locking the door. They sat huddled in a corner, with wooden coat hangers in their hands. Going peacefully was not an option. But they were not on the dinner list tonight. It was 'Slayer and Angelus' night at this restaurant. Buffy saw what was happening, and sprinted for the living room, with an equally aware Angel right behind her. They needed weapons, and they needed them now. Buffy had one stake on her, cause she never left home without it. But Angel had gotten used to living outside the hellmouth, and was not prepared for this. They ran into the formal dining room, and locked the wooden doors that sheltered the room. This would at least buy them some time. Buffy's big green eyes (at least they were green right now) penetrated him like a fireplace poker. Her grin was so wide, he was sure the sun couldn't have shone through if it was daylight. "Just like old times, huh, Angel. I can't believe you came to the hellmouth without any weapons. What were you thinking?" Angel was almost speechless, he was so lost in her eyes and her smile. Then he heard the banging, and jumped into action. What he really needed was a stake, but since they had a shortage of them at the moment, he decided to improvise. He could tell by the way the door was giving that they were going to have company very soon, so he had better arm himself. Not that he didn't think Buffy could handle it, he just knew she shouldn't have to. So, he did the next best thing. He took one of the dining room chairs and broke off a leg. Wow, this was a nice dining room set, and Willow was going to want to stake him himself after this. Of course, now that he was human, a stake was going to cause massive blood loss and a lot of pain. He tried not to think about that. That was about the time that the vampires broke through the doors. "Come on, Angel, let's kick some butt so we can get naked."Buffy cried as she rushed the onslaught. There were at least six of them, and she was already taking care of two. That comment made Angel almost miss staking the first vampire that came at him. Buffy was obviously more comfortable with what was coming than he was. But, what the hell. They had been through so much, and every second in her presence brought back another thought, another memory, another reason that he loved her. Or at least used to love her, right? Angel and Buffy wound up back to back, just like old times. Neither one was afraid for each other, knowing they could handle themselves. It felt right to be like this, together. And what was to come seemed so small compared to what they were doing right now. Protecting the lives of innocent humans, while protecting the lives of each other. This was what they were made for. The fight was soon over. These Sunnydale vampires just got older, not smarter. So Buffy and Angel dusted themselves off, and went to make sure that Willow and Tara were OK. +++++++++++++++++++++ Tara and Willow were still holed up in the closet, afraid to come out until they were sure the house was safe again. Buffy found them there, hugging each other, with a wooden coat hanger perched between them ready to kill any uninvited beast. "Come on out, you two. Everything is OK now. Unless you have a dust allergy." Angel chuckled at this, and Buffy turned to stare. She had rarely heard him laugh, and chuckling was something new. She beamed at him, and he grinned back. This Angel definitely had some advantages over vamp angel, and sex wasn't the only one. "Wow, are they all dust already? You two were always so in tune. It would have taken three times as long for one of you to kill all them, but with you two together, it is just 'Poof, you are dust'. You should fight together more often." Willow gushed. "Thanks, Willow", Angel blushingly replied. "But there were only six, it wasn't like there was an army. And yes you are right. Buffy is definitely someone you want watching you back." "Me, watching your back? No, you got that wrong. You should be watching mine." She giggled. "OK, you win. You are the slayer, after all. I am a mere mortal." "Not so mortal from what I hear. I think vampire strength combined with immortality doesn't classify you as a mortal, even if you do have a heartbeat." Willow had to ask, "Angel, is it true what we heard about your Shanshu? Are you really as strong as ever, with immortality?" "No, Willow, that isn't exactly true. Yes, I retained my strength, but I am not immortal. I can die just like any human, and am prone to the same diseases. I just have a much greater resistance, and I don't age as quickly. From what I understand, I will age about one year for every ten that I exist. So immortal, no, but mortal, not exactly either." Buffy's first thought was that he would still outlive her by hundreds of years. If they both lived for fifty more years, he would live for five hundred. It wasn't fair, but having been dead, she knew living could be as much as curse as a blessing. But she wouldn't say that, and bring down the crowd. There was a knock at the back door, and this time Willow pulled aside the curtain to see who it was. Breathing a sigh of relief, she opened the door, and was greeted by a bear hug. "Hey, Willow, good to see you. “It was Oz this time. Willow hugged him back, and invited him into the gathering. Oz leaned over and hugged Tara, "Hey, Tara. Great to see you again." Tara smiled back. "Angel, Buffy, it's been a long time. Nice to see you both in the same room again." "Hey, Oz," was pretty much the chorus from everyone. Tara sighed, and decided it was time to get started. "Well, I wish we had time to catch up, but it's 11:00, and we need to get this ritual started. It has to be done by midnight if it is going to be successful. Is everyone ready to move this party upstairs?" +++++++++++++ The room was all ready for them. A pagan design had been drawn on the floor, and candles were lit all around. Incense and magical herbs were already mixed to be used in the ritual. The necessary books were in place, and all that was needed were the participants. "Wow, Tara, you and Willow have been busy. Giles would be proud." Buffy said in awe. Usually, they had to spend 45 minutes setting up for a five minute spell. "Well, we wanted to leave some leeway for error. This has to be done before then midnight." Willow replied. "OK, Tara, it's your turn. Angel, please sit at the top of the snake, and Buffy, you sit at the tail. Oz, you will sit across from me. Tara, begin when you are ready." "To begin this, we must review the history that has caused us to be here tonight. Angel, Buffy, you are here because there were forces that were called to cause altered states in your lives that affected your futures. Because of this, you have both lead lives that have been changed from what the powers that be intended for their champions. There are others who have benefited from these altered states, and they too will be dealt with accordingly." Tara began to chant in a language that even Angel didn't understand. She spread the incenses around the room, and both Angel and Buffy began to feel dizzy. Abruptly, Tara stood up, and her eyes were glowing, if that was possible. None of them had ever seen eyes the color of blue that Tara's eyes became. As they all stared, Tara began to speak in a monotone voice, "Our champions, we want to set things right. But it has come to our attention that you may be happier if we let things be as they are. So we do something we have never done before. We give you a choice. You can take our challenge. If you manage to stay celibate for the whole evening, you will be returned to the life you would have had before your lives were altered. We do not allow consummation during these rituals, but we understand the nature of the human." Buffy and Angel's breath caught in their mouths. What do they mean, a choice? That was something they had never had before, and they didn't know how they would deal with it. Tara 'The Powers' continued. "It has come to our attention that you are both happy with the way your lives are now. If you both choose, we will leave things the way they are. You will both still fight with each other, side by side, but you will no longer have the memories, or the love, that you once had. It is up to you, and you must decide. But remember, if you do not succeed in your challenge, tomorrow will be the same as yesterday. There will be no reversal of the spell, and no change in path will happen. So the world will be forever altered." Angel was speechless. Lose Buffy? All the memories? His life was good with Cordelia, but he had never felt anything with her that could compare with what he had felt in the last three hours with Buffy. He took one look at her, and it was the only answer he needed. He never wanted to forget this feeling. And there wasn't even actual sex involved. No, he would take his chances, and hope Buffy was his true reward. Buffy had the same decision to make. Was a sure thing with Spike better than a maybe with Angel? She could go home right now, and forget any of this ever happened. But then she looked at Angel, and realized that she had never felt this way about Spike. Her heart was in her throat, and she felt like a rutting deer. No, Spike did not make her feel this way. She was willing to do whatever it took to experience this feeling again. She would take her chances, hoping that Angel waited at the end. They looked at each other, and they both knew. In unison, they said, "We accept your challenge." "Then so be it. Tara collapsed, and both Willow and Oz jumped up to catch her. " What happened, did the spell work?' she sighed. Willow responded quietly, "Yes, everything worked as planned. Now it is up to Angel and Buffy." Part IX
By Angeluslover Rating: This one is definitely NC-17. Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. Just why are they so "happy"? This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: Please. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return. ***
The apparition looked around, and noticed that she was surrounded by her people. It had been a long time since she had been here. "Hello, my friends, I am so pleased to be among you again. What dire consequence has caused you to call upon me?" The old man stood up, and confronted their newest guest. "Janna, it is wonderful to see you again. I can see the powers are honoring their word, and taking good care of you. We have a problem, and we beseech you and the powers to help us continue our revenge." Janna looked around at her people, and wondered at how they had gotten so cold. "Revenge, again? Our people have more than extracted their pound of flesh from Angel. What could you possible want to do to him that you haven't already? He has been tortured for almost one hundred years with the memories of the vile deeds performed by his demon. Even though 'he' wasn't the one that committed these deeds. He has found his true love and been changed back into his demon self because of it, all in the name of revenge. I lost my human life because of your revenge. And now, because of your revenge, he sleeps with a woman who he does not belong with. When does this end? How much revenge is enough?" The gypsy king looked at Janna, and felt regret for what had happened to her. But he felt no regret for what his people had done. "Janna, you are a gypsy. You know that revenge is eternal, and he will never be forgiven." "That would be fine if we were dealing with a human. Humans die, and the revenge then ends. This is a vampire we are dealing with. His body will never die, but his demon, the one you choose to punish, is already dead. And has been since you cast your spell. You have been torturing an innocent soul. The only time his demon has existed since then was due to my uncle and this woman whose selfishness knows no bounds." Jenny said as she pointed to Cordelia. Selfishness knows no bounds, huh? That was not a good sign. Leave it to Cordy to piss off the powers, Spike thought. Cordelia regained her focus, and got up from the ground. She approached the apparition with dismay on her face. "Miss Calendar, is that you? But how, you're dead?" Spike stood up at the same time. "Hello, hellmouth, vampires, demons. Any of this ringing a bell, Cordelia? How can you ask such a stupid question?" Both Cordelia and Jenny gave Spike a quick glance, and decided to ignore him.” “Yes, Cordelia, it is me. And of course I am dead. But you should know by now that nothing is really what is seems. If that were the case, you would still be with Xander, instead of with a friend's soulmate." Jenny replied. The voice that accompanied the face was the same, but not the same. It was almost like there were others reciting her words with her. "He is MY soulmate. You weren't here, you haven't seen how happy we are together. You have no right to judge me." Cordy cried. Spike decided to join the foray, "Yeah, Cordy and the Poufter were happy, just like me and the slayer have been. Buffy and Angel were always wrong for each other, and we just made sure it stayed that way. We were doing what was best for both of them." Jenny looked at the two and couldn't help but smile. "Do either of you think you would be where you are right now if you hadn't took it upon yourselves to change the course of events? Would Buffy love you, Spike, if it weren't for the spell? And Cordelia, do you think that Angel would pick you over Buffy if he had a clear, unaltered choice?" "Of course" they answered in unison. Jenny looked them both up and down. She knew they both believed what they were saying, but their selfishness could not be overlooked. "I do not come here to speak only for myself. The words I say come from a much higher power. The spells that have been cast by you two have altered what the powers have planned for the world. The first time was tragic enough, but the second time could have lasting repercussions. The first one caused us much pain to right the world, but the last one was has caused much damage, and wasted much or our time. It has caused us undue stress to find a way to possibly counteract it, or to work with it if the reversal should not take. We are not happy beings." Spike frowned, and said, "Hey, I was only involved in one. The bint here caused the other problems. I didn't even know about it until you filled me in. So Angelus wasn't part of the original deal. Go figure. And I thought I was an evil, cruel being. "We know that you weren't involved in the first spell, William. Several years ago, Cordelia made a deal with my uncle. Turns out the original spell did not have a happiness clause in it, until my uncle and Cordelia decided it would be a good thing. Cordelia wasn't about to let Buffy have Angel, no matter what it took." "Geez, Cordy, even I wouldn't have been that cruel. Well, maybe, but mine would have involved some blood shed. " Spike remarked. He was stunned that Cordy had done this, and he realized that Cordy was inadvertently responsible for Miss Calendar's death, as well as countless others. He always knew she was a heartless bitch, but he never knew to what degree. Not that the deaths bothered him, but he would have thought it would have bothered her. "Leave it to you, pigeon, to bring the wrath of the powers down on us." Cordelia began to make excuses for her actions. "Buffy didn't deserve him, she just made him unhappy. I was the one who could make him happy. I knew it from the first time I met him in the Bronze. I didn't mean for it to happen the way it did, your uncle didn't tell me that Angelus would happen. It's his fault that it went so wrong, I was just an innocent bystander." "Hush, Cordelia, we are tired of hearing your excuses. Your selfishness has cost the world some souls, and perhaps altered the course of our universe forever. But for some reason, you are not being cast into the pits of hell, which was my first choice."Jenny was getting a little red in the face, which was odd for a spokesman for the powers. Jenny continued. "There are things that are occurring right now that are meant to right the world. You two are involved, but only as viewers. We have thrown down the gauntlet before our champions, and have given them their greatest challenge. They are to spend the night together, tonight. But they cannot consummate their love. If they make it through the night, the world will be righted. And the powers will be free to exact their revenge on the two of you. If they don't, you will have won. If Buffy and Angel consummate their love for each other any time before sunrise, the world will be put in a place the new circumstances will work : the powers will alter the plans that have been made. Buffy and Angel will still fight together, but they will not remember their love for each other." Cordy and Spike looked at each other, and laughed. Cordy was the first to respond, "Is that all? Then we have already won There is no way they are going to make it. If they have their memories back, and are together all night, sex is just a foregone conclusion. " Spike decided that talking right now wasn't such a smart thing to do. Though he felt the same as Cordelia, he couldn't help but wonder at the "exact their revenge" statement Jenny just made. He had faced a lot of evil, but had never done anything, that he knew of, that pissed the powers that be off. He wasn't afraid, yet. But cautious was a good word. Spike decided to speak. "Why are we here, then? Why did we need to be kept here, instead of going home? The Powers could have done this with us at home." "Yes, we could. But we needed you two out of the way. What happens to them must be done with as little interference as possible. But we are not without heart. It is our belief that you both love your chosen half of our champions. So we have arranged it for you to be there." "What, we can be there? But how? It has to have already started." Cordy whined. "Yes, it has. But you cannot be there in person. The gypsies here have a spell that will transport you both to the place that Angel and Buffy are. Buffy and Angel will not be able to see you, or hear you, but you will be able to see and hear the things that occur. No matter what happens, you will always retain these memories." They would see Angel and Buffy together, like they used to be, but all grown up. Angel was human, so the restrictions wouldn't be there, and Buffy was finally grown enough to know that sex wasn't just about teenage dreams. The thought that Buffy and Angel wouldn't have sex, and tomorrow they wouldn't have their loves, never entered either’s mind. They didn't need to watch and remember it. Both Spike and Cordelia thought about this, and came to the same conclusion. "No", they decided. "I am sorry, I think you both thought you had a choice. Being there is not an option. You will be there, and you will watch. It is part of the spell, that the original casters be there. It cannot work if you aren't, so arguing isn't an option. We do not need your permission for the spell to work, just like you didn't need Buffy and Angel's permission when you cast your spells. It is done." Hey, I wasn't part of the first spell. I already told you that." About that time, Spike realized he was yelling at an empty room. Almost empty, upset for a stunned Cordelia. "Cordelia, snap out of it. When she said it was done, she meant is WAS DONE. Looks like we are stuck, so we will just make the best out of it." "OK, Spike, I can do this. I have defeated Buffy every other time. All I have to do is watch her and Angel have sex and then we can go home and they will forget any of this ever happened. Shouldn't be that hard." Spike looked around the room, and noticed that is was a nice room. Big and airy, with a big four poster bed. Not Victorian, but a good copy. He wondered whose house this was. It seems that he and Cordy were limited to this room , and the view outside of it. It looked like Sunnydale, but it was a house that he had never been to before. That was about the time the door of the room opened, and Willow walked in. "Come on in guys, I hope you like it. Tara is bringing up a tray with juice and munchies on it. Didn't think champagne would be a good idea. We thought you would want to keep you wits about you." "Thanks, Willow, you are probably right." Buffy answered. Angel seemed to be tongue tied. He hadn't spoken a word since they had accepted the challenge. Tara stepped into the room with the tray, and set it down on the nightstand. She motioned to Willow that it was time to leave. "Well, guys, good luck. I know this is going to be hard, but don't loose focus on what is at stake. If you make it until tomorrow, the whole world will be a better place because of it. And don't forget, you have to spend the night sans clothing, so as soon as we leave the clothes have to go. We only have 10 minutes left before midnight, so start stripping." Then they both left. Oh, great, thought Cordelia. Not only do I have to root for Angel to have sex with Buffy, but even when he's not, she gets to see him naked. What did she do to deserve this? Naked, Spike thought? Why do these things always happen to him? It had to be Cordy's fault, he just knew it. This was going to be a long night. Part X WARNING!!! THIS PART IS STRONGLY NC-17. IF YOU AREN'T OLD ENOUGH, DON'T READ. By Angeluslover Rating: This one is definitely NC-17. Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. Just why are they so "happy"? This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: Please. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return. *** Buffy took a deep breath, and turned towards the corner of the room. She slowly began to unbutton her shirt, feeling really akward. Somehow, somewhere in her unconcious, she knew he should be the last person she would be uncomfortable with in the buff. And she knew they didn't have much time. Angel did the same thing, only in the other corner. They may have to do this to reverse the fate of the world, but he was not feeling all that comfortable with it. He was regaining some memories, but he still wasn't at ease with this whole thing. He felt like he knew her, but not intimately. Well, that wasn't exactly true, but those memories felt more like fantasies, and not reality. But he continued to strip, knowing that time was limited. "Angel, are you done?" Buffy breathlessly asked, refusing to turn around. "Yeah, Buffy, I'm ready, and we still have two minutes to go. Nothing like prolonging the inevitable." Buffy swallowed hard, and decided to come out with it. She had yet to turn around, and couldn't come up with the guts to do it. "Angel, this feels really wierd, and I am afraid to turn around. You haven't seen me naked since I was seventeen. Maybe parts of me are drooping or have changed since the resurrection. I don't know why it matters so much, but I don't want you to be disappointed." Buffy didn't remember, like he did now. Angel remembered the forgotten day now, but she never would. He was overcome with a feeling of guilt that he had made such a huge decision without her, but there was no use dwelling on it. Time to face the music, even if he was feeling the same trepidation. "Buffy, I know how you are feeling, because I feel almost the same way. I am as afraid of this as you are. Don't forget that I have changed as well. I am older, though maybe not that much, but I am human as well. Maybe I am different too. But we have to spend the whole night together like this, and I don't want to stare at this corner for the next eight hours. How about you?" Buffy giggled, not used to Angel cracking a joke. She found she kind of like it. "Yeah, not much happening in this corner. How about yours?" Angel couldn't help but grin. He liked being around her. She was fun, as well as cute. The people in his world the last few years never seemed to enjoy his wry sense of humor. "Nope, wallpaper hasn't changed since I started shedding clothes. How about we count to three and then both turn around. It's only skin, and we have both seen a lot worse things." Buffy took another deep breath, and began to count out loud. "One, two, three." She turned around slowly, and breathing was no longer an option. She felt like she had been punched in the stomach. The view she had was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her entire life. His chest was glimmering in the candlelight, and there wasn't a hair that would dare mar that perfection. His stomach was hard and slightly rippled, like he kept in shape but wasn't muscle bound. The muscles led down to a thin line of hair that led to places that she shouldn't be looking at. Not if she was going to complete their mission tonight. All the while, her mind kept repeating the same thoughts over and over again. 'How could I have forgotten this beautiful creature? What did they do to me?' Buffy tried to control her breathing, and then realized that the moisture between her legs wasn't sweat.She wanted this man with a passion that almost overwhelmed her. At the same time, Angel turned around. And stopped where he stood. He was sure that his heart had just stopped beating. He was close to being incoherent just by looking at her, and to top it off, he could smell her arousal. All the naked women he had seen over the course of a couple of centuries should have prepared him for this. But there was no comparison. Not Darla, not Cordelia, not any of them. Her breasts were full on her thin frame. Her stomach was firm but not muscular, not like she was a wrestler. Angel's eyes began to move lower to her legs. They were hard and muscular, as well as tan and beautiful. And sitting between it all was a patch of hair that made Angel blush just looking at it. The 'day that wasn't' was becoming an even bigger obstacle to him as his memory became clearer. Buffy was the most glorious creature he had ever seen and his mind began to race, 'How could I have I have forgotten this? She is magnificent, and they made me forget. Why?' Unfortunately for Angel, his arousal wasn't as easy to hide. He decided to turn around again, before he embarassed himself. "Angel, what's wrong? Am I that unattractive? You can't even look at me?" Angel was speechless. How could she even think that? Feeling her pain, he decided to be upfront with her. He didn't want her to think that he somehow found her lacking (like that was possible). He decided to let her see just how "unattractive" he thought she was. Angel turned around, and Buffy could see just how beautiful he thought she was. "Buffy, does it look like I'm disappointed?" Buffy blushed from the tips or her toes all the was to her hairline. Angel was fully erect, and she meant fully. Spike was nothing compared to this. Heck, she didn't think any man could have been so well portioned. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarass you. I always do that. Speak before I think. " Angel grinned again. He thought her discomfiture was one of the sweetest things he had seen in a long time. "That's OK, Buffy. I should have known that if we were together like this, something was bound to come up." Angel couldn't believe he had just said that. " Sorry, bad joke." Whether it was Angel's attempt at humor, or nerves, Buffy didn't know. But she started to giggle, and couldn't seem to stop. Next thing she knew, she was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down her cheeks. What was even funnier is that Angel was right there with her, laughing as well. She just knew this was something they had never shared before, and it felt wonderful. To laugh with him, over something so silly. After gaining her composure, and wiping the tears from her eyes, Buffy cleared her throat, trying to focus both herself and Angel back to the now. He seemed to be in as big a daze as she was. Angel snapped to attention at the same time that Buffy cleared her throat. Angel was again starting to get aroused, but there was no use dwelling on the 'not happening', he thought. Even if it was the one thing he wanted beyond anything. If they got through tonight, all would be right with the world tomorrow. But neither Buffy nor Angel knew what righting the world would do to their futures. It may reunite them, or it could be as bad as one of them being dead. This could be the last time they were together, and yet with the spell it felt like the first time. Why was fate always screwing with them? "Well, Buffy, we might as well get comfortable. Let's check out this room and see what we can find to occupy our time. Otherwise, it's going to be a long night." "Yeah, Angel, we could definitely use a distraction. There are a lot of books here, maybe we can find one that will entertain us to the point of oblivion. Or maybe we should just sleep." "Buffy, just sleeping seems like the perfect solution to our problem, but there is only one bed. And though I briefly remember loving sleeping on the floor next to you, I don't think it will work this time. I am not as strong as I used to be. When I was a vampire, I had a lot better control over myself than I do now." Buffy's face instantly became warm and red. The memory hit her like a mac truck. "Oh, I didn't realize. A book it is, then. Let's see what we find." Both Buffy and Angel began to look at the books lining the wall by the window. They both were trying their best not to look at each other. But the glances were coming more often. When Buffy leaned over to see the bottom shelf, Angel thought he was going to faint, and had to turn his back to keep his renewed arousal more private. But he wasn't very successful. Having seen her in that position, all Angel could picture in his mind was her bent over the bookcase, while he took her from behind. He could almost hear her moaning and panting, then screaming his name in release. Angel went to the other side of the room, and tried to think about something, anything, besides the image that was now burnt into his brain. So book titles it was. He began to actually recite each title out loud, and it seemed to be helping. "Shakespeare, let's try this. We will just sit down, and read this. It should make time pass more quickly." And give me something else to look at, he thought. "Well, if that's the best we can do. Which one is it?" Buffy replied. "A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's a comedy, so it should be light reading, for the most part. If you like Shakespeare, that is." "I wouldn't really know , Angel. I have only read the required reading ones, you know, like Romeo and Juliet. And let's face it, that was a big downer." "Yeah, but I think you'll like this one. Where shall we sit? Not much in the way of chairs in here, is there? Only the one, so you take it, and I'll sit on the floor. I'll do the reading." "No, you sit in the chair. The lights better there, and of course you'll do the reading. You have had SO much more practice reading "old" english." "Is that an age crack? I will have you know I am in as good a shape as I was when I was 200. Well, almost anyway." "Yeah, that's what all the old men say. Let's get to it. Do you need your bifocals?" "You are going to pay for those remarks, little girl. Just remember that." Buffy giggled again, and plopped down on the floor next to the chair. She patted the cushion, and gave him a 'come hither' look. She realized her mistake when Angel literally growled at her. She didn't know why, but she couldn't help flirting with him. It just seemed so natural. "Sorry, keep forgetting the no sex thing. It just feels like we should be doing the wild and wacky, or at least working up to it. I will work on keeping myself under better control." "Please try, Buffy. I don't know how much torture I can take now that I'm human. Of course, when I was a vampire, the torture would have enhanced the experience. But we have to focus. So let's get to this book, shall we?" Angel sat down, and Buffy layed her head on his knee. As he began to read, Buffy closed her eyes, and let her imagination run wild. +++++++++++++++++ Spike and Cordelia had watched all of this in silence. Spike was furious with Cordelia for getting them in this mess, and Cordy was mad at the world for all the supposed wrongs that had been done to her. After Buffy and Angel finally settled down to read, Cordelia stood up and began to pace across the room. "They should have done this by now, though I don't know what he sees in her. She is SO not me. And I don't know why we have to be here. Like things aren't bad enough, we have to watch too. I wish they would just get it over with." Spike was done with her bitching. "Would you stop whining? This is all your fault. If it weren't for that little "Watch Angel lose his soul" crap you pulled, we wouldn't be here right now." "You don't know that. It could have been this "memory" spell you worked out that got us here. I should have know better than to make a deal with a blood-sucking demon." Spike came very close to hitting her. Watching Buffy flirt with Angelus had really pissed him off, and he really didn't think it would take much for him to eat her, pain and all. His game face appeared, and he started towards her. Cordelia screamed and backed into the corner. "Now, Spike, I didn't mean it. And you know you can't hurt me. Remember the chip." "Yeah, I remember it, but it might be worth having my head blow up to permanently shut your mouth." "Let's stop arguing, OK. We both have a lot at stake her, no pun intended. So let's just sit here quietly and watch. Since they can't see or hear us, we can just talk like civilized human, uh, well, beings." "Yeah, let's get this torture over with. What time is it anyway?" Cordelia checked her Rolodex, and remembered that she had coerced Angel into buying it for her. He thought it was a ridiculously large amount of money to spend on a watch. Tears sprung to her eyes just thinking about it. "It's one thirty. What time does the sun come up, anyway?" "In about 4 hours, I would guess." Spike replied. "Only four more hours of this hell, and then I never have to see you again. Why won't they just screw and get it over with?" "Yeah, Shakespeare is boring the crap out of me. I couldn't sit with Angel for hours without touching him. She must be inhuman." "Maybe she just doesn't like him. She loves me, you know." Spike spit back at her. "Oh, come off it, you saw the way she was looking at him. And I know you could smell her arousal. Hell, even I could, and I'm not a vampire." "Just shut up, Cordelia. And don't think I didn't notice that raging hard on your sweety was sporting for our slayer. Does he ever get that hard for you?" Seeing the unhappy look on Cordelia's face, Spike decided to rub it in. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
++++++++++++++++++++ Buffy was enjoying listening to Angel's voice. It was so deep and methodical, and it was causing all kinds of chills up and down her spine. She was getting restless, having been sitting on the floor for the past couple of hours. She knew she needed to get up and stretch, but she was loathed to break the contact. And this was safe for them both, at least so far. Then he leaned down and touched her hair. The chills intensified, and Buffy felt like a cat. She was almost purring as he ran his fingers over her hair. She found herself reaching up to meet his hand with each stroke. Now she knew she needed to get up. Buffy abruptly stood, and then realized that her legs had fallen asleep. Not good, she thought, as she preceded to fall right into Angel's lap. Fortunately, he managed to move the book and catch her before she was wearing the book as a very uncomfortable accessory. Angel was sitting there minding his own business, reading the story, when his hand reached out and touched her hair. It felt so natural that he didn't even know he was doing it at first. Then she started to enjoy it, and he stopped reading. She was the sexiest thing he had ever had the pleasure of knowing, and he knew he should stop touching her. But he just couldn't. She was enjoying it almost as much as he was. Then she quickly stood up, and Angel's hand was bereft at the loss. The strangest thing happened next. She literally collapsed on his lap. Fortunately, he was able to move the book before she plopped down on it. "Umph, I am so sorry, Angel. My legs are asleep, and I can't seem to stand at the moment. Just give me a second and I'll get up." Buffy turned to look at him, and realized her mistake. His face was only inches from hers. She looked in his eyes, and couldn't look away. Milk chocalate surronded dark chocalate, and she forgot to breath. The beating of her heart was drowning out all her thoughts, and her body felt like it was on fire. At the same time, Angel's thoughts were in turmoil. Buffy's head turned around, and her mouth was mere inches away from his. He looked into her eyes, and knew he was lost. The big hazel orbs looked at him with such love he couldn't breath. He just had to kiss her, just once. What was one kiss? He could handle it. Angel leaned forward and gently placed his mouth on hers. Buffy remembered how to breath, and then realized she was panting. When Angel's mouth touched hers, her whole body reacted. She leaned forward to deepen the kiss, and Angel was right with her. His tongue invaded her mouth like a conquering warrior, and Buffy's tongue was a worthy opponent. They continued to deepen the kiss, and Buffy could feel Angel's arousal under her legs. This was so not right, but she couldn't help herself. They said no sex, but they didn't say no kissing. A few kisses wouldn't hurt, would they? Angel felt her lean into the kiss, and he attacked her mouth. The image of her bent over the bookcase came back into his mind, and he almost came at the thought. He could feel her cheeks on his lap and it was almost his undoing. His tongue seemed to have a mind of it's own. It plunged into Buffy's mouth and began fighting with hers. Hers wasn't winning, but it was definitely a draw. Angel heard a moan, and realized it was coming from his throat. He had to stop this. He grabbed Buffy by the waist, intending to move her from his lap. But all it did was make him aware that she was soaking his legs and lap with her juices. He couldn't help himself, he started rubbing her across his erection, not entering her, just causing some friction. It was too much for Buffy. She moaned so loudly, Angel was sure they would have company in a few minutes. But somehow he didn't care. He continued the contact, and the moaning got louder. From both of them. Angel kept up the onslaught on her mouth, and increased the pace at which her core rubbed against him. Almost there, almost there. No sex, can't have sex, musn't do this, his mind was reciting. But his body was screaming 'Yes, faster, harder, don't stop.' Buffy was lost. She couldn't stop if she tried. She turned her face to Angel's and opened her eyes. She was helping him now, increasing the movement and the friction. Then it happened. Angel reached his hand between their bodies, and placed his thumb on her clit and entered her with a finger. Buffy moaned and writhed beneath him like a wild woman. This caused even more friction against Angel, and his head rolled back with a load groan. Buffy turned to face him and reached up and grabbed his face between her hands. She attacked his mouth with hers, and continued to ride his finger like a pogo pony. Angel broke off the kiss, and began whispering to her. "Come for me, baby. Yeah, harder, faster. You are so beautiful like this. I want to see your face when you come." That's all it took for either of them. Buffy stared him in the face as her orgasm hit her, then she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. She threw her head back and screamed "Angel!!!!!!!!", while Angel gripped her by the waist and gave her one final rub with his cock, causing him to explode all over her, and himself. "Buffy!!!!!!!" he screamed. After the tremors had eased they looked in each other's eyes. "Buffy, what the hell have we done?"
Part XI WARNING!!! THIS PART IS STRONGLY NC-17. IF YOU AREN'T OLD ENOUGH, DON'T READ. By Angeluslover
*** Buffy jumped up from Angel's lap, and began to rant. "Angel, I can't believe we did this. We are supposed to protect the world. It's our job, we are the champions that were meant to save this sorry place, but we just gave it all up for the sake of an orgasm. Oh, God, Oh, God, what do we do now?" "Calm down, Buffy, it's too late to take it back. Let's see if we can get Willow and Tara in here and prod them for more details." "Yeah, that's sounds good. There has to be a way to make it better. Willow will know if there is." Angel went to the door, and opened it. He realized he was naked, but there was no help for it. He yelled out the door, "Willow, we need to talk to you. Could you come here, please?" +++++++++++++++++++++ Spike and Cordelia were having a party in their little alternate existence. "They did it, we win. Angel is now mine, without any Buffy coming between us again. This is just too great. I can't wait until morning." "Yeah, great isn't it? No need to ever worry about the poof coming and stealing my woman. She is now all mine." Cordy took offense at that. "Hey, don't call him a poof. I can guarantee you that he is pure heterosexual. And now he is all mine." Spike was too happy to argue with her. "Whatever, let's get back to the show. Here comes Willow, and I can't wait to see the look on the poof's face when she tells him it's too late." +++++++++++++++++++++++ Willow ran to the room, wandering what could be wrong. Seeing Angel getting ready to step into the hallway, she yelled, "No, Angel, you can’t leave the room. It will nullify the spell. I'll come in there." Willow stepped into the room, and gushed out "What's wrong? Is everyone OK?" Then she looked around and realized they were both naked. Willow blushed to the roots of her red hair, and turned around quickly. "Oh, Oh, I forgot about the naked part. Though I will say that, being someone who can appreciate both sexes, it wasn't an unpleasant site. Now what is wrong that you both that you had to call me in here? I expected blood shed or something." "Willow, we have a problem. I know it's only two thirty, but Buffy and I, well, we kind of... you know." "You had sex? But how? You knew what was at stake. How could you have had sex already? You couldn't make it two hours without doing the dirty deed?" Buffy decided it was time to admit her failure. "I'm sorry, Willow. It was my fault. My feet fell asleep, and I fell on his lap, and the rest is history. Though for the record, it wasn't actually "sex" sex. Though it might as well have been." Buffy was so embarrassed at this conversation; she could barely get the last sentence out. Willow was confused and it showed on her face. "What do you mean it wasn't "sex" sex? Either you did it or you didn't." Well, we both had an orgasm, but we didn't have, you know, sex." Buffy answered. "So you haven't had "intercourse", is that what you are saying?" Willow asked. "Yeah, not by definition." Angel answered. Willow began to laugh. And she kept laughing for a long time. "Angel, I think she has lost it. We pushed her over the edge." Buffy said frantically. Willow wiped the tears from her eyes, and proceeded to put their fears to rest. "No, guys, I am fine. I thought you understood. No one said you couldn't touch each other, you just can't have intercourse. Remember what I told you, 'You can do whatever you want during the time, but you cannot consummate your relationship'. Consummation involves actual intercourse. You can have as much foreplay as you want." Angel and Buffy looked at each other, and the room almost lit up with the smiles that beamed from them. They could touch, they could kiss, they just couldn't have intercourse. There was at least one god. The night didn't seem as long as long as it did two hours ago. ++++++++++++++++++++ Spike thought Cordelia was going to have a stroke. She was livid, as was he. But she expressed it so much better than he ever could, or would. "What the hell is this shit? That wasn't the deal. They already did it, and we have won. I won't lose Angel, I won't." "What choice do we have? We have to live by their rules, and these are the rules they made. Though I can't say that they don't bite." "Jenny, Jenny," Cordelia began yelling. "Jenny, your uncle got me into this mess. You have to help me get out of it. I need to see you NOW!!!" Out of nothing, Jenny appeared. "Cordelia, you are pushing your divine luck. What do you need from us now? Haven't you gotten enough?" "Jenny, this can't be happening. You didn't tell us all the rules. They can do whatever they want, as long as they don't have 'intercourse'? Whose stupid idea was that? Now we don't have a chance." "Cordelia, did you two ever think you really did?" They both jumped at that and began shouting, "Yes, he loves me, only me." and "Yes, she belongs to me." "Let me explain the difference between what you two feel, and what those two feel. Buffy and Angel love each other enough to let things happen as they will. They don't claim ownership, or try to control each other. You two, on the other hand, seem to have very distorted opinions of love. Spike, you seem to think if you can control Buffy, it will make her yours, while Cordelia, you seem to think you own Angel. No one person can own another. Love has to be given freely, and without strings, for it to be true." The objections began to pour from Cordelia and Spike. Jenny cut them off immediately. "You cannot lie to us, so do not even try. We have done much soul searching on this subject, and have realized that our heroes will indeed be given a choice. You two will watch what goes on from now until thirty minutes before the sun comes up. If, after watching this, you still think you are the love that your other half would choose, you can go to them. Only the one you love will know you are there, so the other in the bed will not be aware of your presence. If you can make your love choose you, you will be allowed to go back to your lives. If you fail, then vengeance will be ours. It is your decision. Of course, this all depends on Angel and Buffy making it through the night. But knowing our heroes like I do, I would start planning your strategy now. And think long and hard, because we will not be kind if you accept the challenge and fail." Then she was gone. Cordelia sat down on the floor, and Spike joined her. The silence hung heavy in the air in their part of the universe. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Willow had left, and Angel invited Buffy to sit next to him on the bed. Buffy gladly obliged. She plopped down on the bed, and laid back provocatively. Angel didn't need a second invitation, and joined her. He reached out and brushed the hair from her face. "I can't believe how much my life has changed in just the past few hours, Buffy. I feel better than I have in years." "Me, too, Angel. Every time I touch you another memory returns. It's incredible. So much that hasn't made sense for a long time makes sense now. I know what was supposed to fill the hole that I have felt for a long time. It was supposed to be you." "Exactly. I have had a really great life, since I became human.” Angel saw Buffy's face drop at that comment. "Let me finish before you get upset. I have had a really great life, but I always felt like there was somewhere else I was supposed to be, something else I was supposed to be doing, someone else that needed me. So no matter what I did, there was always something missing. Now I know what it was." Buffy couldn't help herself. "A cell phone, perhaps? Or how about a trip to Disneyland?" Angel laughed and grabbed her around the waist. "You know it was you. It was always you." Buffy leaned forward and kissed him. Once she started, she couldn't seem to stop. She alternated between devouring his lips, and sucking on his tongue. Angel moaned loudly, which only caused Buffy to become more determined to give him something to remember her by, just in case tomorrow brought changes that neither one of them expected. Buffy broke away from his mouth, and began tracing her tongue down his throat. She could feel his muscles contracting with her assault, and this just spurred her on. Buffy moved down his chest, and stopped at his nipple. Angel jerked in response, and his hips began to move against her thigh. She continued lower, knowing what it was that he wanted. His stomach was as perfect to the touch as it was to the eyes. She bathed him with her tongue, and his groaning became louder as she traced the hairline that had caught her eye earlier. She bypassed his member, and lowered herself to his thighs. Slow circles created with her tongue on his inner thighs caused him to jolt up from the bed, begging for relief. "Buffy, please, I know we've never done this, and I don't want to embarrass you or myself. If you aren't willing to finish this, you need to stop now." "Why, Angel, finish what? Whatever could you be talking about?" All this was said between bites, licks, and kisses around Angel's cock, but they never quite got there. "Please, Buffy, please. I can't stand it anymore. Either take me in your mouth, or come here. You're killing me." Buffy began to move up to him, and she could see the disappointment on his face. She couldn't tease him any longer. She moved back down, and took him all in in one full swoop. "Oh, God, Buffy. Please, honey, suck me. Gods, that is so good." Buffy slowed down, realizing he was close. She didn't want it over that quick. She wanted him to remember this for years to come, even if he wouldn't remember her. She slowly backed off, and began to tease his head with her tongue. Angel was panting, and moaning, and Buffy was damn near dripping on the bed. She had given Spike a lot of head in her time, but none of them had ever turned her on like this one. She wondered if it was possible to come from giving a head job. Angel began to plead in earnest now. "Buffy, please baby, don't stop now. You have the best mouth, please baby." Buffy couldn't stand it any more either. She swallowed him again, and began to imitate the ritual she really wanted to do with him. But that wasn't an option, so she made the best of it. Angel began to pump in an out of her mouth, causing Buffy to change her rhythm just a bit. But she didn't mind. He was chanting her name over and over. Angel was lifting his hips so far off the bed that Buffy had to get on her knees to accommodate him. She gave one last swallow and decided that she would use a little vampire trick on him. He may be human now, but he still had the vampire memories. Buffy decided to use her teeth. She gently bit down on the base on Angel's cock, and Angel screamed, not in pain, but in ecstasy. The cum shot out of him so hard, Buffy almost chocked on it. But she managed to control it, and after the first shot, she was able to get it all down. Buffy got out of bed, and went to get some juice. She leaned over the table to get some juice, and that was her first mistake. Before she could even stand up straight, after getting her drink, Angel was on her. She had forgotten about his vampire speed, even if he was human. Angel grabbed her from behind, and bent her at the waist. "Angel, no, we can't do this, remember? Morning, setting the world right, and all that? Any of this ringing a bell?" "Buffy, I haven't forgotten, but I have been fantasizing about this position since you bent over that damn bookcase. I still know what I can and can't do, but I need to see you like this. I promise I won't do anything that isn't allowed." "Well, if you promise, I guess I can't object."
Part XII WARNING!!! THIS PART IS STRONGLY NC-17. IF YOU AREN'T OLD ENOUGH, DON'T READ.
By Angeluslover Rating: This one is definitely NC-17. Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Joss does. But I will take Angel if he needs a home. Summary: The only happy couples in this world are B/S and C/A. Before you crucify me, remember that not everything is always as it appears. Just why are they so "happy"? This IS a B/A fic. Just not quite at the beginning. Feedback: Please. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Email: ttapley5@comcast.net Spoilers: Everything up until now, except the baby doesn’t exist, and Gru didn’t return. **** Angel grabbed Buffy around the waist, and turned her around so she was leaning over the bed. Her butt was in the air, and she was on display for him, in all her glory. He was hard again, just looking at her. He began to rub her back in slow circular motions. Buffy was still excited from giving him head, so it didn't take long to illicit a moan from her. Angel's hands began to move lower, and he began to rub her butt cheeks. They were soft and supple, and felt like soft butter in her hands. He massaged them in an alternate motion, and Buffy began to squirm. Angel slipped one hand between her legs, and began to rub her clit, while rubbing himself between the cheeks of her ass. Buffy was lost in the sensation of his hands on her. When his hand dipped down to her clit, she buried her face in the bed to drown out the noise of her own moaning. No need keeping everyone in the house up all night. God, she wanted him inside of her so bad, she didn't think she could stand it. "Angel, I want you to fuck me so bad. I don't know if I can stand this much longer. Please!" "I know, Buffy, I feel the same way. But we can hold off. If the powers are with us, after tonight, we won't ever have to be apart again. But I'll make it better, baby. I promise." Angel dropped to his knees, and inhaled deeply. She smelled so good and so familiar. Home was the word that came to mind. She smelled liked home. And he was never leaving home again. He leaned forward and lightly licked her opening. Buffy moaned, and Angel thought her knees were going to buckle. But he wasn't having any of that. "Keep yourself up, baby. I love you like this." This brought another groan from Buffy. Even his voice turned her on. Buffy locked her knees, determined not to fall on him again. Angel continued his tongue assault, and Buffy found herself begging him for more. "Angel, please, don't stop. Oh, yeah, that's feels great." Angel began to move his tongue up and down her, from her clit to her other opening, back and forth. Buffy was bucking and grinding herself into his face, and he was as hard now as he was with her mouth on him. He reached down and grabbed his throbbing penis, and began to pump himself in rhythm with her grinding. Before he knew it, Buffy was screaming and coming all over his face. He continued to lap at her, and increased the pressure on his cock. Before she was even finished coming, Angel was back on his feet, with his cock between her legs. 'No, Angel, we can't do this. You need to stop." "Shh, Buffy, I know what I'm doing. Just relax." Angel began to move between her legs, but wasn't actually inside of her. Instead, he was rubbing himself back and forth over her clit again, simulating sex, but not actually entering her. Buffy's clit was already over stimulated, so it didn't take long for her to reach a fever pitch again. Angel increased the speed and pressure, and Buffy was again over the edge, screaming his name. As soon as she came, Angel could feel his sac tightening, and then he lost it. His threw his head back and roared, "Buffy!" Buffy collapsed on the bed, and fought to catch her breath. Angel fell on the bed beside her, and looked into her eyes. Then he grinned like a Cheshire cat. "See, I told you you could trust me." Buffy grinned back at him, and replied, "That was the best sex with out really having sex I have ever had. Hell, I think it was the best sex I have ever had, even with having sex. Does that make any sense?" "Not really, but I know what you mean. And I would have to agree. Though I really wanted to... you know." "Yeah, me too. But we have to get through tonight. Hey, I'm hungry. Let's see what's on the tray that Willow left." Buffy got up and walked over to the table. "Mmm, Oreos. The almost perfect food. Want one?" Angel got up, and followed her. "No, I like the Chips Ahoy better. Ooh, look, macaroons." They both grab something to drink and a couple of cookies, and went back to sit on the bed. After eating their cookies in companionable silence, Buffy lay back on the pillow, looked at the clock and noticed that it was already past four o’clock. "Only another hour and a half before the sun comes up. What do you think is going to happen to us when this is over?' Angel laid down on his side next to her and propped his head up on his elbow. He slowly looked up and down her body. "I don't know Buffy. But I can tell you what I hope. I hope that when this is all over, and the world is back to where is should have been before all this happened, that we have spent the last three years together. I hope that in this other existence I know what your favorite food is, how many times you brush your teeth a day, and what you look like in the morning. I hope I know you better than I know myself." Tears sprang to Buffy's eyes. She couldn't do anything but nod her head, because of the lump in her throat. She knew then that she loved this man, in this life, and any other life. "But, Angel, what if we aren't together? What if I don't know where to find you? Oh, god, Angel, what if you aren't even human? You could still be a vampire. I couldn't stand it if that were to happen." "Buffy, don't you think that thought hasn't crossed my mind? If it's a chance I'm willing to take, then I need you to take it with me. I don't want to spend another day without you, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. And don't worry, wherever you are, I will find you. Don't you ever doubt it." "Oh, Angel, I am so afraid. I don't want to loose you again, to death, or to our own stupidity. We let it get away once before, I don't want to do that again." "We won't, Buffy. I vow to you that I will find you, no matter where you are, when this is all over." They talked for a while longer, until Buffy couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Angel gathered her in his arms, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder, and began to whisper to her. "We never finished the book, but just remember this, 'I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow, By his best arrow, with the golden head, By the simplicity of Venus' doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, When the false Trojan under sail was seen,-- By all the vows that ever men have broke, In number more than ever women spoke,-- In that same place thou hast appointed me, Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee." Buffy was mostly asleep, but she managed to ask, "Is that from the book?" "Yes, it is, baby. Never doubt that I love you." Angel's eyes closed as well, and they both fell asleep. +++++++++++++++++++++++ Spike and Cordelia had watched it all, and were both stunned to silence. "They didn't do it. They couldn't take that one last plunge, and just fuck. I thought they had this "great" love. Obviously, not that great." Cordelia was near hysteria. She wanted Angel, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to find out what the powers had in mind for her if she accepted their challenge, and lost. "I don't know. It looked pretty great to me. But now we have to decide what we are going to do. We have to do this all or nothing. It won't work if we don't both do it. So what's your choice? I want Buffy, but it doesn't look like she would pick me right now." "Spike, we can't give up, we have to at least try. The Powers don't scare me. I deserve Angel, and I intend to keep him." "Well, they sure bloody hell scare me. I don't fancy spending eternity as a new species of toad, or something equally disgusting." "They wouldn't do that. We did it all for the right reasons, right? Love is supposed to be a noble cause, and all that crap. Please, Spike, we have to try. And Buffy loves you, you said so yourself. This is just an aberration, this night. Now that it's over, they will return to their old selves." Spike sighed, and decided she might be right. "Oh, alright, but I am beginning to think I'm an idiot for even being around you, let alone listening to you." The air around began to shimmer, and Jenny appeared. "Spike, Cordelia, it is time for your decision. What is it to be? Do we let this night end, and erase the damage that has been done, or are you willing to risk it all for a chance at what you deem is your due?" "We accept your challenge. Angel loves me, and I intend to prove it. Right, Spike?" "Oh, bloody hell, I know I'm going to regret this, but yeah, I'll take your bet." Jenny smiled, and the look on her face sent chills down Spike's spine. "Good, then let's get started. You have until sunrise, a little over 30 minutes, to convince them that you are the one they love. Nothing is off limits, but each one must renounce the other and proclaim their love for you. We will be watching, so you cannot hide the truth or events from us." "Watching, Ewww! What if I don't want an audience?" Cordelia complained. "We do not do it for enjoyment, but you have both proven yourselves to be untrustworthy. So this is the way it will be." "Ok, then, let's get this over. I don't care if we have to do it in front of the crowd at the Superbowl. I WILL get her back, so watch all you want." Spike said, and rose to the challenge by getting into game face. Jenny held out her hands, and whispered several phrases that neither Spike nor Cordelia understood. Spike and Cordelia fell to the floor, unconscious. +++++++++++++++++++ Angel was dreaming, at least he thought he was. He had been in bed with Buffy one minute, and the next he was in bed with Cordelia. What the hell was going on? “Cordelia, what are you doing here, and, for that matter, where is here?” Cordelia launched herself at Angel, and grabbed him around the waist. “Oh, Angel, I missed you so much. How could you do this to me?” Angel extracted himself from her arms, and got out of bed. He was naked, but that didn’t bother him. “Cordelia, just what are you talking about? What do you think I did?” “You know, all this with Buffy, when you swore that you love only me. How could you betray me like that?” “Cordy, how do you know about Buffy? What the hell have you been up to? Were you spying on us?” “They made us Angel, they made us watch. It was horrible. You know this is just a spell, and that tomorrow we will still be together. All you have to do is choose me.” Cordelia got up also, and walked toward him. She was naked as well, and decided to use that to her advantage. “Look at me, Angel, do you really want that little blond thing, when you could have this? You know you want me, so just take me.” Angel was speechless. She was beautiful, and he still remembered that he once loved her. Or thought he did. Cordelia pressed herself up against him, and leaned into him. She placed her lips on his mouth, and Angel closed his eyes. He began kissing her back, and he could feel himself responding to her. Cordelia broke away from his lips, and nibbled on his ear, just like she knew he liked. Angel moaned, and exposed his throat to her. Cordelia took the invitation, and slid her tongue down his throat. This caused Angel to moan even louder, "Oh, yeah, that feels good. Don't stop." Cordelia knew she was winning. It wouldn't be long until Buffy was just a memory, a very distant memory. The feeling of triumph was too much. She sank to her knees, and took Angel into the mouth, and began sucking. Angel was into the moment, and continued to moan. It felt so good, he couldn't contain his sighs and moans. "Yes, that's it. It feels so good. Take me all in, Buffy." Cordelia stopped what she was doing, and looked up. Angel's face was lost in rapture, but he wasn't lost in it with her. Cordelia jumped up, and said, "What the hell did you just say?" Angel was caught off guard, and had to think about it. Oh, shit. He just said Buffy's name. And for that matter, why was he even letting Cordelia touch him? This was just too weird for him. He knew he loved Buffy, but he still had these feelings of some kind for Cordy. It didn't make any sense, but that was the way it was. He backed away, and waited for the explosion he was sure to follow. "Uh, Cordy, I'm sorry, but I can't seem to help myself. You knew that I loved Buffy, and I guess I still do." "I can't believe you would do this to me. You ass! Are you telling me that you would rather be with, with her, than with me? After all I've done for you, all the crap I've taken from you, you would just dump me like this?" "Cordelia, just calm down. We can sit and talk about this like adults, can't we?" Cordelia's eyes were blazing, and she began to scream at Angel. "I can't beleive you did this to me. Do you have any idea what I have done to keep you? All the trouble I went through to make sure you were with me, the one who really loves you, instead of, of .. her?" Angel began to get suspicious, and approached her menacingly. "No, Cordy, just 'what' have you done to keep me?" Cordelia knew she may have gone too far. She backed up, until she ran into the wall and couldn't back up any further. "Uh, Angel, I did it all for you. You have to know that. I am the one that really loves you. And as for that "losing your soul" thing, I didn't know. I swear. He never told me that was a possibility." Angel was livid. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?" "It all turned out for the best, didn't it? No more heart wrenching Buffy scenes, and you got me in the end." Angel hadn't heard a word she'd said. He was stuck on the soul losing comment from earlier. "Cordelia, are you telling me that you had something to do with the return of Angelus? Are you telling me that people died because of your obsession with me?" Cordelia was truly frightened now. She hadn't meant to let that slip. "No, Angel, I did go to Jenny's uncle, but he never told me it would happen. I just had him make sure that nothing good would come from you and Buffy being together. He changed the curse, and told me I had nothing to worry about. I thought he just did something that would make you not attracted to her anymore. Not that you would lose your soul after having done 'it'." "I can't believe you did that. That is inexcusable. How could you have played with my life, and lives of others, that way? Spell or no spell, I can't believe I ever thought I loved someone who could do that." Cordelia was getting angry. "How dare you pass off what we had as a spell? Sure, it may have started out that way when Spike and I started it, but ." "WHAT? Are you telling me that Spike and you did this? You deliberately fucked with my life and Buffy's so you could get laid? How could you stoop so low?" "Don't yell at me. None of this would have been necessary if you had just gotten your head out of Buffy's ass long enough to notice that I was the one you should be with." She ran to him and put her arms around his waist. "Angel, I love you more than she ever could. And you know you love me." "You don't even know the meaning of the word. And don't you ever compare what we had to what Buffy and I have. If you do, I think I will kill you myself. And don't you ever, I repeat ever, come near me or Buffy again." Cordelia knew she had lost. She was devasted, and frightened. She was petrified of what would happen now, now that Angel had chosen Buffy. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SAME BED, SAME TIME, DIFFERENT PLACE Buffy woke and reached for Angel. There was a body next to her, but it didn't feel like Angel's. She opened her eyes, and jumped out of bed. "Spike, what the hell are you doing here?" "Hello, luv. Nice to see you too." "Uh, I guess I am confused. You aren't supposed to be here." Spike got up from the bed, and approached Buffy. Buffy backed up as far as she could get, until she ran into the wall. Spike just kept getting closer, until he was right up against her, naked and all. "Yeah, I know who you were expecting. But that isn't what you really want, is it, Slayer? You know you want me." Buffy was really confused now. Spike was pressed against her like a pancake on a griddle, and her body was responding accordingly. But she knew this wasn't right. She loved Angel, but she also felt something for Spike as well. They had been together for three years now, and they had a lot of history. Spike leaned forward and took Buffy's mouth with his. He really was a good kisser, and Buffy got caught up in the moment. Spike released her lips and began nibbling on her throat. Buffy's hands reached for his head to press him closer. She couldn't seem to help herself, and a low moan escaped her throat. Spike continued his attack on her throat, and his hands wandered down to her wet spot. Buffy arched against his hand, and her pelvis was moving in rhythm with him. Spike was licking and sucking on her throat like a man dying of thirst. He moved down a little lower, until he reached her scar. He had always hated that scar, but now he was going to enjoy replacing it with his own. He could tell this was going to be easier than he thought. When Spike began licking and sucking on her scar, Buffy's moans became louder. "Oh, yes. Harder, that feels so great. Harder, Angel, please." Spike jumped back from her like she had hit him. "What the hell did you just say? How could you call me Angel? I can't believe you would compare me to the bloody poof." Buffy was dazed at first, and then she was shocked. What the heck was she doing letting Spike touch her, after what she had just shared with Angel? She must be off her rocker. "Spike, I am so sorry. I can't believe I even let you touch me like that. I need to tell you something, I spent the night with Angel." "Tell me something I don't know, Slayer. I saw you with him. How could you let him touch you, after having been with me all this time?" "What do you mean, you saw us?" Buffy began walking towards Spike with that 'kill all vampires' look on her face. "You were spying on me? How dare you?" "Well, I wouldn't call it spying. I wasn't actually given a choice. I knew this was a bad idea, when Cordelia suggested it." Buffy had no idea what Spike was talking about. "What in the hell are you talking about? And what does Cordelia have to do with this?" Spike sat on the edge of the bed, and lit a cigarette. "Before I tell you, you have to know I did it for your own good, Slayer. I knew I could make you happy, and all you would ever have from broody boy is gloom and doom. Of course, at the time, I didn't know that Angel would become human, and broody boy wouldn't be an option." "Spike, I am going to shove that chair leg up your ass if you don't get to the point. What the hell did you do, and how is Cordelia involved?" There was no help for it, and Spike knew he had better get used to the idea of spending eternity as some vile thing, or being tortured for eternity in some realm of hell. Damn, how did he always get himself in these messes? "When you came back from the dead, Cordelia and I went to see the gypsies. We had a spell cast that would make you and Angel not be in love anymore, and that would make you and him love us." Buffy stared at him like he had just grown a third head. "You did what? Spike, you can't be serious. How could you do that?" Spike decided if he was going down, he was taking Cordelia all the way down with him. "Hey, before you go getting so mad at me, I think you need to stir that anger towards one bitchy brunette. If you think what I did was bad, you ought to hear what she did." "What, Spike? And talk fast, I am getting mighty impatient." Spike decided to light another cigarette. He was pretty sure you couldn't smoke in hell, so he was going to indulge himself while he could. "Well, Slayer, I want you to remember that I wasn't part of this, and didn't even know about it until tonight. It seems your "friend" Cordelia was part of the spell that caused Angelus to lose his soul. She went to Miss Calendar's uncle about the curse , and she is the one that asked him to change it." "WHAT?" Buffy yellled. "Cordelia was the reason that Angel lost his soul? But I thought that was part of the original curse." Spike was glad he could re-focus her anger on someone else. "No, from what she says, it wasn't. She wanted to make sure that bad things would happen if you and Angel got together, and Jenny's uncle did just that. So if you want to go around pointing fingers, she is the one you need to point fingers at." "Spike, I will deal with Cordelia when the time comes. But none of this takes away from what you did. You still haven't told me why you are here, or why you were spying on us." Spike decided to continue. The worst thing that could happen is she would stake him, which might be doing him a favor. He could still remember the look in the gypsy's eyes when she talked about the Powers revenge. "Apparently, the Powers That Be weren't real happy with me and Cordelia. Something about us changing the fate of the world or something. So they decided to give you and Angel tonight to decide want you want. Either me and Cordelia, or each other. And we got the 'pleasure' of watching while it all went down." Buffy was furious. She really wanted to kill him, but she knew she couldn't. She would let the Powers take care of it for her. "Spike, I will never forgive you for what you have done. At least when Angel makes decisions for me, he doesn't do it for his own selfish reasons. You used me, and manipulated me. If you ever come near me again, I will stake you myself. Is that clear?" Spike knew he had lost. "Perfectly, Slayer." ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part XIII
The air crackled around them, and Angel, Buffy, Cordelia and Spike became visible to each other. Buffy and Angel ran to each other, and wrapped their arms around each other's waist. "I thought I had lost you again. Please, don't leave me again." Buffy cried. "No, baby, I won't ever leave you again. I promise." Angel replied. Spike and Cordelia went to neutral corners, knowing that it was over. They had lost. Buffy reached up and grabbed Angel's face in her hands. She placed a soft, sweet kiss on his mouth. She let go of his waist, and turned around, "Honey, I will be right back." Angel saw the look in her eyes, and knew she was angry. He couldn't let her do what he thought she was going to do. "No, Buffy, let the powers take care of it. Don't do anything you are going to regret." Buffy turned around, and smiled at him. A big, ear-to-ear grin. "Don't worry, I am not going to kill her. Whatever made you think that? But the bitch will pay for what she did." Cordelia shrunk even further into the corner. "Buffy, you don't understand. It's not like I did it to hurt you. I was trying to help. I, uh, I wanted to save you all this grief. Think how much pain I saved you." Buffy smirked at her, "Cordelia, where do you come up with this shit? You ruined the best night of my life, unleashed a vicious killer, caused the death of any number of innocent people, and then made me send Angel to hell, all because you wanted my boyfriend? What the hell is wrong with you?" Angel stepped forward, thinking maybe he should stop her. But the look she gave him when she noticed him advancing toward her stopped him in his tracks. He decided he had better keep his distance if he wanted to live through this so he could be with her in the end, and he figured she was just as wronged by all this as he was. Buffy continued to advance on Cordy. "And to top it all off, you bitch, you decided to rewrite three years of my life. What gives you the right?" Cordelia was backed so far in the corner, she almost became one with the wallpaper. 'Please, Buffy, don't kill me. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry. Really sorry. And look, you won in the end. You proved you are the better woman." Buffy stopped in her tracks. "YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS ALL ABOUT WINNING OR LOSING? You can't be serious. It was never about that. This is my life you have been fucking with, you Buffy wanna-be." And then Buffy punched her in the face. Hard, but not hard enough to kill her. That would be too easy. She wanted her to pay, and death was just too easy. Cordelia hit the floor with a thunk, and laid there for a few moments before she got up on wobbly knees. Her mouth was bleeding, and her cheek was already swelling. Buffy went to Angel and wrapped her arms around him. He held on to her like he was never going to let her go, which he wasn't. Cordelia managed to get out a comeback, even through her swollen mouth. "Well, Buffy, I guess I deserved that. But I still think I could make him happier. You just saw him first." Angel, Buffy, and even Spike started to laugh at that comment. "Cordelia, don't make me hit you myself." Angel commented. "I was there, remember? And I have never felt with you what I have felt tonight with Buffy. Not even once." Even Spike couldn't let that last comment pass by. "God, you are a stupid, stupid bint. I can't believe you still think that. What the hell have you been watching for the last six hours? I should have never let you talk me into this." Cordelia was livid. "If you remember Spike, this last stunt was your idea. YOU were the one who said this spell would work, not me." "Well, yeah, I thought you would be woman enough to hold Angel. I always knew Buffy and I were a crapshoot, but you swore you could keep Angel out of the picture. Stupid bitch." "Watch who you are calling stupid, you Billy Idol wanna be. If you would have just eaten her like I wanted, none of this would have ever happened." The Powers had heard all they needed, and Jenny appeared in front of them. "Enough of this. The time for bickering has passed. Angel, Buffy, we are glad to see that you have passed your test, though we were never in doubt. The world will now return to the path that was disrupted by our 'friends' here. Spike, Cordelia, the Powers revenge will swift, painful and eternal." Angel and Buffy looked at each other, and were truly frightened. They had never considered that the Powers would actually send Spike and Cordelia to hell, or some other painful place to spend eternity. They may have done something awful, but hell seemed a bit extreme. Angel decided to speak up for them both. "Miss Calendar, it's really good to see you again. But don't you think hell is a bit extreme? Since Buffy and I are the ones wronged, don't you think we should have a say in the punishment?" Jenny looked at Angel and smiled. "Angel, the powers have taken much from you, and have given much to you. But this is not your concern. Their actions, unchecked, would have brought about the end of the world, as we know it. It is inexcusable." Even Buffy decided that she would plead for her tormentors. She couldn't see any being having to spend eternity in pain. It just wasn't in her nature, even if she detested them both. "Jenny, I agree with Angel. Can't we decide what fate would be acceptable for them?" "I will admit," Jenny said, "that your concern moves me. We would expect nothing less from our champions. Therefore, we are willing to listen to your ideas, but we will have the last say. Once the decision is made, it will be done." Spike and Cordelia saw a light at the end of the tunnel. They moved toward each other, for moral support if nothing else. Spike put his arm around Cordy, who promptly decided to object. "Ooh, gross, don't touch me. God, that is so gross." Spike looked truly offended, and moved away. "Yeah, that's not what the other women say. You just have no taste." Angel and Buffy looked at each other, and smiled. They walked to the furthest corner of the room, and began to whisper to each other. Spike and Cordelia were very interested in what they were saying, but couldn't hear any more that the barest of a whisper. Buffy and Angel seemed to come to some sort of compromise. Angel stepped forward to speak for the couple. Buffy stood beside him, and couldn't seem to stop giggling. Angel looked at her, grinned, and started to speak. "Miss Calendar, we have made our decision, and having weighed the options, we think we have come up with the perfect punishment." "Do continue, Warrior. We are most interested in your thoughts." Buffy continued to giggle, and Angel found himself giggling too. Buffy ducked her head behind his back and tried to control herself. "We have decided that since they want to decide who should be with whom, and to hell with the rest, they should be together forever. We can't think of two people who would better suit each other than these two." Buffy burst out in laughter. Spike, Cordelia, together forever. She hoped she could be there to see it. She really wanted to see it. Pandemonium broke out when Cordelia and Spike heard what Angel said. Cordelia beat Spike to the punch, and began to rant. "You can't be serious! I wouldn't let that... that thing touch me with a ten foot pole. Even the thought is disgusting. Please, please, Angel, don't do this to me. After all we've been through, you wouldn't do this to me. I know it's just her making you say these things." Tears began to streak down Cordy's swollen face. "Please, Angel, I beg you. Don't do this." Angel almost felt sorry for her. Almost, but not quite. "Cordelia, for once in your miserable life, just shut up. You’re right, it was Buffy's idea. But be glad she came up with it. I was leaning more towards sending you both to hell to be the whores of every demon in the place. Apparently, Buffy has more sympathy for you than I do. And just for the record, that same "thing" you don't want to touch you has been touching MY mate for the past three years. How do you think that makes me feel?" Cordelia could see she had overstepped her bounds once again, and she better take what she could get. At least Spike looked human, or almost, so it had to better than hell. Angel wasn't through yet. He advanced on Spike with his best Angelus face on. He may not "be" a vampire anymore, but he still knew how to act like one. Spike refused to back down, but his fear was radiating from him. He met Angel toe to toe, and knew that if Angel staked him, it would be his right, as his grandsire, and head of their clan. But it didn't make it any easier to take. "You got something to say to me, Angelus, just say it. Or are we just going to gaze into one another's eyes all day." Angel growled at him, all the while clenching and unclenching his hands. "Yes, Spike, I do have something to say to you. I am just trying to make sure I say it with words, and not wood, if you know what I mean." Angel took a deep breath to help control his temper, and continued. "You, my grandchilde, have dared to touch what is mine. You know what the punishment would be if we were still living in the conventional vampire society. You knew it when you decided you would use black magik to take from me what is mine, and make it your own. The punishment for this offense would normally be a painful death, after you had endured a large amount of torture. So if you have any objections to what Buffy and I have suggested, I would recommend that you consider the alternative. I, personally, would like nothing better than to pull your heart out through your nose with my bare hands, but my better half has a softer heart than I do. So, say your peace, and let's be done with it." Spike weighed his words carefully. What he said right now could make or break this deal. Though the thought of spending eternity with Cordelia was reviling, the thought of spending it as the butt monkey of some hell demon was even worse. "Angelus, you are right. You do have the right to kill me, but that would be too easy. I have no love for Cordelia. As a matter of fact, I think she is probably the most obnoxious woman to ever live. But if that is your punishment, I won't fight you on it. At least I am smart enough to not look a gift horse in the mouth, unlike some stupid bitch in the room." Angel was satisfied with Spike's answer. It wasn't what he would have chosen, but he would respect Buffy's wish for leniency. Besides, having spent almost a half a century with Spike, and three years with Cordelia, he wasn't really displeased with the idea. Walking back over to Buffy, he leaned down and gave her a kiss on her lovely little mouth. "Work for you, baby?" "You know it does, Angel. It is the perfect punishment for two such crappy people." Buffy smiled into his eyes, and returned his kiss. Jenny stepped into the middle of the room. "So, Angel, Buffy, you would be satisfied with this paltry punishment? We do not think it is adequate revenge for what they have done, and we find it hard to believe that you do. There crimes must be punished, so they will not be tempted to do something like this again." Buffy grabbed Angel's hand, and decided it was her time to make her wishes felt. "Jenny, I realize that this may seem like this isn't much of a punishment. But take our word for it. They will have eternity to suffer for there deeds. And as for the "doing it again" thing, I am sure that the powers can come up with a way that they won't be allowed to delve into magic again. Angel and I have spent the last three years being manipulated and duped by these two people, two people who obviously loathe each other. There has to be a way to make them stay together, without love or happiness, but annoyance and ridicule. We aren't asking for them to be happy, just together, without the option of being apart." Jenny began to pace around the room thinking about what Buffy had said. "So, you wish to have them live and love and laugh after all they have done?" Buffy laughed at that. "No, we wish them to be stuck with each other, with about 6 kids, living in a cheap trailer park, and detesting each other a little more each day. No, I take it back about the 6 kids. I wouldn't wish either one of them for parents on innocent kids." Jenny paced back and forth, listening to her higher powers. "We think we may have a solution that will solve this issue. We will tie their souls together for eternity, and one will die without the other. It is a minor punishment, and sometimes a reward, in our realm. But if it is what you wish, it shall be done." Angel and Buffy looked at each other, and agreed. "Yes, we can accept this, if you can. But what becomes of Buffy and I after all this?" Looking over the warriors, Jenny wished she had a more definite answer for them. But even she wasn't privy to what would happen now that the world was righted. "I wish I could tell you, but even I don't know what all of this means. I only know that you are both part of the plan, and that your wish for your alter egos has been granted.” Jenny looked to the skies, and spoke words that no one understood. The room was filled with a great bolt of lightening, and suddenly, the room was empty, and life went on. Part XIV Part A
Feedback: Please. No feedback equals an insecure Angeluslover. Not a good thing. Makes me beg. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Dedication: To Majere, who has been the best beta ever. Support coming out my ears, and I love it. Thank you. *smooch*
“OOOOOOOHHHHHHH, Godddddddd!” Buffy screamed, the pain becoming overwhelming. She tried to breath, but couldn’t seem to. The confusion she was feeling was compounding the situation. “Angel, what the hell is going on? Where are we, and why do I hurt?” “Jesus, Buffy, I don’t know but it looks like we are in a hospital. And,” Angel paused, looking down at her, “you appear to be ‘pregnant’. How in the hell are you pregnant?” Buffy looked down, and gasped when she saw the size of her stomach. “Angel, oh my god, why in the hell am I the size of a beach ball? Please, Angel, you have to help me. I don’t understand.” Angel took a deep breath, and realized he needed it. He was still human. Oh, thank the powers, he so didn’t want to go back to the life of a vampire. But he was more concerned about Buffy’s obvious predicament. He bent over her bed, hugging her as tight as he dared. “Oh, baby, I don’t know. But we are still together. Whatever is happening, it is happening to us together. We will figure this out.” Buffy hugged him back, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him. “Angel, you’re warm. You’re still human. Oh, thank you, whoever. And we’re both here, alive. Angel, I love you so much, and I couldn’t imagine having to spend the rest of my life without you.” The nurse marched into the room, and checked her chart. “Well, Buffy, how are you feeling? Buffy stared at her in total dismay. “Fine? I guess?” The nurse gave her a genuine smile, and responded. “Things seem to be progressing nicely. A few more hours, and we will have us a brand new baby. Try to get some sleep, or at least some rest, and if you need anything, just hit the buzzer.” She left the room as fast as she entered, not noticing that Angel and Buffy were staring at her like she had three heads. “Well, at least that confirms our suspicions. I AM having a ‘baby’. Whose baby is it, and how in the hell did it happen?” Angel grabbed her by the shoulders, and kissed her full on the mouth. “I don’t know, Buffy, but we will figure this out. The powers wouldn’t have thrown us here, without giving us some kind of clue. So once this is over, we will begin to sort this out, I promise.” “I know you’re right, Angel. But I’m afraid. I don’t know how I got here, or what I am about to give birth to. It could be some demon, for all I know.” “Buffy, I will be here with you for the whole thing. I don’t believe the powers would have brought us to this moment to have something disastrous happen.” “I want to believe that Angel, but I’m still afraid. And, god, I am so tired. Please lay here with me, I don’t want you to leave me.” “Ok, baby, but you have nothing to worry about. I won’t ever leave you again. Not even the powers could pull me away from you.” Angel crawled into bed with her, but it was a tight fit. “Buffy, are you sure you are going to be comfortable like this? It’s awfully close quarters in here.” “I don’t care. I have been without you for a long time, so if a sardine imitation is all we got, so be it. It’s better than waking up without you.” Angel moved his arm so Buffy could rest her head on his shoulder. He suddenly found he was sleepy as well, so he kissed her already sleeping form on the head, and closed his eyes. Neither one of them were aware that Jenny was watching over them.
+++++++++++++++++++ Both Buffy and Angel’s dreams transported them back to three years ago. Buffy had just been resurrected, and Angel had just called to see her. Giles asked, “Is he in trouble?” Buffy replied, “He knows that I'm ...He, he needs to see me. I have to see him.” Giles looked at her with compassion and a little bit of fear. “Yes, of course. You'll leave for L.A. tomorrow.” Buffy shook her head. “ Not L.A. And not here. Somewhere in the middle. There's a, a place.” Giles raised his eyebrows, but tried to be understanding. “ I see. Well, we should get all these ... bills and things out of the way before-.” Buffy looked him in the eye, and regretted what she had to say. But she didn’t have a choice. She really needed to see Angel. “ I gotta go, now. “ After thanking them for trying to sort out her money issues, Buffy sprinted for the door. Maybe seeing Angel would spark something in her that reminded her of the Buffy she remembered. Maybe HE could make her feel like something other than a freak that wasn’t supposed to be here. She had been in heaven, damn it, and now she was back here, in this hellhole. As much as she loved her friends, Angel was the only thing that she had missed when she was up there. The only thing that kept it from being complete. Buffy didn’t know how he felt now, but she really didn’t care. No more secrets for her. Angel wasn’t getting away this time without knowing how she felt. If she died again, there would be no regrets. Buffy was in her mom’s car, driving as fast as she could, heading to the place where she was supposed to meet Angel. Driving was the easy part, getting there in one piece didn’t seem important. So she broke speed limits, and almost ran a couple of cars off the freeway. None of that mattered. She had to get to Angel. +++++++ Angel couldn’t believe it. Just about the time he had come to grips with Buffy’s death, she was back. Not that he had accepted her death, just found a way to deal with it. She was alive, and he wasn’t there for her again. Why was everything so hard? Why did fate seem to torture them both at every turn? She was ALIVE, god damn it, and he should have been there to welcome her back. His face should have been the first face she saw after coming back, because no one could have missed her as much as he did. Spending three months with the monks had taught him a lot. One of those things was that his soul was no longer in danger. He could have ‘been’ with Buffy since his coming back from hell, but it wouldn’t have changed his reasons for leaving. He still couldn’t give her what he thought she deserved. But her death had taught him that life was too short to worry about what you couldn’t have, and to cherish that which you could. And Angel was going to make sure Buffy knew that after tonight. That she knew he would love her forever, and he would be waiting for her if she decided to give him another chance. Not that he deserved it. Angel pulled up to the parking lot of the Last Chance Motel. He and Buffy had never stayed there, but they had driven past it one night when they were searching for some demon whose name or species he couldn’t remember. They had both laughed about the name, and Buffy had remarked that it must be ‘their’ hotel, with a name like that. It seemed like a nice neutral corner to meet her at, so that is where he had suggested when he called. It was just about half way between Sunnydale and L.A., so the drive wouldn’t be too hard on either one of them. Funny, he didn’t remember the place having enough lighting to glow, but it sure looked like it was glowing tonight. Odd. It was probably just be his imagination. Angel stepped out of the car, and looked around the parking lot. Buffy wasn’t there yet. That was just as well. He was really starting to get nervous. Maybe it would be better if he just got back in the car and headed back to L.A. She had been given a second chance, so what right did he have to screw it up? But how could he walk away from her again? Angel began pacing back and forth next to the car, the indecision written all over his face. Just as he was about to get back into the car, Buffy pulled up. It looked like the decision had been made for him. He leaned back against the hood of the car and waited for her to emerge. Buffy pulled into parking lot, and found a spot across from where Angel was parked. She was so nervous she couldn’t even get out of the car. Her entire future was going to be decided in the next few minutes, and she wasn’t sure she was up to making any life altering choices. Buffy turned around, and took a few minutes to just look at him. He hadn’t changed, not that she expected him to. Being a vampire definitely had a few good points. Angel continued to stand there, not coming up to her car. It was just like Angel not to approach her. He knew her so well, knew that she would make the first move when she was ready. After spending the next few minutes berating herself for being a coward, Buffy took a deep breath and opened the car door. ‘Well, Summers, it’s all or nothing now. Just a few more steps and you’ll be close enough to touch him.’ Buffy thought. She felt like she was walking in slow motion. Her mouth was dry, and her feet were like lead. But she did eventually reach him. Angel knew he was staring, but he couldn’t help it. If he would have had to breathe, there was a good chance he would of passed out at her feet from lack of air. She was as stunning as he remembered, if not more so. It’s amazing how sometimes even dreams can’t compete with the real thing. And he had had a *lot* of dreams about her in the past few months, even before she had died. Buffy stopped in front of him, and looked up at his face with her big, beautiful hazel eyes. Angel couldn’t help himself. He had to touch her to make sure she was real. He lifted his arms and placed his hands on either side of her face. His thumbs rubbed her cheeks, as his eyes filled with tears. “You’re really here. I was so afraid you would just disappear as soon as I touched you. I’ve had this dream so many times, but you always disappeared.” Angel was crying so hard he could hardly get the words out, and Buffy was crying right along with him. “I’m not going anywhere, not unless you make me. Oh, Angel, I have missed you so much.” Buffy threw herself into his waiting arms, where they did nothing but hug and cry for a very long time. ~ After both Buffy and Angel had gathered their composure again, Buffy lifted her head from his shoulder. Angel put his hands on her waist, and looked deeply in her eyes. “Buffy, how are you, really?” Buffy stepped out of his embrace, taking a few steps back. She wanted to weigh her answer before she actually responded to that question. “Angel, this has been the worst few weeks of my life. You can’t imagine what I have been through.” Angel smirked. “Yes, Buffy, I think I can.” “No, Angel, you can’t. I was not in hell, like they thought. I was in heaven. For the first time in years, I was happy.” Buffy began to pace back and forth in a nervous frenzy. “You can’t imagine the peace and the love I felt there. It was incredible, and I so didn’t want to come back to this hell called earth.” Angel’s eyes got as big as quarters. “Are you telling me you were in heaven, and they dragged you out? Oh, Buffy, I am so sorry. That is all I ever hoped for you. To be in that perfect place, and finally out of this hell.” Buffy stopped pacing, and stood right in front of him. “No, Angel, you don’t understand. Heaven was wonderful, and I was really not happy at being back. But it wasn’t the perfect place I had imagined. There was something missing.” “What could have been missing? Sounds like you were in the perfect place. What could you want that you didn’t have, Buffy?” Buffy grabbed his face, and the tears she thought were forever tapped out flowed again. “You, Angel. If you would have been there, no magic on earth could have brought me back to this. You are the reason I am here.” Angel began to cry again. “Please, Buffy, don’t put the blame on me. I can’t take any more guilt. I should have never kissed you, or loved you, or had any contact with you. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for me.” Buffy was the one whose mouth dropped open now. “How dare you say that to me? Do you think that I would change one thing of what has happened? Do you really think I would rather be anywhere except here, with you? God, Angel, after all we have been through, how could you even think that?” Then Buffy got her second wind. “And for the record, I am not blaming you for anything. Do you think you could have prevented my death? You always knew I was a slayer, and dying young was my destiny. Hell, if you and Xander hadn’t been there when I faced the Master, I would have been dead a long time ago. I would be in Heaven, but it can’t compete with what I had here on earth with you.” Angel was shaking his head no. He couldn’t, wouldn’t let him self believe that this was real. That she loved him this much. Buffy took a deep breath, and continued. “The First Slayer told me that Death was My Gift. I thought it had something to do with dying. But now I know what that meant. You are my gift. For all that I have done, all that I have given up, my reward is a 240 plus year old ‘dead’ vampire. I can’t think of a better gift, can you?” ‘Oh, Buffy, I love you so much.” Angel wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by. She was here, with him, alive. No one or thing on earth would ever take her away from him again. He reached out and grabbed her in a hug that would have broken a few ribs on an ordinary woman. All he could think was ‘She still loves me. She missed me in Heaven as much as I missed her here. She gave up Heaven for me.’ He knew then that he would never let her go again. She was his soulmate, and even the powers wouldn’t succeed in keeping them apart. For the first time in a long time, Angel leaned down and touched her lips with his. He wanted to keep it a soft, welcoming kind of kiss. But Buffy wasn’t having it. She leaned into the kiss, and forced his mouth open.
Buffy continued her attack on Angel’s mouth, her tongue dueling with his. She began sucking his tongue, her actions resembling the ritual of making love. Angel was delirious, wanting to tear her clothing off right then and there. But then it dawned on him that they were in a parking lot. A very public place. He pulled back, much to her disgruntlement. “Uh, Buffy, this is going to sound tacky, and this isn’t the Beverly Hills Hotel, but do you want to get a room? We could, you know, talk and stuff, without all the publicity.” Buffy smiled, “Why, Angel! Are you asking me to spend the night with you in some sleazy hotel room?” “I can’t say for sure that it’s sleazy, but I am definitely asking if you would spend the night here with me?” “Thought you’d never ask.” Buffy replied, as she skipped to the lobby. Angel followed, getting a cheap thrill out of the way her hips swayed when she moved. He was a dirty old vampire, but only with her. Part XIV Part B
Feedback: Please. No feedback equals an insecure Angeluslover. Not a good thing. Makes me beg. This is my FIRST FANFIC EVER. Please be kind, and let me know what you think. Dedication: To Majere, who has been the best beta ever. Support coming out my ears, and I love it. Thank you. *smooch*
Angel put the key in the lock, still laughing with Buffy. The scene in the lobby when they were renting the room was a classic. The man at the desk hadn’t even questioned what they wanted. He just wanted to know if they wanted it by the night or the hour. They looked at each other, and answered in unison. “By the night.” The manager gave them a strange look, and handed Angel the keys. Angel forked over the money, and he and Buffy went to find their room. The room was not as bad as they had imagined, but it wasn’t much better. There was a tacky looking green chair in the corner, and really bad shag carpeting on the floor. Not much else in the way of furniture, except a nightstand with a very basic clock, and, of course, the bed. But at least it seemed to be a clean room. That was the most important part. While Angel sat down in the chair, Buffy jumped on the bed, laying back and stretching her arms above her head. Feeling better than she had since she got back, she felt another smile break across her face. Just being with Angel always made her feel better. “God, this feels good. To just relax, and not have to worry that everyone is wondering about what you’re doing and how you are.” “Been a little overprotective of you, have they?” Angel responded. Sitting up and draping her arms over her bent knees, Buffy wasn’t quite sure how to answer that. Sighing heavily, she said, “I really appreciate their concern, don’t get me wrong. But after everything I have been through in the past few months, I really like being alone. Something they don’t seem to understand. They expect me to be like I was before, but I just can’t be. I will never be that Buffy again.” That’s when the tears began to flow again, and she couldn’t seem to stop them. Angel sat on the bed next to her, placing his hands on her knees. “You’re right, Buffy. You will never be the same again. You need to use this knowledge to your advantage. You know what it is like to live, and you know what it is like to die. Now you have no reason to be afraid, no reason to hold back. Any risk you take will be worth the effort.” “No, Angel, I have every reason to be afraid. I know if I do die, I will be somewhere where you aren’t. And that terrifies me. At least when you left, I knew you were only a two hour drive away.” Angel was dumbstruck. He didn’t know how to answer this, but he knew she needed an answer. “Buffy, I am a demon. After all of the things I’ve done and the people I’ve killed, I can pretty much guarantee Heaven isn’t even in the equation. So no matter what happens, I can’t go there with you. Not as long as I am a vampire.” “Angel, please don’t say that. You have the most pure and good heart of anyone I know. No one deserves it more than you.” “It doesn’t change the facts. I am still a vampire, and it doesn’t look like that’s changing any time soon.” Buffy stared at him, and decided to lay it all on the table. “What about your Shanshu? Would that change anything?” Angel just stared at her, open mouthed. “How did you know about that?” Buffy laughed, grabbing his hand and squeezing. “Not many secrets in Heaven, you know.” “Oh,” was the only thing Angel could muster. Explaining this to her tonight was not in his agenda. “Uh, Buffy, I really don’t know. It’s just a prophecy, and we both know that they aren’t always accurate. And even if it is, we don’t know when or if it will really happen. So please don’t place all your hopes on a dream.” Buffy smiled at him, leaning forward until their lips met. “Angel, I owe you an apology.” Angel pulled back a bit, startled by her comment. “Buffy, you don’t owe me anything. What would make you say that?” “I told you I would never forget, and I did.” Angel jumped off the bed like she had lit him on fire. “What did you say?” Buffy took the opportunity to stand up and advance on him. Angel took the same opportunity to back up against the wall. When Buffy had him backed up as far as he could go, she decided to repeat herself. “I told you I would never forget, and I did.” She leaned into him, and gently kissed him on the mouth. “I am sorry for not remembering.” Angel was in shock. “But, they said you wouldn’t remember. It didn’t happen.” “Well, they were right. I didn’t remember when I was alive, but like I said, not many secrets in Heaven. There was no reason to keep it a secret once I was dead. They just didn’t imagine me ever being back here. Or maybe they did, and they needed a reason for me to want to come back. I guess we will never know why, but I do remember.” Knowing this could get ugly, Angel decided begging was a good option. “Buffy, please don’t be mad at me. I did it to save your life. Not that it helped, but I did it for you.” “Angel, I am not mad. What you did for me was the most unselfish act that I have ever heard of. It restored my faith in mankind. It made me realize how much I truly love you. I’m still in awe of the fact that one person can love another that much. Need anymore explanations?” “No, Buffy, I guess I don’t. But, just as a reminder, I am not part of ‘mankind’. And you know I would do anything, give anything to make sure you are safe. I wish I had been there for you when you faced Glory. Maybe then none of this would have happened.” “Angel, don’t blame yourself. I don’t blame you. It happened, and now I need to try to get my life right, starting now.” Buffy reached up and grabbed his mouth with hers. She began with an easy assault, and Angel followed suit. Then she leaned into the kiss, and deepened it until he let her tongue in. Angel groaned, and grabbed her by the hips, rubbing her against his obvious arousal. He felt like he was at his limits, and realized this wasn’t right. He pushed her away, his body mourning the lack of contact. “Buffy, no, we can’t do this. We have to talk first.” Buffy’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t want me anymore. I thought for sure you still loved me. I was certain of it when I came back.” “Buffy, don’t ever think I don’t love you. But you have just been through a very traumatic experience. I don’t think we should rush into anything when you are in such a fragile emotional state.” “Hogwash, Angel. YOU are the only thing that still makes sense. The rest of it is traumatic. Not you, not here, not now. Being here with you makes perfect sense to me.” Buffy was pacing and gesturing wildly. “For the first time in a year and a half, we can be together. No interference from our friends, and no curse.” Angel interrupted her, “You know about the curse too? You weren’t kidding when you said there were no secrets in Heaven. I suppose you know about Darla, too?” “Angel, don’t interrupt me. And yes, I know about the skank. And you can be sure we will talk about that later. Where was I?” Buffy stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts. “Oh. Hell, yes, I want to rush into this. I want to throw you down on that really tacky bedspread, and do things to you that I have been dreaming about for years.” All Angel could do what stand there and watch the scene. She was beautiful all the time, but she was magnificent when she was angry. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. When he could finally get in a word edgewise, he didn’t know what to say. Dislodging himself from the wall he seemed to be plastered to, he approached her. He couldn’t believe she had just said that she wanted to throw him down on the bed. His little Buffy had grown up. Her time away from him had given her some experience and some confidence. He didn’t like the fact that she had been with other men, but he understood that it was part of growing up. Angel was face to face with her, and she was still in a state. Buffy’s chest was heaving in her indignation, and Angel couldn’t take his eyes off the cleavage that was created by her black halter-top. Angel had been so nervous before he hadn’t noticed what she was wearing. His eyes wandered even lower, to see she was wearing gray leather pants that complimented the shirt, and emphasized her hips. They fit like a second skin. Angel was sure it was his imagination, but he thought he could see her pubic hair through the material. Grabbing Buffy around the waist, all rational thought fled his mind. He pulled her roughly to his chest, and kissed her until they both saw stars. Buffy let herself go. This was why she was here. The reason she was back. Nothing on earth or in Heaven could compare to being with Angel. This was her destiny, and she wasn’t letting him walk away again. Buffy grabbed his shirt and pulled, sending buttons flying across the room, but neither one of them cared. She placed her hands on his chest and began to feel. It was wonderful, to feel again, both physically and emotionally. His chest was perfect, smooth, hard. She broke her lips away from his gorgeous mouth and followed the path that her hands had forged. Her pink tongue darted out to taste his skin, and Angel had to bite back a groan. The next thing he knew, Buffy had made good on her promise. In one swift movement, he was lying flat on the bedspread while she continued her exploration. Working her way down his throat, Buffy stopped to suck, lick and bite his throat. Angel was beside himself, and his hips were lifting in response to each move. “Buffy, please stop. It’s been a long time, and my stamina isn’t what it should be. Godddd!” Buffy was more than turned on by this, she could feel herself getting wet in her pants. Deciding there was too much clothing between them, she jerked his shirt off of his shoulders and arms, and began to move down his chest. “Angel, I dreamed about this everyday in Heaven. I didn’t want peace, I wanted you. Peace without you was like peanut butter without chocolate.” Angel groaned at her words, and Buffy licked her way down his throat, until she came to his nipples. They were rock hard, waiting for her. She gently nipped one with her teeth, while using her thumb to rub the other. Angel was almost thrashing on the bed in anticipation. After a few minutes of this, Angel grabbed the top of her head and pushed her down. But Buffy wouldn’t be rushed. She had waited too long for this, and nothing would spoil her fun. “Patience, baby, patience,” she whispered. Continuing her journey, Buffy ran into the barrier of his pants. That wouldn’t do, she thought. Rubbing her hand against his jutting erection, Angel moaned and began to pump himself against her hand. Buffy needed to see him. She hadn’t been with him since the day that wasn’t, and she needed to see him again. Her thighs were wet, her inner muscles throbbing at the thought of seeing him. Placing her fingers beneath his waistband, Buffy began to slowly unbutton his pants.
With excruciating slowness, she undid the button and lowered the zipper. Angel moaned and raised his hips to help her remove the offending garments. Buffy removed his pants, and took his underwear with her. She needed him naked, and naked now. ‘God, he was so beautiful.’ That was the only thought that entered her mind as she looked at his completely naked body. “Angel, you are magnificent. Just seeing you here like this makes me glad I came back.” “Buffy, please. I need you. Come up here and let me show you how much.” “Not yet, Angel. You really need to work on that patience thing.” Buffy leaned down and took him in her mouth. She sucked him all the way in, and Angel almost leaped off the bed in pure ecstasy. She pumped him in and out of her mouth several times, until she got the reaction she was looking for. Angel was trying to make love with her mouth now. Her head was bobbing up and down to accommodate his size. Slowly drawing back, she let her tongue run along his underside, before removing her mouth. Angel was panting in frustration, and she loved it. Damn, she was glad she came back. Moments like this made it all worthwhile. Deciding that she had on way too much clothing, Buffy stood beside the bed and began to remove it. She had dressed for this, so she decided to make a show of the presentation. She slowly began to remove her top. Underneath it, she wore a black lace halter bra that had a tendency to push her up. She could hear Angel suck in his breath as he saw it. Then she began to remove her pants, knowing that her underwear would elicit at least the same response. She had on a lace, sheer, black thong. Not something built for comfort, but she hadn’t worn it for that. She was on a mission, and Angel was the prize. She turned around to take off her pants, knowing that he would see her ass in the thong first off. She got a reaction, it was just a little more than she expected. Before she knew it, she was flat on her back on the bed. Buffy wasn’t even sure how it happened, but she really didn’t care. Angel was kissing her like he was going to devour her soul. But that was OK with her. He already had her soul. The rest was just semantics. Angel couldn’t help himself. He knew his eyes were glowing, but the outfit she had on was more than he could handle. He was eye to eye with Buffy, but he didn’t want to scare her or turn her off. Sometimes he hated being a vampire. “Buffy, this is way more than I can stand. I don’t want to scare you, but I am right on the verge of losing it. I think we need to slow down.” Buffy smiled into his golden eyes. “Angel, baby, I am not afraid of you. Heck, I am not even afraid of Angelus anymore. We both know that that even your demon loves me. You can feel it inside of you. That’s the only reason he didn’t kill me when he had the chance. So if you feel the need to let it go, don’t stop on my account. Being in Heaven taught me a lot, but most of all it taught me that love means loving everything about a person, not just the parts you like.” Angel was at first shocked, but then she began to move under him. She was rubbing her wetness against his thigh, and that was all it took. Breaking out into full game face, he ripped her panties from her body. Control was no longer an issue. He needed this woman, loved this woman, and the Powers had given her back to him. Restraint wasn’t something he could find in his heart or soul. Hell, even the demon was celebrating her return to them. “Ahhhhhh, God, yessssssss!” Angel screamed as his body entered hers. It has been so long. Buried to the hilt, Angel looked down to see her reaction. Buffy’s face was flushed, and she was speechless. Her mouth was open in a moan but no sound was coming out. The initial entry shocked her, but not for long. She began to move against him, causing him to move with her. They started out slow, Angel moving in and out. He wanted her ready when he was ready, so speed fucking wasn’t part of the game. Continuously kissing each other, lips, eyes, ears, cheeks, seemed to be a part of the game. Buffy was now moaning out loud, and Angel was so aroused he couldn’t shake his game face. Funny thing was, he hadn’t had that problem since the early 1800’s. Buffy didn’t seem to mind, and he wasn’t sure he could stop even if she did. Killing used to do this to Angelus, now making love to her did as well. He would work on it later. Now he just needed to feel her. God, she was so tight. Buffy was so aroused that she barely noticed Angel’s gameface. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, and that the ‘true’ return of Angelus would never happen. Seeing him above her with his vampire face didn’t even bother her. He was still the man she loved, gameface or not. Continuing to move in and out, Angel brought one hand up and unclasped the hook at the front of her bra, freeing her breasts. Not like it covered much anyway. As soon as she was free of the confining device, his lips moved down to take a nipple in his mouth. The extra stimulation almost sent Buffy over the edge. Then Buffy noticed a different sensation. Not only was Angel sucking her nipple, but his fangs were grating against it. She thought maybe she should be repulsed by this, but instead it just turned her on more. “Yes, Angel, please, bite me.” Angel pulled back at that, and looked her in the eye. “Buffy, no way am I going to do that. I’m sorry that it went this far. Damn, I should have stopped when I realized what this was doing to me.” Buffy grabbed his still vampire like face, and kissed him hard. “Angel, I know you are a vampire. It’s not like I can make love to you and pretend you aren’t. But I don’t care. I LOVE you, good and bad. Knowing that Angelus isn’t coming back to kill us all has changed my whole attitude. Please, don’t contain your feelings, your sexuality, because of it. If I have to take a little golden eyes and bumpy forehead to be with you, I think I will live. Besides, a little biting can be a turn on.” Shocked almost speechless, but turned on beyond belief, Angel couldn’t contain himself any longer. He began to plunge into her in earnest now, amazed that she was arching up for more. It was times like these that he was glad she was a slayer. A normal woman probably wouldn’t have survived their lovemaking. He buried his head in her neck and bit down, not breaking the skin. He could feel the blood rushing through her veins, hear the pounding of her heart through her neck, and almost taste the blood on his tongue. Buffy was almost there. She was sitting on the peak, ready to fall down the mountain. Fall, hell, she was ready to jump. “Oh, God, Angel. Please, don’t stop. Harder, please.” Knowing she wouldn’t last much longer, she wanted to take Angel with her. Grabbing the back of his head, she pressed his mouth against her throat. “Drink, Angel, please.” Knowing it was wrong, he did it anyway. God help him, he was beyond right and wrong. He sunk his fangs into her throat, savoring the elixir that rushed down his throat. Stars exploded behind his eyes, at the same time that Buffy jumped off that mountain. ~ Their simultaneous pleasure triggered the beginning. Memories raced through their minds. Moving in together. Sharing two residences. Commuting between LA and Sunnydale. Arguments, making up, love, it all came back. The pictures flashed through their minds like a movie on fast forward. The emotions were almost overwhelming. The End of Days battle, the victory, it all came back. Angel removed himself from Buffy’s neck and still the memories continued, right along with their intense sustained pleasure. And still the memories continued their onslaught. *Angel’s Shanshu.* The visit from the Powers that explained it all. The proposal. The wedding. The continued fight against evil. The Honeymoon. *The Baby. * ~ Gasping, Angel awoke before Buffy and jumped off the hospital bed. He wasn’t sure but he thought he might be in shock. Buffy, a baby, HIS baby. Placing his hands on her belly, he closed his eyes trying to keep the tears back. He could remember it all. He was human, he was going to be a father. And he remembered it all. The morning sickness, the bloating, the hormonal moodiness. YES, he remembered. A loud gasp broke him out of his revelry. Buffy sat up straight, or at least as straight as she could. Panic was written all over her face. “Angel, I remember. I remember it all. We’re having a baby. It’s yours, this baby is yours.” “Shh, Buffy, I remember, too. We’re going to be parents. The Scourge of Europe is going to be a father. I can’t believe it.” The panicked look still hadn’t left Buffy’s face. “I’m not ready. I can’t do this. What do I know about raising a child?” “Please, Buffy, calm down. Try to relax and breathe. If you remember, we have talked about all this. We are ready. The room is ready, we have settled lives and I make a pretty good living. And besides, looks like it’s a little late for regrets.” Deep breaths, that was what she needed. In, out, in, out. She was feeling better already. “Thanks, Angel. Thought I was having a total mental collapse for a minute there.” Angel laughed. “Gosh, Buffy, I don’t know what could have caused that? Waking up pregnant with memories you didn’t have a little while ago is a daily occurrence on the Hellmouth. You should be used to it by now.” “Ha, Ha, Angel. Somehow I am not in the mood for jokes right now. As a matter of fact, I am feeling mighty uncomfortable.” Realizing she might actually be in pain, Angel sat on the side of the bed. “I’m sorry, honey. I was just trying to lighten the mood. Are you in pain? Should I get the nurse?” “No, it isn’t actual pain, at least not right now. But it’s a little uncomfortable, and frightening.” “Buffy, this is the best day of my life. Being her with you, knowing you are bringing our child into the world. I can’t even describe the feeling.” Angel leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. “You are amazing, and I love you more than I could ever put into words. You are my heart, my life, my soul.” By the time Angel was finished, Buffy had tears running down her cheeks. “Oh, Angel, me too. I feel the same way about you. I can’t believe this is real. We’re both here, together, forever.” It was time for Jenny to finish her mission. Stepping from the shadows, she caught both Buffy and Angel by surprise. “Jenny, what are you doing here? No, please don’t tell me this is all a dream. I would rather you kill me than take this away.” “We would not do that to our champions. I am here to take something away, but it isn’t something that you will miss. And I have come to make the provisions of the changes clear.” “Provisions? What is the catch? There is always one, so what is it?” Angel was getting angry now. “No catch, Angel. We have told you this before, but want to make sure that you are aware of it.” Buffy was getting impatient, and was not in the mood for games. “Jenny, please. I am not up for the games. Just tell us.” “Angel, the Powers have decreed that you have met the conditions for redemption. You were given your humanity after the End of Days. But you must continue your fight, for evil shall never be vanquished. That is why we have blessed you with your vampire strength, to aid us in the battle. Though you are not immortal, your life has been greatly extended. All your offspring will have the same benefit of your strength and longevity. Your lineage will beget a new breed of champion. You and yours are the savior of all that is good.” Speechless, that was the reaction that Angel had. Then it hit him. He would live another several centuries, but what about Buffy? He didn’t want to be here if Buffy wasn’t. “No, I won’t do it. Not without Buffy. She is human, and she will die after living a normal life span. I won’t stay here without her. She is the only reason I have, or need, to be here.” “We have taken your love for Buffy into account. We are not that short sighted. After much discussion, she has also been granted your gift. You will together be the sole providers of our champions. Your children will help to keep the world safe for centuries to come.” Buffy was speechless, and livid. “No, these are my babies that you are talking about. They are not going to be anyone’s champion. They will not die by the hands of a demon.” Jenny smiled at her, sure that the Powers had made the right decision. “Buffy, I admire your loyalty to your children, but if this decision had not been made, there would be no children. Slayers are sterile. We have made some changes that will allow you to have children, and have asked that a price be paid. If you both cannot deal with it, you must say so now. Once the decision is made, there will be no going back.” Angel realized what she meant, but didn’t think Buffy did. “Buffy, if we decide not to do this, our baby will cease to exist. We won’t have any more. But if that is what you decide, then I will be OK with it.” Angel’s hand was unconsciously rubbing her stomach. She wanted this baby, she really did. But did she want to condemn her children to a life like she had? Was it worth it? Thinking back on all the things that she had been through, she realized it was. Heck, if she hadn’t been the slayer, and Angel hadn’t been a vampire, they would have never met. They would both be around for a long time. They would do their best to teach and train their kids to handle what life and the un-life threw at them. Buffy nodded at Angel. “Jenny, we accept your deal. Together, Angel and I will fight for as long as we can, and make sure our children, and their children will be ready to as well. I want this baby. I love this baby. It is a part of us, of our love.” Jenny took a deep, unnecessary breath. She knew when she convinced the Powers to do this that she was making the right decision. Angel and Buffy were true warriors and this would be the start of something great. Calling a young girl as a slayer would no longer be necessary. A new day had come, with new rules and new champions. “It is time for me to go. One last bit of business. You both remember how you got here now, the time that was spent with the other. When I leave, that time will have ceased to exist for you. No thoughts or memories will remain. All you will know is what I have told you about your future, and what your lives have been like, together, for the last three years. None of this happened.” Trying to express his gratitude, Angel got up and walked toward Jenny. “Jenny, I can’t thank you enough. You have given me everything I could want and more. There are no words that can express it.” As she began to fade, Angel heard her say, “Then, perhaps, our Angel, we are even.” Then she was gone. ~ Hours later, Connor Summers O’Donnell made his way into the world. Back in her room, Mom was resting comfortably with Dad asleep in a chair right beside her. The door opened with a bang. Rudely awakened out of his slumber, Angel jumped from his chair in combat form. He couldn’t remember ever being so tired, and was not happy about having his sleep interrupted. Spike sauntered into the room and plopped down on the chair in the other corner of the room. “Congratulations, you big poof. Didn’t know you had it in you. Relax, Angel, not like I am going to attack you. Hell, now that your heart is beating, not like I can.” Only Spike, Angel thought as he relaxed. Taking a deep breath, he sat back down. “Spike, I didn’t expect you here. Where’s your other half?” “Stupid bint is coming. She had to stop at the gift shop and get ‘flowers’. Funerals, births, anniversaries, why do humans always give something that dies? Doesn’t make any bloody sense if you ask me.” “OK, if you say so. Have you seen the baby yet? He’s beautiful.” Responding to the noise around her, Buffy began to wake from her deep slumber. “Angel?” Angel walked to the bedside and took her hand. “Yes, love. I’m right here.” Coming fully awake, Buffy sat up as best she could, a stricken look on her face. “Angel, where is the baby? Why isn’t he here?” “Buffy, he’s fine. He’s in the nursery. We can have him brought down whenever you feel like it.” ‘No, Angel, he needs to be here. He needs to be with us. Only we can protect him.” Her distress was visible, causing Angel to panic as well. “Ok, Buffy, I will go get him now. It will be OK, I swear.” Buffy leaned back on the bed, still tense but more secure now that Angel was getting their son. She needed to be with him, to make sure no harm came to him. Then she noticed her company. “Oh, Spike, I didn’t notice you before. Where’s Cordelia?” “She should be her in a few. Well, Buffy, you did it. You and the poof have managed to bring a little poufter into the world.” “Don’t call him that. Not my husband or my son. God, sometimes I wonder why we continuously take your crap.” “Jeez, slayer, it was just a joke. Really, I am glad for you both. Best wishes, and all that crap, you know?” “Yeah, Spike. I know. But sometimes you really piss me off. Can’t you for once say something nice?” “Slayer, that’s not really my style. Just know that I couldn’t be happier for you both. I just wish something good would happen for me.” “Spike, you and Cordelia are *so* not compatible. Why do you two stay together? It doesn’t make any sense. It’s like you are both bound and determined to make each other miserable.” “God knows, Slayer, but I can’t seem to leave her. I tried once, but soon as I left, I broke out in hives and blisters. The minute I was back with her, they went away. It was so weird. Our bodies seem bound together, even if our souls aren’t.” “That is so weird, Spike. Maybe it’s magic. Have you spoken to Willow?” “Yeah, we went to her, and to an even more powerful mage. It’s not magic like we are used to seeing, and it can’t be broken. I guess together and miserable is the only future for both of us.” “That’s a shame, Spike. Maybe you two could find a way to at least get along. You know, stop screwing with each other and come to a compromise.” Spike laughed. “Yeah, we have come to that. We have come to the conclusion that we hate each other, but can’t stay away. So we shag every chance we get, and try not to talk to each other at all, even when we are doing it.” “Sounds like hell, Spike. I feel really sorry for you both.” But somehow Buffy couldn’t muster much sympathy for them. She didn’t know why, she just knew it was true. ~ Angel was walking down the hallway to get Connor when he ran into Cordelia, literally. He wasn’t paying attention, and almost bowled her over. “Gee, I am so sorry. Oh, Cordy, how nice to see you.” “Hey, nice to see you too. Congratulations on your new son.” A few dried up flowers were shoved into his face. “Uh, thanks, Cordy, I appreciate you coming.” “Hey, I wouldn’t miss it. The rest of the gang should be here in the morning. Due to Spike’s ‘sunlight’ issue, we made the trip in early.” Angel blanched at the mention of his childe’s name. “How are you and Spike doing, by the way?” “God, Angel, it’s awful. I really detest being around him. He is constantly telling me what to do, where to go, and who to go with. It really irritates me.” “Cordelia, why don’t you just leave? It’s not like you need him.” “That’s what’s so weird, Angel. I tried once, but as soon as I got within more than a mile away from him, my skin broke out in blisters, and itched like you wouldn’t have believed. It’s like my body is connected to him, though my soul hates him.” This kind of situation would normally put Angel in research mode, but for some reason, he couldn’t even bring himself to really care. “That’s too bad, Cordy. Maybe you two can work it out. Buffy is in room 236, and Spike is already there. I am going to get the baby, if you want to meet me there.” ~ Buffy was holding Connor, his mouth pressed against her breast. Congratulations and happy talk were all around, no one seeming to mind that she was breast feeding her son in front of a room full of people. Connor sure didn’t mind, and Buffy was just content to sit and listen. Having her and Angel’s son pressed against her breast, trying to navigate to her nipple, was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Well, at least tied. The best thing was finding him. The man that had given it all to her, that made it all possible. Buffy found she was mesmerized by her husband. Her gaze was shifting back and forth from her husband to her son, causing all the feelings she had for them both to both fill her completely. The sun had come up, and Cordelia and Spike had been gone long before that happened. But as soon as morning had come, Buffy’s room was filled with all her friends. Giles, Willow, Tara, Oz, they had all come. Willow had picked up Dawn from home, the home that Angel, Dawn, herself, and now Connor shared. Buffy sighed contently. For the first time in her life, she was truly happy - so was Connor from the look on his face while he fed. It had been a long night, exhausting night, so she couldn’t help but yawn, several times. Ever alert to his wife’s needs, Angel couldn’t ignore her yawn. “Well, gang, although we appreciate you coming, it looks like our new mother is ready for some sleep. But we will be home tomorrow, so feel free to come over to see us then. And, Giles, if you want to come by, we can finalize the LA/ Sunnydale patrol schedule.” Buffy was trying to stay awake long enough to get people out of her room. “Guys, thanks for coming. I love you all, and Connor will too.” After hugs and congratulations all around, Buffy was beat. For the moment, Connor was asleep, so Angel placed him in his bed that the hospital provided. Connor sighed, stomach full, and was sound asleep. Angel sat on the bed, and scooped Buffy into his arms. “Buffy, I know you are tired, but I have a something that I need to say.” Always on alert, Buffy tensed. “Angel, if it’s something bad, not right now. This has been perfect, and I won’t let you spoil it.” “No, silly. I just wanted to say thank you. This has been by far the most amazing experience of my life. You have given me everything I have ever wanted. And I can’t express my gratitude enough.” Angel kissed her sweetly, but firmly to accent his words. “Me, too, Angel. Since the moment I met you, my life has been so different. But it’s been a good different. It’s seems like we spent years trying to get this right. But I always wanted my life to be with you. I want us to be together, forever.” “Forever, Buffy.” Angel said as he kissed her again. “That’s the whole point.” |