Inspired by and written with the permission of Teenage Anthem author butimbroken
Elizabeth "Buffy" Summers was seventeen years old although she easily passed for younger – something she groaned about often. With her soft, long, blonde hair and big green eyes, she seemed innocent and approachable. Her ever-present smile put everyone at ease. Her sweet nature warmed strangers and friends alike. It didn't matter that she didn't feel sweet or warm. She didn't feel anything anymore, but as long as she pretended, everything would be fine.
That's what she told herself when she met Angel's adoring eyes. He'd seen her at her lowest, being hurt by her own father, and he'd stuck by her: through the hospital stays, Sunnydale's gossip, the trial. Even though her situation resurrected memories of his, Angel's love never wavered.
Buffy tried not to think about the last year, or the year before that . . . or the one before that. She tried not to think at all anymore; her mind seemed capable of forming only melancholy thoughts anyway. Angel deserved better than melancholy; everyone she loved did.
She missed seeing him at school every day. After graduating, Angel started at UC Sunnydale. He loved it, but he surprised her at lunch or after school regularly. He wanted to marry her and get a place together and they would soon.
Angel "proposed" over a year ago. He'd told her he wanted to marry her and then started moving towards that goal. They both worked part-time jobs saving money for their future.
Angel said they'd be married and on their own before her father finished his one year jail sentence. Despite the binders of evidence, everyone had been shocked he had to serve any time inside. Upon his release, she didn't know if her parents would reconcile or if they did, what would happen to Dawn. This year of freedom, of safety, was a miracle. She'd be ungrateful to ask for more. . . .
OoOoO
Leaning against his black convertible, Angel watched kids leaving the school. He spotted Dawn first, or more accurately, she spotted him.
"Angel!"
"Hey Dawn." Her excitement brought a small smile to his lips.
"Buffy didn't tell me you were picking us up today."
"Afternoon class was cancelled."
Connor walked up behind her. "Couldn't stay away huh?"
Angel rolled his eyes. "You're riding with Aunt Jen."
"And witness her flirt with the librarian again? Nah." Seeing Angel and Willow Rosenberg exchange subtle smiles and waves, Connor grinned. Buffy's social skills had rubbed off on his big brother – not a lot, but enough for him to win a handful of friend-like people.
Buffy bounced up into Angel's arms. "Hello lova'."
Chuckling, he caught her easily. "Big hug mean good day or bad day?"
She kissed his cheek. "Means I missed you silly."
Setting her down, Angel took her bag and placed it in the back seat. "Any day now, you'll discover UC Sunnydale can't wait to have you."
Dawn guffawed. "With her record, she'll be lucky to get into community college."
Scowling, Conor kept Dawn from throwing her bag in. "Hey."
Angel stared shocked. "Apologize to your sister."
"It's alright." Buffy nudged Connor's hand aside. "She's not wrong. We all know my chances are slim."
Angel frowned. "Your upper classman grades are fine. You've been working with Willow or me for every test since you transferred here and your test scores were better than mine."
Dawn pressed, "The college counselor says schools look at everything. A reading score doesn't erase her sophomore year of D's and burning down school property."
Buffy slung an arm around her and leaned her head real close. "Which is why it's very important for you to do all the stuff the counselor says: homework, extracurricular activities, and not getting kicked out. Someone has to support me in my old age."
The sisters' laughter didn't erase the brothers' frowns.
Buffy pushed Angel away from the passenger door so she could get in. "Come on gloomy twins. Take me to sugary, caffeinated happiness."
Angel nodded and went to start the car.
Connor opened the back door for Dawn. As she stepped in, he leaned down whispering, "What the hell was that?"
She shrugged and avoided eye contact during the quiet drive.
When they reached her mom's shop, the Espresso Pump, Dawn opened the door first and nearly jogged inside.
Unbuckling his seat belt, Angel asked, "She okay?"
Buffy smiled. "First year of high school, puberty, boy problems – take your pick." She took off her seat-belt. "I'm just gonna give her space until she graduates."
Connor grumbled, "You're too nice" before opening his door and heading inside.
Angel frowned again. "Dawn is too young for boys."
"I could be wrong." She got out and turned around. "But I had boy drama at her age."
He scurried out and around to her side. "How have I not heard this?" He put his hand on her hips drawing her closer.
Reaching up, she pushed her fingers through his hair. "You weren't my first everything, just the most important things." She rested her hand on his cheek.
The tension left his shoulders but his eyes narrowed. "No details?"
"Gotta keep some mystery alive." She stepped back and turned towards the entrance.
"No you don't." He trailed her laughing back.
They saw Dawn and Connor pulling out homework at booth near the back.
Buffy reached out to squeeze Angel's hand. "I'm gonna say hi to mom."
Nodding, he squeezed back before letting go.
She weaved around the counter smiling at the cashier as she entered the door to the art gallery portion of the shop. She walked towards the quiet back office and found her mom hunched over a pile of receipts. "Hey lady. What's up?"
Joyce glanced at the empty gallery behind her. "Did Dawn come with you?"
"Of course, Angel picked us up."
"That's good. That's good." Joyce took in the bursting folders spread across her desk.
"You've been staying late a lot lately. Is everything okay?"
"I was trying to get ahead of it but. . ." She lifted the corner of a binder, "I don't think I can." Frown deepening, she murmured, "I'm not going to be ready."
Buffy's stomach dropped. After the final beating that put her father away, her mother reconnected with an old high school friend. Daniel Holtz was a counselor now. He'd actually been Angel's counselor when a judge mandated he see one.
Angel experienced violence and trauma and when her situation forced him to relive it, he'd voluntarily saw Holtz again.
Her mother's sad eyes reminded Buffy how proud she was of him. Angel might be one of the few damaged souls to break the cycle. Even with Holtz' support, her mother couldn't imagine life without it.
Joyce met her disappointed gaze. She held it for a lifetime before speaking. "He's not going to have any place to go."
In Buffy's mind, that was disputable. He didn't have much family or friends, but he could afford a hotel room until he found a place to rent. Her father wasn't desperate, but her mother was. Buffy heard it in her voice every time she spoke of him.
Joyce sighed. "Please don't make this harder than it has to be."
Buffy crossed her arms. "Wouldn't dream of it." Before his arrest, her father beat all three of them near death. Buffy predicted the next time the police came for him it would be for finally killing a Summers woman.
She held her mother's gaze a moment more before returning to the coffee shop.
Buffy paused at the counter and watched her friends. Despite Dawns earlier 'tude, she was smiling now – so was Angel. Connor said something making them both laugh.
Trying to catch her breath, Dawn waved Buffy over. "Guess what Mr. Stein said to Connors bio class."
Buffy slid in next to Angel and shrugged.
Connor put an egg on the table. "I've been assigned to get in touch with my 'inner mother hen.'"
"I remember that from Hemrey."
Dawn tilted her head. "Weren't you a single mom?"
She nodded. "Uneven number of kids."
"Least they could do is make you a step-parent or something." Connor frowned. "Three parents is better than one."
"Depends on who they are I guess."
Angel covered her hand with his. "Hot sugar?"
She nodded. "Extra foam please."
He kissed her forehead and scooted out behind her.
Dawn twirled the egg on the table. "So you and your partner switch off every other night?"
"I have it this afternoon and then I'm supposed to hand it off to her at the Bronze tonight."
Dawn stared at him. "You're taking your egg baby to a club?"
"It was her idea."
Buffy leaned back in her seat. "She's hoping for a date out of this."
Dawn crinkled her nose. "That's so slutty."
"With an Angelus brother as a partner, I don't blame her." Looking at Connor, Buffy smirked.
Connor blushed and flipped the page in his geometry book.
Dawn retrieved her pencil. "Who is your partner anyway?"
"Jocelyn Feltzer."
"Never heard of her."
Connor shrugged and watched Angel return with coffees for the table.
Buffy curled her fingers around the steaming mug. "You're my favorite."
Sitting down, Angel put his arm around the back of her seat. "You talking to me or the mocha?"
Breathing in the steam, Buffy closed her eyes. "It's a tie."
Fiddling with the ends of her hair, he watched the small, genuine upward curve of her lips. The only thing better than feeling them was watching them.
Dawn huffed, 'Ew, get a room.'"
"mmm."
Connor erased part of his work. "When are you guys getting a place anyway?
Ange's gaze remained fixed on her mouth. "Soon."
"Your dad gets out in a couple months right?"
Buffy nodded. "Weekend after graduation."
Angel caressed her head. "We're looking at places available a couple weeks before and then doing a double celebration graduation day."
Dawn shook her head. "I can't believe you guys are getting married at a courthouse. Your dress is going to look so out of place there."
Buffy leaned back into Angel. "I'm lucky I had a white dress."
"Yeah," Dawn mumbled, "that you wore to homecoming with another guy. Just feeding the baby rumors if you ask me."
Angel caressing hand stilled. "Baby rumors?"
"Everyone at school thinks she's knocked up; that's why you have to get married so fast."
Angel shook his head. "Fast would have been marrying her last year. This is us taking our time – too much time."
"We've been very patient." Buffy kissed his cheek. "Waiting for the trial to end and then Angel adjusting to college and saving up."
He moved his arm onto shoulders hugging her close. "Responsibility is a bitch."
Feeling him firmly kiss her hair, Buffy sighed, "It really really is."
