Buffy slumped against the sofa. It had been a long day. Being with Riley was driving her crazy, he was just so clingy and needy! The doorbell rang and she groaned. Her mum wasn't in, so she knew she had to get it. She just couldn't be bothered to move. It rang again and she grumbled under her breath.

She opened the door, a weary expression on her face, but it quickly changed to delight as she saw who it was.

Buffy: Angel!

Angel: Hey Summers

She threw herself into his arms, hugging him close to her. Angel! Her best friend, Angel. She pulled away from him.

Buffy: What are you doing here? I didn't think you were coming back until next week?

Angel was a year older than Buffy and had started college that year. College had broken up that day for Christmas, but Angel was supposed to be going camping for a week with a couple of his friends.

Angel: Doyle's mum got sick so we decided to call it off. Now are you gonna invite me in or not?

Buffy grinned apologetically and moved to the side, letting him in. As usual, they walked the stairs to her bedroom. They sat down on the bed, smiling at each other. It had been too long since they'd seen each other. He was only at UC Sunnydale, but he hadn't been able to come home for a few weeks, due to his work load and she hadn't managed to make it over there.

The pair had been best friends practically since Buffy was born. Their mother's were best friends and had lived next door to each other since before Buffy and Angel were born.

Angel: So how you been?

Buffy: I've been okay

Angel: Oh come on, don't even try lying to me

Buffy grinned. Nobody knew her as well as Angel did.

Buffy: You know me too well (sighed) It's just Riley

Angel: Finn?

Angel fought to keep his body relaxed at the mention of Riley. To say he disliked Riley would be an understatement. Pure hatred would probably be a better description. The two had been rivals all through school, despite Riley being a year below. He was always trying to beat Angel at everything.

Angel: What about him?

Buffy: Well we've erm…we've kinda been going out

Angel's eyes widened in shock and a little jealousy at this. Buffy and Finn? What the hell!

Angel: I…you and…huh!

Buffy: I know, doesn't seem likely right? We've only been dating for about six weeks, he's already been driving me crazy, you'll be pleased to hear

Angel: Buffy –

Buffy: (smiling) don't deny it. He's just so clingy and all over me all the time, eugh, annoys me so much. Anyway let's not talk about that, I just want to forget it for a while. I want to hear about you. How's college?

….who's Kate?

Buffy tried not to sound too jealous when she said that. Angel slipped her name into the conversation, and it sounded like she was more than a friend. Much more.

Buffy: Is she your girlfriend?

Angel: Erm, well, not really

Buffy: You just sleeping with her?

Angel looked down sheepishly. Buffy always knew. She smiled at him, reading his mind, and trying not to let her hurt show through.

Buffy: I always know. So is she hot?

Angel: Well I'd hardly be sleeping with her if she wasn't, would I?

Buffy: Shallow

She tried to give him a disapproving glare, but couldn't help but melt under his cute, puppy dog smile. They were still sitting on her bed, but had a bowl of potato chips in between them.

Looking at her, Angel couldn't help but smile. She was so beautiful, and fun, and wonderful. He didn't know what he'd do without her. They'd been best friends forever, but he remembered the moment when he'd first realised his true feelings for her.

She was 12 and he was 13. Their mothers had taken them both on holiday during Christmas to Canada. It was the coldest place he'd ever been to. They were all staying in a log cabin that Jenny's (Angel's mum) friend owned and had lent them for a week. While Buffy and Angel were exploring, they found an iced over pond. Buffy loved ice skating and a few years earlier she'd bought her own ice skates, because Angel did everything Buffy did, he'd bought a pair too. They'd brought them to Canada in case they wanted to do some ice skating.

Angel, ever the cautious one, wasn't sure about ice skating on the pond. He knew the dangers. But Buffy was adamant and he didn't want to refuse her. She was excited so she skated ahead of him, straight into the middle of the pond. He was hurrying to catch up with her when he heard a loud crack coming from where she was standing. She looked at him in horror, her eyes widening. Then the ice gave way, and she disappeared.

Angel shouted her name repeatedly and she reappeared, gasping for air and trying desperately to cling onto the side of the ice. He skated over as she disappeared again. Think, Angel, think! He looked around, trying to find something, anything, that could help pull her out. Then he saw it, an abandoned fishing rod on the side of the lake. It wouldn't be strong enough to pull her out, but it would help him get a hold on her. He skated as fast as he could towards it and rushed back, falling to his knees on the ice. Buffy's head popped up, shivering and she cried out his name as she fought to stay afloat, her skates dragging her down.

Angel: Buffy, grab hold of the fishing rod!

He fed it to her and she tried once, twice before, on the third attempt, she managed to hold on to it. He slid closer, careful not to break the ice with his weight and, keeping the rod in one hand, reached out a hand to her. He grabbed at her and began to pull her out, achingly slowly, not wanting to disturb the ice. He moved even closer until he managed to get his arms under her armpits, then hauled her out of the water, rolling her away from her weak ice and towards the edge of the lake. She was sobbing and shivering, freezing cold and so terrified, clinging on to him desperately. She'd thought she was going to die. He ripped off their skates, picked her up in his arms and ran with her back to the cabin, ignoring the freezing ground hitting his feet. They'd both had to go to hospital that day and she'd barely escaped pneumonia. He'd known at that moment, that if he lost her, it'd kill him. And he knew it was down to more than just friendship.

Buffy waved a hand in front of Angel's face, trying to get his attention.

Buffy: Woo? You in there?

Angel: Oh sorry, just spaced out there for a minute

Buffy: What were you thinking about?

Angel: Remember the Christmas we went to Canada?

Buffy shuddered as she remembered how terrified she was when she'd fallen through the ice.

Buffy: How could I forget? Why were you thinking about that?

Angel just shrugged, and decided to change the subject.

Angel: So, what time's your mum getting home?

Buffy: Not til late, there's some new inventory for the gallery so she'll be there for hours

Then the doorbell rang.