Chapter One
Buffy Summers stared at the five carat diamond engagement ring on her left hand as she waited for her fiancé to arrive at the lovely restaurant she was seated in. The two dined together every Thursday and Saturday, but work often kept her fiancé from being on time. She had been with Angel for almost two years and he had finally proposed one evening while they were dining at one of the most exquisite and luxurious restaurants in New York City. Dining at expensive restaurants was something they did quite often actually, because it just so happened that Angel happened to be one of the most successful business men in Manhattan and he loved to spoil his girl with fine dining.
As Buffy examined her ring, she noted that it was not at all how she imagined it would be when she was a child. She had always pictured herself with a thin silver band that would maybe have a heart on it or would have something like I'll love you forever engraved on the inside. It might have been a silly thought to some, but to Buffy, a ring like this would be ideally special because it would be coming from a man's heart and not just his wallet. She quickly put that thought aside as she notice Angel making his way toward their table.
"Hey sweetie," he said after kissing her on the cheek, "sorry I'm late. You know how it is at work. There's always something."
"Of course," Buffy replied kindly.
She always respected the fact that Angel's job often got in the way of their time together, but she also couldn't help but wonder if he would be there for her after they got married.
"Something on your mind, baby?" Angel asked.
"I'm just thinking about dinner tomorrow. Do think they'll like me, Angel?" Buffy asked hopefully, "I really hope they do."
"My family? Of course they will. You're perfect. Why wouldn't they like you Buffy?"
"I'm sorry. I'm just nervous."
"Don't be. You'll be great. I love you and so will my family. Just watch."
Buffy took a deep breath. She had dreaded the day when she would have to meet Angel's parents. She knew they were very reserved individuals and that she would have to tread carefully while around them. She would have to act proper and prove that she was the best girl to marry their son. She didn't quite know if she was ready for this kind of stress, but decided she could not keep postponing their dinner together. It would have to happen sooner or later after all. Angel didn't seem worried, so she supposed she should just relax. It couldn't be that bad, right? She glanced up at Angel for reassurance, but he was too engrossed in his menu to notice. The waiter approached.
"Good evening. May bring you another glass of champagne?"
Buffy emptied her glass in one gulp. Oh yes, it was going to be a long night.
Buffy awoke the next morning with a pounding headache. I didn't think champagne was so powerful, she thought. But then, if you drink three dozen glasses, I suppose it's to be expected. She looked over to the other side of the bed hopefully. No, Angel had already left for work and she would not see him until later that evening at dinner with his parents. She really wished there was someone around to tell her she would do fine and boost her confidence a little.
She didn't waste any time in getting out of bed, showering, and heading out to shop for a dress to wear to dinner. She wanted something conservative and not too flashy. Angel had suggested, "something other than your usual black dresses" saying that his parents adored a girl who wore colors like pink, purple, and beige. She wondered if this was something Angel's parents liked, or if he was the one who actually wanted her to wear those colors. He had always complained that she wore too much black. Either way, she looked carefully for a pink dress to wear later on. Even though it wasn't really her style, Buffy found a beautiful pink silk dress that seemed to be exactly what Angel's parents would most likely approve of. It was not too tightly fit against her body and came to rest just below her knees. She even found a small, light pink cashmere sweater to wear over it.
After finding the dress, Buffy then bought a Christmas ornament for Angel's family Christmas tree. She picked out a little snowman on a sleigh. Buffy thought it was perfect. She had done this because Angel told her that every year at this time, his family had a tradition of getting together and hanging their ornaments on the tree.
This was something Buffy had never done with her own family. She had not even seen her sister Dawn, in over five years. When their mom had passed away, Dawn went to live with their dad, Hank Summers, and Buffy decided to go out on her own because she absolutely refused to live under the same roof with the man who had hurt her mother so many times over the years. This was when Buffy met Angel. He seemed to possess the key to all her hopes and dreams. He was wealthy and successful and could provide her with the life she had always wanted for herself. Plus, he was nice and he loved her, which was the most important thing. So, she was going to do everything in her power to make sure Angel's family loved her as well.