Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the characters OR the song, They belong to Mutant Enemy and the record compnay who released "Same Old Lang Syne". Although they both inspired me.
Feedback: PLEASE! This is my firstCOMPLETED andPOSTED fic, and I would like to know how I did! lol
Characters: Buffy/Angel
Same Old Lang Syne
Christmas at the Summers house was a bustle of activity. The tree that stood in the front window looked like it belonged in a Thomas Kinkade painting. The lights that wrapped around the tree twinkled like stars and bathed the room with a soft glow. The shimmering garland reflected hints of sliver and blue onto the walls. Mirrored ornaments reflected the lights and made the walls dance with delight. Glass bobbles hung on the branches and were painted a bright gold, blue, red & green. Beside the fireplace, hung six stockings, one for Willow, one for Xander, one for Giles who was visiting from England, One for Dawn, one for Buffy and one for Buffy's husband, Brian. Willow and Xander were wrapping gifts, Giles and Dawn were baking in the kitchen, and Brian was sitting in his favorite armchair reading the newspaper. The only person missing was Buffy. Giles had sent her to the store for more baking supplies.
Buffy walked down the isles of the grocery store, and checked off the items she had been sent after. As she walked down the chip isle, Dan Fogerty's "Another Auld Lang Syne" began to play from the store's radio. Buffy smiled as the song reminded her of Angel.
God, how she missed him. Ever since she had moved to New York, she had wondered if Angel had survived the Senior Partners at Wolfram & Hart. She was extremely pissed to hear from Giles that he had neglected to help Angel when he needed him the most. As she turned down frozen foods, she felt a strange tingle run down her spine. Thinking it was her adjusting to the coldness of the isle; she shrugged it off, and continued to walk down the isle.
Softly, Buffy felt a hand touch her shoulder, and she spun around to see a tall dark haired man with soulful chocolate eyes stare back her, smiling.
"Sorry," replied the velvet voice.
Buffy stared into the eyes of the handsome young man. He looked so familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. The man stared back and Buffy's eyes grew wide as she recognized the face. "Angel?" She questioned as Angel nodded his head in response.
"Oh, my God! Angel!" Buffy threw her arms around Angel's neck and her purse flew from her shoulder, landed across the isle and spilled its contents.
"Oh god, I am so clumsy!" Buffy giggled as she bent down to pick up her purse.
"Here let me help you," Angel offered as he knelt down beside her and picked up the contents.
"Thank you."
"I hope I didn't scare you to bad."
Buffy looked at Angel as they rose and she placed her purse back in the cart.
"Oh, no, I just wasn't expecting it."
"Hence the screaming," Angel joked and Buffy blushed.
Quietly they walked to the counter and Buffy pulled out a credit card to pay.
"So what are you plans for Christmas?" Angel asked as he picked up Buffy's bags.
"Well, the Scoobies and I are planning a get together, wanna come?"
Angel thought about it for a moment as he helped Buffy put the bags into her car.
"It wouldn't be a good idea, how about a drink instead?"
Buffy wondered why he didn't want to be around the gang, but she also understood.
"Sure, wanna try the Bronze?" Buffy unlocked the door for Angel to join her. He got in and they drove down to the Bronze.
As they pulled up and got out, Angel read a sign on the door which read "Closed for Christmas". Buffy cursed then told Angel to hang tight while she went around the corner.
Patiently Angel waited, and smiled as he remembered how real and alive he used to feel when he was close to her. A few minutes later, Buffy returned and pulled a six-pack from a brown paper sack.
"How's this?"
"This is fine," Angel said as he popped the top and leaned against Buffy's Mercedes.
"So, what have you been up to?" Buffy asked as she sat on the hood of her car and crossed her legs.
"Not much," was the reply. "Just trying to get by that's all."
"What about Wesley and the others?" Buffy asked. But she immediately regretted it as Angel's eyes became sad and dark.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Buffy said as she placed a reassuring hand on Angel's back.
"Gunn survived the fight, but his injuries were too serious," Angel said as a tear threatened to escape from his eye.
Buffy felt her heart reopen the old wounds she had sewn up years ago. She still had feelings for Angel, but what was resurfacing, could threaten her marriage.
"I did what you told me to," She offered as she changed the subject.
"Oh, what's that?" Angel asked wiping his face.
"I got married."
Angel thought a stake had been plunged into his chest. Did she say married?
"For how long?" He tried to hide the disappointment in his voice but it failed miserably. Buffy looked into Angel's eyes and told him, "Four years now".
"What does he do?"
"Brian's an architect. He is in talks to help rebuild the city hall in Sunnydale. I've tried to talk him out of it but he insists." Buffy smiled at the fight she had had with Brian. She had tried so hard to convince him not to start rebuilding Sunnydale, without telling him who she was.
"If it's any consolation, I don't love him," Buffy blurted out.
Angel wanted to feel hopeful at Buffy's confession. He had told her had left so she could have a normal life. But the truth was Angel had never truly loved anyone the way he loved Buffy. Not even when he was home in Ireland, before his life was turned to hell, "Liam" never considered loving only one person for eternity. And that's why he had left Buffy after her Graduation. He was stupid and afraid. The curse those damned Gypsies placed didn't help either. He had thought it was best, but looking back, He wished he had stayed. He would have saved her so much pain.
"Why did you marry him if you didn't love him?" Angel knew the answer but he wanted to hear it from Buffy's lips.
"You know why, Angel," Buffy said sarcastically. "Besides he keeps me safe and warm and dry."
"Those are good reasons," Angel agreed. "Time has been a friend to you."
Buffy smiled at the compliment. "Gotta love those Slayer genes."
Angel giggled at Buffy's joke.
"Your eyes are still a bright green."
"You haven't really changed either." Buffy stared at Angel and took in the chocolaty goodness that was the love of her life.
"You'd be surprised," Angel replied.
"Well I noticed the commercials for Angel Investigations on TV," Buffy said changing the subject again. "You must be doing well yourself."
"Yeah, I don't get a lot of business, and the pay is heavenly, but the traveling is hell."
They both giggled at Angel's attempt at humor. But both knew the seriousness that lay underneath.
Silence claimed them as they finished their drinks. As they each finished the last drop of their beer, Buffy looked at her watch, and said, "I really need to start heading back before Giles sends a search party,"
Angel pushed himself from his position against Buffy's Mercedes and helped her down from the hood.
"I hope we can see each other again," Buffy asked as she opened her door.
"Yeah, I'd like that," Angel said as he bent down to hug Buffy. As they touched, Buffy remembered the perfection she used to feel when she was held by Angel. Angel had a Christmas gift he wanted to give Buffy. He had wanted to return the gift she had given him on the hills of Sunnydale all those Christmases ago. But after hearing how good her life was now, he decided it was best if he kept silent. No need to go and make things hard for her again. But he would always keep those precious memories close to his heart.
As Buffy and Angel separated from their embrace, Buffy reached up and placed Angel's face in hands and placed a soft, loving kiss on his lips. Angel did everything in his power to restrain himself from taking it deeper.
"Merry Christmas Angel," Buffy said as she got in her car, and drove away.
"Merry Christmas Buffy," Angel said as the snow that had been falling softly had now turned to rain.
Buffy pulled into her driveway. She opened her trunk had took her groceries into the house. When asked where she had been, Buffy replied that the lines had been extremely long. She was not going to tell anyone, except maybe Willow, that she had seen Angel. It would only have started questions to fly. Not only from Xander and Giles, but from Brian too. Angel's visit would remain a secret and a small Christmas gift from the Powers That Be.
The next morning Buffy woke early and went down stairs to get the paper for Brian.
As she walked down the front steps into the warm sunshine, Buffy smiled and inhaled the Christmas air. Picking up the paper, she noticed a green envelope lay inside. Opening it, Buffy found a Christmas card depicting an angel with white wings holding a star atop a pine tree which stood in the middle of a forest.
Inside the card, Buffy read:
"I had a gift I wanted to give you this year. Last night, as we talked, I realized that I could not give it you. You are happy here, and my gift would make you unhappy. However, if you really want to know what my gift would have been, Just look across the street.
Always yours, Angel
P.S. I told you it would happen."
Buffy looked up and saw Angel standing across the street in the neighbor's yard; he was standing in the shadow the sun was casting on the house. Smiling Angel stepped forward and into the sun.
"Angel, no!" Buffy yelled as he stepped forward.
"Angel?" Buffy could feel her eyes form tears.
Could it be true? Was Angel finally human?
The sad smile on Angel's face answered her question. The tears flowed as Angel walked across the street and kissed Buffy's face. Wiping the tears, Angel said not a word as he walked back to his car. He winked at Buffy and smiled as he placed gear shift in "drive" and sped off into the sun, leaving a teary eyed Buffy kneeling on her driveway, crying at the cruelty life had dealt her. She swore right then, that when the time is right, she would find him again.
Auld Lang Syne By: Dan Fogelberg
Met my old lover in the grocery store,
The snow was falling Christmas Eve.
I stole behind her in the frozen foods,
And I touched her on the sleeve.
She didn't recognize the face at first,
But then her eyes flew open wide.
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse,
And we laughed until we cried.
We took her groceries to the checkout stand,
The food was totaled up and bagged.
We stood there lost in our embarrassment,
As the conversation dragged.
We went to have ourselves a drink or two,
But couldn't find an open bar.
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store,
And we drank it in her car.
We drank a toast to innocence,
We drank a toast to now.
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness,
But neither one knew how.
She said she'd married her an architect,
Who kept her warm and safe and dry,
She would have liked to say she loved the man,
But she didn't like to lie.
I said the years had been a friend to her,
And that her eyes were still as blue.
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw,
Doubt or gratitude.
She said she saw me in the record stores,
And that I must be doing well.
I said the audience was heavenly,
But the traveling was hell.
We drank a toast to innocence,
We drank a toast to now.
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness,
But neither one knew how.
We drank a toast to innocence,
We drank a toast to time.
Reliving in our eloquence,
Another 'auld lang syne'...
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired,
And running out of things to say.
She gave a kiss to me as I got out,
And I watched her drive away.
Just for a moment I was back at school,
And felt that old familiar pain ...
And as I turned to make my way back home,
The snow turned into rain ...