My Unsung Hero

Author: Bitca E-mail: bitca_101@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: hmmm let me think, nope not mine!! All Joss Whedon and David Greenwalts.

Authors Note: Okay this is the sequel to 'Life', you may want to read that one before this one, so it makes sense, k. ( Um, someone would never get over this quickly (mother dying) so it won't be a happy fic, k. BUT it will be fluffy, it's just not happy fluffy, cause they (Dawn and Buffy) will still be dealing with the loss of their mother. You get what I mean? Actualy it's turned out fluffier than I had originally planned, and is NOT angst ridden. ;) But it will be a happy fic eventually. Oh yeah and I forgot to put this in the first story, but Angels curse is permanent ok, he now knows cause of the Darla -'mistake'- incident. Oh and can you believe it Mr Gordo is making a highly covetted and long awaited guest star appearance.

Rating: 'R' I'm pretty sure that's right. *wink* hehehe (

Spoilers: Season Five up to 'The Body' in Buffy and the same place in Angel this is set around the episodes 'Forever' and 'The Body'.

Distribution: Take it if you want it, just could you drop me an e-mail telling me where. Thanks : )

Bear with me: The title is off the song. I was listening to my music stash and this just screamed 'Angel' and it fit perfectly for my story so yeah. It's by Tina Arena and called 'Unsung Hero'. I wrote this ages ago, along with 'Life' and I just never got around to posting them, so I am warning you about my writing, it's not great.

Feedback: If you wouldn't mind I would love it... PLEASE OH PLEASE!!! : D

Dedication: To Leni, thanks so much, and thanks for putting up with my constant e-mails!!!! You're the best. ( And to all the B\A believers at BA_Fluff still hanging on to 'forever'!!!

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Part 1

Buffy had either fallen asleep or passed out on Angel, he wasn't quite sure but she was gone to the world, still hugging him tightly to her.

He gently picked up her up and she unconsciously wrapped her legs around his waist, sighing into his neck. He smiled to himself, it was like she was a little girl that had fallen asleep in her dads arms.

She wasn't heavy so he easily walked her back home, it wasn't far, since Sunnydale was 'cemetery central', just a couple hundred meters and Buffy would be home and he... would go look for a hotel with his crew

Getting closer to the residence he realised he would have to take her through the house, he just could not carry her while he was climbing the tree in front of her window. Else, what would every one think of them alone in her room? Especially Xander. He would give him that untrusting look... True, they had made peace but he knew what crossed every Scoobies mind when they saw him and Buffy together: 'Don't Have Sex.' He really hated that. Buffy and he were no hormonal teenagers, he had not even been a teenager for more than two centuries, for God's sake! Couldn't they just stop being so immature and really trust him?

No, they couldn't, he answered himself, that was why he would not even try to go with his charge directly into her bedroom.

He got to the door and holding Buffy to him with one strong arm and leaning her on his thigh he quietly turned the handle, he would've have knocked but he didn't want to wake her. He cautiously entered scanning for people, he didn't want to be rude by entering uninvited.

Willow walked out to see who had entered. First her eyes widened in surprise but then she smiled knowingly at the scene before her.

"Take her up stairs. I'll come and help you," Willow said with a grin, she had just been speaking to Tara and discovered some very interesting news.

Xander marched in and appeared behind Willow, he smiled understandingly when he saw Buffy in his arms. Tara came out to lean against the doorframe, staying outside of the discussion.

"Dawn can stay with us tonight, okay," Xander said beaming at the Vampire. Angel didn't really know what to say everything tonight was happening completely opposite to what he expected. Wasn't Xander supposed to rant and rave against his very presence in the house? It seemed that the boy had really - and finally- matured.

He nodded in thanks and, accompanied by Willow, headed up towards Buffy's bedroom. Willow opened the door and let Angel in, then she went over and immediately closed the blinds. In a sudden flashback, he remembered Buffy opening it to let them sneak out. Willow's action didn't go unnoticed by Angel; apparently Buffy's friends were supporting their relationship. It was a nice surprise. She came over to the other side and pulled down the covers moving Mr. Gordo from between the pillows and Angel gently laid her down detaching himself from her. Buffy whimpered slightly from the loss of contact. Willow placed the soft pig on the chair next to Buffy's bed and then turned to help Angel, as they each took a shoe and began undoing it, they slipped them off and placed them down. Willow stood back up with her hands on her hips, thinking.

"Okay take off her jacket and her pants, she'll be more comfortable that way," Willow whispered without looking at Angel.

"Umm," he hesitated.

"What is it?" Willow asked oblivious to his discomfort with those instructions.

"Maybe you should do it," he said trying to worm his way out of it.

"Why? Look, I know you've been out of town for a time but you should now that I- I've undergone some... c-changes." Angel nodded and didn't say anything, he *had* noticed the blonde downstairs and her behavior towards Willow. It was obvious that they were lovers. "Well, you see, I am gay and I have my g-girlfriend here. I'm not about to undress another girl, even if it's my best friend. You are a grown man and it's not as if..." she suddenly blushed and looked at him apologetic. "I'll be back in a minute," she finally murmured and hurried out of the room.

Angel smiled despite himself, he sat down next to Buffy and leant over her, putting his arms around her, he gently lifted her into his embrace so that he could pull her jacket off, she sighed sleepily into him. And leant her head on his shoulder breathing softly against his neck.

"Angel?" she moaned as he pulled the jacket down her arms.

"Yeah?" he said softly.

She cuddled closer to him not really aware of what he was doing, just aware that he was *actually* there and holding her.

"Please stay with me?" she whispered into his ear as she wrapped a jacket free arm lazily around his waist.

"Ugh," Angel wasn't sure what to do, he wanted to stay with her but he didn't want to give anyone the excuse to accuse Buffy of doing something, or jeopardising anyone. He gently placed her back down upon the pillow, with her eyes still closed.

Willow had been standing at the door the entire time and she smiled at what she had heard. Angel was always noble but she knew he wanted to stay and she trusted him and so did Buffy, or she never would have asked. So she hoped.

He threw her jacket across to the chair next to her bed, purposely covering the cute pig that was watching him tentatively as he undressed its owner and just avoided having to answer her. He hoped that she had fallen back asleep and wouldn't notice if he slept on the couch.

He began to undo her trousers, trying to do it so that she wouldn't wake up or know what he was doing. He slid the zip down quietly and she didn't even stir, he slowly peeled them down and luckily they slid off easily. He couldn't help feeling uncomfortable but wasn't going to let it bother him.

His long absence in her life and now the sudden actions of undressing his one true love became a little nerve racking. He got up and folded her pants, placing them with her jacket, uncovering Mr. Gordo and turned back to the bed, to find that she had rolled over, her body on top of the covers, hugging the pillow to her with her panty covered butt sticking out in the air. He chuckled to himself as Willow entered the room. She came to stand beside him.

"She's all charm isn't she." Said amusedly as they both pulled the covers over her. "Look I'll be off now I have to get back. But you'll stay with her?" She pointedly.

"Yeah, I'm going to set myself up on the couch." He avoided the obvious implication.

"Why?" Willow asked hurt, surprised, even as she had seen him preparing his 'bed' she figured he would realise that Buffy needed him close.

"She doesn't need me crowding her it will be better if I don't." He tried to convince himself.

"Angel." Buffy moaned sleepily as she shifted and tightened her grip on the pillow. They both looked down at her, and then back at each other, Willow with her eyebrows raised and her resolved face. Angel looked back at her knowing that there was no point arguing Buffy had just sealed their argument.

"I will be back tomorrow afternoon, okay? Take care of her Angel." She said as they hugged goodbye, she pulled back and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, blushing shyly. Angel smiled down at her from the gesture, Willow had always been a good friend to him but now she was much more relaxed around him, he had really been gone for a long time.

She turned and headed for the door.

"Gay huh?" he questioned smiling knowingly. Smiled back and shrugged her shoulders. "I always thought you would be, I mean no offence to Oz,"

"What? How?" she walked back towards him not sure whether she should take that personally or not.

"Do you remember when Anya brought your evil vamp side from another world?" he asked her cautiously.

"Oh Yeah. And you said that, well you never actually said your point but, she was slightly gay. Yeah." she slowly remembered as realization dawned on her features. She chuckled to herself. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she then left closing the door behind her, leaving an understanding and a powerful friendship between them.

Angel slipped off his shoes and socks and turned off the main light. Leaving the bedside lamp on so that he could see where he was going.

He moved around to the empty side of the bed, what had always been his side funny enough, standing facing the window he took off his shirt and pants and left them on the floor next to the bed. Turning he pulled down the covers and slipped in, in only his boxers, Buffy was still sleeping soundly. He moved closer to her body and leaned over her to turn off the lamp, as he did she rolled with him, almost like she knew he was there. Lying on her back now facing him, he stared down at her, the golden haze from the lamp cast shadows across her face, showing so many secrets she was able to hide in the sunlight and make up. She had dark circles under eyes and her face had lost the shine it used to have whenever he used to see her, he frowned, what had he let happen to her. She was so tired, exhausted and just looked plain miserable.

Though she was still beautiful despite all these things, that was what Buffy excelled at, making herself look fine even though the walls around her were slowly crumbling. He wondered for a second whether he was the only one who could really tell what was going on in her head? Could Riley? Did he ever know?

Shaking the stupid jealous thought out of his head he cast annoyed glance at the *still* staring pig and finally flicked off the lamp, and settled back down next to her. He was unsure as to whether he should be close to her, or even hold her or just let her sleep. Just as he was beginning to let uncertainty settle in, Buffy rolled over towards him and planted herself smack on top of him. She rested her head on his chest tucked just below his chin and wrapped her arm around his waist. Her chest on his chest she cuddled close to him, entwining her leg in- between his. And with a soft sigh "Angel," she finally got comfortable. He smiled despite himself as she softly began to snore, her soft warm breath brushing over his cold skin.

He kissed the top of her hair and wrapped his arms around her as he too, slowly fell asleep.

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Please bare in mind that I did write this about a year ago, but never got around to posting it, like all my fics. But still if you're still interested, here is a preview of the next part. Which if anyone would like to read, let me know, cause if I don't get any feedback I am going to bin this one, and not continue to post it, thanks, I figure we don't need anymore stories filling up our inboxes, now do we? : )

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She could see something pink and fuzzily out of focus directly in front of her eye. She looked ahead, over the smooth velvety flesh of his chest and saw another strangely shaped pink thing protruding upward from the side, as she focused on it properly it resembled something, what was it? A Nipple!!!

She suddenly realized she was not in the dreamland she was a minute ago and that the hard body, held firmly beneath her wasn't a figment of her imagination.

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