Title: Karaoke
Disclaimers: I don't own just about anything except the brain this story came from- oh and the computer I wrote it on. It's mine =p
Dedications: This one goes to…lessee…. Tigger Tyler for being there when I was having a tough time and making me laugh.
Spoilers: Buffy/Season 6; Angel/Season 3.
Song: "Going Through The Motions" from "Once More With Feeling"- Buffy/Season 6
So sit back and relax, this is gonna be a one-chapter short thing that I couldn't help but write. It kind of ties in with my other story, "Longing," so check that out if you want more of my great (ok I know I suck) writing.
AN: Feedback will be much appreciated.
**
Buffy kept her eyes on the road. She had to concentrate; she wasn't the world's greatest driver, even sober, so of course driving took all her concentration. Furthermore, concentrating on the road gave her an excuse not to think about Angel and Darla- well, she wouldn't go there. Angel was hers dammit, not Darla's. Her only comfort in the thought of Angel and Darla-well, she'd already decided not to go there- was that Darla had had to stake herself in order for Connor to be born.
Nothing in front of her except a long stretch of pavement, Buffy began to think. She still loved Angel, still thought of him as hers, no matter what he'd said about not wanting to be a part of her life. She didn't care, she meant to tell him how she felt.
"Angel…" she thought to herself. "Please say you still care…" Buffy picked up her cell phone and called Dawn as she was driving to check up. The conversation was quick, because Buffy really didn't need to deal with the extra car insurance premiums she'd have to pay if she crashed… Or the ticket she'd have to pay if a state trooper caught her driving and talking without a hands-free kit.
It was just about sunset when Buffy arrived in front of the Hyperion Hotel, home of Angel Investigations, Inc. She smiled; Angel had always liked having a lot of space, and the hotel certainly had enough space. More than enough even. Buffy stepped through the door and was immediately greeted by the sight of Cordelia holding Connor. Buffy smiled and prayed silently that Cordy wouldn't insult her clothing- Buffy was wearing a red silk minidress with spaghetti straps that showed perhaps a little more of her chest than Buffy was used to showing.
The dress had been bought especially for the trip; Buffy had wanted Angel to find her attractive.
Much to Buffy's surprise, Cordy actually complimented the dress. "I have that same exact dress, Buffy. I'm kinda sorry to say that it looks better on you than it does on me, though…" Cordy smiled, and Buffy smiled back. Their smiles weren't the smiles of two people pretending to like each other. They weren't even the smiles of two people rallying for votes for prom queen. The smiles were the smiles of two people that had forged a pretty strong friendship.
Buffy looked down at Connor and smiled. "He looks just like his daddy," she noted aloud, reaching out to caress his chubby little cheek. "Adorable." Buffy looked down at the little guy for a little while, then back up to Cordelia. "Where's Angel?"
Cordy grinned. "He's downstairs training…"
At that, Buffy was off, her Slayer's sense- indeed, her heart- telling her where to find Angel. She stood in the doorway watching Angel go through a Pilates exercise. The soulled vampire was the best example of poetry in motion Buffy had ever seen.
Angel sensed her before she'd even pulled into the Hyperion's parking lot. He would always know when Buffy was near. He even felt her pulling at her heart all the way from Sunnydale… He finished his Pilates and looked at her, smiling a little at the way she was watching him. She still found him attractive, and part of him rejoiced at that. Ok, so it was all of him.
"Hello." Buffy spoke first, breaking the tension of the two of them staring at each other- Buffy at Angel, amazed at how sexy he was to her- even more now than when they had last parted- and Angel at Buffy, amazed that she would wear something so daring, so beautiful… So sexy.
"Hi." Angel desperately tried to keep his voice from cracking- but he didn't succeed. "You look great."
"So do you, Angel." Buffy sincerely meant it. They gravitated toward one another and hugged each other tightly.
"You met Connor." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He knew, because his senses were so perfectly tuned to the both of them. Angel had known when Buffy had died because he'd had a feeling of flying through the air, of pain, of death.
Buffy nodded. "He's adorable." She smiled and couldn't resist adding in, "Just like his dad."
If Angel could have blushed, he would have. The way Buffy was looking at him was driving him insane. So he changed the subject. "Come on, you have to meet everyone." He took her hand and led her upstairs into Wesley's office, where Gunn and Fred happened to be at the moment. "Buffy, you already know Wesley. This is Gunn," he said, indicating Gunn as he spoke. "And Fred."
Buffy smiled warmly and shook each of their hands, then turned to Wesley. "Nice to see you again, Wes. You look like you're doing well." She turned to Gunn and Fred. "It's nice to meet both of you."
Fred smiled and replied, "It's nice to meet you too, Buffy."
Gunn was busy staring. Angel glared at him pointedly over Buffy's shoulder, as if to say, "MINE" and Gunn proceeded to raise his eyes to Buffy's. "Nice to meet you, Buffy. Angel has told us a lot about you."
Buffy smiled at that. So Angel still thought about her. Good, that made her task a lot easier. It would have killed her to think that Angel didn't care any longer. "So what do you guys do for fun around here? I mean, when you aren't on a case."
Angel grinned. "Well, there's this place called Caritas we go to, it's a karaoke bar for demons. The guy who owns it is our connection to the Powers that Be. Maybe we should take her, guys?"
Wesley, Gunn, and Fred all nodded. Gunn and Wesley seemed to be having problems keeping their eyes off Buffy, so Angel wrapped his arm around her waist possessively. Buffy, startled, looked up at Angel, who seemed to be claiming her as his territory, and grinned. Because he was; she could tell.
***
Buffy smiled as she entered Caritas. The place had a homey, friendly atmosphere. She liked it immediately. Making a note to come back here more often, she looked down at Connor who was sleeping in her arms and grinned. She really loved this little guy…
Angel and the crew were immediately greeted by Lorne, introductions were made, and Angel once again had to assert his ownership of Buffy for the green guy from another dimension.
Angel and Fred eventually convinced Buffy to sing. After a conversation with Lorne, Buffy was delighted to find out that Lorne had the music to the song she had sung when everyone in Sunnydale was living in a musical. She stepped up to the mic and grinned as the music started.
Every male eye in the place was riveted to Buffy when her voice began.
"Every single night the same arrangement
I go out and fight the fight
Still I always feel this strange estrangement
Nothing Here is real, nothing here is right"
She began the first voice a little unsure, remembering the night when she had sung this song spontaneously. It had seemed so natural, she'd had to continue. Indeed, even now, the words of the song came to her as if she were composing them as she went.
I've been making shows of trading blows
Just hoping noone knows
That I've been going through the motions
Walking through the part
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart
Buffy continued singing, acutely aware that Angel's jaw had dropped and didn't plan on coming back up any time soon.
Angel, for his part, was amazed. Not only was she beautiful, but she had the most amazing voice he had ever heard in his entire life- his entire unlife, for that matter. A sensuous grin spread across his lips, watching Buffy stare into the monitor- not because she needed the lyrics, of course. He knew that she was looking there to avoid staring at him.
I was always brave and kind of righteous
Now I find I'm wavering
Crawl out of your grave you'll find this fight just doesn't mean a thing
(She ain't got that swing)
Thanks for noticing
She does pretty well with things from hell but lately we can tell
Buffy was forced to sing the parts of the demons herself, but managed to change her voice beautifully. She grinned, remembering the one who had been the strongest singer of the three she'd slain that night. That part amused her.
That she's just going through the motions
Faking it somehow
She's not even half the girl she- Owwww
She grinned as she sang his part, clutching dramatically at her stomach in the exact place she had driven the sword into the demon's. Then, she straightened up, looked to Angel, and sang the next verse directly to him, thinking that maybe he'd see that he could wake her from her sleepwalking.
Will I stay this way forever
Sleepwalk through my life's endeavor
How can I repay you
Whatever
I don't wanna be
Going through the motions
Losing all my drive
I can't even see
If this is really me
1 And I just wanna be aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive
As Buffy stopped the song, she was greeted by thunderous applause. She blushed and took a bow, calling out a couple thank you's, then stepped off the stage, heading toward the bar. As soon as she had ordered her drink, lean, mean, green Lorne stepped up to her. "Back in town to see if Angelcakes'll take you back, eh? Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll succeed." Buffy stared, aghast. Nobody had told her Lorne read souls. She nods. "Thanks." Angel stepped up, jealous that Lorne was so close to Buffy, and the flamboyant Host was gone faster than you can say "huh?"
Angel smiled at Buffy, caressed her cheek, and whispered, "Your voice is beautiful… Just like the rest of you…" Buffy flushed a pink color, hardly noticeable in the dim light of the club, but Angel noticed. He noticed everything about her.
"Are you going to sing, Angel?" Buffy asked innocently.
Cordelia butted in. "Dear god I hope not. That man sounds like a foghorn."
Angel nodded. "It's true. I'm horrible."
Buffy just shook her head. "Not possible." There couldn't be anything in the entire world that Angel couldn't do… her Angel… She looked up at him from under long eyelashes and smiled flirtatiously.
Angel blinked. Every time Buffy looked at him that way, he wanted to throw her on the ground and make love to her, wanted to make her scream, make her gasp, like she had the night he had become Angelus… He bit his lower lip, thinking, "Down boy."
The way Buffy leaned in close to him, giving him an even better whiff of her special scent- the one that is Buffy and Buffy alone, the scent that Angel loved more than any other. Angel lost it, pulling Buffy into his arms and kissing her hard on the lips. Every male in the place looked away, slightly embarrassed that they had been scoping out another guy's girl- Angel's property. And Angel could be DAMN jealous.
Ten minutes or so later, Angel and Buffy were still kissing. Cordy tapped Angel on the shoulder. "You two want to go get a room?"
Angel glared daggers at Cordy while Buffy just blushed. It was obvious to the casual observer that the vampire and "his" slayer were holding hands.
They looked at each other, then back to Cordy. "A room?" Buffy asked. Then, Angel remembered: he hadn't told her that his soul had been anchored. He could be as truly happy as he wanted and he wouldn't become Angelus… In short… he could be with Buffy and not worry about losing control… He grinned happily.
Buffy looked at Angel and immediately knew something was different. The look he'd given Gunn and Wesley when they'd been checking her out was pure Angelus… Yet, she knew that he was still Angel… What could this mean? Staring into each others' eyes, they could almost hear what the other was thinking.
-I love you, Angel-
-I love you, Buffy-
***
The End.
Hope you all think it ended happily. I didn't get into huge detail, I know, toward the end, but it was getting kinda long and I wanted this to be something that didn't take forever to read. So…. The end.
Again, Feedback appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
Disclaimers: I don't own just about anything except the brain this story came from- oh and the computer I wrote it on. It's mine =p
Dedications: This one goes to…lessee…. Tigger Tyler for being there when I was having a tough time and making me laugh.
Spoilers: Buffy/Season 6; Angel/Season 3.
Song: "Going Through The Motions" from "Once More With Feeling"- Buffy/Season 6
So sit back and relax, this is gonna be a one-chapter short thing that I couldn't help but write. It kind of ties in with my other story, "Longing," so check that out if you want more of my great (ok I know I suck) writing.
AN: Feedback will be much appreciated.
**
Buffy kept her eyes on the road. She had to concentrate; she wasn't the world's greatest driver, even sober, so of course driving took all her concentration. Furthermore, concentrating on the road gave her an excuse not to think about Angel and Darla- well, she wouldn't go there. Angel was hers dammit, not Darla's. Her only comfort in the thought of Angel and Darla-well, she'd already decided not to go there- was that Darla had had to stake herself in order for Connor to be born.
Nothing in front of her except a long stretch of pavement, Buffy began to think. She still loved Angel, still thought of him as hers, no matter what he'd said about not wanting to be a part of her life. She didn't care, she meant to tell him how she felt.
"Angel…" she thought to herself. "Please say you still care…" Buffy picked up her cell phone and called Dawn as she was driving to check up. The conversation was quick, because Buffy really didn't need to deal with the extra car insurance premiums she'd have to pay if she crashed… Or the ticket she'd have to pay if a state trooper caught her driving and talking without a hands-free kit.
It was just about sunset when Buffy arrived in front of the Hyperion Hotel, home of Angel Investigations, Inc. She smiled; Angel had always liked having a lot of space, and the hotel certainly had enough space. More than enough even. Buffy stepped through the door and was immediately greeted by the sight of Cordelia holding Connor. Buffy smiled and prayed silently that Cordy wouldn't insult her clothing- Buffy was wearing a red silk minidress with spaghetti straps that showed perhaps a little more of her chest than Buffy was used to showing.
The dress had been bought especially for the trip; Buffy had wanted Angel to find her attractive.
Much to Buffy's surprise, Cordy actually complimented the dress. "I have that same exact dress, Buffy. I'm kinda sorry to say that it looks better on you than it does on me, though…" Cordy smiled, and Buffy smiled back. Their smiles weren't the smiles of two people pretending to like each other. They weren't even the smiles of two people rallying for votes for prom queen. The smiles were the smiles of two people that had forged a pretty strong friendship.
Buffy looked down at Connor and smiled. "He looks just like his daddy," she noted aloud, reaching out to caress his chubby little cheek. "Adorable." Buffy looked down at the little guy for a little while, then back up to Cordelia. "Where's Angel?"
Cordy grinned. "He's downstairs training…"
At that, Buffy was off, her Slayer's sense- indeed, her heart- telling her where to find Angel. She stood in the doorway watching Angel go through a Pilates exercise. The soulled vampire was the best example of poetry in motion Buffy had ever seen.
Angel sensed her before she'd even pulled into the Hyperion's parking lot. He would always know when Buffy was near. He even felt her pulling at her heart all the way from Sunnydale… He finished his Pilates and looked at her, smiling a little at the way she was watching him. She still found him attractive, and part of him rejoiced at that. Ok, so it was all of him.
"Hello." Buffy spoke first, breaking the tension of the two of them staring at each other- Buffy at Angel, amazed at how sexy he was to her- even more now than when they had last parted- and Angel at Buffy, amazed that she would wear something so daring, so beautiful… So sexy.
"Hi." Angel desperately tried to keep his voice from cracking- but he didn't succeed. "You look great."
"So do you, Angel." Buffy sincerely meant it. They gravitated toward one another and hugged each other tightly.
"You met Connor." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He knew, because his senses were so perfectly tuned to the both of them. Angel had known when Buffy had died because he'd had a feeling of flying through the air, of pain, of death.
Buffy nodded. "He's adorable." She smiled and couldn't resist adding in, "Just like his dad."
If Angel could have blushed, he would have. The way Buffy was looking at him was driving him insane. So he changed the subject. "Come on, you have to meet everyone." He took her hand and led her upstairs into Wesley's office, where Gunn and Fred happened to be at the moment. "Buffy, you already know Wesley. This is Gunn," he said, indicating Gunn as he spoke. "And Fred."
Buffy smiled warmly and shook each of their hands, then turned to Wesley. "Nice to see you again, Wes. You look like you're doing well." She turned to Gunn and Fred. "It's nice to meet both of you."
Fred smiled and replied, "It's nice to meet you too, Buffy."
Gunn was busy staring. Angel glared at him pointedly over Buffy's shoulder, as if to say, "MINE" and Gunn proceeded to raise his eyes to Buffy's. "Nice to meet you, Buffy. Angel has told us a lot about you."
Buffy smiled at that. So Angel still thought about her. Good, that made her task a lot easier. It would have killed her to think that Angel didn't care any longer. "So what do you guys do for fun around here? I mean, when you aren't on a case."
Angel grinned. "Well, there's this place called Caritas we go to, it's a karaoke bar for demons. The guy who owns it is our connection to the Powers that Be. Maybe we should take her, guys?"
Wesley, Gunn, and Fred all nodded. Gunn and Wesley seemed to be having problems keeping their eyes off Buffy, so Angel wrapped his arm around her waist possessively. Buffy, startled, looked up at Angel, who seemed to be claiming her as his territory, and grinned. Because he was; she could tell.
***
Buffy smiled as she entered Caritas. The place had a homey, friendly atmosphere. She liked it immediately. Making a note to come back here more often, she looked down at Connor who was sleeping in her arms and grinned. She really loved this little guy…
Angel and the crew were immediately greeted by Lorne, introductions were made, and Angel once again had to assert his ownership of Buffy for the green guy from another dimension.
Angel and Fred eventually convinced Buffy to sing. After a conversation with Lorne, Buffy was delighted to find out that Lorne had the music to the song she had sung when everyone in Sunnydale was living in a musical. She stepped up to the mic and grinned as the music started.
Every male eye in the place was riveted to Buffy when her voice began.
"Every single night the same arrangement
I go out and fight the fight
Still I always feel this strange estrangement
Nothing Here is real, nothing here is right"
She began the first voice a little unsure, remembering the night when she had sung this song spontaneously. It had seemed so natural, she'd had to continue. Indeed, even now, the words of the song came to her as if she were composing them as she went.
I've been making shows of trading blows
Just hoping noone knows
That I've been going through the motions
Walking through the part
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart
Buffy continued singing, acutely aware that Angel's jaw had dropped and didn't plan on coming back up any time soon.
Angel, for his part, was amazed. Not only was she beautiful, but she had the most amazing voice he had ever heard in his entire life- his entire unlife, for that matter. A sensuous grin spread across his lips, watching Buffy stare into the monitor- not because she needed the lyrics, of course. He knew that she was looking there to avoid staring at him.
I was always brave and kind of righteous
Now I find I'm wavering
Crawl out of your grave you'll find this fight just doesn't mean a thing
(She ain't got that swing)
Thanks for noticing
She does pretty well with things from hell but lately we can tell
Buffy was forced to sing the parts of the demons herself, but managed to change her voice beautifully. She grinned, remembering the one who had been the strongest singer of the three she'd slain that night. That part amused her.
That she's just going through the motions
Faking it somehow
She's not even half the girl she- Owwww
She grinned as she sang his part, clutching dramatically at her stomach in the exact place she had driven the sword into the demon's. Then, she straightened up, looked to Angel, and sang the next verse directly to him, thinking that maybe he'd see that he could wake her from her sleepwalking.
Will I stay this way forever
Sleepwalk through my life's endeavor
How can I repay you
Whatever
I don't wanna be
Going through the motions
Losing all my drive
I can't even see
If this is really me
1 And I just wanna be aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive
As Buffy stopped the song, she was greeted by thunderous applause. She blushed and took a bow, calling out a couple thank you's, then stepped off the stage, heading toward the bar. As soon as she had ordered her drink, lean, mean, green Lorne stepped up to her. "Back in town to see if Angelcakes'll take you back, eh? Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll succeed." Buffy stared, aghast. Nobody had told her Lorne read souls. She nods. "Thanks." Angel stepped up, jealous that Lorne was so close to Buffy, and the flamboyant Host was gone faster than you can say "huh?"
Angel smiled at Buffy, caressed her cheek, and whispered, "Your voice is beautiful… Just like the rest of you…" Buffy flushed a pink color, hardly noticeable in the dim light of the club, but Angel noticed. He noticed everything about her.
"Are you going to sing, Angel?" Buffy asked innocently.
Cordelia butted in. "Dear god I hope not. That man sounds like a foghorn."
Angel nodded. "It's true. I'm horrible."
Buffy just shook her head. "Not possible." There couldn't be anything in the entire world that Angel couldn't do… her Angel… She looked up at him from under long eyelashes and smiled flirtatiously.
Angel blinked. Every time Buffy looked at him that way, he wanted to throw her on the ground and make love to her, wanted to make her scream, make her gasp, like she had the night he had become Angelus… He bit his lower lip, thinking, "Down boy."
The way Buffy leaned in close to him, giving him an even better whiff of her special scent- the one that is Buffy and Buffy alone, the scent that Angel loved more than any other. Angel lost it, pulling Buffy into his arms and kissing her hard on the lips. Every male in the place looked away, slightly embarrassed that they had been scoping out another guy's girl- Angel's property. And Angel could be DAMN jealous.
Ten minutes or so later, Angel and Buffy were still kissing. Cordy tapped Angel on the shoulder. "You two want to go get a room?"
Angel glared daggers at Cordy while Buffy just blushed. It was obvious to the casual observer that the vampire and "his" slayer were holding hands.
They looked at each other, then back to Cordy. "A room?" Buffy asked. Then, Angel remembered: he hadn't told her that his soul had been anchored. He could be as truly happy as he wanted and he wouldn't become Angelus… In short… he could be with Buffy and not worry about losing control… He grinned happily.
Buffy looked at Angel and immediately knew something was different. The look he'd given Gunn and Wesley when they'd been checking her out was pure Angelus… Yet, she knew that he was still Angel… What could this mean? Staring into each others' eyes, they could almost hear what the other was thinking.
-I love you, Angel-
-I love you, Buffy-
***
The End.
Hope you all think it ended happily. I didn't get into huge detail, I know, toward the end, but it was getting kinda long and I wanted this to be something that didn't take forever to read. So…. The end.
Again, Feedback appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
