Title: Secrets and Lies
Rating: PG-13
Summery: What if Angel had left during Surprise and came back five years later?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They all belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. If I owned them, Buffy and Angel would be together and there would be no curse.
Authors Notes: Angel left in surprise, so therefor Buffy and him haven't had sex, and anything else that happened after that scene, didn't except for the fact the Buffy and Riley are dating now. Also, there is no curse in this story. Sorry, I love Angelus but, unfortunately, I can't write him. ï
Spoilers: Up until the dock scene in Surprise.
Feedback: Yes please... Also, if you post this story on your website please ask me first. Use the same address as above.
Chapter 1Buffy stood in her room. Tonight was the night, she just knew it. Riley and her had been going out for three years now and tonight he was going to propose. He'd had this look in his eyes for the past couple of weeks. She knew that he wanted to ask her something but didn't have the courage to.
When she heard from Willow that he was planning on asking her hand in marriage, Buffy was ecstatic. Riley was a nice, normal, well-balanced guy. Someone who could take care of her, someone who already knew about her nightly job and didn't mind. He could even hold his own in a fight.
Yes, she was prepared to take his offer tonight. She really liked him and it wasn't like there was anyone else out there that she could be with, with her kind of life. 'Yes there is.' Her mind told her.
"No, I'm not going there." She told herself. Tonight was about Riley not... Him. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her black dress and gave herself a once over to make sure she looked perfect.
"Buffy," her mother called. "Riley's here!"
Buffy looked at herself in the mirror and gave herself a sad smile. 'This is right' she told herself 'Everyone likes him; you need to move on with your life. He's gone and he's never coming back.' With her pathetic little pep talk Buffy headed downstairs to face her future.
A tall dark man stepped out of the cargo section of a boat. He stopped, slowly looking around the dock. It had been five years. Five years since he stood here, five years since he'd seen her face, held her in his arms. He idly wondered if she had changed at all. If she would even recognize him.
From what he could see, Sunnydale hadn't changed a bit. And from what he could sense, it was still overrun with a variety of vampires and demons. He didn't care though. All that mattered was that every night his beautiful goddess entered his thoughts and tonight, he would be able to see her again. There would be no more dreams. Slowly he smiled. He had been waiting for this moment since the second she was out of his site.
Taking a deep unnecessary breath the man stepped off the dock and headed to Revello Drive.
Buffy and Riley sat in a booth in an expensive resturaunt. Buffy couldn't even imagine where Riley had gotten the money to come here. Sitting there, illuminated by candlelight, the two waited for their desert. Sipping her wine, Riley took her hand.
"Buffy, we've been together for almost three years now." Buffy set down her wine knowing what was coming next. "And in these three years I feel like we've really gotten to know one another. I feel like I've know you for my entire life."
Buffy gave him a weak smile. He really did know a lot about her, if you just minus the year and a half that she spent with Angel. "I feel the same way." She said.
Riley smiled. "I'm glad, because Buffy I love you with all my heart and if you'll let me," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black box. He flipped it open and inside was an engagement ring. It was in the shape of a heart with a diamond shinning in the middle. Buffy gasped "I would like to make you mine. Buffy, will you marry me?"
Buffy smiled 'NO!' her mind told her to shout. 'Don't do it! You don't love him, you love...' "Of course I'll marry you Riley. Was there ever any doubt that I wouldn't?" And with that Riley took the ring to slip it on her finger.
"Um Buffy? You're going to have to take that ring off to wear this one."
Buffy looked down at her hand. There sat her claddagh ring.
'The hands represent friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart... well you know. Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this.' Buffy breathed in sharply.
"Buffy, you ok honey?"
No, she couldn't take off the ring; if she did it meant that he was really gone. That she didn't love him anymore. She would be admitting to herself that he was never coming back.
"Buffy?"
Buffy snapped out of her thoughts to look at Riley. He was looking at her with the utmost concern. "Sorry," she said and painfully slid off the ring and placed it in her purse.
Riley smiled. As long as he'd know Buffy she had never taken off that ring. When he asked her why, she had told him that someone very dear to her had given it to her as a birthday present. She never saw that person again. Riley had to admit he was jealous of whoever had stolen Buffy's heart that much. When he had first met her she had been a shell of a person. It had taken him a long time to earn her trust and love, and he was not about to let it go.
He slipped the ring on her finger and slowly leaned in for a kiss. When they finally broke away from one another he gave her a mischevouse smile. "Maybe, you could come back to my place and we could... you know, celebrate."
Buffy looked down at her engagement ring. She hadn't slept with Riley yet. Truth was, she hadn't slept with anybody yet. Riley was her first and only boyfriend after... after He left. She had used the excuse that she didn't want to have sex until she was married, and Riley understood that.
His hand was on hers suddenly. "Hey, I'm not going to push you. If you want to wait, that's okay." He smiled.
Buffy looked at him. "I... I think it's best if we wait." She whispered.
"Of course." He sat back letting go of her hand, disappointment clearly etched on his face.
"Riley..." But she never got to finish because the waiter came with their desert and they spent the rest of their time together in silence.
"Do you want me to come in with you to tell your mom the news?" Riley asked, his hand snaked around her waist.
They were standing outside the front door to her house. It was a cold December night and the moon and stars were clouded over, leaving an eerie look all around. "Umm, no, I don't think that's a good idea." Riley's face fell. "She was complaining of feeling sick earlier and I'm sure she's already in bed." Buffy quickly recovered.
"Well, maybe I could stop by tomorrow and we could tell her together." Riley said giving her a quick kiss.
"Yeah, maybe." She smiled.
"I love you." He said into her mouth
Buffy broke off the kiss gently. "I better get inside. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." He smiled
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." He let go of her hand, and with that Buffy walked inside.
Going into her kitchen Buffy went in search of her mother. She knew she would still be up and waiting for her return. Finding her she gave her a quick kiss and headed upstairs to take a shower. She wasn't quite ready yet to tell her mom that she was engaged to be married.
Yes, her mother loved Riley, everyone seemed to love Riley. They all said that this relationship was good for her, that it was healthy. Buffy sighed. What was wrong with her? Just a couple of hours ago she was going on and on about how Riley was the perfect guy and she would be happy to marry him. What had happened?
Turning on the water she let the warmth stream over her, washing away her thoughts. She stayed like that until the water turned cold and then dried off and headed off to bed. Things would be clearer in the morning.
Upon entering her room, she froze. Something was off. She looked around her but saw nothing, everything was where it was supposed to be. Her gaze settled on a silver cross. Her eyes started to grow wide with realization. Her spine was tingling and her heart was beating fast. This only ever meant one thing. He was around.
But that couldn't be! He was gone in some remote part of the earth trying to save the world by hiding a box. He may even be dead for all she knew. But still, she couldn't shake that feeling she got whenever he was around.
"This is ridiculous!" she said "You're just worked up over tonight. You're thinking about him way to much today, that's all." Climbing into her covers Buffy drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
Angel knew it was late but he had to see her. He didn't think she would mind either if he showed up. Walking towards her house he saw that the lights were already out for the night. Knowing that he couldn't wait until tomorrow though he went to the tree by her window and climbed up it, just like he used to do.
Her window was open, it was always open. Climbing into the room he was assaulted of memories past. Him sneaking into her room to watch her sleep, or for late night make-our sessions. He couldn't help but smile. Before he left they had been on the verge of something big. She had accepted him for what he truly was, and he had started to feel happy for the first time in decades.
He looked around her room. It hadn't changed much since the last time he'd been here. The pictures on her desk of her and her friends had changed, but she still had the same furniture and posters on the wall. It was then that his eyes fell across the bed and he saw her.
Her hair was wet from a recent shower and her mouth was slack with sleep. Soft snoring sounds reached his ears and he couldn't help but smile bigger. Her hair was still blonde, a little longer though, and she was still as beautiful as ever.
He had waited for this moment for years, but now that he was here, he didn't know what to do. It was like time was standing still, and he couldn't move to wake her. He didn't have to though because slowly her eyes fluttered open.
Still drowsy with sleep, Buffy's eyes searched the room. The feeling was in full force right now. There was no way she could ignore this. Waking up more, she sat up and started wildly looking around the room. Her eyes finally lay rest on him.
His tall broad frame was silhouetted by the moonlight from the window. Her breath caught in her throat. 'This has to be a dream' she thought. He stood there looking at her, drinking her in.
Slowly Buffy crawled out of her bed and took a few deep breaths. She carefully moved towards him, her eyes locked with his the whole time. Her breath now coming in short gasps, she reached him. At this point in her dreams, he would disappear. They always came so close to touching but she always woke up before they could.
Before Buffy knew what was happening, his hand made contact with her face. "Angel." She rasped. He smiled at her and gently began rubbing his thumb across her cheek. Her eyes closed, this wasn't a dream. He was really right here in her room, touching her, smiling. His hands were just the way she remembered. Icy cold, but so comforting at the same time, and all Buffy could do was stand there.
"God, it's really you isn't it?" she heard him say. She opened her eyes and looked at him sadly.
"It's me." She whispered. She was trying so hard to will the tears that were threatening to spill over to go away. No matter what she did though, her tears escaped. 'No,' she thought 'God, why does he have to come back now? What am I going to do, what am I going to tell him?' Angel's arms circled around her waist, his hands rubbing up and down her back to calm her sobs. Slowly Buffy leaned into his embrace. "I missed you so much." She cried against his chest.
"I missed you too." He said, his grip tightening around her even more. Buffy raised her head from his chest and their lips met in a sweet kiss. She knew it was wrong, she was technically engaged, but she loved him so much. She just couldn't help it.
Reluctantly the kiss broke. Buffy sat there trying to catch her breath, her eyes still closed. Angel looked at her and couldn't believe that he ever left her. She was everything to him. She once again leaned into his chest sighing. Angel was fine with this. As far as he was concerned, he was never going to let her go again.