Title: Second Chances... A Love Story.
Author: Angel's blue eyed girl
Rating: T for now...M later on.
Disclaimer: I own none of the Angel or Buffy characters.
Setting: Season 6 BtVS and Season 3 Ats. Starts at the off camera meeting between Buffy and Angel.
Summary: After Angel hears Buffy is alive, he goes to meet with her. Realizing that Buffy is on the verge of falling apart he convinces her to return to Los Angeles with him in the hopes that he can bring back the girl he left behind in Sunnydale. My way to give Buffy and Angel what Joss never did!
Pairing: Buffy and Angel all the way baby!
A/N... This is my alternate reality fic to the horrors that were season 6 of Buffy and season 3 of Angel!
A/N 2... Ya know I have to tell you what inspired this fic... I found an old interview with David Boreanaz. It was for the BtVS magazine and in it he said and I quote, "I never did understand the whole Cordy/Angel thing... In my mind Angel's heart would have always stayed with Buffy!"
I mean, in the interview, he mentioned the charisma between him and... Charisma, (love her name) but he was very emphatic that he believed the character of Angel would have always stayed true to Buffy. Since I totally agree... It just inspired my musie... SO this fic is directly in response to my reaction to David's interview.
BTW... Thank you David B. for giving me Angel:)
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Chappie 2
The Hyperion Hotel... Angel's room.
Buffy stood in the middle of the floor, unsure for a moment of what to do. She was so nervous, she was literally almost sick with it. 'Okay...' she told herself. 'This is Angel. I mean... Hello... Angel!! So, calm down... even if we wanted to put the whole sexual performance up to test... She gave a soft sigh as memories of her and a hot, sweaty Angel flashed through her head, 'Well not that he'd have any problem in that area, but NO!! she told herself firmly, 'that way equals bad... Very bad...'
But then again, maybe that was the whole reason for her nervousness to begin with. I mean...this WAS Angel after all and she never, ever thought that she'd be here with him like this again, but yet, here she was, in his room, with him...alone. It was everything she'd always wanted, yet when she finally had the chance to show him how she felt...here she was glued to the floor doing her best impression of a piece of furniture!
Angel frowned slightly as he saw the panic clearly written all over her face. 'Maybe I'm pushing her?' he thought worriedly. He hadn't meant to, it was just that now that she was really here... he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep with her in his arms. It was everything he'd ever wanted, yet here he was standing here just staring at her, doing his best impression of a statue!
"Angel..." "Buffy..." They both spoke at the same time, then grinned as they realized their pattern again.
Angel inclined his dark head, "Well as they say, ladies first..."
Buffy flashed him a teasing smile, "Ya know this is the one time I think I'll decline the ladies first thing. You go first..." she said, not confidant enough yet to tell him everything she'd been feeling. Buffy wanted, no, needed to hear Angel say he wanted her before she could admit to having the same feelings.
He started to pace, then stopped, "Okay, well first off..." He stopped as he gazed into those limpid pools of deep, soft green pools. 'God he loved her eyes.'
Angel shook his head, but he couldn't help the small half smile that lit up his face. He couldn't believe she was really here, much less realize and accept the fact that maybe...just maybe she wanted to renew their relationship... He was digressing.
"I mean first off...Buffy how do I tell you I..." He wanted to say I love you, but the memory of her standing there in the police station, telling him how she loved Riley, not him, suddenly blazed it's way across his conscious mind, obliterating all he'd meant to say!
Buffy gazed up at him, her heart in her eyes. For once she didn't hold back, she let her love for him just shine through and Angel stopped talking as he saw that look.
"I...I...You're beautiful," he said softly, coming to stand in front of her. All the poetic words he'd intended to say just flew from his mind and he was helpless to do anything, but stare.
Buffy grinned as he kissed her softly, "So are you..." she whispered as he raised his head and cupped her face.
They petted, touched and held each other for a moment before Angel leaned back and whispered softly, "Buffy... Can you...? I mean are you...?" He gathered his scattered wits and took the leap, asking her with heartfelt honesty. "Are you still my girl?"
Buffy felt her breath catch. Her heart began to pound and she felt as if she was standing at the edge of a very, very tall cliff. She closed her eyes and jumped... "Always," she whispered, terrified, yet liberated to finally be admitting the truth.
He thought about everything that had happened and was honestly amazed that Buffy still loved him, even after he'd left her so abruptly, even after she'd died so tragically, even after Riley and three years apart...she still loved him!!
Angel gazed at his one and only love and he knew, he was certain his soul was somehow secured because seeing that look on her face gave him such a feeling of complete and utter happiness, Angelus should have been rushing up from his mental prison and taking control of the body they shared, but he didn't, or couldn't so what was the deal?
Angelus was still locked away inside his mind, though the wicked demon still had his own erotic and nasty commentary running in the background on all the things he'd like to do with the curvy Slayers' nubile body, the fact was it was just that... commentary! Angelus couldn't make it happen and that was part of the basis for Angel's theory. All he knew was Angelus was still buried inside him, why? Angel didn't know, but he was determined to find out especially now that he knew the one woman he'd ever truly loved still shared that love for him.
Angel suddenly flashed her a huge smile, 'she loved him' That realization made him want to do something absolutely, ridiculous like jump up and down and maybe clap his hands too, but knowing she'd probably think he was a lunatic, he managed to restrain himself.
"Buffy, I just want you to know...I...well I didn't ask you to come here for... well you know..." He looked around the room, anywhere but into her eyes as he struggled to find the right words for what he wanted to say. His eyes landed on the bed and lingered. Looking up he saw her eyes had followed his and he was glad he couldn't blush because if he could he knew he'd be red as a stop light right about now.
"I mean... I didn't... that is...I mean... that's not what I want.. Well, I mean...it is...but..." He closed his eyes and cursed the fact that his brain had obviously taken a hiatus and his tongue was packing up to leave too apparently, because he just couldn't seem to put two words together anymore.
"Oh God..." he breathed, "What I'm trying to say is Buffy, I want you...God! I've always wanted you...But,Iwon'tpressureyoutobewithme!!" His words were all running together and Buffy struggled to make sense of them.
She smiled softly as she took Angel's hand and settled him down. "Angel...Slow down, hyperventilate much?" She gave him a sassy smile and quipped, much like she used to, "Luckily you can't die of a heart attack, cuz that's the only real pressure I felt there for a minute lover..."
He stared at her, opened mouthed and shocked, but to Buffy he made a damned good impression of an owl as he blinked rapidly at her and took on the expression that Cordy liked to call his 'Buffy face.'
It was then that the tension just broke in her and an abrupt, yet happy giggle burst forth...
When Angel heard that giggle it was honestly the sweetest sound he'd ever heard both in life and the un-life...
Buffy was giggling, really giggling, and then she was bending over, holding her stomach and laughing and though he loved the sound, he gave her a mock growl and asked her 'why she was laughing at him.'
She laughed even harder and placed her hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter she just couldn't seem to stop. "I'm not... Oh God!..." She gasped out between fits of giggles, "laughing at you Angel..." She said still chuckling, "I'm just..." She gave him an impish grin, "laughing at us... this... and how nervous we are," she said with a bright smile.
Grinning at her Angel took both her hands in his. "So, in your oh so wise opinion, why are we so nervous?" He asked softly, gazing down into her sparkling green eyes.
Buffy shrugged, but said teasingly as she tapped her chin, "Hmmm? Oh, I don't know? Maybe it's because it's you and me... alone in your bedroom?"
Angel brushed the hair back from her face, "I just want to hold you," he whispered.
The smile slowly faded from Buffy's face as her teasing look was replaced with a look of such raw longing, Angel sucked in an unneeded breath. "I'd like that..." she responded softly, stepping closer to him and letting him wrap his strong arms around her petite frame.
Buffy felt his arms envelope her tiny body and it was like... finally, she was where she'd always ached to be, in the arms of HER Angel.
"Buffy..." he sighed softly into her hair as he cradled her to him, if his heart could beat it would be pounding right now with the overwhelming emotions Angel was feeling. He'd given up all hope of ever holding her like this again. He'd almost forgotten how perfect she felt snuggled against him.
'How could I have ever thought I could forget her?' he asked himself as he felt her tremble in his embrace. Pulling her closer to him, he gave her a gentle squeeze before placing feather soft kisses on the crown of her silky blond head, smiling as he felt her relax against him even more. He sighed with contentment as he rested his cheek on top of her head and ran his hands down the spine of her slender back. Buffy's soft sigh of pleasure just made him smile even more.
Angel ran his hands up under her shirt as she tucked herself up under his chin. They were silent for a moment, both of them content to just hold each other.
After several minutes Buffy looked up. Her deep green eyes met Angel's dark chocolate gaze and their eyes locked. It was so magnetic, you could hear a pin drop in the room. Everything was silent until Buffy whispered softly, "Angel... I feel so... I don't know...? Happy, I guess. All I know is I don't want to lose this feeling...I don't want to lose you.. Not again... never again..." Buffy whispered softly, into his chest.
Angel felt all his reservations just let go right then as he rubbed his chin along the smooth softness of her blond hair. He inhaled the fresh scent of vanilla and the scent that was just Buffy... He smiled as he realized he'd never forgotten nor would he ever get tired of her scent...
He sighed and right then the handsome vampire knew the facade he'd built these last couple of years was over, he couldn't possibly keep it up. The truth was he'd never stopped loving this woman and as he felt her tiny fingers dig deeper into the silky material of his shirt, pulling him even closer to her, he knew he never would. He was hers, just as he'd always been, nothing or no one would ever change that and Angel didn't even want to try and lie to himself or anyone else anymore.
The truth, that he and Buffy and everyone else from Sunnydale to Los Angeles had tried to ignore was back. No longer could their love be relegated to the past, no longer could anyone pretend they didn't care for each other! The truth was, Angel; with all his absolutely, un-beating, yet strangely devoted heart loved and cherished his tiny blond Slayer. He always had and he was finally realizing, no time, no distance and no amount of lies would ever, ever change it.
Leaning back he tilted her chin up, "Can I hold you? I just want to feel you next to me Buffy. I want to hear your heartbeat and know you're really here, with me."
Buffy wiped away the single tear that trailed down her cheek as he said this. That kind of sweetness was so Angel, God she'd almost forgotten how he could make her feel. Cherished, like a princess. She'd almost forgotten how gorgeous he was when he looked at her with those deep, chocolate brown eyes. It was like he could see right into her soul. Not trusting her own voice, Buffy just nodded and took Angel's large hand in her own smaller one.
Just like that, almost as if they'd done this every night for the last three years, Buffy and Angel fell into sync with each other. She watched him as she kicked off her shoes, flashing him a part seductive, part teasing grin before pulling her sweater over her head, leaving her clothed in a small tank, (sans bra) and her jeans.
Angel shrugged off his duster, flinging it over the back of a chair as he watched her take off her sweater. He felt his body respond at the sight of her in the skimpy tank, 'Fuck, she doesn't have a bra on!' He realized, feeling his erection swell even further, but he knew he wouldn't be indulging that need tonight. She couldn't handle that right now. Angel was content accepting that the only need he would be indulging in was the one to hold her, and truthfully that was greater than the one to make love to her.
Of course, Angel's love for Buffy was very physical, he was a man with a man's desires and she was a beautiful, vivacious girl, but with her it had always meant so much more than satisfying a physical need. It had been about their souls and how they just seemed to compliment the other and bring not just peace, but a joy that could only be described as "perfect happiness".
The thing about Buffy and Angel that most people didn't get or understand was that their love transcended their physical desire for each other. Their connection satisfied something much deeper. What they had was primitive, maybe even deeper than the instinctual need to mate. What they felt for each other was that often spoke about, yet rarely found thing that people labeled soulmates. Popular, yet untrue and very much overused for most. The term soulmates was trite at best, but for Angel and Buffy it was not only real, it was the one word that made any sense to either of them to explain the way they felt for each other.
For Angel, the feeling had started the moment Whistler had brought him to her. From that moment when he'd glimpsed a yet to be called Slayer on the steps of Hemery High School, a lollipop stuck in her luscious mouth and green eyes that sparkled with life, he was hooked.
Buffy was so bright and full of sunshine. Her spirit, her heart had been so open, so clear to him. He'd seen everything she was and it had made him want to change, to seek redemption. She'd made him love... For the first time in 250 years Angel had loved someone other than himself. And even now, knowing how it had caused them such pain at times, he didn't regret loving Buffy. She was the one 'Right' thing he had ever believed in. The only regret he had was not sticking it out and trying to find a way for them, because obviously she hadn't found the sunshine and the "normal" life he'd left her for!
For Buffy it had started on a cool night in Sunnydale when she'd knocked this gorgeous guy to the ground and placed her foot on his chest. He'd asked her "Was there a problem ma'am?" and she'd quipped back "Yeah there's a problem, why are you following me?" and he'd responded with the comment that had always stuck in her mind... especially after she'd found out he was a vampire... He'd said, "I know what you're thinking, but don't worry... I don't bite!" She found the irony that he DID bite sexy now, but at the time it had freaked her out!
Buffy smiled now as she remembered looking into those deep brown eyes, as he'd said that and she knew she'd lost her heart right then and there and she'd never gotten it back. She'd tried, really she had, (Riley could tell you that) but it just wasn't hers to give anymore. It resided in the hands of the man who'd first shown her what love and real passion was.. Her heart resided with Angel and Buffy somehow knew it always would.
They got into the bed, at first it was more than a bit weird. They hadn't been in a bed together for a very long time, but within a short time their reservations just melted away and the naturalness of them being together just kind of fell into place.
Angel kissed her temple. "Sleep baby," he whispered.
Buffy relaxed in his embrace, she loved the feel of Angel's body behind her. They were lying in a spoon fashion and it was just what Buffy needed. "Okay..." she murmured, feeling the exhaustion of everything overwhelming her and finally, for the first time she felt like she didn't have to be so strong.
She knew Angel would shoulder some of those responsibilities and it allowed her to be just what she wanted to be, a girl in the arms of the man she loved.
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Sunnydale...
Willow hung up the phone after talking to Giles. She didn't know what to think, apparently Buffy was in Los Angeles and that was where she wanted to stay. Her face gave away her confusion because Tara took notice of her lovers face.
"What?" When Willow didn't answer Tara's brows drew down as she questioned, "What is it baby? What's wrong?"
Willow met the blond's eyes. "It's Buffy. She's in Los Angeles and according to Giles, she doesn't want to come back top Sunnydale."
Xander walked into the kitchen just at that moment and only heard the last part. "What do you mean Buffy doesn't want to come home. Where is she?"
"Los Angeles..." Willow murmured absently, still kind of in a state of shock.
"Los Angeles! What is she...?" Suddenly Xander's eyes widened as he put two and two together. "Los Angeles? As in dead boy?! She's with Angel?!"
Willow nodded, "Yeah. She's with Angel."
Xander was surprised, he'd thought she was over the dark haired vampire. She'd rarely mentioned him in the last three years. 'Why was she in Los Angeles and with Angel?!' He wondered.
Tara frowned slightly, "Well maybe she just needed him." The blond wicca said, not really knowing the history between Angel and Buffy.
She hadn't been here to witness their relationship and really she'd only been on the peripheral of Buffy's circle of friends, but the compassionate witch had always noticed something about the Slayer, her aura had always seemed sad. And for the first time Tara had a possible explanation for that, maybe the vampire she'd only heard about was the reason for the Slayer's lack of real connection to her then boyfriend Riley and her apathy in regards to letting herself give her heart away.
Willow and Xander both gave her a scowl and Tara felt like she'd made mention of something that was very bad to both of them. She started to explain, "I mean... it's obvious she wanted to see him. Plus he was here for her mother's funeral and it was only after she saw him that she seemed to get it together, ya know?"
Willow had to acknowledge what Tara said, but really she didn't want to think that maybe Buffy had been carrying a deeply hidden torch for Angel all these years, because that would mean that not only did she really not know the deepest part of her best friend. It would also mean she'd encouraged Buffy to let the man or vampire... (whatever) she loved to leave without a fight from her! To Willow; who was honestly a good person who loved Buffy, that was something that she would have a hard time forgiving herself for.
Little did Wilow know that Buffy had another reason for her issues with the red headed witch. Buffy was angry at her friend for pulling her out of heaven. She was angry to have to come back to a life that suddenly had a hell of a lot more issues than just being the chosen one and she was angry for being brought out of a place where she'd finally had the peace she'd sought here for so long.
What Willow did know was that her best chance at Buffy listening to any of them at this point was to not judge her for her decision to stay with Angel. She clearly remembered the last time they'd all done that and though it had appeared she'd caved to their edicts, she hadn't.
Buffy had continued to see the handsome vampire behind all their backs, then when she'd been confronted, she'd defended him to the point of nearly alienating all of them and right now, that was the last thing Willow wanted to happen. Buffy's past with Angel was complicated and if pushed she just might come out swinging in her defense of her beautiful ex-lover.
Xander looked at Tara and Willow, "Well I don't know about you, but I say we pack some stakes and take a road trip to Los Angeles."
Tara frowned, "Pack up some stakes?" She looked from Xander to Willow, confusion plain on her face. "But... I mean, I thought Angel has a soul. Isn't he like a good guy?"
Xander scowled, he'd never liked Angel. He was not willing to admit much of that hatred came from the fact that Angel got the girl he; Xander had wanted. Maybe now, he didn't think of Buffy like that anymore, but then... Then he'd had quite the crush on the blond haired slayer and Angel had been all she saw. To this day, Xander still felt that jealousy burn in his gut, even as ridiculous as that feeling was at this juncture in his and Buffy's relationship, because they were nothing more than friends, he still hated Angel and everything he'd been to Buffy!
Xander snorted, "Well let's just leave it at this... Him and Buffy equal the return of a homicidal maniac that likes nothing more than to target her friends and pick us off one by one!"
Willow was still thinking. 'WHY was Buffy in L.A?' She may be blind to Buffy's innermost needs sometimes, but this action was screaming for help! She wasn't a participant in Xander's 'Let's stake Angel' parade, but she wasn't sure L.A was the best place for Buffy either.
With her resolve face firmly in place Willow turned to Xander. "We're not staking Angel, what we're going to do is just go there and see what Buffy wants. I mean, I know it sound all wonky, but..." She sighed, then met Xander's eyes, "Then again, when have Buffy and Angel ever been normal?" She asked with a shrug.
Xander rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to rebut, when Willow interrupted him. "See this..." she pointed to her face. "You know this face... it's my resolve face and we're doing this. Don't make me bring up the dress and Margaret Simpson!"
Xander paled, then frowned fiercely, "You wouldn't!"
Willow nodded, she was resolute that she needed to hear Buffy's side of this and do what was right for her friend. She smiled and almost growled, "Oh I would."
Xander acquiesced with a scowl at Willow, "Fine, but I still say we bring plenty of stakes and maybe one of those orb things too!"
Outside the kitchen door...
Spike felt his undead heart freeze and recoil with pain as he heard that Buffy was his sire. He'd known he was developing feelings for her for awhile, even Captain Cardboard had spotted it, (though he'd denied it at the time) but this was the last thing he'd seen coming as the reason the Slayer wouldn't notice him. He'd honestly thought the bint through with his souled version of his Sire.
Spike walked out of the house and lit a cigarette. He wanted to thrash something. Growling, he kicked at the little figurine in the front yard of the Summers' house. "Bloody hell!!" He griped.
'What was it with that bloody poof that made women flock to him like the legendary pied piper?' Spike thought with a frown as he headed back to his crypt. He understood Angelus' attraction, he was a soulless, insatiable demon, but Angel was supposed to be all different, plus he was practically a eunich fdor soddin sakes! Spike knew through his soul and his disgusting vulnerability, it was those things that made Buffy drawn to him and adore his soulful sire!
'Could he ever be like that?' Spike didn't think so, it was bad enough that he was as helpless as a neutered puppy, but having a soul... He'd heard about the torment Angel had gone through, though then again he wasn't even on the same scale as Angelus when it came to being the 'Big Bad', but still he wasn't sure he'd like a soul shoved down his throat.
"Soddin tosser!!!" He exclaimed, he couldn't just let the Slayer go without telling her how he felt. He hated that Angel/Angelus always came out ahead. Women...They'd always been so easy for the bnloody git, well Spike wasn't going to just take this one lying down!
Yeah, part of his jealousy stemmed from Dru and her always choosing Angelus over him, (though he'd never admit that either) he'd detested the power Angelus had always over Drusilla, his beautiful black princess, but Angelus was her sire. That could be excused. Angel wasn't Angelus though. He was a soddin wanker! He'd not only left the Slayer, but he couldn't even bloody well make love to her without losing his soul and becoming one of the worst, most destructive demons the world as ever seen. Spike knew from first hand experience, that prick liked nothing more than torturing everyone in his path and he'd especially liked torturing the Slayer!
'How could the chit go back to him after all that?! Haven't I done everything she's asked? I've looked after Dawn. I've stayed on the side of good. Even with the chip, I could find a way to still be the big bad, but no! I've done the right thing and all because of her and what does she do? She goes back to m' bloody git of a Sire who's done nothin' but hurt the duck!''
Spike was livid, but also he was aching with heartache. Making up his mind, he went to the Crawford street mansion. Opening up the garage he gazed at his black and white Desoto.
"Well, I've been wanting a road trip! An' I guess it's about time I visited me ol' sire, so..." He hopped in the car, pushed a tape in the player and as the Sex Pistols suddenly blared in the small confines of the car, Spike felt better as he heard the Sex Pistols screaming about being an 'Anarchist and wanting Anarchy!' Those words suited Spike's mood and made him feel better!
'Well if I can't help the Slayer anymore, the very least I can do is make m' ol Sire's unlife a bit more complicated!' Spike thought as he started the car.
With a huge grin and a rocking feeling of being a vampire again, Spike backed out of the Crawford St. Mansion's garage and headed for Los Angeles!
A/N 3... Okay you know what to do... Musie is really inspire by this fic right now, so give her the love that will continue her inspiration:) Seriously though I know I know I have another fic out there and I am working on another chappie, but right now musie is being a stubborn beeatch with that fic and giving me nothing!! I hate that, but this fic is starting her juices flowing again so to all of you who have questioned where my next chappie of WiT is... Soon, please bear with me. Oh and BTW... It's ALL musies fault so don't blame me!! LOL!! Okay, hope you're enjoying this fic though and thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reviews... Over 20 something for the first chappie. Wow, thanks again. Musie loves it!
A/N 4...Okay, nuff said. Click the blue button and feed the musie monster, she needs the constant reasurance!! LOL!!
