Chapter 3: Together

With its mix of dark sky and bright lights, Las Vegas existed properly only at night; Angel could relate. He walked down the strip absorbing its energy and smiled at his thoughts: at that moment, Buffy was on her way to see him. She was on her way to see him because he asked. That was a reason to smile.

The outfit he spotted her in was another reason.

Making her way through the crowd, she smiled too.

Anonymous in a sea of strangers, the couple finally reached each other.

He smirked at her sparkly, green halter and leather pants. "That's how you stay low profile?"

She smiled and shrugged. "It's Vegas."

His eyes crinkled with amusement.

"Mind if we do food first?"

Gazing at her untroubled face, he shook his head. He didn't mind anything if it meant more time together.

Putting down her sandwich, Buffy looked around at the swanky bar.

"I can't believe Lorne sings at the Tropicana."

He nodded. "In this town, anything really is possible."

"This is my first time not just driving through; it's very - shiny."

His eyes tracked her spreading blush. "You asked me how I did as a human. Back then, I lived in Ireland." She met his eyes. "It took a pretty girl to bring me out of my hometown. She promised to show me the world."

Buffy nodded. "Darla."

He leaned closer. "I've traveled Europe, Asia, and many corners of this New World." He took in her smooth, young features. "I wish you a lifetime of experiences." He grinned. "Without the going evil first."

Her eyes glazed over wistfully. "That'd be nice."

Angel braced himself to saying something, but a waitress appeared with the check. Letting the moment pass, he paid the bill and put his hand over Buffy's. "Ready for the show."

She smiled and keeping her hand in his, she followed him through the crowd.

Angel and Buffy sat before a stage of Lorne-look-a-like showgirls. Under blue stage lights, their feathers fanned wide to hide the singer behind the voice.

Hush now, don't you cry
Wipe away the teardrop from your eye

The feathers parted revealing Lorne seated in glittering clothes.

You're lying safe in bed
It was all a bad dream
Spinning in your head

Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game of life

He stood and the dancers spread out.

So here it is, another chance
Wide awake you face the day
Your dream is over... or has it just begun?

Lorne sang, the girls danced, and lights shot off and sparked their path.

I will be watching over you
I am gonna help you see it through
I will protect you in the night
I am smiling next to you, in silent lucidity

Angel noticed Buffy frowning at the performance. It went beyond thoughtful; she looked troubled.

Squeezing her hand, he wished she'd tell him what was wrong if he asked. She caught him staring and tried shrugging away his concern. Tonight was about his honesty - not hers. Maybe when he opened himself up, she'd do the same.

He tried keeping focused on the fact she didn't pull her hand back.

After the song ended, she settled more in her seat. None of Lorne's other songs bothered her, but her hand remained tense.

At the end of the show, the lights came on and people started to stand.

Angel watched her stare at the empty stage. "You want to go find Lorne?" He stood as she stood. "We don't have to. We could just-"

"No, it's fine. Let's go see Lorne. Besides," she smiled sadly, "he already knows we're here."

Stepping out of his dressing room, Lorne gave her a tight hug. "Honey-blossom, you are fabulous. You look it, you smell it!" He glanced at Angel. "hey there, Angelcakes."

Angel nodded. "Hey."

Lorne straightened away from Buffy. "You should try paradise without broodykins."

Her smile was small but warm. "He's just curious how you knew we were here. We were going for under the radar."

Lorne's eyes widened. "And you are - way under! I didn't expect to be seeing your lovely faces - especially not together." He waved them inside. "I found out when my security guard announced you a minute ago. Why?"

Buffy turned to face him. "You don't usually sing sad songs."

"Oh, creampuff," His whole expression softened. "I wasn't singing about your pain. I was belting out mine." His voice dropped low. "I cared about baby puff before he was born and I care about him after."

She leaned into him gently. "It's good to see you Lorne."

Angel watched her whole body sigh with relief.

Lorne looked back and forth at the couple. "So how long have you two been keeping in touch?"

She stepped back. "It's complicated. "

"Okay, easy question: how's my favorite human?"

"Sunny has found a good place for himself -like you."

Lorne smirked, "got himself a girlfriend did he?"

Nodding and chuckling, she joined him on the couch. "There's not much that could make him happier than he is now."

Lorne watched Angel take a seat silently. "And you know Angelpie has been tending to the rest of your whippersnappers."

Reluctantly, Angel spoke, "She knows."

Lorne patted her knee. "Last I saw they were doing real well."

She put her hand over his. "You were great tonight. Girls and lights and security and," She fake-whispered "did I see your face on a billboard?"

"I'm done playing dives. Only the big stage for me."

"Well, stardom suits you."

"I still do some moonlighting as a psychic if either of you want to-"

"No!" Angel and Buffy looked at each other surprised by the others' strong refusal.

"Guess I'll be the only one singing tonight."

Angel nodded. "Absolutely."

The couple walked into the bar of Buffy's hotel. With so many distractions in town, few guests sat in the dimly lit hotel bar.

Buffy and Angel found a low table in the corner.

"Did you and Lorne have a fight before he left?"

Angel watched her glittery top sparkle in the shadows. "No."

"Oh. . . It just seemed like- back there, maybe, that you-"

Staring at her top, he spoke absently, "We're not here to talk about Lorne."

"No, we're not here to talk about Lorne." Buffy took a deep breath and forced herself to look at him, to face him. "Why did you call me?"

"I know why you left." His eyes finally met hers. "And I don't think you should ever go back."

"Oh." She blushed. "I'm sorry if me stopping by was bad. I told myself it was the right thing, but I wasn't sure." She looked at her hands. "It's been a while since I've been sure what the right things are."

"I don't want to make it more confusing." Angel reached for her hand. "I wanted to make things easier . . . that's why I had myself cursed."

"What?"

He focused on the feeling of her squeezing his hand. "After you left, I found a way to ground my soul, the way to make it permanent."

She searched his eyes. "But how?"

"I researched every possibility: trials, spells-"

"Curses."

"I already have my soul, so the ways of winning one couldn't help me. What I needed was something to bind my soul to this body - because without it," His eyes met hers intensely, "this body is dangerous."

"Did Myrtle help you?"

"She didn't want to at first, but eventually, she saw it was the only way." His eyes fell back to her hand in his.

Buffy frowned. "What are you saying?"

"I asked Myrtle to curse my soul so it won't leave my body . . . even after my body dies."

"So when you die . . ."

"My soul dies."

"Angel . . ." When he looked at her, she searched his eyes. She sensed him searching hers too. Finally, she asked, "How do you break the curse?"

"You don't. It can't be broken."

Her breathing grew shallow. "Angel," Her brow furrowed as her eyes watered. "Why would you do this?"

"Because I can't be a part of your happiness if I can't be happy myself." His thumb caressed the back of her hand. "That's why you left, right? Because you could never live the way you wanted to in L.A. . . . with me." With water-filled eyes, Angel pressed through her silence with a cracked whisper, "Anne, I can be happy now." He squeezed her hand. "We can be happy - together."

She squeezed his hand back. "I need to tell you something, but right now, all I want to do is take you back to my room." She caressed his cheek. "Can we do that? Can we make love now and forget everything else till tomorrow?"

He breathed out, "God yes."

Her smile reached her eyes as she pulled him up by his hand and led him to her room.

He'd been to hell because of this woman and now they were finally going to get heaven.

Lorne performed the song "Silent Lucidity" by Queensryche.