Title:Gealach Gorm

Author: Sk8erGurl24

Disclaimer:I own nothing. Everything belongs to Joss Whedon. Song at the bottom is Still the One by Shania Twain. I don't own it.

Summary:Just my way of fixing things in Buffy season 4 and Angel season 1. I wanted to get Buffy and Angel back together and Willow and Oz to stay together. Goes up to the Buffy episode 'The Initiative' (somewhere before, like after 'Wild at Heart', but before 'The Initiative') and the Angel episode 'Sense & Sensitivity' (Again, somewhere after 'Rm w/a Vu' but before 'Sense & Sensitivity'). I didn't want to deal with the angsty-post-I Will Remember You stuff.

Note:This may become a series, which I want to do because I've never written a series before. Oh, and Oz never left, because in this, Veruca never came. Yay. I wish I could thank someone for their help on this story, but I can't, because I have no Buffy loving friends. They're all obsessed with the Fluffy-Bunny vamps we know as the Twilight vampires. No, no, wait. Not true. I can thank my friend Piper (27RosalieHale27) because even though she's never seen the show, she still listens to me babble on and on about my ideas. Thanks, Piper! Anyway, enough talk. On with the story!

* * * * * *

"Buffy. Buffy? Hey, Buffy, we're here," Angel said. They were parked in front of her mother's house. "Buffy." He reached over and shook her. The reply he got wasn't the sleepy 'What?' he was hoping for, rather a smack to the nose.

Once she realized what she'd done, however, she was wide awake.

"Oh! Angel, I-I didn't know that was you. I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine." He massaged his sore nose. "Not broken. It'll be fine in no time."

"I'm sorry," she repeated.

He just brushed off her comment. "We're here."

"Oh. Goody," she said gloomily.

"It's going to be fine," he told her for the millionth time.

The couple got out and Angel grabbed her bags from the trunk. They walked up onto the front porch and he sat her things down when she turned to him.

"So, I guess this is the part where you tell me you'll see me next week?"

"No."

Buffy looked up, confusion evident in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't want to stay in a motel every time I come to see you, so I thought I'd move back into the old apartment."

"Really?"

He nodded.

"How long are you going to stay, then?"

"Just for tomorrow. I want to get it all set up, and then I'll leave the day after."

"Sunday," she confirmed.

"Yeah."

She smiled. "So do you want to come in, or are we just going to stand on my porch for the rest of the night?"

"It's a very nice porch," he joked.

She pulled out her key from her purse and unlocked the door. The house was still dark, which meant her mom was most likely still in bed. That was good. If she could put off confrontation for another several hours, she would. Buffy sighed and flicked on the light. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized someone was sitting on the couch. Not a burglar and not a demon. It was something much, much worse. Her mother.

"Mom, hi. I...um...shouldn't you...I mean isn't it a little late to be up?"

"I thought I should be up to greet you."

"I'll still be here tomorrow. You can go on back to bed now."

Joyce's eyes wandered between her daughter and Angel. They stayed on him longer than Buffy liked.

"Okay, so, uh, let's get to bed and then I can tell you all about the trip in the morning."

Her mother nodded and headed up the stairs.

"So, do you want to stay or are you going to head back over to the apartment?" she asked once she heard her mom's door shut.

"I think I'd better go. You said yourself that it would be best for me to stay out of her way."

"I didn't think you'd actually do it..."

"I'll see you tomorrow though, right?" He asked.

"Right."

"Goodnight, Buffy."

"Goodnight."

Angel leaned down and kissed her softly.

"Love you," she murmured when he pulled away.

"I love you, too."

After a last glance, he pulled the door shut behind him. Buffy let out the breath she didn't even realize she was holding and then clomped up stairs. It was going to be a very long, very sleepless night.

* * * * * *

The next morning, Buffy got up at nine. After dressing in a pair of cute khaki pants and a sky blue tank, she trudged down the stairs. She hadn't slept at all last night, too nervous of what was to come. Shortly after she sat down at the island with a bowl of cereal, her mom came down.

"Good morning," Joyce said.

"Morning."

"How'd you sleep?"

Buffy just shrugged.

"Ah. So, how was your vacation?"

"It was nice."

"You went to Carbon Beach?"

"Yeah."

"I hear it's really pretty down there."

"It is."

"Did you take pictures?"

"Yeah."

"Can I see them?"

Buffy eyed her mother suspiciously. "Sure."

She left the room and a moment later came back with a digital camera in hand. She turned it on and it made a chirping sound. After getting it to view mode, she handed it to her mom. Joyce scrolled through pictures. Most of them were blurry from lack of light, but some turned out pretty good. Namely the one of Buffy laying on the bed on her stomach with her legs up in the air and crossed behind her. The best one of Angel looked like a candid shot. He had just turned his head and was smiling at her. There were lots of others, too. Some of the two on the beach, some of them in their hotel room, some that were upside down by accident.

"Nice," she said handing the camera back to her daughter. "Did Angel go back to LA last night?"

"No."

"How come?"

"He wanted to get his old apartment, you know the one by the Bronze?" she asked when her mom looked confused. Joyce nodded and Buffy continued. "He wanted to get that back in working order so when he comes on the weekends for visits he won't have to stay in a hotel."

"That's nice. When is he leaving?"

"Tonight," she said, and her mother couldn't miss the way her voice got sort of sad.

"I see. Well, I have to go out for a little bit, but then I'll be back and you can tell me all about the beach. How does that sound?"

"Sounds nice."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

"Yeah."

Joyce walked out to her car. The sun was shining bright and she had to cover her eyes. This was good. It meant there was no chance that Angel wouldn't be at his apartment. It wasn't hard to find. There was only one apartment building near the Bronze.

"Does a man named Angel live here?" she asked the woman who was sitting on a couch reading.

"Yes, actually," she said with a bit of a British accent. "I think he's back. I'm not sure, but I think."

"Do you know where that is?"

"All the way down in the basement. Just follow those stairs."

"Thank you."

Angel was dusting off some of his old belongings. Everything was still there right where he left it. Apparently, Angelus didn't have much of a use for the items when he moved into the mansion. He was glad that he hadn't put the apartment back up for lease. For some reason, he couldn't bare to get rid of it, because somewhere in the back of his mind he always knew he'd be coming back. He put the last book on the book shelf and was headed towards his old desk when someone knocked on the door. It wasn't Buffy, he knew because he hadn't gotten the familiar tingle that excited his every nerve as he would have had it been her. He walked to the door and pulled it open.

"Ms. Summers."

"Hello, Angel."

"Hi, uh, would you like to come in?"

"Yes, thank you."

Joyce looked around the room. It was nice, in a dark, eerie sort of way. Angel looked at her nervously. He remembered the last time Buffy's mother had came to talk to him.

"How can I help you?" He asked.

"I want to know why you're back."

"To be with Buffy."

"You know that's not what's best for either one of you."

He ducked his head. He knew that. But after everything Buffy had said and done over the past week would make it impossible for him to ever leave her again.

"I want to make sure you're thinking of what's best for her."

"I am."

"I don't think you are."

Buffy skipped down the stairs and walked up to Angel's door, about to knock when she heard a familiar voice.

"If you were thinking of what was right for her, you wouldn't be back. Didn't I make it very clear that you two belong in different worlds? Didn't I tell you she'd never have a future if she was with you?"

The Slayer standing outside was becoming infuriated. Had her own mom told her boyfriend to leave her?

Angel's face twisted in anguish, but he made no attempt to say anything. Joyce had the feeling she was loosing. It was time to pull out the big guns. She walked closer to him and said, "You're a monster. A creature of darkness and evil. You don't deserve my daughter, and you never will. She was born to kill things like you, she told me. I think it would be in your best intentions to leave and actually stay gone this time."

When Buffy heard her leaving, she quickly hid in the nearest supply closet. There, she slumped to the floor. She was shaking with anger and tears were flowing freely down her face. Her mother had just told the man she loved that he was a monster and he should leave. Was this some sort of new punishment for her? Maybe since she was actually happy, the higher powers stepped in to make her as miserable as possible. She wiped her face of with the back of her hand and tried her best to look normal, as though nothing had happened. Then she walked over to his door and knocked.

Angel threw the door open and was about to tell whoever it was to go away before he realized it was Buffy.

"Hey," he said, stepping out of the way to let her in.

"Before graduation, did my mother tell you to leave?" She had to ask quick before she lost her nerve.

He lowered his head. "Yes," he said quietly.

"And you listened to her..." She shook her head, not wanting to believe any of this was true. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to hurt you."

"Hurt me? You didn't want to hurt me so you took my mom's advice and left me? You don't think that hurt? Angel, it would have hurt a lot less if you would have just told me what was going on, not making me find out a year later from listening through a door!"

"I'm sorry."

Buffy sighed and shook her head. "It's fine. Just next time my mother tells you to hit the road, tell me okay? Don't make me eavesdrop."

"How much did you hear?"

"Pretty much everything. She told you that you were a monster, and reminded you of what she apparently said before graduation. Then she told you to leave."

Angel sat down on his bed and dropped his head into his hands. He was going into brood mode. Buffy wasn't dumb, she knew which part was upsetting him.

She knelt down in front of him. "You're not a monster. You're a wonderful man who would do anything to help someone. You're smart, and kind, and can even be funny sometimes. I don't see how that could equal a monster."

"I-I," he struggled for his words. "I drink blood."

"Pigs' blood, Angel. Not human. Hey, I eat pork. Does that make me an evil creature? No. So what if you need the...less used part of the pig to survive? Big deal."

He glanced up at her. She sounded so matter-of-fact, as if she were telling him what she had for lunch, not discussing whether he was a beast or not.

"You told me once that you'd love me even if I was covered in slime. Did you think that went only one way? I'll love you whether you drink blood or coffee, if you have fangs or braces. Because I know that underneath the teeth and the rigid forehead, there's a wonderful heart. So what if it's not beating? It's still made of gold. I don't care what you say, or my mom says, or our friends say, or the rest of the world says. You are not a monster."

He heaved a sigh and blinked away the tears that had formed in his eyes at her words.

"You're incredible," he told her and managed a shaky smile.

Buffy beamed and kissed his forehead. "Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine."

"Good. Because I've got a mother I need to go yell at."

"Don't hurt her," he warned.

"Only with my words," she promised.

* * * * * *

Buffy stormed into the house. She found her mom sitting on the couch in the living room.

"Oh, hi, honey," she said upon seeing the Slayer. When she realized she had the 'I'm-Very-Ticked-Off-Don't-You-Dare-Mess-With-Me-Right-Now-Or-I'll-Do-Something-Painful-To-You' look, she asked, "What's wrong?"

"Hmm. Let's see. I just found out that my mother told my boyfriend to leave me. Twice."

Joyce stood, shocked. "How did you...?"

"I heard everything through the door."

"Buffy, as your mother, I have the right to do what's best for you."

"What's best for me? How do you know what's best for me? You barely know anything about me!"

"I know everything about you, young lady!"

"Oh, really? What's my favorite color?"

Her mother was at a loss for words. Finally she said, "You hardly talk to me. How am I supposed to know?"

"Okay. Easier question. Um, not counting Angel, who's my most recent boyfriend?"

"Wouldn't that...wouldn't that be that Tyler boy from Hemery?"

"No. Last year, I dated Scott Hope remember?"

"You never talked about him."

"Talked about him? Mom, he came over twice. Both of which times you were home!" Buffy crossed her arms in front of her.

"Just because I don't know everything about your social life doesn't mean I don't know what's best for you!"

She rolled her eyes. "Mom, I love Angel. I've told you that several times before, and you'll probably hear it again in the near future. Angel's what's best for me. I don't want lazy days on the beach, or the guy that's always there when I get home, or children! Do you know how fast a child of the Slayer would get killed, or taken, or something worse anyway? I don't want any of those things! I want quiet nights in the dark, and the guy that can actually help me slay my demons, not just wait until I get home." She paused to let her mother absorb everything she'd just said, then repeated, "Angel is what's best for me."

Joyce straightened up and tried to have a presence of authority about her. "Angel is a monster."

Buffy sighed and shook her head. "How many times am I going to have to explain this today? Angel is not a monster. Angelus is the monster, not Angel. They're two completely different people who just happen to have the same face, and same body. They're like...Siamese twins. Very, very close Siamese twins! But Angel? He's not the demon."

"He's a vampire, Buffy! I can't comprehend how you can see around that, but he is."

"He didn't choose to be a vampire. Do you think he went up to the first vamp he saw and said 'Hey, I want to be like you. Bite me'? No. Someone did that for him. But he did choose to be good."

"From what you've told me, he was cursed with the soul. He didn't ask for it."

"Okay, so maybe he needed a little nudge towards justice. Do you think that matters? Just because he's got a nifty soul doesn't mean he couldn't still be 'I want to suck your blood' guy if he wanted to. He'd just feel...sorry later. Like hunting. You get the prized deer, and later you regret killing it, but when you remember how good it's meat tasted, you're not sorry any more...or something like that."

"He tried to kill you," her mother said.

"And I didkill him. I think I won in the 'Who Wants to be a Dead Guy?' category."

"From what I heard from you and everyone else, if Angel gets 'true happiness' he loses his soul and tries to kill everyone."

"Did you not listen to me on the phone? His soul is bound. Willow did this whole magic ceremony thingy with the smelly herbs and candles and everything. It's his. No matter how happy, or sad, or mad, or frustrated, or scared, or remorseful he gets, he can't loose his soul. It's not a sock, Mom. He can't go to the mall and forget it. It's his forever."

"What if it doesn't work?"

Buffy smirked. "He's been pretty happy over the last week."

If it were a cartoon, smoke would have been coming from Joyce's ears about now.

"Buffy, as your mother, I forbid you to see him."

"You forbid me? Did we hop back a couple of centuries and someone forgot to tell me? I'm eighteen, Mom. I'm legally an adult now. You can't forbid me to see my 'suitor'," Buffy said.

"He will hurt you."

"And I'll probably hurt him. But we'll make it work, because that's what we do. He loves me, and I love him. You're just going to have to learn to deal with it."

"I refuse to stand by while you waste your life with that...that...beast!"

Buffy shrugged. "You're going to have to," she said again.

"Have you even thought about this logically? You're eighteen, he's 225 years older than you. He could be your great grandfather's great grandfather!"

"I know that. But there's no age limit on feelings. I loved him before I knew what he was, how old he was, and I loved him after. I don't know how many times I'm going to have to say this; I don't care! Am I getting that across yet? I do not care how old he is, or what he is, or what he's done."

"How can you not care? He's killed hundreds of people!"

"Yeah, he's killed hundreds of my kind and I've killed hundreds of his. That makes us even. If he had a vampire family, they'd probably be having the same argument we are right now."

"But--"

Buffy held up her hand to silence her mother. "I'm sorry, Mom. You're just not going to win here, and I refuse to waste my time fighting with you when I could be doing more...productive things. I'm going out. I'll see you later."

With that, she turned, grabbed her jacket and headed out.

* * * * * *

Minutes later she was rapping on Angel's door. He tugged open the door. "How'd everything with your mother go?"

The only answer he got was her burying her face in his chest and crying. He managed to nudge the door shut before wrapping his arms around her.

"Hey, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Everything! My mom tried to forbid me to see you, and told me you were a horrible creature, and basically that you're so much older than me it's sick. And," she sniffed. "She totally doesn't approve."

He nodded. He knew what it was like to have a parent that didn't accept the decisions that you made.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"It's not your fault."

"But if I hadn't have--"

He was cut off by her smacking him semi-lightly in the stomach.

"Don't you dare say if you hadn't have come back we wouldn't be fighting! You coming back has been the best thing that's happened to me in a very, very long time."

"Me, too," he said and cradled her face in his hands, brushing away the tears with his thumbs. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "I wasn't planning on giving this to you just yet, but I think now is probably the best time." He handed her a small gold key. "If you ever want to get away from...I mean if the stress gets too much...you could maybe move some of your stuff..."

"Angel," she said. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

He lowered his head to stare at the ground. "Yes."

"In that case..." She moved closer so she could look him in the eyes. "I'd love to."

"I mean, I won't be here as much as I have, but..."

"You've got stuff you've got to do in LA. I understand. It's your job. I didn't expect you to drop everything, just like I know you don't expect me to drop everything. And besides, on the slow slaying, no class days, I may even be able to come down there and see the base of operations for the great Angel Investigations."

"I'd like that."

"Me, too. And I'd get to know your friends better."

"But don't plan on spending the entire day with them," he said, teasing in his eyes.

"Oh," she said. "I know a vampire that'll need a lot more attention."

"Better stay that way," he said, pulling her to him and capturing her lips with his own.

When he pulled away, Buffy rested her head against his chest and asked, "How come you decided to move back into here and not the mansion?"

"Too many bad memories at the mansion," he told her.

"But this is where we...on my birthday..."

"I know. But that's just one bad thing. At the mansion, there was the Acathla thing, not to mention when I..." he couldn't bring himself to say it, so he just touched the crescent shaped scar on the side of her neck.

"Don't forget when we tried to be 'just friends'," she laughed.

"Yeah. That really didn't work out well, did it?"

"It really didn't."

She lead him over to the bed where they kicked off their shoes and cuddled together.

"I'm going to stay here tonight," Buffy said.

"That's fine. It's your home now, too."

"I like the sound of that... But I'm just not ready to face my mom."

"I understand."

"Tomorrow, while she's at the gallery, I'll go over and get some of my things. Clothes, shampoo, school books. Just the necesities."

"Okay." Angel liked the sound of this. Her things in his home. It had always been a strange fantasy of his, he was just never able to admit it.

"Hey, Angel?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I borrow the phone? I need to call Willow."

He looked down at her. "You don't have to ask. It's your house, too," he reminded her.

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Be right back."

She dialed Willow's number and let it ring four times before she finally answered. "Hello?"

"Willow, hey. It's me."

"Buffy! Are you back?"

"Yeah."

"How was the beach?"

"Fabulous."

"Where are you? The caller ID said it was an unlisted number."

"I'm at Angel's."

"Oh," she paused a moment. "Did you take pictures?"

"Yes, Will, I took pictures."

"Good."

"I've got so much to tell you later."

"Mochas at the Espresso Pump tomorrow?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. Are you coming back to the dorm tonight?"

"No. I'm staying here."

"All right. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. See you, Willow."

"Bye, Buff."

Buffy hung up the phone and sauntered back to where Angel was still waiting on the bed.

"How was she?" he asked.

"Fine. We're meeting for coffee after class so I can tell her everything that's happened. It doesn't even feel real yet. Yesterday, we're happy and content at the beach, and today, I'm fighting with my mother because she thinks you're horrible."

She sat down beside him and buried her head in his shoulder, while he wrapped his arms securely around her. The day grew longer as she told him about her classes and her teachers and all the little details about her life that she hadn't been able to get in before. She told him about Professor Walsh and the teacher's assistant, Riley, and how she thought he liked her. She got a growl of jealously from him on this, and giggled, telling him he was the only one for her. That he had always been the only one for her. All too soon, the sun sank below the horizon.

Buffy looked up at Angel with a somber expression. "Guess this means you have to leave now."

"Yeah. But I'll be back in six days," he said, trying to cheer her up a little.

"I know. It's just I'm going to miss you."

He smiled softly and kissed the crown of her head. "The bed's going to be cold without you."

She looked down and said, "I'm not sure how I'm even going to get to sleep."

He thought for a moment, and then hopped up. He padded over to his bureau and tugged out one of his favorite long sleeved grey shirts. He returned to the bed and handed it to her.

"At least this way, it might sort of feel like I'm here," he explained.

She smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered into his ear. "For everything. The vacation, the shirt, letting me move in. Mostly loving me."

"You're welcome." Angel told her and chuckled softly when she kissed his neck.

When she pulled back, he cupped her cheek with one hand and softly touched her lips to his.

"I love you so much," he said.

"I love you, too."

They stood and he took her into his arms one last time.

"Be careful," he told her. "And I'll see you in six days."

"I'm counting on that, mister." She smiled up at him and tried to stifle a yawn.

"You should go to sleep. It's been a long day."

"Patrolling. Vampires that won't wait forever. Any of this sounding familiar?"

"You won't get very far if you aren't rested."

"Okay. Fine. I won't go out tonight."

"Thanks."

"You should get going. Stay any longer, and I'm not sure I'll let you leave."

"If I stayed any longer, I'm not sure I could leave."

Buffy stepped out of his arms and he grabbed his small bag.

"You had more than that when we left. Where'd the rest go?"

"I left the clean stuff here so I'll have some clothes if I ever forget to pack, but I'm taking the dirty things home to get washed."

"Oh."

Then he kissed her and told her he loved her one last time before he left. She turned around and sighed. She felt lonely already. Get used to it, she told herself. The Slayer wandered into the bathroom. She rummaged through his cabinet until she found a toothbrush and a half empty tube of toothpaste. After brushing her teeth and hair, she frowned as she remembered she hadn't brought any pajamas. The frown turned into a smile when she saw the shirt Angel had given her lying on the bed. Quickly, she changed out of her clothing and into his large shirt. She giggled softly when she looked down at herself. The shirt looked more like a dress. It came down to about mid-thigh and the sleeves were a good four inches past her hands. But it felt good. The heavy fabric made her feel safe, almost as safe as if Angel, himself, was there holding her. Also, it smelled just like him, which was the best part.

She grinned, slid between the sheets, and turned off the light. She didn't feel quite so alone anymore.

* * * * * *

Buffy slept in, which surprised her. She had thought she wouldn't sleep at all, yet here she was, barely awake and it was almost noon. When she finally faced the harsh reality that she couldn't stay in bed all day, she got up and walked into the kitchen. Hopefully Angel had some food. She was about to open the fridge when she noticed the piece of white paper taped to it. She pulled it off and examined it. It was from Angel, she knew his handwriting better than her own.

Buffy,

There's a couple of chocolate muffins in the refrigerator. It's not much, but I'll get some more food when I come back next weekend. Or you can go shopping if you're going to be staying here a lot. Anyway, I want you to feel secure, this is your home now. Any time you want to, you can reach me at 895-6321. Don't ever be afraid to call. I love you, and will see you soon.

Always,

Angel

She smiled and wondered when he had did this. Most likely when she had been on the phone with Willow. Willow! She was meeting her in an hour, and she had her first class three hours ago! She grabbed a muffin and scarfed it down, before throwing on her clothes from the previous night. Thank goodness she had folded them and laid them in a chair, not just wadded them up. After getting her hair looking presentable, she rushed out of the apartment and down to the Espresso Pump.

"Buffy!" Willow called when she approached. "Where were you? You missed Professor Walsh's class. It was about why certain things trigger memory, and how--"

"I over slept. No alarm clock at Angel's."

"Oh. Well, okay. So what was all this stuff you said you wanted to tell me?"

She sighed and dropped her head into her hands. "Everything. My mom forbid me to see Angel yesterday."

Willow's eyes widened. "She forbid you?"

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing. I'm an adult. She can't tell me what to do anymore."

"Wow. I'm so glad my mom doesn't pay attention. I'm dating a werewolf and musician. That's got to land me some where in the 'I Forbid You' category."

Buffy nodded. "I'm moving out."

"What? Where? How? What?"

The Slayer smiled at her antics. "Not completely out of the house, you never know, my mom and I might make up in a couple hundred years. But I'm moving into Angel's apartment. He asked me last night!"

Willow made a little squeal of delight for her friend and tried to lean across the table and hug her. "But what about the dorm? Are you moving out of there, too? Will I ever get to see you? What if I don't get to see you?"

"Will, it's okay. You'll see me. I'm not moving out of the dorm totally. I just won't...be there as much."

"Well, I guess that's okay."

"You know you'd be doing the same thing if Oz asked you to move in," Buffy teased.

"You're right."

"Oh, I also know why Angel left me."

"Because the big, stupid Mayor said that he couldn't give you a future."

"No. Because my big, stupid mother said he couldn't give me a future."

"What?"

"Yeah. My mom asked him to leave me. Then yesterday, she went over to his apartment and told him to leave me again."

"Well...that's just...rude...that...big meanie! Wait, is he actually leaving you?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, but I think he was considering it before I talked to him yesterday. Besides, how could he be leaving me if he asked me to move in?"

"True."

"So. Enough tragedy we call my life. What did I miss in class today?"

* * * * * *

It had been early when Angel got back, so nobody was at the office. He was glad for the quiet time, it gave him a chance to do his laundry. Around noon, though, Cordelia and Doyle came. He knew that as soon as he heard Cordelia coming down the stairs to his apartment.

"Angel? Are you home yet?"

"Yeah," he told her, coming out of the bed room.

"Well, hey! How was...where ever you went? Where did you go?"

"Carbon Beach. It was amazing."

"Lucky," Cordelia said and flopped down on his couch. "I wish I had a vacation."

"So take one."

She looked up at him, clearly thinking she'd not heard him correctly.

"Huh?"

"Take a vacation. Don't come in for a couple of days."

"Okay. What's gotten into you? Did that spell do something wacky to you?"

"No, it's just..." he came around to sit beside her. "You deserve it. Think of it as my way of saying thank you for everything you did."

"Oh. You mean the binding spell? No biggie."

"No, it's a...big...biggie. What I'm saying is that it's the nicest thing someone's ever done for me."

"Don't go getting all sentimental on me, big guy." She patted his shoulder, and softened her expression. "But thank you, and I'll take the vacation. Starting tomorrow. Hey, we've got a lot of things to get done around here. We'd better get cracking."

He smiled. "Okay."

The two made their way up into the office where Doyle was sitting in a chair leafing through a magazine.

"Angel, man. You're back. How was..."

"Carbon Beach," Cordelia supplied for him cheerily.

He nodded in her direction. "How was Carbon Beach?"

"It was nice."

"Good. Listen, we got a low-class scavenger demon in the train station between Fifth and main. Shouldn't take much, but it's gunking up the train's wheels."

"Slimy?"

"Mucussy."

"Ew," Cordelia said. Both men looked at her. "I mean...ew-kay! Let's get going!"

"Low class, huh?" Cordelia said as they made their way back into the office. Her hair was messy and she was limping.

"It's not my fault a train came through when he spat on you and Angel had to catch you before you were chopped in half."

She just grumbled and made her way to her desk.

"I'm taking that vacation, Angel. I'll be back in a week." She grabbed her keys and left.

Doyle and Angel, unlike Cordelia, were clean. Nothing more than a few scratches.

"I'm going to take off. You be fine here?"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

Angel went down to his apartment and settled in with his favorite book, preparing for hours of brooding. Yet, here alone in the dark, he didn't seem to have quite as much to brood about. Everything seemed right. He and Buffy were back together, even more so than last time, and his friends were okay. He smiled and for once, read the book in front of him.

* * * * * *

Over the next week, things had been crazy for Buffy. Between her friends, her slaying, and her mother she didn't seem to have time for much else. She had managed to get over to her house twice while her mother was out and grab her important things. She had left a note for her mom explaining where she was, and when her mother read it, she was furious. There had been a yelling session and Buffy, in the heat of rage, told her mother she wasn't welcome in her new home. Joyce left, and they hadn't spoke since.

For Angel, things had been relatively calm. No big demons looking to destroy the world, just a couple of vampires here and there. He spent most of the day at his apartment, reading or talking with Doyle and Cordelia, who had cut her vacation short, claiming there was no way a producer would find her if she wasn't in the middle of things. She would never, never admit that she missed everyone and the demons they fought.

When the week drew to a close, though, Angel was speeding down the highway towards his girl. This was the way it was going to be; seeing each other only on weekends, maybe during the week if something big was happening. But neither of them cared, because when they were together, it was better than when they were together before, and when they were apart, it was a different kind of apart. The kind of apart that doesn't feel so...apart.

They were a Slayer and a vampire, good and evil, light and dark, slayer and slayee. They were star-crossed lovers, forbidden by the laws of nature and by everyone around them, but they still managed to make it.

As Angel sped down the road, the melody of an older song played in his head.

"You're still the one..."

The End!

A/N: Keep checking back for the second book, When The Sun Falls!!!