Hey guys, sorry for the wait between chapters. I had some trouble with this one. I had plans for them on Christmas and I have plans for New Years, but in between was a little tough. I knew this chapter would be tough before I even started the story, but I did it.

Also, a thanks to those of you who have read my story or favorite it/put it on alert. I really appreciate knowing people are enjoying it. So let me know what you think and where you think they'll end up from here.

PART 7

"Buffy Mr. Giles said he would drop me off on his way home," Joyce told her and Buffy sighed. She felt guilty leaving her mother at the party she had practically dragged her to. "You're exhausted Honey," she said and Buffy nodded knowing her mother was right. She'd had an emotionally draining day and it was catching up with her.

"Okay. Thanks mom," she said as she hugged her quickly and left to find Angel. She found him only a few feet away watching her every move. "She told us to leave," she said quietly and Angel nodded as he held her coat out for her. She gave him a grateful smile as he helped her into it and led her to the door. They said their goodbyes on the way out, and were soon in the car.

The ride home was silent, neither of them sure what to say to each other after the events of the day. Angel wanted to reach for her hand, but after what had happened between them earlier she was acting closed off. She had barely spoken to him since he'd kissed her and nearly every time he'd touched her since she'd flinched. He hadn't realized how often he'd taken to touching her until she wasn't allowing him to do it anymore. She wasn't letting him put his arm around her or even give her a friendly kiss on the top of her head.

She had inadvertently started to shut him out. She couldn't let herself fall for him the way she was afraid she already had when she was going to have to say goodbye to him in a couple days. Every time he'd touched her tonight she had felt her heart break a little more when she remembered he was just acting.

When they pulled into the driveway she barely waited until he'd put the car in park before opening her door and getting out. She hurried inside ahead of him and he sighed to himself. He was losing her right before his eyes.

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"I had such a wonderful Christmas Buffy," Joyce told her daughter the next morning during breakfast. Angel was still asleep, and Buffy had been so relieved not to have to talk to him that she didn't bother waking him.

"Me too mom," she smiled warmly as she poured more syrup onto her waffles.

"I have to say when you told me you were engaged I was happy for you, but I had my doubts," her mom said and Buffy looked up in surprise.

"You seemed thrilled," she replied in confusion. If her mother had had doubts why the hell had she bothered with a fake fiancé? Why had she bothered putting herself in this situation?

"I was just worried that I was rushing you into it," Joyce explained and Buffy sighed. "Or after everything that happened with Spike…" she admitted and Buffy avoided eye contact knowing that had been one of her reasons for dating Riley.

"So you have doubts?" Buffy asked her and Joyce chuckled lightly.

"Not anymore," she assured her and Buffy looked up at her mother. "Not after seeing you and Angel together," she said and Buffy nodded slightly and she felt the guilt beginning to consume her. "The way he looks at you, Buffy…" Joyce trailed off and Buffy froze. How did he look at her?

"What do you mean?" she couldn't help but ask and Joyce grinned at her daughter's question.

"He looks at you as if you're the only one in…forget in the room," she smiled before continuing. "He looks at you as if you're the only one in his world," she said quietly and Buffy couldn't hide the surprise from her face. "Don't look so shocked Buffy," her mother laughed as she took a sip of her coffee. "Only a man in love with you would be doing these things," she pointed out. "He's helped you pick out gifts for me, he's decorated my house," she added and Buffy smiled slightly at the memory. "And he put so much thought into the things he gave you," she reminded her and Buffy took a deep breath. "All he wants is for you to be happy," Joyce told Buffy, concerned when Buffy didn't look convinced. "Honey, he feels the same way about you as you do about him," she promised and Buffy forced a smile.

"Sometimes it's just a little overwhelming," she said truthfully. "It happened fast," she said and her mom nodded. "Really fast," she whispered as she thought about how less than a week ago she had still been engaged to Riley.

"When you know, you know," her mother said simply and Buffy went back to her waffles. Did she know? Did it even matter or was Angel just a convincing actor?

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"Buffy," Angel groaned as her nails dug into the skin of his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body flush against his. She let out a soft moan when her bare breasts came into contact with his skin.

"I need you, Angel," she pleaded and he rolled them over so she was squirming underneath him. He slowly ran his hands down her body and she shivered slightly under his touch. He bent down to capture her lips in his and she kissed him back fiercely. Her tongue pushed its way into his mouth as her fingers tugged insistently at his thick hair. When he broke the kiss she whimpered in protest, but gasped and arched into him when his lips met her neck. He licked and kissed his way down her chest while holding her hips still beneath him.

He heard her breath hitch as his lips neared her breasts and her hand buried itself in his hair, unconsciously massaging his scalp. He glanced up at her face and when he saw the desperation in her eyes he leaned down and lightly licked one nipple. Her body quivered in response to his touch and she moaned softly as his hand gently cupped her breast. Unable to wait any longer, he kissed his way around her it before sucking her nipple into his mouth.

"Angel?" she asked, but he didn't remove his lips from her skin. He couldn't get enough of her. "Angel!" she called louder and he looked up in confusion. "Angel!" she called again and this time when his eyes focused she wasn't lying underneath him. She was standing in the doorway and he was lying on the floor of their bedroom.

Fuck, had that all been a dream? An extremely vivid and erotic dream that had left him hard and aching? He struggled to catch his breath and pulled his legs closer to his chest to hide the evidence of his dream. Judging by her reaction to his kiss last night she probably wouldn't be very receptive to participating in making that dream a reality. He sighed out loud and she looked at him.

"It's almost noon," she told him and he sat up slightly. "My mom thought you should get up," she said and without another word she left and shut the door behind her. He wasn't all that surprised he'd slept until noon since he had been up past dawn. He hadn't been able to get his mind off of Buffy and the kiss they had shared. But mostly his thoughts had been centered on how he was going to move on after this was all over since she seemed determined to ignore what was so obviously between them. How was he supposed to get over her?

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Buffy had insisted on a girls' day with her mom so they went to the mall with the gifts they had to return and all the gift certificates they'd gotten. Joyce had been confused about why Angel wasn't coming, but when Buffy looked at her sadly and begged for a mother-daughter day Joyce couldn't refuse. So Buffy dragged her out the door less than an hour after Angel had woken up.

He grabbed his cell phone and dialed Cordelia's number expecting to get her voicemail. He usually called on Christmas, but Doyle had asked him not to this year. He didn't know when he'd be proposing and he didn't want anything to ruin a moment. The phone rang only once before Cordelia's shrill voice surprised Angel.

"You knew?" she shrieked and Angel laughed out loud having expected such a reaction from her. "Obviously you knew. You got the picture frame!" she exclaimed in exasperation. "Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded. "I was in my pajamas when Doyle asked me and definitely NOT glamorous!"

"Cordy I'm sure Doyle didn't care that you were in your pajamas," he assured her, feeling better hearing from Cordelia. He could tell she was happy despite her complaints.

"He didn't, but I did," she huffed and he could hear Doyle in the background yelling that she was beautiful. "Now I understand why you were so insistent we come on this trip. How's Buffy?" she asked and the smile fell off Angel's face as his mind was brought back to Buffy.

"She's good," he lied but even as he said the words he knew Cordelia wouldn't believe them.

"Angel," she scolded and he sighed.

"I don't know Cordy," he admitted feeling helpless to change his situation. "Things were perfect and then yesterday, just…I don't know," he finished unsure of what to say.

"Didn't she like her present?" she asked and he smiled as his mind traveled back to the look on her face when she'd opened the necklace.

"She loved them," he responded. "All of them. She-"

"All of them?" she interrupted and he rolled his eyes. She always picked up on the littlest things. "How many did you get her?" she wanted to know and he considered lying but knew she would know immediately.

"Just three," he told her but he could hear the smile in her voice when she replied.

"What did you get her?" she asked and he knew there would be no stopping her now until she got the truth.

"Slippers," he answered knowing that gift wouldn't rouse any reaction from his sister. "A necklace, and we went to Disneyland on Christmas Eve and I got her some earrings there," he stated simply as he purposely left out some details.

"And what did she get you?" she asked him and his eyes fell to the sketch pad still sitting on the coffee table in front of him.

"Cordy she got me a sketch pad and drawing materials," he told her and he was pretty sure he heard a quiet 'aw' on the other end of the phone. "And tickets to a hockey game."

"Marry this girl," she demanded and he chuckled at her reaction. "I'm serious Angel," she said and he fell silent as he realized she was in fact dead serious. "She knows you so well after just a few days," she said and he sighed since he had been having the same thoughts himself. "And I can tell how much you care about her," she told him and he didn't reply. "Where is she anyways? Why are you on the phone with me when you could be with her?" she asked and he would have laughed at Cordy if Buffy hadn't practically run out the door to avoid him.

"Her and her mom wanted to have a girls' day so they're shopping," he explained and even as he said the words he knew how lame they sounded. His new fiancée leaving him alone in her mother's house? Weird.

"A girls' day?" she questioned. "And they just left you there?" she accused and he immediately felt the need to defend Buffy.

"Cordy, this is their first Christmas without her dad," he said softly remembering how sad Buffy had looked at times yesterday.

"What do you mean?" she asked having only seen Buffy that one time since high school.

"He had a heart attack earlier this year," he answered and he heard her sharp intake of breath.

"Oh God, I didn't know," she said immediately feeling guilty.

"It's fine Cordy," he assured her.

"How is she?" she wanted to know and that was when Angel sighed again.

"I have no idea," he muttered as he rested his head against the back of the couch. "Something happened yesterday and she isn't talking to me anymore. I don't know what to do," he admitted and Cordelia felt her heart go out to him.

"Well Angel, it has to be hard without her dad," she said gently and he nodded even though she couldn't see him. "And that probably makes anything else going on harder for her to deal with," she pointed out and he desperately hoped she was right and that was all this was.

"I don't know Cordy," he whispered. "I should let you get back to Doyle. I just wanted to say I hope you had a merry Christmas," he told her finding himself tired of discussing his situation with Buffy. Cordelia seemed to sense this and she agreed.

"Alright, thanks Angel. And merry Christmas," she said.

"Hey Cordy?" he called right before she hung up. "Congratulations," he added with a smile but hung up before she could reply.

He set his phone down on the coffee table and he saw the sketch pad again. His fingers were practically itching to draw something. He felt emotionally overwhelmed, and the only outlet he knew was through his art. He debated briefly about whether or not he should use Buffy's gift. Was she expecting him to give it back so she could return it and get her money back? Screw it, he thought as he grabbed the sketch pad and a pencil. If she wanted the money back he'd pay her himself.

Without thinking much about it, his hand flew across the paper quickly drawing the one thing he couldn't get off his mind. It was Buffy, that wasn't all that surprising, he admitted to himself. But he was slightly surprised that it was an image of her from the Bronze the very first night he'd seen her. He began to sketch her hair, his strokes soft as he recalled the way he'd wanted to tangle his fingers in it. She was so beautiful, he realized as her image began to take form on the paper. So beautiful, but she'd been so sad that night when she'd first captured his attention. He realized she had had that same heartbroken look on her face ever since last night, and he hated himself for being the cause of her pain.

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"Angel, thank you for letting Buffy and I spend the day together," Joyce said as the two of them began preparing dinner later that day.

"Of course," he replied immediately even though Buffy hadn't exactly given him much of a choice. "I think she needed a mother-daughter day," he told her and as he said it he realized how true those words were. It may not have been Buffy's motivation for a girls' day, but she had needed one. And now he was glad she'd had one. Although if she'd just mentioned how much she wanted to spend time with her mother he would have been the first one to clear her schedule for her. "She's missed you," he told Joyce honestly and Joyce gave him a sad smile.

"I miss her every day," she sighed as she shook her head. "I'm so glad she has you now. I can see you take care of her. You make her happy," she said and Angel shrugged feeling slightly helpless.

"I try to," he agreed and Joyce chuckled slightly.

"You do, trust me," she assured him and when he looked up at her he saw only honesty in her eyes. "I don't think I've ever seen her so happy."

"Well, she makes me happy too," he said quietly knowing it was the truth. Even though he only had her in his life for a few more days, he knew it would likely be the best few days of his life. "I've never met anyone like her," he told Joyce who smiled inwardly at the young man who she was already looking at as her own son. "She's amazing," he sighed feeling as if he didn't express his feelings to someone he might explode. And besides, he figured, he was supposed to be convincing her mother he was madly in love with Buffy, so, why not tell her the truth?

"Well, I am inclined to agree with you," she laughed and he was smiling in spite of himself and his situation. He liked Joyce. She made him feel like he was part of a family again. She sort of reminded him of his own mother before their relationship had imploded. "So, what do you have planned for Buffy's birthday?" she asked and he focused his eyes intently on the vegetables he was chopping so she wouldn't notice the look of panic on his face. Her birthday? When the hell was her birthday? For all he knew it could be tomorrow.

"Um, nothing concrete yet, why?" he responded mentally praying that her birthday wasn't too soon.

"Well I know it's pretty short notice with it being only a few weeks away," Joyce said and Angel internally groaned. What kind of man didn't have plans for his fiancée's birthday when it was only a few weeks away? "But I was thinking of coming down there to surprise her," she whispered and Angel forced a smile to his face.

"I think she'd love that," he said sincerely even though he knew he wouldn't be there to see it. Buffy would kick him out of her life long before her birthday. She'd be crushing his heart right after New Year's, when Cordy got back, he was sure of it.

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Buffy was repacking her suitcase so she would be ready to leave tomorrow. She had a tendency to fling her clothes all around the room regardless of how long she stayed there, so it had gotten fairly messy. As she continued working her way through various piles, she noticed Angel's sketch pad. He had moved it from the coffee table in the living room and now it was sitting open on the desk. A few of her t-shirts had been on top of it, but once she moved them she saw what he had drawn in it.

Her breath caught in her throat at the one and only thing he'd sketched inside. It was an image of her and from the background he had included she realized she was at the Bronze. The outfit he'd put her in told her it was the night they met and she sank onto the bed with the book open on her lap. It was a beautiful drawing. She'd only seen a few pieces of his work at his apartment, and she'd quickly fallen in love with each of them, but this was something else entirely. This spoke to her. He had drawn every detail on her face and she let out a soft sigh. Had she really looked that sad?

Suddenly she heard footsteps and she slapped the book shut and put it back where she had found it. Angel came in a moment later, the door having been left open by Buffy, and she could see that something had upset him.

"Angel, what-"

"When is your birthday?" he asked quietly and she looked at him blankly, utterly confused about why such a topic could spark such an emotional response from him. "Dammit Buffy, talk to me," he insisted as he let out a breath.

"January 19th," she finally answered and his eyes widened and he ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

"And you didn't think to mention that?" he asked and she mentally sighed. No, she honestly hadn't thought to mention it although clearly she should have. "Your mom just stood down there for nearly fifteen minutes asking about what birthday plans I had for you," he revealed, purposely not telling her that Joyce was planning on visiting. It was supposed to be a surprise and no matter how upset with her he was he wasn't going to ruin that for Joyce or Buffy.

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I should have told you," she acknowledged and he avoided her gaze. "But I didn't think it would matter," she admitted and he shook his head.

"Oh it's gonna matter, trust me," he retorted as he pictured the look on Buffy's face when Joyce showed up at her door on her birthday. "What the hell are we going to do?" he asked and the sadness in his voice nearly broke her heart.

"About what?" she asked stupidly even though when their eyes met she immediately knew what he was referring to.

"Us, Buffy," he clarified and she sighed wondering what she was supposed to say.

"You don't have to worry about it, Angel," she assured him. "I'm the one that has to break my mother's heart and tell her that none of this was real," she nearly whispered as she felt her throat tighten with the threat of tears. "So until New Year's we just keep doing what we've been doing," she said simply. "We keep pretending we're together," she explained and when his eyes bore into hers she felt the need to add something. "When we're around people," she said and he gave a short, unexpressive nod before she walked past him and out the door.

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During dinner Joyce had asked a lot of questions about Angel's art and Buffy was relieved that she didn't have to participate much in the conversation. But his answer about what inspired his art floored her. He'd told Joyce that he drew things that he thought were too beautiful to be forgotten. Did he really feel like she was too beautiful to be forgotten?

She rolled over in bed hoping to fall asleep, but her mind wouldn't slow down. Her heart was still conflicted, and she hadn't talked about it at all. All day she had wondered if faking an engagement had really been worth it. Her mom had told her she had been worried when she'd heard Buffy was engaged, so would Joyce have been okay if Buffy told her she'd broken it off? She'd considered coming clean right then, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She just couldn't disappoint her mom like that. Her mom had been through a terrible year, and she deserved to be happy even if it was only for a few days and caused by her daughter's fake engagement. But what would happen to her when she found out it was all a scam? Would she be able to handle the disappointment?

"Angel?" Buffy asked, her voice sounding fragile in the dark as he glanced towards the bed where he thought she'd already been asleep.

"Yeah?" he replied gently and she glanced over towards him, but was unable to make out his facial expression in the dark.

"Do you think my mom will be okay?" she wondered and his chest tightened at how small and lost she sounded.

"Your mom's strong, Buffy," he assured her truthfully. "She moved out here alone and made a life for herself," he pointed out. "Not a lot of people can do that."

"I couldn't," she muttered under her breath and he sat up slightly to get a better look at her.

"Hey," he cut her off and he saw her discreetly wipe away a few tears. "You didn't need to make a new life," he told her. "You had friends, school, and-"

"And nothing, Angel," she cut him off bitterly. "I had an ex-boyfriend who was practically stalking me and a new boyfriend who turned into the biggest mistake of my life," she summarized angrily but he could hear the underlying sadness in her voice.

"Stop it, Buffy," he said feeling himself growing angry at how she seemed so insistent on beating herself up. "You've done nothing wrong," he told her but she remained silent and only shook her head. "Buffy," he breathed, unable to stop himself from reaching out and grabbing her hand on the side of the bed.

"Angel," she choked out and when she squeezed his hand he couldn't hold back anymore. He stood up and climbed into bed with her. When he opened his arms she immediately went right into them, resting her head on his chest seeking the comfort that only he could provide.

"It's going to be okay, Buffy," he promised as his hands ran soothing up and down her back. "Your mom's going to be okay. You're going to be okay. Everything will be okay," he repeated as he felt her relaxing against him.

"I worry about my mom. I miss my dad…" she trailed off and he placed a kiss on the top of her head. His eyes fell shut, overwhelmed at the emotions he could hear coming from her voice. "I don't know what to do anymore," she admitted helplessly and his heart clenched in his chest. He just wanted to help her, but he didn't know how.

"We'll figure it out," he whispered as he hugged her tightly. She didn't say anything else, but she shifted against him and he loosened his arms thinking she was trying to move away. Instead she only cuddled further into him until her head lay on his shoulder. One of her tiny hands was placed on his chest and he could feel her soft breath against his neck. He took a deep breath and rested his head against hers, reveling in how it felt to hold her in his arms.

He glanced down as his hands settled on her waist and he noticed her pajamas tonight were more conservative than the night before. Not much…he admitted to himself as he saw the length of her legs exposed by the short shorts she was wearing. But at least the tank top had been replaced by a shirt with sleeves.

He heard her take a shuddering breath and he knew she was still struggling to control her own emotions. Her fingers on the hand on his chest curled into his shirt, clutching it as he felt a few tears leak onto the skin of his neck.

"It's going to be okay," he murmured into her hair hugging her even tighter to his body as he felt her nod slightly against him. His fingers had been unconsciously caressing her, and he didn't move them when the slid under the hem of her shirt to make contact with her skin. As his fingers skimmed the skin of her lower back, he placed a loving kiss on her forehead. "I promise," he whispered as he felt her breathing slow down. It wasn't long until he felt the tension drain from her body and he knew she was asleep.

He didn't move. He didn't even entertain the thought of moving. Instead he felt his own eyelids growing heavy as he held Buffy in his arms and it wasn't long before sleep overtook him as well.

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When Angel stirred awake the next morning he could hear Joyce moving around in the rest of the house, but he was in no hurry to move. Buffy was still wrapped in his arms, neither of them having moved much over the night. She was still sleeping peacefully, and Angel sighed knowing if he could wake up like this every day he would be a very happy man.

He didn't know if he should wake her up, wait until she woke up on her own, or just move her and get up himself. A part of him wanted to see how she reacted to their position. But what if she was disgusted? Or worse, angry that he took advantage of her emotional state? His heart clenched as he realized the possibility that she truly felt nothing for him. Maybe he didn't want to see her reaction.

Carefully he unwrapped his arms and gently rolled her onto her side. He stood up slowly, half of him hoping she would wake up and the other half praying that she slept through all of this. When he stood up and she only curled further into the pillows he knew she wouldn't be waking up any time soon. Instead of starting his day, he found himself staring, unable to take his eyes off her face. She was so damn beautiful…

He bent down next to her at the edge of the bed and softly brushed some hair off her face. As he tucked it behind her ear he felt his heart breaking when he realized this would be the last time he ever woke up to her. He'd grown very accustomed to having her there when he fell asleep and woke up in the morning, but once they got back to Sunnydale that would all end. They would still pretend to date for a while, but they wouldn't be sharing a room-or even a house.

He reached down and pulled the blanket up to Buffy's shoulders knowing she liked to be under it no matter how hot it was. They hadn't used it last night, but he knew she would want it now that she was alone in the bed. As he pulled his hands away, he watched her snuggled down farther into the blanket it all hit him like a punch in the gut.

He was in love with her. He was so in love with her he couldn't even see himself without her anymore, he realized and he dropped his head to his hands wondering how he'd gotten himself into this position. He'd known he had feelings for her, strong feelings even, but he'd refused to admit that he loved her because he knew he would never recover if he lost her once he loved her.

But it was too late.

So there you have it. Please leave a quick review and let me know your thoughts.