A/N: Dear reviewers! The chapter you've all been waiting for is finally up. This is the chapter in which Angel meets Collins on Christmas Eve 1989 and I will write until Christmas Day, when they have shared a heated night in Angel's apartment. Sexual content the way we love it!

One year later, 24th of December 1989

Angel was sitting near his block, drumming his plastic pickle tub. It had been more than two years since he took his HIV test and he was still holding on. Still, he knew he would never live to see the year of 1991. He had always been one to live in the moment, and that rule counted now even more than before. Since he had so little time… No, he didn't want to think about that right now. He had Mimi who loved him, and he had the people at Life Support. That was all he needed for a good life.

Besides, he was quite satisfied. That day a lady had showed up in a limousine and given him 1000 dollars for killing a dog. Life was smiling at him. Suddenly he heard the sound of someone handing him money. It wasn't much, but it was enough to be appreciated. "Merry Christmas!" he smiled after the people who had handed him them. It was really a merry Christmas.

Right then, as he continued his drumming, he heard a sound. Someone was coughing and the sound came from one of the back alleys. He shuddered. Too much damage had happened to him in back alleys, most of the damage ending up with him having to crawl to his feet in blood after having been beaten by some certain group of homophobes. Still, this was someone who needed help and why shouldn't he go see what was going on.

"Hello?" he yelled quietly, waiting for some kind of reaction. There was none. He walked with firm steps towards the alley and saw a man curled up in a ball against the wall.

"Oh my God, you okay honey?"

"I'm afraid so," the man answered. He looked up at him and Angel found himself staring right into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. The man was black, quite tall, well built and still he looked extremely kind. Protective. "Did they get anything, or…?" was all Angel could say.

The man shook his head. "I had no money but they took my stuff."

Angel reached for a tissue he was carrying, but the man waved it away. Angel accepted. It was an awkward silence for a couple of seconds that seemed like a couple of hours. "I'm Angel," Angel said only to break the silence. They had to get introduced somehow and Angel wouldn't let this chance leave him.

The man looked at him as if Angel had told him one of the most incredible things in the world. "My friends call me Collins… Tom Collins."

Angel suddenly relaxed. So this was the professor from MIT? This is it, Angel thought, - I'm giving into destiny immediately.

"Come on," he said, - "Let's get you cleaned up."

He waited for Collins' reaction. If he left now, Angel knew that trying to find love ever in his life would be pointless. This was it, he knew it. Therefore he reached out a hand to help Collins to his feat. A painful groan escaped the taller man, but he had no troubles walking. Then Angel remembered something: Life Support! "Sort of have to hurry," he said apologetically, - "I have a Life Support meeting to go to."

Collins looked at him. "Life Support?"

Angel knew that now was the time to tell. He couldn't let it go. He had to be perfectly honest with this man. "Yeah," he said almost shyly, - "It's for people with AIDS" Then he added: "People like me."

He had gotten that label all too often. 'People with AIDS, people like you'. Collins could react any way he wanted. He had told.

"Me too."

What? Did he hear right? That was the most devastating, yet amazing coincidence he had ever faced. "Really?"

Collins nodded. "I used to sleep around a lot in college. When I was a student, that is."

Angel nodded. "Wanna judge me just a little?" Collins asked. Angel giggled, suddenly enjoying the fact that he was holding this man's arm. He shook his head. "With my back story I can't allow myself to judge."

Collins frowned. "And what is your back story, Angel?"

Angel took a deep breath. "I'll tell you when we get to my apartment."

[HERE I AM SWITCHING FROM ANGEL'S POV TO COLLINS' POV FROM ONE TIME TO ANOTHER]

They were inside Angel's apartment, and as they entered and Angel turned on the light, he said: "Well, make yourself comfortable. I'll just go change."

Collins walked over to the couch and sat down. What the hell just happened? he thought, - How did this happen to me?

He thought to himself that he'd better thank his muggers for beating him. They led him to Angel after all. Angel… That name wasn't his name, it was his identity. When he had been sitting on the couch for about twenty minutes, Angel came out… Angel? Well, he… or rather she had changed into an outfit which complimented her curves perfectly. A white blouse, black skirt and stockings that complimented her well-formed, muscular legs.

"My God, Angel…" Sure, he could've put up something better. Beautiful, marvelous, gorgeous, stunning. These were all words to describe Angel's beauty.

"Like it?" Angel asked, a mixture of excitement and anticipation showing up in her big, brown beautiful eyes.

"You're beautiful, Angel."

Angel's jaw fell a little. Had he really said that? That she was beautiful? He had. His words had echoed right through her heart and it made her want to cry. She had been called so many things throughout her life… Beautiful had never been a word for her.

"Really?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"Of course," Collins smiled widely.

Angel sighed relieved. "You're sweet," she said, and then she remembered why she actually had invited him over. She ran into the bathroom to get him some bandages and something to clean his wounds with.

Collins regarded every move she made. She was perfect. She carried herself with such grace and dignity he had never seen in one person. He hadn't even thought it was possible. She knelt down in front of him and said: "Now, undress."

Collins' eyes widened. "I can do that," he joked in a slightly perverted voice. Angel laughed and her face flushed red. "For me to clean your wounds, please," she chuckled.

Collins had to giggle. She was the cutest little thing he had ever seen. As he had taken off his pants and shirt for Angel to take a look at his wounds (and while he was still praying she wouldn't notice how happy his lower region was for this meeting), Angel's eyes grew wide at the sight of his wounds.

"Oh my God," she said, placing both palms on his legs, - "You've been badly beaten, now, haven't you?"

She was so beautiful, her brown eyes filled with such concern. He wanted to kiss her so badly. "I'll manage," he said.

She smiled at him. "Now, this is gonna hurt just a little… Just tell me if it hurts too much."

By that she started cleaning his wounds. He was amazed about how gentle her small hands were being. "Angel, you're good at this. How come?"

Angel took a deep breath. "I've been beaten a couple of times myself." She attempted a weak smile.

Collins sudden felt an urge to protect this wonderful… angel from whatever happened to her. He reached out and touched her cheek gently. "I'm sorry."

She looked up at him and smiled. "It's OK."

Angel was overwhelmed. This man's kindness for her was something she had never before experienced. Her heart swelled with love for him already. When she was done cleaning his wounds, he got dressed again and they sat down on the couch.

"So… How did all this happen, Angel?" Collins asked.

Angel looked at him and took a deep breath. Impulsively she reached for his hand. He grabbed hers and held it tightly, making her sure that he wouldn't let her down or something.

"You see…," Angel began, - "My family kicked me out as soon as I came out to them."

Collins' eyes got filled with concern. He stroked her hand gently with his thumb. Angel continued:

"And… When I moved to New York, I got fired from nearly every job I could get because… Well, I guess it was because I was gay."

Collins nodded reassuringly.

"So… To make a living, I…"

She couldn't say it. What would he think? No. She didn't care what people thought. But it was so dirty, she was so ashamed… Oh, to hell with it.

"I worked at this club… I… I used sex to get money… I was a virgin the first time."

She chuckled cold-heartedly and Collins moved closer, still holding on to her hand. "It's OK, Angel, I'm here."

She looked at him. Wasn't he disgusted? "Don't you think what I did was disgusting?"

Collins shook his head. "No, Angel," he said, looking straight into her eyes.

She took a deep breath, and said in a shaking voice: "I had these… two regulars… They came back every night I was at work… They… I guess they were about forty years old… I was nineteen…"

Collins eyes widened. "God, Angel… How afraid you must've been."

She nodded. "Every night was a fucking nightmare. I cried every day, I… They were too rough with me, Collins… They…"

She couldn't speak anymore. The tears she had longed so bad to cry out to someone were finally there and they wouldn't stop. "Oh Angel…"

Collins moved closer and pulled her into a hug. His strong, protective arms embracing her, sparing her from all the damage in this world. After having cried her heart out, she said:

"The memories won't go away, Collins… I feel so used, so… So dirty, I… I brought it on myself, I…"

"You didn't," Collins interrupted, - "You didn't have any choice, Angel. And those monsters should be happy I don't know who they are."

Angel attempted a slight chuckle and Collins reached out to wipe away her tears. Her face felt so warm and soft under his fingers. "It's just…," Angel began, - "Every day I have to be afraid they'll come back and rape me or something."

Collins sighed deeply. "I guess that's pathetic, huh?" Angel said.

Collins shook his head. "No, Angel, it's not pathetic. I would do the same if I was in your position."

After more hugs had been shared, Angel said relieved: "It was good letting that out. Just… To get to say it out loud without anyone judging me."

Collins smiled at her and cupped her face, staring into her eyes. "That's good, Angel," he said, - "But now, will you let me say something?"

Angel nodded. "Go ahead."

Collins cleared his throat. "I just wanted to say," he began, never looking away from her eyes, - "That I think you are amazing."

Angel blinked harshly to avoid more tears from flowing over. "You do?"

Collins nodded. "Yes. You are amazing and beautiful and just simply perfect in every way, Angel."

He leaned in to kiss her cheek. That did it. His warm lips on her skin, such a simple, yet loving gesture. Another tear fell from her eyes. "Angel, I think I'm falling in love with you," Collins said sincerely.

And then he kissed her lips. This was new. She had never been kissed like this. The last time anyone kissed her, it was those regular costumers of hers, and she wanted to throw up. Now she was in the arms of a man who had said he was falling in love with her and she was so in love with him she didn't know if she was alive or dead. She returned the kiss gladly and didn't hesitate when it became more passionate.

Without really knowing what she was saying, she whispered hoarsely: "Bedroom?"

She felt Collins grin against her lips. "Only if you want to, Angel."

Angel nodded. "I do."

As they entered the bedroom, Collins placed Angel on the bed and undressed. The pains from later were suddenly long last gone. Angel lay there admiring his body, admiring him in general. Collins reached for her white blouse and pulled it over her head, not without help from Angel. He moved to kiss her neck gently, and then going all the way down her body. This time she didn't hesitate the slightest. She felt her muscles tensing with pleasure as he reached further down on her. He removed her skirt and her stockings, and then only with eye contact he got permission to take the rest off.

Angel blushed slightly as Collins removed the rest of her clothing, and he moved up to kiss her lips. He placed a gentle hand on her cheek and whispered: "Are you OK?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, just keep on going."

Collins moved down on her and Angel gasped quietly as he took her in his mouth. "C-Collins…," she whispered out of breath, - "Y-you don't have to if you…"

Collins removed and looked in her eyes. "I want to."

Angel sighed, and let him go on. She had never had anyone doing this to her. She had never had anyone caring about her pleasure in the first place. She moaned loudly as Collins went deeper. "Oh God, Collins…!" she moaned. Then she felt it; the tingling feeling to orgasm. "Collins, I'm coming…"

Collins removed quickly, moving up to her and kissing her lips. "Are you ready?" he asked. She nodded and reached for the lubrication on her night table. She handed it to Collins as he prepared himself. She inhaled sharply as the warm liquid reached between her legs.

Then he got on top of her and looked deeply into her eyes. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Angel nodded. "Yes, go ahead, but… Please, be gentle."

Collins smiled and kissed her again. "Of course, sweetheart."

"Oh God!" Angel gasped loudly as Collins entered her. The burning ache she was feeling in the beginning slowly faded away to pure pleasure.

"Does it hurt?" he asked her, but she just shook her head.

"No, please go faster!"

Collins chuckled a little and went faster. As he went deeper, both of their moans went more passionate. "Collins…!" Angel gasped as she came. A long line of pleasurable moans and Spanish curses escaped her lips. Collins came inside her as well, and when they were done, Collins lay down beside her, his arms wrapped around her small frame.

He kissed her shoulder blades and neck, whispering nonsense in her ears: "God, Angel… You're so beautiful… You're so wonderful… God, I love you so much…!"

Suddenly he felt Angel shaking beside him. "I love you, Collins," she whispered, her eyes filled with tears, - "You're so good to me… That was…"

She didn't have to say anything more, because Collins nearly drowned her in kisses. He cupped her face and kissed her lips. "I didn't know it could feel that way…," Angel admitted.

Collins pulled her tighter, but even that wasn't tight enough. "You deserved it, Angel," he whispered, - "You deserve all the love in this world."

It was just another night where Angel cried herself to sleep. This time the tears came from happiness. They were tears of love and compassion for the one person she had met and loved. And that was the way it was meant to be.

Angel had found her life's meaning. She had found love.