Chapter Ten
After a few weeks of Dawn apologizing like mad to everyone, especially Angel, Buffy decided she was going to stay at the mansion. Indefinitely. With Angel.
The Scoobies were eating lunch at the Summers' home, minus Anya, and basking in the rainy Sunday, which darkened the day enough for Angel to walk the streets safely. Not that anyone though on that fact. That would lead to thinking of Spike. An that would ruin their day.
"So, when are you gonna come back?" Dawn wondered aloud as she bit into some potato chips.
"Back?" Buffy asked with a frown. She really just wanted to eat her sandwich....
"Yea, back. As in here."
"Dawn," Tara said with a frown. "That's rude."
"We all wanna know."
"I"m not," Buffy said while sinking her teeth into her large sandwich, a blissful expression on her face as she ignored everyone.
"What?" was the first thing that was said after the silence. It came from Xander.
"Eating Xand, busy."
"Buffy." She regretfully sat down the sandwich, looking at it longingly.
"Look, as long as Angel doesn't mind me staying, I'd rather stay at the mansion. It's safer for one thing," she added as Willow was about to start complaining.
"I don't mind," Angel interjected, earning a glare from Xander, that was returned by Angel, Giles, Buffy and Tara.
"See, there you go. Now, let me eat in peace."
"But-"
"Dawn, why don't we discuss this later?" Giles asked, looking at the teen over his glasses. She nodded sullenly and poked at her food.
"Oh for Christ's sake! Dawn, I'm staying at the mansion until either you move out for college, or someone else does. In other words, Giles is going to take over my room, and I'm probably staying with Angel where it's much safer for all of us!"
"Ok," Dawn whispered. "Ok, I get it. Can I be excused?'
"Yes." Dawn took her plate to the kitchen before running up the stairs after going through the living room.
"I'm taking over your room?" Giles asked with a raised eyebrow. Buffy groaned and put her head in her hands. Seriously, was it too much to ask to be able to eat her sandwich?
"If you want to. I mean, if I'm not gonna be using it, what's the point in crowding you with my junk? I can box that up, and put it in storage or something. We've got mom's first bed from our move here in the basement that we can put in my room for you."
"Uh, t-thank you Bu-Buffy," Giles stuttered, turning red.
"No prob. Can I eat now?"
"Of c-course."
"Finally!" She began inhaling the sandwich before another interruption could come.
***
"We should go patrol," Buffy said from her armchair, not moving.
"They had all day to rise Buff, give it a rest," Xander said as he guzzled another can of pop. Dawn, who had been told off by Tara and Giles, then explained to *why* Buffy was staying, was laying next to Xander, almost passed out form the amount of junk she'd consumed for the rainy day movie marathon, the darkness outside adding to the effect needed for the movies.
"Can't. Just got back to patrolling."
"You're so tired from the sugar crash, the besties'll kill you first try," Willow reasoned, also on the verge of sleep. It was near midnight, which meant Tara and Anya, who'd arrived in time for the first movie, were asleep, and since he knew Buffy was safe, Giles was down for the count. Angel wouldn't sleep until he and Buffy were back at the mansion.
"I'm going to bed," Dawn said, standing and swaying.
"I think we should too. Wake-y wake-y Tara."
"I'm up, I'm up," Tara grumbled. The three females headed upstairs, taking a freshly woken Giles with them. Xander woke Anya and they headed home after saying bye to everyone. Buffy and Angel left, Buffy locking the door behind her.
"Quick patrol?"
"If you think it's needed," Angel replied, his voice bland. She grinned and looped her arm through his, holding his hand. He chuckled.
"How are we going to fight like this exactly?"
"Spoil sport," was all she said. She didn't let go of his hand.
***
"Are you sure you want to stay here?'
"Angel, that has to be millionth time you've asked me. Yes, I'm sure I want to stay here."
"I figured you want to be at home." She nodded distractedly and didn't look at him. Angel, noticing the evasion, placed a hand gently on her arm. She turned from the box and looked at his face.
"Hm?"
"What's wrong?" She sighed.
"It's the house Angel. There's too many places that I...that I don't want to see everyday," she said, looking at the floor. He pulled her into his arms.
"It's all right Buffy, it's all right."
The afternoon sun filtered through the velvet drapes, creating knives of light on the floor.
"Angel?"
"Yes?"
"What's it like?"
"What what like?" he asked, confused. She looked at the ceiling.
"Being a vampire," she said, knowing her question would stump him. And it did.
"Being a vampire is like being human Buffy. Except we can only go out at night, have to drink blood, and have our abilities."
"I know *that*. You told me that before. I mean...are you thoughts different from when you were human? Does your mind change when you get turned? Besides the obvious way, I mean," she added.
Angel thought silently. It was such a strange question, not one he'd normally expect from her, but not unexpected given the events of late.
"You know what it's like to think like a human, the complexities of making a single decision. But as a vampire, thoughts are simpler. There's no little voice contradicting everything, no real morals to interfere with anything. There's a sort of peace to thinking about something, trying to decide what to do.
"Is that what you wanted to know?"
"Yea." She looked at the blocked windows. "I wonder what's going on with all the demons. There's not many left."
Angel didn't comment, but he knew what the implication meant. Something bad was heading their way. Again.