Chapter Nine

Sunday morning, a very late morning, found the friends bumping into each other in the kitchen as they slugged their ways in for aspirin, coffee and other, less necessary, breakfast items. Greetings were exchanged, a few polite words or half-growled threats (depending on the grouchiness level) added to the conversation.

Nobody mentioned what they'd done the previous night; and if the lavender lace bra hanging innocently from the edge of a side table surprised anyone, they didn't show it.

Back in Sunnydale the group disbanded quickly and headed for their rooms, tired after the unexpected excitement of their weekend and acutely aware that the next day they'd be back to their usual schedule.

Usual, except for one difference: Angel drove Buffy and her friends to her dorm, and twenty minutes later Buffy threw a small bag full of fresh clothes onto the backseat. "That's all?" Angel said, frankly surprised.

Buffy gave him an odd look. "You don't exactly have an empty drawer for my clothes. In either of your rooms."

Angel wisely kept quiet. Buffy had always seemed to accept Darla's past, present and future role in his life very well; but it didn't take a genius to realize that coming back to find another woman's clothes in her husband's room had unsettled his young wife. That Darla had promised she'd be cleaning out her stuff of both of his rooms first thing in the morning, while he and Buffy were in class, didn't seem like a good answer.

Tomorrow was another day, Angel reminded himself. They'd decided to move Buffy's belongings to the mansion tomorrow, most of them would go to his room in the family wing while a couple changes of clothes would stay in the fraternity wing, for the nights they would spend there.

Tomorrow did finally come, and Buffy seemed indeed more relaxed when she returned to find an incredibly large closet and drawer space. "Are you sure you keep your clothes in here?" she asked, bemused, as she looked over the relatively few items. Then she remembered Xander's even more meager collection and sighed, almost enviously; guys had it so easy where fashion was related.

What followed was a series of trips to her (now ex) dorm, packing her things, reassuring Willow that her new roommate would surely be a very nice girl, and letting Angel carry the boxes into the car and then to his room. The last, Buffy reflected as she and her best friend took a brief break from packing and watched Angel carry a heavy box into the aisle, could be summarized in one word: "Wow."

"Oh yeah." Willow blushed a bit at her obvious admiration of her friend's husband, but... "Wow," she repeated, unable to help herself.

Buffy nodded eagerly.

"You lucky, lucky girl."

Buffy nodded again.

"Bet he's even better up close, huh?"

Another nod.

"Care to share?"

"Will!"

Willow laughed. "You should have seen your face." When Buffy didn't smile back, the redhead got a worried look. "Hey, Buffy. I was kidding, you know that, right? Because I'm a kidder, I am, with the kidding and the – Oh you!" She'd seen the small uplifting of Buffy's lips. "That was mean!"

"You proposed I share Angel!"

"I was kidding!"

"You already have a boyfriend!"

"Well," Willow seemed to think about that. "Next time there are boxes to carry I'm calling Wesley in and we'll choose a winner."

Both dissolved into giggles, which turned almost unbearable when Angel poked his head in the room and asked what was so funny.

"Oh, God," Willow said after the mirth had passed. "I'm really gonna miss you, Buffy." However, Buffy's eyes weren't on her, but back on her husband. Willow chuckled. "But I have the feeling you'll be too distracted to miss me for a while."

Buffy grinned in response, and, having decided packing could wait for a bit longer, sat back to enjoy the 'Angel, Moving Man' show. It definitely was demanding her utmost attention.

It was on one of their trips to her dorm room that they met up with Joyce.

"Buffy, what's going on?" Joyce asked as she saw the boxes.

"Oh…um…I'm going to go ahead and move in with Angel now."

"Oh. Okay," Joyce said, stunned. She didn't really like the idea but by California law, she couldn't really stop her daughter either. "What do you need help with?"

"Uh…um…you could put some things in this box."

"Okay," Joyce said. Then she remembered why she came over in the first place. She grinned at her daughter and said, "But before I do that… let me see it."

"See what?" Buffy teased.

Joyce grabbed her daughter's hand and looked at the new ring that had replaced the purity ring. Buffy had moved the purity ring to her middle finger on her left hand. "Oh, Buffy, it's gorgeous!" Joyce could have sworn that Buffy's smile reached from ear to ear. She had never seen her daughter so happy.

Joyce could have sworn that Buffy's smile reached from ear to ear. She had never seen her daughter so happy.

"This box is ready to go. I'll just take it down to the car," Angel said.

"Uh…this one too. I'll come with," Willow stated.

After they left the room, Buffy asked, "So, you're not mad?"

"About?"

"About all of this."

"I'm thrilled you found 'Dream Man', Buffy. I do think that you're going too fast, and I would rather you wait to move in with him, but you're eighteen and I can't stop you. I can only give you advice."

"So, other than slow down, which isn't going to happen, what do you advise?"

Joyce sighed, "Be careful. You may be engaged, but I don't recommend starting a family right away." Buffy thought for a brief second about telling her mom about Darla being pregnant with Angel's baby, but decided to save that piece of information for later when Angel was there to discuss it. It was up to Angel as to when they would tell her mom. Joyce continued talking, unaware of her daughter's musings, "You're both still in school. Wait until you both have all the degrees you want and have worked in your chosen field for three years before getting pregnant, but at the same time, if it does happen, let it be a happy thing. Just don't try for it yet and use some protection. If you want the Pill, I can get you an appointment with my doctor."

"Uh.. that would be great, but I want the shot if I could."

Joyce gave a satisfied nod. It was good to know that Buffy had already been thinking about it. "Talk to the doctor about it. That's between you and her—not me. Not anymore," Joyce said almost sentimentally. "I'll make you the appointment and let you know when it is."

"Thanks."

"So, you're moving into the fraternity house?"

"Well, the West Wing is the fraternity house. The East Wing is for family and that's where we will be staying most of the time. However, Angel says that there will be times when it'll be easier to just stay in the fraternity, so we'll have a room in each wing."

Joyce didn't miss the fact that her daughter used the pronoun "we", therefore including herself. Joyce continued to help her daughter move in with her fiancé. She was shown the Family Wing entrance and was told that if she didn't get an answer at that door, then to go to the Fraternity Wing entrance. There would most likely be someone thereto let her in. She and the rest of Buffy's family were always welcome. Buffy even showed her mom a room that Dawn could use if Dawn ever wanted to spend the night.

A few days later, Buffy had just come out of her ten o'clock class when she saw someone who she never thought she would see on this campus. "Riley, what are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Riley smiled. "I just transferred. You know I'm only loosing three hours; only one class I couldn't get into. The other classes had room for me. I just finished with all the registration paperwork." That information was supposed to make her happy. Riley was confused at her lack of reaction, so he kept talking. "They told me to try to get familiar with the campus today, since I start tomorrow." Buffy's eyes widened in surprise, but that was all. Riley ran a hand through his hair. He'd really messed up, hadn't he? Of course Buffy didn't look happy; he'd broken up with her and never spoken with her again. She had no reason to believe he'd had a dramatic change of heart in New York. "I just couldn't stand being that far away from you," he said earnestly. When Buffy just silently stared at him, he continued, "I looked up your dorm and your schedule. I saw that you would be here. I also saw that you don't have any classes until one. Maybe I can take you to lunch."

That got a reaction. "Uh…Ri…I already have plans. Sorry," Buffy said.

"Well, can I join you?"

*No, Riley, I don't think that my husband would like it if you joined us for our lunchtime sex session.* "Uh…I don't think that would be a good idea, Riley."

"Why not?" he askedCOMMA not giving any notice to the man coming up behind Buffy.

Spike however, had heard part of the conversation. "Because her fiancé wouldn't like you hanging around on their date. The lady told you 'No.' Respect that and move along."

"Buffy?" Riley looked at his high school girlfriend.

"Riley, this is Spike. Spike, this is Riley. We used to go out when we were in high school. He went off to New York and obviously he just transferred to Sunnydale U."

The two men shook hands and Spike whispered in Buffy's ear, "Angel got a call and had to go to an interview for a T.A. position. If you want, I can play along to get rid of this guy."

Buffy smiled, "No, that's okay." She turned to Riley, "Riley, looks like I'm free for lunch. Spike, you want to join us?"

"Sure, Pet. Where to?'

"Um…why don't we go grab a sandwich at the Sandwich Shoppe?" Buffy suggested.

"Alright."

Riley let the other two lead him. "So, you're one of Buffy's new friends, huh?"

"You could say that," Spike said as he sent a text message to Angel's cell phone, "Meet me at the Sandwich Shoppe STAT"

"Angel, I'm glad you could meet with me," Professor Griffon said. "My T.A. had to quit. His mother was just diagnosed with bone cancer. He wanted to move back to Louisiana to take her to chemo and other doctor appointments. He just lost his father a year ago to cancer." He shook his head in sympathy. "Poor man. I really hope that she pulls through for his sake. But now that he's gone I need to think of a replacement. I'd really like you to take his place. Matter of fact, if you had submitted your request to be T.A. just a little earlier, you would have been my first choice."

"I would love to, Sir. But there may be a conflict of interest."

"Why?"

"Well, one of your students in your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday one o'clock class is my fiancée."

The professor laughed, "Angel 'the Scourge of Hearts' finally settling down; tying himself to one woman?"

"Yes, Sir," Angel smiled.

"Who is she?"

"Buffy Summers. I've been tutoring her."

"So that's why her grades are improving. She's bright. Just has a hard time with numbers."

"Yeah…uh…I'm also helping her with her math. As we just found out that grade dropped," Angel smiled.

Professor Griffon looked at Angel seriously, "Angel, as long as you keep your personal life outside of my classroom, I don't care. When grading her papers, don't give favoritism or be extra hard on her. Grade her papers like the rest and don't give her the chance to change her answers. Don't give her test information when tutoring her. Keep it professional and I won't have a problem with it. I've heard how professional you can be when it comes to stuff like this. I'll be expecting it from you."

"Yes, Sir."

"Alright then. Go get some lunch and I'll see you at one."

"Yes, Sir," Angel said and walked out the classroom. He pulled out his cell phone to call his wife when he saw the text message from Spike. He ran over to the Sandwich Shoppe. He had no trouble spotting the bleached blond. He also noticed that his wife was with his best friend and there was man sitting with them that he didn't know.

"Hey," he said as walked up and touched Buffy on her shoulder. "Guess who the new T.A. for Professor Griffon is."

"You?" Buffy asked surprised.

"Yep," Angel smiled.

"That's great!" she said and kissed her husband.

Someone at the table cleared their throat loudly. When the couple broke apart, Spike made the introductions, "The kid here, is Buffy's high school ex., Riley. Riley, the man that your ex was just playing tonsil hockey with is her fiancé, Angel." He then turned to his friend and said, "Congratulations on getting the position."

"Thanks," Angel said and Spike knew that it wasn't just the congratulations, but also for looking after his wife and letting him know where to meet her. Angel sat down with the sandwich that he bought and all four ate their lunch and sat around talking.

Riley took a large bite and looked at the other three while he munched on it. *The bleach blond seems to say things for shock value a lot. So he was probably just saying that Buffy was engaged to scare me off. Buffy would have said something if she was engaged,* Riley thought to himself. *He's obviously a close friend of this other man. And Buffy and the other man do seem like they are dating. But once she sees I'm serious about marriage, she'll come back to me. After all we dated for two years. There's no way that she and this other guy have been dating for very long.* He didn't notice the Claddagh ring on her left hand.

Spike went to his own class while Riley watched as the love of his life walked off to class with someone else. Riley knew he couldn't do anything now. He would have to wait until later so, he sighed and walked off to find his new home. He'd been part of a fraternity in New York. Hopefully, they would accept him here too. He went to the office of Student Affairs. "Excuse me, Ma'am," Riley said to the clerk behind the counter. "I was told that there was an Alpha Kappa Lambda Chapter here, but I couldn't find the house on the map – I just transferred."

Someone behind him heard the question and spoke up, "That's because the Alpha Kappa Lambda house is off campus."

Riley turned around and the guy introduced himself, "I'm Lorne Hodges."

"Riley Finn." The two men shook hands, "So you're Alpha Kappa Lambda?"

"Yes, Siree."

"I just transferred from New York University where I was Alpha Kappa Lambda. I was hoping that I could still keep my membership."

"Well, I don't see why not. I mean it doesn't matter where you go to school. If you're Alpha Kappa Lambda there, you belong to all of us. Let me guess, you're a freshman."

"How'd you guess?"

Lorne just looked at the boy and said, "Lucky guess." Most everyone knew that once you joined Alpha Kappa Lambda it didn't matter if you moved, your membership transferred to your new home. Only a freshman would be insecure about it.

"Could you tell me how to get to the Alpha Kappa Lambda house?"

"I'll do better than that, Sweet Tart. I'll show you," Lorne said. "I'll even give you the grand tour."

Angel and Buffy arrived for class early and Professor Griffon explained to Buffy what he and Angel had talked about. "Miss Summers, I understand that you and Angel are engaged as of this weekend. As of today, he is my new T.A. I wish to go over some things with you. I've already talked with Mr. MacKenzie about this. But I want to make it clear to you as well. Your personal relationship with Angel stays outside of my classroom. That means if you are angry with him, there will be no dirty looks toward him in my class room." He waited for Buffy's nod before continuing, "He will not have test information prior to the test and if he happens to see the test before I give it out, he is not allowed to give you any information about the test while tutoring. When he is grading papers, he cannot give you any favoritism or be extra hard on you. He cannot allow you to change your answers. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir," Buffy said as she took her seat on the third row. There were a group of girls who sat near her. Some on the same row and some on the row behind her.

"Before we begin, Mr. Boudreaux's mother was diagnosed with bone cancer. He has taken leave of absence to go back to Louisiana to take care of her during her treatments. Please keep the Boudreaux family in your thoughts. Mr. Angel MacKenzie will be taking his place as my T.A…." the professor then went on with the lesson for the day.

"Oh mi God! The new T.A. is such a hottie," Marcie Campas said, as soon as she crossed the classroom door. Maybe History would finally be a class worth coming to.

"I know, and you know what I heard?" Sandra Parky joined in.

"What?" Jamie Bartos asked, eager for the latest gossip on the hottie.

"That he is one hell of a lover. Only thing is he doesn't want a relationship. It's just sex and if you're really lucky, a friendship may develop," Marylou Habbert answered for Sandra.

"Wow." But I bet us freshmen don't stand a chance," Chandra Corbell sighed.

"As long as you're eighteen and willing, he doesn't care," Lakisha Baze said.

Buffy listened to what the girls who had sat next to her were saying. They were walking in front of her and Angel was walking beside her. They just grinned. Buffy had heard all of this from some of the upper classmen in her dorm when she had first met him.

The girls knew that Buffy was behind them, but didn't know that Angel was with her. Without turning around, Donna Alling asked, "What do you think, Buffy?"

"Oh, I think he might have changed," Buffy said as she grinned at her husband.

"Oh you wish, Miss Wait-Until-I'm-Married. That's the only way that you will ever have Angel. If he changes," Cordelia Chase laughed. Buffy and Cordelia had gone to high school together and never really got along then, and her blunt remark stung just a little. Cordelia was also Dru's little sister and knew Angel as a friend. So she thought she knew it all when came to him. "My older sister is one of his best friends. Girls, every willing woman of legal age has a chance with Angel."

"What about you, Cordy?" Dana Alling, Donna's twin, asked.

The question made Angel shiver, Cordy was too much like a sister to him for him to even consider having her in his bed. Before Cordy could answer, Buffy and Angel looked at each other and smiled. He put his arm around her waist and said, "Buffy's right. What Cordy said was true until a few weeks ago. Now, I'm a one woman man." The group of girls stopped walking and turned around to find Angel with his arm around Buffy's waist. Angel looked at Cordy and said, "If you were at the mansion with Dru more often you would know that, Cordy." Angel then led his wife to the car and the girls just stared after them in shock.

Cordy however, looked like she was angry. *How dare the little gold digger get Angel. Angel is mine! He will be mine! Just wait and see. You won't last long, Little Miss Goody Two Shoes. Angel's not going to go without for too long and I'll be there when he needs it. Then he will want me and only me.* Cordelia thought to herself as she got into her car and started the engine. She only needed a plan, and it came to her easily. *I just have to make my presence known more at the mansion.* With that thought in mind, she made an illegal U-turn and drove to the fraternity house.

"I think we should tell the fraternity that we're engaged. I don't want any slip up to your mom about us being married already so…"

"Okay. Whenever you're ready," Buffy smiled at Angel who was driving.

"Well, I was thinking as soon as everyone got back from their classes. I mean, I told Professor Griffon that we were engaged. And I want the fraternity to find out from us and not through the rumor mill."

"All right. So what time will everybody be home?"

"Everybody should be there by three-thirty."

"So we have time to be alone?"

Angel glanced at his wife and said, "Yes, Mo Grà, we have time to be alone."

Buffy and Angel used the Fraternity Wing entrance because it was closer to the garage where Angel parked his car. As they walked in, they heard Lorne say, "And here is our President with his lady love." While Lorne didn't really know what had happened in Las Vegas this weekend, he did know that Angel had not had any other women over except Buffy since he met her. It didn't take a psychic to know that they were exclusive; but Lorne usually did have a sixth since about these things. Besides, he'd been at the ball in Las Vegas and had seen how they acted together. Most of the fraternity had been there with dates. But only a select few had stayed in the penthouse with Angel and his family and were privy to what'd happened between the couple. The rest had rented other rooms in the Black Knights hotel and come back to Sunnydale to find that they had a new, very blonde, very in-love housemate.

Said housemate was now staring at their most recent addition.

"Riley, what are you doing here?" Buffy asked, shocked.

Riley was equally surprised to see her here. "I was Alpha Kappa Lambda at N.Y.U. and I thought…"

Angel didn't require more explanation. They'd had some transferred fraternity members before. "Okay." His wife and her ex boyfriend looked at him. Angel almost chuckled at the absurdity of the situation. What were the chances, really? "Then let's get you set up in a room. Follow me," Angel said. "Have you gotten the tour?"

"Yes, Angelcakes, I gave him the tour."

"Thanks, Lorne. Tell everyone mandatory meeting at three-thirty." Angel then turned to Riley, "I'm sorry I didn't catch your last name."

"Finn."

Angel nodded and showed Riley Carl's old room. "If you need help moving in, just let us know. We'll all help."

"Thanks," Riley said as he looked around his new room. "I don't have much, but what I do have will be at my parents' by the end of the week. I'd appreciate it if a couple of guys could help out."

"We'll ask for some volunteers at the meeting," Angel told him, then left so he could join Buffy downstairs.

All of the Alpha Kappa Lambda brothers were in the TV Room waiting for Angel to get there. Darla, Dru, and Cordy were there as well. Cordy was sitting by Lance Linscott, who was a sophomore and her current boyfriend.

Angel walked in with Buffy and Riley, "Everyone, this is Riley Finn. He just transferred from N.Y.U. He has Carl's old room."

"Welcome to Sunnydale U. Party!" Lorne yelled. Some others echoed the request.

Angel laughed and nodded his head, "Alright, Friday night. Nine o'clock: guests start to arrive. Seven o'clock: get your assignments and Pre-Party starts." The guys looked satisfied that the reason for their meeting was covered, and they'd gotten a good reason for an extra party as a bonus. Angel noticed, so he took Buffy's hand and started his own announcement, "There's something else. Buffy and I are getting married in June. She's already moved in the Family Wing."

"Gold Digger!" Cordy said harshly as she got up and left the room. Cordy's comments earlier that day stung a little bit, but this harsh treatment really hurt Buffy. It wasn't the comment so much but proof that the other girl really hated her and she didn't know why.

"I'll go talk to her," Dru said as she went after her sister.

"I'm sorry about that." Angel looked perplexed. "I didn't expect that reaction out of anybody."

"Hey, don't worry about my girl. I'm sure Cordy's just being her usual spoiled rich girl self. It's part of why I love her, y'know?" Lance said.

Angel looked at Buffy who, was masking her feelings. "I'm fine," she said.

"We're all happy for you, man," Gunn commented.

"Yeah! Congrats Party mixed with Welcome to Sunnydale U. Party!" Lorne seemed really enthusiastic about the idea.

"No!" Angel and Buffy said in unison.

Lorne and everyone else looked at them, puzzled.

"We'll tell the press when we're ready, but right now, it's just those who are close to us that know," Angel explained.

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and Lance said, "I'll let Cordy know."

"Dru will let Queen C know," Spike said.

Doyle laughed and said, "So Dru and Spike knew already, huh?"

"Dru, Spike , Darla, and Lindsey were there this weekend when Angel asked me and when we told his parents," Buffy said with a smile.

"Well, alright! Still, Party for Riley, right?"

"Yes, Forest, still Friday night party for Riley and since he's the guest of honor, he gets to enjoy the party with no assignment," Angel said, then he explained to Riley, "We take turns maintaining the party, set up and clean up."

"Oh," Riley said absently.

"Riley has said that his stuff will be at his parents' house this weekend and he might need a couple of men to help him out. So if you don't have any plans this weekend, get with Riley and see how you can help him," Angel said in conclusion.

Riley caught Buffy alone while she was studying in the Study Hall the next day. He sat down next to her at the table, "So you're engaged."

"Yeah," Buffy smiled.

Buffy, I know that you can't have been dating him very long, so please just know that I'm asking as a concerned friend. You don't feel like you have to marry him for some reason do you?"

Buffy looked Riley in the eye and said, "Riley, I love Angel. That's the reason I'm marrying him. It's not because I have to or for his money. For all I care he could keep all of his money away from me and I'd still marry him. He's the one for me, Ri."

Riley saw the truth in her eyes, but felt he had to say something, "I haven't been here long, but I've heard some things about him…"

"I know. He doesn't commit himself to one woman." Buffy repeated what half the campus had said behind her back that morning at school. "Riley, he's changed. He promised me he would be faithful and I trust him."

Riley nodded. However foolish it sounded, he would just have to keep an eye out and hope that she was right. "He makes you happy?"

Buffy had a light in her that came from the inside as she smiled and Riley had never seen her so happy before, "Yeah he does."

Buffy had a light in her that came from the inside as she smiled. Riley had never seen her so happy before, "Yeah, he does."

"Alright then. If he hurts you, he'll have to answer to me." Riley tried to sound tough and he laughed with Buffy. *I just want her to happy. If Angel is the one for her, then there is someone else out there for me.*