Chapter Twenty- Six
"I think moving here was a bad idea." Angel grumbled under his breath as Buffy dragged him in and out of the various shops along the row. She hadn't even finished unpacking her things and yet there she was, browsing, and purchasing more clothing from the designer shops that lined the charming street. "This was the only reason that you wanted to move here isn't it? The shopping?" This time he spoke loud enough for her to hear. Although he was relishing the time that he was spending with her, especially because for the first time, they were alone, he wanted to talk to her, to sort things out, not spend the time wandering from shop to shop, watching her blow large amounts of money on trivial, unnecessary things like, silk Gucci tops.
"You said you wanted to go for a walk, is it my fault that there are all these delicious shops to go in?" She responded, pulling him into the Salvatore Ferragamo shop. "Besides, living here means an automatic fifteen percent off anything! Why wouldn't I take them up on that? Besides, who knows how long we are going to be here. Come on, let me buy you a new shirt!"
"But I don't need a new shirt." He said. "You're just about as bad as Cordelia was…" That, he said under his breath, not intending her to hear it. Of course, it never works as one hopes and she turned around, her gaze meeting his own, her mind wondering if that was an insult or not. She supposed that it didn't help that she knew he once had feelings for her, feelings that edged on the romantic side, was he comparing her to Cordelia? Was he saying that she was worse than Cordelia?
"What exactly does that mean?" She barked, maybe a little too loud as a few people in the store turned to look at her. "Are you saying that I'm superficial?"
"No. I'm just saying…" His voice trailed, he realized this was a pointless argument. The past few days had been so wonderful and the last thing that he wanted was to screw it up. "I don't mean anything. You're wonderful, and if you want to buy me a shirt then you can buy me a shirt." Giving in was his only option, and he reached for her hand and took a few of the bags that occupied it, allowing her free range of the store. Although it was her fiery personality that he loved, he knew that with everything that was happening that she was more emotional than usual, and keeping that personality under water, was exactly what he needed to do. At least, for the time being.
She smiled, triumphantly and proceeded to move towards the men's clothing. He followed her, like the dutiful boyfriend? The lines were a little blurred, even now, and he didn't really know what to call her, the mother of his son, yes, his girlfriend? Well that he wasn't quite sure about. His mind wandered as he stood there, gazing at the clothes, and yes, he had to admit they were beautiful clothing but he felt that it was almost a waste of money. He didn't really want it, all he wanted her to give him was herself, and that, required no clothing at all.
She pulled a deep maroon, long sleeve, button down shirt off the rack and held it close to his body, examining the color and shape against his muscular frame. It was then that she noticed the look in his eyes, not exactly far away, but defiantly thinking about something. She held her hand down and walked closer to him, placing her hand on his chest. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Nothing." He smirked. It wasn't like he was going to tell her that he was imagining everything that he wanted to do to her body, where he wanted to do it, and when he wanted to do it. Well, the when wasn't exactly what he was thinking about because if it was up to him, he would have done it right then and there, had it been appropriate.
"That's not a nothing face Angel. I know you better than that." She said, but the only response that she received was a shrug of his shoulders, and she knew to back off. Whatever it was, he just wasn't ready to talk about it. "Okay then. How about this one?" She smiled, holding it up so he could get a look at it.
He had to admit, it was a nice shirt, and as he let his free hand graze the fabric, he knew that it didn't matter really anymore if he liked it or not. What mattered was that she liked it, and if she liked it, he liked it because all he really wanted to do was make her happy now. And when she was happy, he was happy. His hand picked up the price tag the danged from the inside of the shirt and his eyes nearly bulged when he saw how expensive it was, really, three hundred dollars for a button up shirt that he could have gotten elsewhere for less than half of that.
"You're not suppose to look at the price." She stated, as though reading his mind, although really, all she had to do was watch the panic appear on his face, and she couldn't help but chuckle, really, men knew nothing about fashion. Granted, she always thought he looked good, and she only picked the shirt out because it looked so much like the others in his wardrobe. Though, she couldn't imagine that he had ever spent that much on them. "I'm sure some of those leather pants you have probably cost that much, maybe more."
"Yea, but that wasn't me that wore them… Most of the time. And that was leather. This is what?" He started to say before finding the tag on the collar. "Silk. I've never spent that much on a silk shirt."
"Will you at least humor me and try it on?" She pouted. Oh how he hated that pout, how could he not say yes? He grumbled under his breath and took the shirt from her, making his way to the back where the large white doors were. He wondered for a moment if she would join him but as he turned around, he noticed that she had moved on and was looking at the other side of the store, where the women's clothes were. He found himself rolling his eyes, there was no way he was going to allow her to buy anything else, though he had only been keeping a rough tally of everything, he assumed she had spent well over a few thousand dollars, and that was with the discount.
'Some people just express their depression in different ways,' he heard himself say. That had to be it. Of all the time that he had spent with her, he had never known her to go this all out in the shopping end of things. Sure, as a teenager, she had an appreciation of shopping but watching her now, it was slightly reminiscent of a teenage Cordelia. He shuddered at the thought. He had been so glad that as the time had passed Cordelia had managed to move past that superficial teenager that she had become, and the last thing he wanted was to see Buffy revert to that mentality. As much as he loved her, it would probably have driven him crazy.
He unbuttoned the buttons of his black shirt and slipped it off his arms, pausing only for a minute to examine his changing body in the mirror. Even though he had been human now for five years, he still couldn't believe that he had gone for so many years never being able to actually see his reflection. Now, each and every time that he did see himself in a mirror, it still somewhat surprised him, then again, two-hundred and fifty years of never seeing it would probably do that to anyone. He could see his body begin to age, now, an actual body age of thirty-one, he could see more definition in his muscles, he could see the start of the lines in his face, and unlike most men, those lines were something that he cherished.
"Are you done in there yet?" He heard her sweet voice call out from the outside and he opened the door, showing her that he, in fact, was not yet done. He had a deep desire to pull her into the room with her, to push her against the cool, white walls and attack her body. But he only closed the door, putting more space between the two of them before he did do something that he would only regret later, and quickly took the shirt she had picked off the hanger and slipped it on. Though he hated to admit it, the feel of the fabric felt luxurious against his skin, and he could see why people might spend that much on an article of clothing, he just wasn't that kind of guy.
He opened the door again to find her still standing there. He was thankful that she hadn't found anything more to purchase, maybe she was finally done, the shopping high gone. Self-consciously, he ran his hands down his torso, he was terrified that he might ruin the shirt, but that feeling was swept out the window as he saw the look on her face. She broke out into a wide smile and moved closer to him, her hands replacing his. And in that moment, he forgot about the price, and determined that if it made her that happy, he would without a doubt, wear it whenever he was around her.
Later That Afternoon
"God did you bloody buy the entire street?" Spike questioned, watching as Angel carried the bags into the room, casting a glare towards the blonde who stood there, his mouth open with surprise. "I've heard of people shopping to ignore their problems but this takes on a whole new meaning."
"Spike, watch it." Angel cautioned him, not wanting a scene to erupt, as it was likely to.
"I'm just saying, did you leave anything for anyone else?" He continued, loving the glares that Angel kept throwing his way. He just loved to push his buttons and he knew that anything he said regarding Buffy would do that.
"Leave what for anyone else?" She said her voice cheery as it so often was after a shopping spree. It wasn't a complete happiness but, it was better than nothing and she could settle with that for now. Thankfully, the buyer's remorse had yet to settle in.
"Nothing pet." Spike responded, ignoring the daggers that Angel was shooting at him. "Liam wanted to wander around. Cheeky kid has been bugging me to take him to the pool and I've been trying to hold him off until Xander got back, seems more like the kind of think that he would do. Sun doesn't really settle well with my skin."
Angel smirked, "Might have something to do with the pastiness of your skin buddy." Now, it was Spikes turn to glare, and he did, not really having anything to say as a proper comeback.
"Xander won't be here until tonight. Willow called an hour ago and said they won't be in until Seven. I can take him though, I've missed him, and I could always enjoy some basking in the sun. Where is he anyways?" She asked looking around, the panic rising in her chest as she realized that he wasn't in the room with them, he usually always ran into the room when she came home. Angel could sense her discomfort and looked to Spike, trying to hurry him along with the answer.
"In his room, changing into his trucks. Small fry thought that if he changed he could rope me into taking him. Probably would have worked too, little bugger, can't seem to say no to him." Spike said, walking towards one of the balconies, pulling his packet of cigarettes from his coat pocket before stepping out and lighting up, he knew Buffy would have killed him if he smoked in the apartment.
Angel kept his eyes peeled on Buffy, watching the relief as she allowed it to flood her panic. He watched the fake smile she plastered on her face, the one she gave when she didn't want people to know that deep down, she was still worried about the outcome. He had seen it before, mostly when she came to confide in him during those first three years they had together. It pained him to see it, knowing deep down what it meant, knowing that he could do nothing about it but be there for her, support her.
"Angel, can you tell him when he comes out that I'll take him? I'm just going to go change and find his water wings." She spoke finally, turning to walk towards the master bedroom. He didn't respond, only just stood there, nodding at her retreating back, in his mind he was trying to think of what he could do, how he could sooth her. He had hoped that his presence would have done something but he knew that she was feeling exactly what he was feeling deep down, a sense of dread.
"I take it you two didn't have the heart to heart you were hoping for?" Spike asked, leaving out his customary jab, realizing that it was probably best to leave it out this time. Last thing he wanted was for the poof to blow a gasket, he could tell that he had things on his mind.
"No." Angel responded, walking closer to the door that Spike still stood by, inhaling the cigarette, letting the nicotine pump through his veins. "You know, you're not immortal anymore, might want to think about kicking the habit, it's likely to kill you, not to mention, you smell like shit."
"Whatever, not like I have much else to look forward to these days anyways." Spike shrugged, pushing the almost finished butt into the dish, successfully putting it out. "What's with you anyways, don't you have everything you wanted?"
Angel fell into one of the patio chairs, his eyes looking out over the balcony which overlooked one of the swimming pools. "I wouldn't say that I have everything that I want, exactly."
"Oh, I guess sharing a bed with her, being the boy's father, isn't enough for you?"
"I'm just confused. Why did the powers tell me that I was the only one survived if you did too? Why would they lie like that?" Spike just looked at him, not saying anything back. "Okay, yea, the Powers like to play with our lives, but that's just cruel. Do you know how much time I missed because I blamed myself?"
"Oh don't go getting all mushy on me you miserable bastard." Spike responded, falling into the other chair, both not aware of the boy who had just emerged from his room and was standing in the family room, listening to what they were telling each other. "You can't change what's happened. As for the Powers, it's nothing new that they like to fuck with our lives. Move on Angel, get over it, the sooner you do, the sooner you can be the father that you're meant to be." Spike was surprised with the words that seemed to come from his mouth, was that almost a compliment? Had he really almost complimented the idiot that sat before him? Even Angel was taken back, but he just shrugged, not really sure how to respond to that, luckily Liam came out to the patio, saving him from thanking Spike for this kind words.
"Angel, are you coming with mommy and me to the pool?" Angel could see that he was excited, his large hazel eyes shining with a brilliance that he rarely saw in the world. It was something that only the innocence of a child could possess, once you learn of the horrors in the real world, it's hard to have that kind of passion for anything. "Peas?!"
He found himself smiling, and he began to think about the things that Spike had just told him. Maybe it was best to just leave the past as it was. There would be no moving forward if he didn't and he couldn't change it, he only had to accept it. At least someone had survived, that, in and of itself, should be enough to get him through it, his fight was not in vain.
"Peas!!" He heard Liam's voice break through the silence and Angel felt Liam tugging at his hand. He had to admit, for a four and a half year old, he was pretty strong.
"Okay, okay, I submit." Angel said smiling, standing up and picking his son up, carrying him into the family room where Buffy was standing, wearing one of Angel's shirts as a cover up, though it was unbuttoned just enough and he was able to see the black bikini that she had on underneath, was she trying to kill him? It took him a moment but he placed the bathing suit, it had been the same one she had worn when they had gone to the beach that day so many years ago, about five years, two months now. She had been breath taking then, and she was just as breath taking now.
"Ready?" She asked, as she watched Angel put Liam back on the floor. She noticed the look on his face and she couldn't help but feel warm inside, the way she use to feel around him. Even though she was twenty-nine now, she still felt like the sixteen year old girl that she had been when they had first met.
"Angel's coming too!" Liam said excitedly.
"Oh is he?" She smiled, raising her eyebrows. "Do you want us to wait or should we head down now?"
"I'll just be a minute." He responded before turning around and heading to the master bedroom to change.
A/N:
Okay... So I know this was a total fluff chapter, I just didn't really feel in the mood to write something serious and I wanted to explore the blossoming relationship that is happening both with Angel and Liam and Angel and Buffy. So, hope you enjoyed the fluff... I'm working on solving the issue of the Power's lying to Angel about Spike's survival (and maybe even the survival of someone else, haven't decided yet), so that should be coming up soon! Anyways, hope that you liked the chapter! And I know this is so completely repetitive but I just want people to know how much I appreciate your adding the story to their favorites/alerts and a HUGE extra thanks to all you who constantly take the time to comment! I love hearing for you! Which means, thank you: SWChica2005, Carol, Taaroko, Magicaltears, Geeky13, angelplusbuffyequals4ever, buddies... You have been so consistent in your reviews and I appriciate each and everyone! I hope that you liked the new chapter! And please, everyone, keep sending your thoughts my way!