When she had first stumbled into the small little town of Sunnydale, Buffy really had no idea how this place would transform her life from that moment forward. Truthfully it had only been a couple of months since she first arrived but it might as well have been a lifetime as far as she was concerned, such a weight had been lifted as these people, as this place, took her in and gave her a chance at a new started.

Leaving had been the easiest decision to make but actually following through with it had not been without obstacles. The controlling nature that had overtaken her life had started out so small and subtle that by the time she realized how bad things were it seemed like there were no other options but to stay, at least until she could come up with some sort of a plan.

It felt like everything was his, everything was designed to keep her trapped. Over time she had been cut off from everyone she knew... what little family she had, especially after her mother passed, old friends, even neighbors. It got to where she couldn't keep a job, then just about to the point she couldn't even leave the house at all.

She found herself with no one, no money to call her own, no resources, no car... nothing.

So when she did leave, she made sure to run as hard as she could from all of it.

It hadn't been easy but she had gotten away, she'd left the state a number of times and just drifted around the best she could manage for awhile there, and then came Sunnydale. What had started off as a full blown panic over the bus mishap, all of her things winding up being stolen, being stranded with nothing all over again was soon replaced with countless strangers surrounding her, taking her in like it was the most natural thing in the world. She'd fought against accepting it but it was no use in the end... for any number of reasons.

By the time night had fallen she'd been calmed down, fed, set up with somewhere to stay for as long as she needed.

And from there everything really just snowballed. People took to her as if they'd known her their whole life here, wanting to save up some money had a number of options laid out in front of her and started this whole Jill Of All Trades thing she had going on, eventually she had even moved out of the hotel room they'd been kind enough to help her with and deciding to stay a little longer, she'd found herself moving into a small two bedroom house and letting life just take her as it saw fit.

Never in a million years would she have imagined enjoying some small town life, growing up in one of the biggest cities in the country then always having lived in well populated areas since, but there was something about these streets that felt like home, felt safe. Once having hated the idea of everyone being in her business, she found herself thankful to just have people around, people who worried about her, who cared about her.

OoOoO

"So, do you like it?" Harmony asked, looking a little nervous as she pushed the broom around, gathering the discarded blonde locks.

Buffy's mouth twisted up in a slow smile as she nodded her head, her eyes taking in the newest appearance of herself. There was still such a freeing sensation every time she did even the smallest things... trying out a new hairstyle, buying a new outfit that she wanted, just up and going somewhere simply because she wanted to and could. Running a hand through and tousling about the strands, she already knew she wasn't going to miss the long locks anytime soon, the new, shorter look already feeling perfect for the coming summer.

As she was finishing up with Harm, she went ahead and set up a time to come in later this week as part of her townly rounds to help manage the desk and do some light cleaning before heading off to continue with her day, starting with sending a text off to Willow asking her if she wanted to tag along for grocery shopping, go out to eat later, or do something since her favorite red head been out of town the past several days with her boyfriend.

OoOoO

After splitting her hours today between three different businesses around town, Buffy felt well beyond beat by the time all was said and done, especially given the last client at the groomers had been the largest dog she had ever laid eyes on and was three times as stubborn as he was big. It was easy to laugh about after the fact but trying to assist getting him to where he needed to be and to remain calm had been one hell of a work out and in the end she was also halfway soaked and looking like quite a mess her own self.

Saving her trip to the Sunnydale Market for another day, Buffy headed home to get herself cleaned back up and changed before making her back into town to meet up with Willow.

The little bell attached to the door let out its little alert to the new customer and Buffy ignored the fluttering feeling inside of her stomach as she caught the attention of the tall man behind the counter, how his eyes had glanced at her, then down, before doing a double take, slowly taking her and the new look in as she forced herself deeper inside the small diner.

"Buffy," he greeted softly as she reached the other side of the little bar.

"Angel," she managed back, thankful her voice wasn't betraying her with some wobble or something. "Willow should be joining me here in a few," she continued, earning a nod.

"Well, sit wherever you so please," he told her. "You want a milkshake?" Agreeing to the cold treat, she looked around for a moment before deciding on what booth to hole up in, the fact she was the only customer at the moment not lost on her but as per usual that didn't last long, people filtering in as the minutes ticked by, including Willow.

Willow's eyes lit up and she walked over, "Oh my gosh, look how cute!" she gushed, reaching a hand out to bounce at the bottom of Buffy's new length. As Angel came over to place a glass of ice water and her newly made milkshake down, then ask Willow what she wanted to drink, Willow got one of those playful looks taking over her face. "Now, wouldn't you agree, Angel? Doesn't Buffy just look so adorable with her shorter hair?"

He seemed to pause for just a moment, then wrote something down on his little pad of paper. "I have yet to see a day where Miss Summers here hasn't looked adorable, Will," he finished answering just as his body turned to walk back again.

"You're terrible," Buffy muttered, rolling her eyes and fighting hard not to start blushing.

"Oh, please. Like every single person in this town hasn't at some point or another witnessed those lusty puppy dog eyes being shot your way," reaching for a menu, she started scanning options, and just slightly changing the subject... though Buffy knew that'd only last for so long.

OoOoO

She wasn't entirely sure how it all happened, but ever since the first time she'd been here Angel had always ordered for her. He tended to phrase it similar to how he'd asked her about the milkshake and she would give slight instructions like what type of cheese she might be in the mood for or letting him know she had zero interest in certain condiments but for the most part she'd just come in and let him do his thing. In all this time she'd never made an actual order herself, and had also never paid for a single drink, meal or anything else inside these walls.

Hell, even when he wasn't here she had learned that Angel left a little note in the back for those days with instructions when it came to her in the event she might swing by at some point or another during the day, ideas for each meal... just in case.

The first night she kind of understood, she'd just had all of her money stolen and was just having a shit time and figured he was being nice or someone else had offered to pay or whatever the case was... then that carried over to the next day or so, sure... but then it just became part of her life around here.

She had tried to explain to him she did have money now and he didn't need to go out of his way and a million other things but he and that dog from today had a lot in common when it came to being stubborn and finally she just gave up and let it be, after all there were worse problems to have in the world she supposed.

OoOoO

"God, I couldn't eat another bite," Willow laughed, pushing her plate away from her... just as Angel came from behind and put them each a skillet cookie topped with three scoops of ice cream on the table before them. "God, you're evil," she muttered and got a wink from the handsome owner. "You haven't left me a check yet by the way," she called out.

"On the house," he shot back. "Welcome back."

"Uh huh. You sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Well geez, maybe I should skip town more often. And speaking of skipping town, are we still on for this weekend?"

Buffy nodded, taking a bite out of her dessert. "A thirty five minute drive is hardly skipping town though."

"Maybe not... but we haven't done anything like that and it'd be nice to be able to find you what you need to make you feel a little more at home."

OoOoO

Once she and Willow had thanked Angel half a dozen times, parted ways, and she returned back to the house it was already time for her to start getting ready to call it a night already. Grabbing a quick glass of water she mentally reminded herself to absolutely go shopping tomorrow and debated swinging by the diner for breakfast in the morning or not given the limited options she had here.

The house thankfully had come with many of the major appliances which had been a huge help and when her stove had been worked on one too many times since even her arrival the hardware shop had a lucky find to replace it without costing her an arm and leg. A few extras had come with the house, a little shelf in the corner, the coffee table, some window coverings and things like that but for the most part it was rather bare otherwise. She'd been donated other items here and there along with some items she had been given as house warming types, including the couch that had been doubling as her bed since she got it, but the place still had a long way to go.

Obviously starting with nothing and then working in the manner she did wasn't exactly racking up all the money in the world but she was happy she was able to pay the bills, get supplies she really needed for the house, plus new clothes and shoes and things of that nature, and little by little she was able to save up as well. It wasn't a lot but after awhile it sure felt good to have building up finally.

And right about now the idea of going to a discount mattress shop and getting a set and some cheap bed frame to bring back sounded as good as ticket to Disneyland.

With a sigh, she finished switching into a camisole and shorts set before padding back to the living room and finding a comfortable spot to lay down on the sofa. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of anything other than the way Angel looked at her and how it made her heart want to skip a beat a two each and every time as she drifted off.

OoOoO

Buffy could practically hear Willow in her head as she stepped inside the diner. 'You mean to tell me I should suspect you bought that without the idea of someone tall, dark, and handsome seeing you in it?' practically rang in her ears since she slipped the little sundress on this morning that she had bought right off the hanger instead of putting it out for display her last shift at April Fool.

Taking a seat at the counter next to Mister Giles, Buffy started making small talk with the older gentleman while she waited for Angel to make his way over.

Setting her up already with a cup of coffee and a tall glass of orange juice, he was soon standing before her asking her about pancakes... which had been exactly what she woke up craving.

"What'd you order?" Buffy asked, leaning closer to Giles as his order came and before she knew Angel had gotten her an extra fork and she sat testing out some of the librarian's meal as she waited for her own.

"Where is it you're heading off to today?"

She explained she had a full shift waiting for her at the grocery store, which would help keep her from having an excuse to not help out her sad looking fridge and pantry. "It always feels like more of a hassle than it should."

Angel brought her plate out ad a second later slide keys in front of her as well. "You wanna borrow the truck?"

Buffy's eyes went wide. "Th-that is not what I was getting at," she rushed out.

"I know, but I mean you live on the complete opposite side of town from the one grocery store we have so I'm sure it's not always easy on that front. I'm not going anywhere today so it don't matter to me."

"Angel, really I can't. I can always get things in small batches or ask for a ride or whatever," she started but in the end it was pretty useless, both he and Giles ganging up on the whole idea and by the end of it she was sure she agreed before she even knew what she was saying. "Fine. But fair warning I could always just up and take off with it," she smirked.

"You do and all I'll have to say is good riddance, that thing's your damn problem now."

OoOoO

Giles had arrived earlier than Buffy and stayed several minutes after watching her take off in Angel's beat up black truck once she'd finished her breakfast and been convinced about a dozen more times it was okay for her to use it for a handful of hours. As Angel started cleaning up, he waited for it to come but it wasn't a long one. "When exactly are you finally going to ask that young lady out?"

"Lord, if I have a dime for every time someone up and asked me that..." he trailed off with a half smile on his face.

"Well, to be fair, you can't blame all of us invested in the show too much for wondering such things."

"That girl's got enough goin' on, she obviously went through something terrible at some point which winded up landing her here, so I'm pretty sure she don't need the likes of me bothering her, Rupert."

Giles started muttering something as he stood up, Angel was only half listening now but had a pretty good guess as to what was coming out of the Brit's mouth, similar to everyone else's when he had this conversation with them. Truth be told, every damn time he laid eyes on one Buffy Summers it became harder and harder for him to remember what he kept spouting off, Every time she was around it was like he was biting his tongue from saying something stupid or up and blurting out some big speech about how she was the most beautiful damn creature he'd ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on, or some shit like that.

All he wanted since she stormed into this sleepy little town was to show her how perfect she truly was, to have some off chance to become whatever in the hell she might want him to be in order to make her happy, but it sure in the hell wasn't that simple. In his experience, things never were.

OoOoO

One of the downsides to having a decently stocked kitchen was the then need to actually use it and all of those said items inside of it, you know, rather than having some bonus excuse to go out to eat. Not that Buffy really wanted to admit to that or any of the additional reasons that went along with it but as the week continued to roll on she did feel pretty ridiculous knowing off hand exactly how many times she had seen a certain unmentionable male as of late.

Having distance and space was supposed to be helping her not think about it and instead it seemed a million times more difficult to keep her focus on anything else and that was this side of annoying.

OoOoO

Oz leaned against the wall of the hallway behind him trying to catch his breath for a moment. "Alright. So, I am aware you are two wonderful, strong, independent women and all... and there's me who's as much help as I can be here... but I'm really starting to lean on the side of we aren't going to get this in here on our own."

Buffy huffed out a breath, wiping at her forehead, really wishing that maybe she would have gone with a smaller size mattress and not cared how perfect this one had seemed in the store after all. And not only that they still had a dresser that'd been too good of a deal to pass up on but watchin it get loaded up sure didn't seem like it was going to be a good time trying to get it in here when the time came. "I don't want to add to the list of people I'm bothering," she grouched and a moment later yelped as a shoe hit her hard in the arm.

"Stop doing that," Willow scolded. "You're not bothering anybody."

Oz started saying they could go see if one of the neighbors might be available or they could call Xander and get him over here when he was free but before long she realized a call had certainly been made but it wasn't Xander she found coming to assist at all.

Willow giggled, running up to Oz and kissing him quickly. "As if I needed another reason to believe you are perfect."

Buffy shook her head and blushed. "I'm sorry, I had no idea Oz had asked you to come."

Angel shrugged. "It's alright, I was just on my back into town anyway so it worked out just fine. I got time to kill," he threw an easy smile her way and Buffy sighed, stepping out of the way to let him in more and to show him where they were running in to trouble.

"We were trying at first to get things set up in the other room as I had figured I'd have that turned into my bedroom but it seems to have a much smaller door to work with so we changed course after awhile of failing over there and still..." she trailed off, watching him walk over to the other room and then tell her to hold on, he'd get it figured out.

Sure enough, it wasn't long until everything was exactly where she had wanted it. Angel had to remove and fight with some doors and their frames a few times but he made it work and put everything back together once all was said and done. Curiously in absolutely zero ways, Willow and Oz had excused themselves as Angel was finishing up leaving the two of them alone.

Since he absolutely refused to take any sort of money for helping, Buffy felt at least a tiny bit less guilty when he at least agreed to letting her get him something cold to drink after everything. Handing him the tall glass, she thanked him for the millionth time as he informed her all he had left to do was take his tools back to the truck and she would be set.

"It's not a lot," she grimaced as his eyes drifted around the space.

His eyes turned back to her, his head shaking softly. "Your place is fine, Buffy," he assured her. "Starting over takes time, making some new place your own isn't always as easy as snapping your fingers."

"I know," she sighed. "It just feels bare sometimes, especially when someone is here for the first time I guess it kind of hits me."

Angel finished his drink then went to clean the glass out, ignoring any protests she had about it, then started telling her of a few places nearby she might look into when she got the chance that he'd gotten a lot from when he first moved to town.

That made Buffy stop and scrunch up her nose. "Wait, you're not from here? I mean originally?"

Angel finished drying off the glass and put it up for her before turning back around with a strange look in his face. He stared at her for a few moments too long before shaking his head. "No, though sometimes I guess it feels that way a little. I guess it's been about six or seven years now."

"Hmm. And how did you end up here then?"

"Random chance," he finally answered. "Well, let me get out of your hair here," he said, walking his way back around her and went to go get his things.

Walking him out, Buffy leaned into the passenger side window and raised an eyebrow. "That is an insane amount of strawberries you have going on in here."

Angel chuckled. "Yeah, pretty sure I cleaned out any and all remaining berries over at one of the pick your own farms. I'm not going to keep them all to myself of course but I'm sure they'll be plenty to last me a good long while all the same, going to have to try out some new recipes."

"Well, strawberry is my favorite of all the things so I guess I'll have to swing by soon."

"I will be looking forward to it," Angel smiled.