Buffy groaned as her eyes flirted with opening, groaning again as another set of loud knocking filled the apartment. She had been hoping that was just part of her dream and she could just fall back into dreamland. It came again so she pulled herself up, glancing at her alarm. Buffy yawned and rubbed her still-sleepy eyes as she made her way through her apartment, dodging boxes and totes as she went that she needed to get around to putting away at some point.

"It's about time, I have been out here for like fifteen minutes," Cordelia said as a way of greeting.

"Cordelia? What are you doing here? We're supposed to be meeting for lunch?"

"Well, we were but I could hardly sleep all last night thanks to you and Angel so I cleared my schedule and came over."

Buffy yawned again. "Oh, that sounds fun," Buffy told her friend and they exchanged goofy faces with one another before she stepped out of the way to let Cordelia in. "Excuse the mess," she said, closing the door.

Cordelia waved that off, heading toward the kitchen and making herself at home. "Moving is a pain in the ass," Cordelia said. "When Jess and I bought the house I thought it would never get squared away. It drove me crazy but it took so much time and so much motivation that most of the time I just didn't even have."

"I can relate so well to that," Buffy told her, pointing to where she had some coffee mugs as the brunette started making a pot. "Excuse me for just a few, I'm going to go try to wake up a bit," Buffy told her friend. She headed to the bathroom to attempt at making herself look a bit more presentable, brushing her hair and teeth, then went to the bedroom to put on some actual clothes. She grabbed her cell phone off of the charger and started checking messages as she went to re-join her guest.

Buffy rolled her eyes, handing her phone to Cordy after a few minutes. "You might enjoy those." Cordelia's face brightened as she started scrolling through the photos that Willow had obviously sent through the night. There were about a dozen old photos of Buffy and Angel together there. "See, it was forever ago."

Cordelia skipped back to one of the pictures and stared at it for a long time. "You two are adorable together."

Buffy took a seat at the table across from Cordelia, bringing some muffins she had gotten yesterday morning to the table. "We were," she agreed. "We were very happy when we were together, it was all very cute."

Cordelia put one of the blueberry muffins over to her plate then smiled as big as she could. "Okay, now spill. I want to know everything. From the beginning."

Buffy sighed but chuckled. She had hoped for some morning prep time to get into this subject but that was not going to happen today. Buffy took a sip of her hot beverage and began her journey down memory lane. Buffy told Cordelia of how she and Angel had met, that she was in middle school when he and his mom had moved to Sunnydale, he was a few years older which neither of parents liked. Both her mom and dad and Angel's mom had fought against them becoming more than friends and had gone out of their way to keep them apart in the beginning but eventually came around. Buffy shared several of her favorite memories of those days.

Buffy smiled as she spoke of the night Angel had proposed. She laughed as she re-told how her mother almost fainted once they broke the news. Buffy went on to their wedding, how they had started renting a small duplex in town...

Buffy sighed as the shift in their relationship came up. Buffy told Cordelia about how her parents decided to divorce and not long after that her mother had started to get sick. Angel was offered an incredible opportunity for an internship he'd been waiting a year to get a response from during all this. She admitted a big part of her had wanted to ask him to stay, but at the end of the day that just wasn't what she felt was right. She didn't want to keep him from following his dreams. So, they had tried to make it work. He left the state, he stayed in hotels at a discount at first before he made friends at the office and began bunking with them. It had hit them hard in the early days, Buffy had gotten a part time job on top of school and trying to just take care of her mom and Dawn and she eventually decided it was best to give up their place and move back home to try and save money and sanity. Angel hadn't minded, it made sense with the shift in their situation even if it wasn't ideal.

Angel was gone for weeks and sometimes even months at a time and it took a huge toll. Buffy started to doubt if this was fair to either of them, especially to him. She felt Angel deserved more, he was young and out in the real world for the first time, she felt like a weight dragging him back to Sunnydale time after time. His mother had moved closer to her sister so there wasn't much else there. She felt he should have a real relationship, get to explore the world. She knew he was often just tired and drained, especially the more he was out there. They went from making sure they called at least every night to that falling away. She was drained her own self dealing with school and the house and everything else. When her mother had passed away she was suddenly in charge of Dawn and all on her own. Hank had basically dropped off the face of the Earth as soon as those divorce papers were signed so he was no help. It was all too much for her.

She and Angel were shells of themselves it felt like the night they decided to end their marriage. She'd wanted to wait until they were refreshed but it just seemed to spill out of her face as soon as he walked in the door. She had stayed up hoping upon seeing him all of those terrible feelings and thoughts would just fade away but she just felt herself starting to cry hysterically as soon as she saw him.

Angel had remained silent as word vomit spilled out of her. He held her close, just letting her get it all out. He had tried to promise her it would be okay, he offered to quit. His internship had led to a position which had led to the longer times away and she knew he loved it but he offered to give it up and come home and make it work between them. He offered to figure out a way to move all of them up there as another option. He tried to think up of a million things off the top of his head but the reality was none of them seemed like a good idea, others just not possible. There were so many factors standing in the way of her and Dawn moving, she didn't want him giving up his career, she was feeling so down on her own self anymore and didn't see how could ever be enough for him.

Buffy made it clear to Cordelia that in no way were those feelings due to Angel given they too were friends. She didn't want her to paint him in any negative light. Buffy told Cordelia that her feelings were really just made up in her own head because of her own insecurities and not due to anything Angel had said or done.

Buffy explained how Angel had taken a short leave from his job to try and fix things, to figure them out, but in the end they both decided it might be best to separate at the very least. That was their first step, and after a few months passed, they agreed to file for divorce. It was simple enough, Buffy filed, they settled everything between them quick enough around his schedule and that was that. The judge granted the divorce, they went out to eat together after they left the courthouse, and left each other with smiles despite the tears in their eyes. "And that it been the last time I had seen him... until last night," Buffy said.

Cordelia looked a little misty-eyed when Buffy looked over at her. She cleared her throat. "So, what I am gathering from this tragic story here... is that I was right."

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Right about what exactly?" she dared to ask.

"You and Angel. The more I got to know him the more that I kept thinking of you and how much I wanted to get the two of you together."

"Cordelia, we were together. It did not work out for us."

Cordelia shook a finger in the air. "Oh, no. You two sounded like you were just fine when you were together, you ran into issues when you were apart."

"We were still married, Cordelia. And if we were meant to have then I think we would have made it work somehow."

"Or... maybe you took the easy way out? Or... maybe you needed the break, maybe you needed to go your opposite ways for awhile and somehow find some way back to one another? How romantic would that be? Come on!"

Buffy couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. "It is a fun thought to entertain, Cordelia. But..."

"But what? I mean, really? You all didn't fall out of love, you just had bad timing. You were living in different states and now here you are back in the same town. You cannot deny that there isn't still something there, you two were magnetic to watch last night at dinner."

"There is no easy way to get you to just let this go is there?" Buffy groaned.

"No, not really," Cordelia said, her eyes twinkling.

Buffy groaned again. Later, she had to fill Cordelia in on how the end of her night had gone and she'd been dreading that the entire time. Cordelia's eyes almost popped out of her head as Buffy confessed that Angel had kissed her last night and mentioned a hint of wanting to see her again. "He was just being polite," Buffy rushed out afterward. "It was a breathe of fresh air to see each other, it was, but I really don't think he wants to be hanging out with his ex-wife."

Cordy wasn't paying any more attention to words coming out of her mouth though.

OoOoO

The weekend came and went before Angel saw Jesse again. He'd been busy all morning but after lunch he spotted him heading his way from the hallway. Jesse stopped in the door frame, looking uncomfortable. "Heyyy," he greeted.

Angel raised an eyebrow. "Hey yourself. What's going on?"

He looked down at his feet for a moment. "Cordelia is, well, she's trying to make me part of her scheming process. I'd like to apologize for that first hand."

Angel chuckled, sitting back in his chair. "Oh, no," he replied. "Wasn't I just part of the last master plan of hers?"

"Yeah," Jesse nodded. "She hasn't quite let that go..." he trailed off.

"About what? Me and Buffy?"

Jesse nodded. "Yeah..."

Angel didn't know what to think about that. "She does understand the part about us having been together before, right?"

He nodded again. "Yeah, she apparently had a talk with Buffy about everything that happened. It seems that conversation didn't exactly push her off this whole idea of putting you two together. She's still pretty convinced she's going to make you a couple even with... you know... your history. I felt I should give you fair warning. You know how she can get."

Angel shook his head. "Don't you all have some other poor friends to be involving yourselves in the lives of?" he joked. "I don't know how I got this spotlight on me in the first place." Which was true... He had gotten to know Jesse through work and one night decided to go out drinking together. From there they'd hung out outside of work a few times which led to meeting Cordelia and somehow Cordelia had started telling him she was going to set him up one day with her best friend. Angel honestly thought she was joking at first but no, she was determined. He put it off so many times, not that she really brought it up that often, more just at random she'd mention it to him. Last night was his other plans had fallen through last minute so he'd just agreed on a whim to go.

Since last night, Angel had wondered why in the world got the idea of him being paired up with Buffy. He wasn't about to ask her that of course, that wasn't a conversation he wanted to have. He doubted he would have ever heard the end of that if he even attempted. But it was there... he thought back last night to every conversation Cordelia had started with him about this friend of hers and why and how she'd thought they'd be good together- at least as much as she'd let on at that time. It was all bizarre to him.

Worse, Angel was almost excited about the prospect of seeing her again. "I appreciate the heads up," he told Jesse.

"Sorry," Jesse said with a laugh.

"It's fine," Angel assured him. "There are worst people she could think I should be out there dating."

A moment later, another of their co-workers came to ask Jesse if he could come help them for a few minutes. "Sure, be there as soon as I get a fresh cup," he told Warren. "For what it's worth, it was nice at least having dinner with the two of you. Even if you two don't... whatever... in the end... maybe we could all at least do something like that in the future."

Angel gave a nod. "That could be nice, Jess. Thanks."

"I'll see you later, better see what those three broke now."

OoOoO

"Cordelia," Angel greeted the beautiful brunette standing in the doorway of his office.

"Angel," she said with a smile back to him. "I was just heading to bring Jesse some lunch and I wanted to pop my head in and make sure you were still coming tonight for his little birthday celebration?"

"I will be there," he confirmed. "Picked up his gift on my way in this morning."

Cordelia paused for a moment. "You do know she will be there." She didn't pose that as a question.

"I might have heard that rumor," he replied. It had been a few weeks since his unexpected blind date with Buffy had happened. He would have figured she'd been there even if Jesse hadn't already mentioned it to him. Buffy had known these two for several years so she was bound to be at any of their big events or celebrations. He, on the other hand, had only been transferred here about six months ago and gotten to know them in that time. He figured sooner or later their paths would cross again.

Cordelia confirmed what time to be at the bar then said, "We're going to at least try not to stay out too terribly late. We have a wedding tomorrow afternoon to go to."

"Well, I hope you have a nice time."

"Do you know who's wedding it is?"

Angel gave a short shake of his head. "I really can't say that I do."

"Hmm. Two friends of ours, Winifred Burkle and Charles Gunn. I work with Fred... and I happened to have been the one to introduce the two of them."

Angel had to smile at that. "You're good," he told her, dropping his head a little. He folded his arms over the back of his chair. "You know how to pick those moments, don't you, Cord?" he asked. She had mentioned Buffy one other time but had otherwise stayed mum on the whole thing. He knew it would coming though.

She gave him a sly smile. "I'm just sayin'... I have a sense about these things."

"And I am sure you do, Cordelia. I think you just missed the mark on that pairing."

Cordelia shook her head. "I didn't," she replied quickly. "See you tonight!" And with that, she was out of sight.

OoOoO

Buffy cursed after trying on the eighth outfit. She sat down and dialed Willow, hoping to hell her best friend back home would answer a video call.

"Hey, Buffy!" Willow's bright face answered right before Buffy was ready to give up. "Wow, you look great!"

Buffy made a face and sighed. "Will. Talk some sense into me. Please."

"What's going on, my friend?"

"I've tried on eight different outfits... I don't like any of them. And do you know why?"

Willow's lips pursed together. "Because Angel is going to be there?"

"Because Angel is going to be there," she echoed. "Why am I worried about what I look like just because I know he's going to be there? What is wrong with me?"

"Do you really want me to answer that or..."

Buffy made another face. "Help," she begged.

Willow tried to hide her smile. "Okay, let's see what you got," the bubbly redhead offered and Buffy started going through her closet via the video chat. Buffy started to question her sanity about calling Will for backup as she got question after question and Willow's eyes widening as she got excited over the idea of Buffy seeing Angel again.

"I should have called Anya," Buffy grumbled. "She would have yelled sense into me, not encouraged this nonsense," she said. "She'd be saying helpful things like 'Buffy, he's not even going to care, he will probably be bringing a date,' or something to talk sense into this head of mine."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Angel isn't going to be bringing a date, he's going to be entirely focused on you." Willow squealed after a moment. "Oh, I bet he makes up an excuse to bring you home again. I bet he kisses you again."

Buffy groaned. "This is so stupid! I am a grown ass woman for crying out loud."

"Love makes you do the whacky."

Buffy pointed a finger at the screen. "There is no 'love', Willow. Stupidity, maybe. That's what is here." Buffy stepped to the side to try on a different dress, wondering where the hell all of these feelings had even come from. She had been just fine until she'd got off work and stepped into the apartment... then it was as if it finally hit here that she was going to have to see him again and it stirred everything right back up.

OoOoO

Buffy stepped out of the cab, thankful it had stopped sprinkling. She shut the yellow door, stepped up onto the sidewalk and smoothed out her dress before walking the short distance over to the front door of the tavern. She smiled and greeted several familiar faces as she made her way over to the birthday boy and gave him a hug. Cordelia took the gift bag from her hands and disappeared to go put it with the rest of the gifts while they caught up for a few minutes.

Cordelia all but took her over when she returned, bringing her over to the bar to order a drink. Buffy turned to face the room once the small glass was in her hand. "Someone's been looking for you all night," Cordelia whispered in her ear. "His eyes seemed to have been glued to the door ever since he got here."

"Cordelia, do you remember that conversation we just had a couple of hours ago back at the office?" Buffy asked, refusing to let her eyes find Angel until her stomach settled down.

Cordelia thought for a moment. "Nope, but I probably wasn't listening."

Buffy had to laugh. "I believe that! This evening is about Jess, you know, the love of your life... let's not get all side tracked."

Cordelia looked like she was about to say something but surprisingly nothing came out. It took Buffy a moment to follow her line of sight and she felt her heart beat pick up as she saw Angel coming her way. She hurried to finish the alcohol in her glass before he arrived. "Hello again."

"Hi," he replied simply. She watched him as he looked her over and wished she'd taken her jacket off already.

Cordelia looked at each of them and tried not to smile. "I'm gonna go check on my old man... I'll be back in a little bit," she told them. She signaled to the bartender behind them and headed off again.

Angel climbed up on a stool beside her and Buffy took a deep breath. He somehow looked better today and she wanted to hate him for that. Slipping her jacket off, she laid it across another one of the seats beside the bar and leaned back against the one behind her.

"Hi," he repeated, looking over at her. He had that bright smile plastered on his face that she couldn't help but match the longer he stared.

"Hi," she said with a giggle.

"What'cha drinking?" he asked then ordered her another after she answered. Cordelia stopped by just long enough to grab some beer bottles and wink at them. "You know, I don't know why... but the more I get to know that woman the more you'd think I'd be annoyed to hell and back with her... but the opposite happens and I manage to like her more somehow."

Buffy clinked her glass to his. "That would describe my entire friendship with her," she told him.

OoOoO

Not long after Jesse had finished opening his presents Buffy had been dragged away by a group of friends. Angel's eyes had hardly left her the entire time though, watching as she had hit up the dance floor, laughed with them, and now as she played pool with a few of them. He liked watching her interact, she had never exactly been shy but you could tell she'd grown more comfortable in her skin.

He watched as two girls tried to get her to go back out dancing with them but she declined, letting out a deep breath as she walked over to grab a bottle of water. She checked her watch then went over to talk to Cordelia, Jesse and Gunn- who Cordelia had introduced him to earlier. It took him a moment to pick up on the fact she was bidding everyone goodnight and planning on making her exit. The party was slowly dying out, people heading out little by little. Angel wondered if she'd come seek him out.

He didn't have to wait long though for an answer. She made a half-circle around the room and smiled as she started walking towards him. She had her bag and her jacket back with her. "You heading out?" he asked her.

"Yeah, about to. I have a bit of a busy weekend ahead of me."

Angel cleared his throat, sitting up a little straighter after a moment. "Can I make a confession?"

Buffy's face lit up. "Oh, absolutely," she answered, amused.

He did a quick mental battle with himself on whether or not he was going to say what he wanted to. "I was looking forward to seeing you tonight," he finally spoke again.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Yeah," he breathed out.

She bit her bottom lip. "I was fine until I was at home getting ready. It made me nervous and put some weird pressure in my head to wear the perfect thing tonight because I knew you would be here. I about had a meltdown, it was kind of ridiculous," she told him, blushing a little.

There had never been nor would there ever be a time in which he did not enjoy the sight of Buffy in a short dress and high boots, he was certain of that. The fact that she had chose it with him in mind made his blood burn a little warmer. "You look amazing," he told her, which made her smile again. "You need a ride home?" he asked her, cutting through her trying to thank him for the compliment.

Her mouth opened, then closed and she swallowed. "I-I do believe you have had more to drink than I have. We both might be in need of a taxi to take us home."

He scratched his chin. "You may be right on that," he told her. "Want to split a cab?" came spilling from his lips.

Buffy thought that over it seemed while she put her leather jacket on. "I guess we could do that."

OoOoO

"I got it," Angel said, paying the driver. Buffy gave him an unhappy look before climbing out of the right hand side of the yellow car. "I will be right back," he said as he scooted over his own self and climbed out behind her.

"You do not have to walk me to the door," Buffy told him with a laugh.

"And yet I am going to whether you like it or not so you might as well get on board." Nothing else was said as the pair walked to her door but she had taken his hand when he offered it, their fingers lacing together as they walked.

They reached her door and their hands disconnected, Buffy reaching into her purse to grab her keys. She zipped it back up then looked over at him. "Thank you for making sure I got home all safe and sound, Angel."

He reached back out to her, taking her small hand into his. The cool metal of her keys pressed against the flesh of his palm as she held on to them. He didn't know what to say but he knew he didn't want to leave her side just yet.

Buffy swallowed as he stepped closer to her, her eyes looking anywhere but at him. "I think the cab left," she whispered.

Angel had heard the unmistakable noise from the vehicle they had been in just a second after she had. "I did tell him I would be back..."

"Perhaps he didn't believe you," she whispered.

"Maybe not," he said, close to a whisper his own self. He took another step toward Buffy. She had taken a half step back but there wasn't anywhere she could really go, her back meeting the hard wood of her door. Buffy's eyes finally trailed up his torso, throat and his face until their eyes met. She whispered his name and Angel felt done for.

This time, Angel didn't fight the same urge he had as last time when it hit. Angel let go of her hand and let his hands slide around her slim frame, sliding down until he reached the end of the thin material her dress was made of. His hands slipped underneath and grabbed the soft flesh of her bottom, lifting her up and angling her toward him. Buffy's legs wrapped around his waist as her back re-met the door. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers toying with his hair as their lips met.