You know the routine by now. Not mine. Not now, not ever. I just like to borrow
other peoples toys. It's fun, you should try it….
Life lessons, Part three
"Uh, Giles… You said it was important that we try to keep Buffy from remembering
things. Now she needs her memory to save the world? Is this another one of those
'damned if you do and everyone damned if you don't' type situations?"
"Yes, Xander. I'm afraid it is."
"Well we can't just let everyone get sucked into hell, but I don't want Buffy to
have to leave. She'd never do it anyway. There is no way that Buffy would leave
her mom and Dawn and us or anybody else for that matter. And there isn't
anything that you could say that would make her believe otherwise."
"I don't know, Willow. She might put up a fight, or she might understand what
must happen and why. Buffy is a very unpredictable girl. Regardless, we all need
to sit down and discuss how to restore her memory as soon as possible. I don't
want her doing anything else though. Patrolling is still out. If the Council has
people watching her, then I want there to be no indication that she has her
memory back. And when the time comes and we need her to stop the prophecy, it
will be to late for the Council to do anything to her. She should be relatively
safe while battling the end of the world."
"G-man? Did you even pay attention to what you just said?"
"Well, maybe that wasn't said the best way but…"
"We get the overall meaning. If the Council thinks that Buffy is still in the
dark, then they won't send anybody after her. That means there would be no other
distraction, which allows her to be more focused on the big fight and she'd have
a better chance of survival. Right?"
"Yes, Willow. Thank you."
"No problem…Just call me laymen"
"All right ~lame~ man"
"Very funny Xander."
"Children, please. We need to discuss the best way to go about this."
"But we are going to allow Buffy's memory to be returned, right?"
"I don't see that we have any other choice. I hate to do this to her. She'll
remember everything, fight against the end of the world, and then leave the
country and never communicate with us ever again. I don't know how I'll- she'll
deal with this."
"Well, she and Cordelia will be back soon, it will be dark in another 10 or 15
minutes. So, we can discuss what needs to be done then."
"What if Buff doesn't get her memory back soon enough. We don't even know when
this thing is going to take place. I would think that she would need to train
some. Isn't there something we can do to, I don't know, further the process
along?"
"I think I might be able to find some kind of spell. Tara and I can get the
ingredients and start the ceremony tonight."
"Let's be prepared to do just that. But I want to discuss this with Buffy
first."
"Okay, well then Tara and I'll head over to the magic box and see what we can
find."
"I'm going to go tell Dead Boy and Spike what's going on. Are Buffy and Cordy
going to come here after the mall?"
"I would assume so, yes."
"All right. I'll bring Angel and Spike over here."
As soon as the sun was down, Angel was on his way to Buffy's house. Cordelia's
car pulled up just as Angel was walking to the front door.
"Hey Angel! What are you doing here? I heard you got pretty hammered last
night."
"What?" Angel said, as over Buffy's shoulder he saw Cordelia making the sign for
'go with it'. "Yeah. Sure." Angel said still confused.
"Bye Cordy! See you at Giles'. Angel, do you want to come up stairs while I put
all this stuff away?"
"Yeah." Angel followed Buffy up to her bedroom.
"Oh! I ~have~ to show you the new dress that I bought!" She took of her shirt
and stripped down her pants before Angel could recover from his shock. "Buffy…"
Before he could say anything else, she went over to where he was sitting on her
bed and straddled his lap. "Angel, I'm confused. Cordy told me that we have been
together since I was sixteen years old, but ever since I came out of the
hospital, you haven't even kissed me. Don't you want to kiss me?"
"Buffy, it's really complicated. And you're making things difficult by sitting
on me like this." Buffy smiled at him, "Don't you mean 'harder'?" Then she
leaned towards him and brushed her lips across his. All of Angel's defenses
crumbled and he began to kiss her with all the pent up desire and longing he had
felt since he came back from hell. Unfortunately, this is how Spike and Xander
found them.
"What the ~hell~ are you two doing?! Angel! Jesus Christ! You especially know
how BAD this is! Come on, Buffy, get dressed and meet us downstairs." With that,
Xander turned and stomped down the hall, the stairs and across the living room
to the kitchen. Spike, however, stayed behind. "Slayer. Very nice. I haven't
ever seen this side of you, and I can assure you that it's a pity. You should
walk around half naked more often."
"Spike! Get out of my room! Right now! Angel, make him leave!"
"Spike. Go."
"Peaches, you're no fun at all." Spike gave Buffy one more long lingering look
before following after Xander.
"That was REALLY embarrassing! Why would Xander say that this was bad? Oh- Have
we never…you know…"
"Buffy, we have a really complex relationship. We tend to get everyone riled up
when we get together…and it's not a good riled up. I'm going to go down stairs
and talk to them. Come on when you get dressed." Angel left her and went to find
Xander and Spike.
"I can't ~believe~ what Angel was doing! What was he thinking!? He knows what
happens when he gets the happies, and he risks it for a half naked Slayer!"
"Calm down, you're giving me a headache. I, for one, am very proud of Peaches.
Finally shows the world he's a man! And come on, if you had a half naked slayer
alone in a bedroom, what would you have done?"
"Point taken. But I don't think Angel was thinking with his head."
"Oh, I think that's exactly what he was thinking with. Angel, so good of you to
join us!"
"Spike. Now is ~really~ not a good time. What's going on?"
"Buffy found a prophecy and Giles wants us all over there ASAP."
"I'm ready." Buffy said as she came into the kitchen. She was still blushing.
"Then let's go."
"Spike can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure luv, what can I help you with?"
"Why did you call me slayer?"
"Oh. That. Slayer is a girl I know. You remind me a lot of her. Sorry about the
name thing. Won't happen again, Buffy."
"That's okay… Is she an old girlfriend?"
"I wish. No she isn't a girlfriend or anything."
"Do you want her to be?"
"I honestly don't know. She loves someone else, but she makes me crazy. Ever
since I've known her, I've hated her. Now all of a sudden, I can't get her out
of my head. And believe me, it's not because y- she is any sweeter. She is still
the same egomaniac she ever was. Thinking the world is going to end if SHE
doesn't stop it. Doesn't think that anyone is good enough for her. Thinks that
people are BENEATH y- her. Now that I think about it, she really is quite
annoying."
"So why do you like her?"
"Because she knows me. She may hate me, but she understands me and she knows me.
She's not afraid of me. She stands up to me, and I like that. Or it could be
that I'm sexually frustrated."
"Well, I think you're a cool guy. She probably thinks so too. But if she's got
someone else then she's got someone else."
"Yeah, I guess your right. But I don't like it and I don't have to."
"You're right. You don't have to like it. But you do have to deal with it, and
that's even harder."
"Guys! Come on, I want to go by McDonalds before we go to Giles."
"Xander, please! You're always hungry. Wait! I know that Xander is always
hungry! Good for me. Good Buffy!"
"If you're finished congratulating yourself, can we go?"
"You're just jealous because I am the smartest woman in the WORLD!!!!"
"Sure Buff. Let's go."
"Giles. Sorry that we're late, Xander here insisted on going to five different
fast food joints on the way here."
"Oh! Come on! McDonalds has the best burgers, Burger King has the best fries,
and Wendy's has the best prices on drinks. I'm a food connoisseur."
"Xander, I don't believe you should use that particular title when referring to
fast food restaurants. It doesn't quite fit."
"Can we just get to the point of why we are all here? I thought everything was
already decided."
"Spike, the plans have changed. And now this includes Buffy."
"Me? What includes me? What has been excluding me?"
"Buffy calm down. I am sorry to admit it, but there is something that we have
been keeping from you. We thought it was best for you, but the situation has
changed and it is important that you no who you are. You are what we refer to as
a S-"
"Hold on just a bloody minute! We agreed that we would keep it from her! You
just can't tell her now!"
"Spike, like I said, the situation has changed. Buffy, you are the Slayer, and
you have certain responsibilities to this community. Well, the world really.
Buffy?"
As soon as Giles called her 'Slayer', Buffy's attention snapped to Spike. "Yeah…
What? I'm sorry, Giles, my mind went somewhere else."
"Yes, but did you hear what I said?"
"Yes. Slayer. Responsibility."
"Buffy, I want to return your memories to you. A simple spell will do the trick.
It's quite safe and you'll remember everything that has happened. Well, shall we
get on with it?"
"No."
"Angel? For the love of God, what is it?"
"One more night. I want one more night with her before we cast the spell."
"Why can't we have a date after my memory is returned. Wouldn't it be more fun
that way?"
"Buffy, before the accident, you told me that sometimes you wished that you
didn't have the slayer thing to deal with. You just wanted to have one night and
not think about it, be a normal girl. I want to spend that evening with you.
Will you let me do that?"
"Of course. I think that is a wonderful idea."
"I'm not so sure that is a good idea."
"Why not Giles?"
"Buffy, there are certain aspects of your relationship with Angel that are
unhealthy to say the least."
"Angel, do you have some sort of STD I should know about?"
"No. Giles, I am not even considering something like that. It would be a good
wholesome date. The last night that Buffy can be without the Slayer."
"Stop stating your case to Giles, I already said that it sounded like a good
idea. Sorry Giles, but you have been vetoed. When do we go and where are we
going?"
"I was thinking dinner and a movie."
"I do hope you mean in a theatre, rather than renting one."
"Giles, stay out of it. Dinner and a movie sound great. You want to go now?"
"Yeah. Let's go. We'll talk to you later, guys. After you." Angel closed the
door after Buffy. "I hope this isn't the biggest mistake ever made in the
history of the world."
"Xander, don't you think you're being a little over dramatic? I lived in fear of
Angelus when I first started working with Angel, but he's fine. He hasn't even
kissed her."
"Actually, luv, the only time that I've seen him kiss the slayer is when she was
half naked, sitting on top of him…but I'm sure you're right. Everything will be
fine."
The room sat in silence after Spike's story. Giles spoke first, "Oh Dear".
Buff and Angel arrived at the restaurant, Angel held the door open as she walked
through. The hostess led them threw a maze of tables and sat them down in a
little booth. Buffy and Angel looked over their menus for a moment.
"What are you going to have?"
"I don't know. None of this stuff is really up my alley. But the steak looks the
best so…what about you?"
"I want the Chicken Alfredo and the soup. She sat quietly for a moment, then
asked, "What was up with Giles tonight. He really didn't want us to go out. Have
we been dealing with this our entire relationship?"
"No. I actually left Sunnydale. Right after your graduation I took off. We saw
each other a couple of times, but it was really hard for us."
"Why? What could be so wrong with us? What happened."
"We just discovered that we couldn't be together anymore. It isn't anything we
can change, or get around. Being together just got too hard for us to handle. So
I moved to LA, you stayed here and saved the world, and you moved on with your
life."
"What about you? Did you move on with your life?"
"I don't know. Cordelia says that I still 'brood' after you. But I don't think
about you as much as I used to. I'm getting used to not needing you. But none of
that changes the fact that ever time I see you…my heart stops."
"Do you still love me?"
Angel remembered the first time that she asked him that question, and was ready
for it this time. "Buffy, I am so in love with you, that it makes me crazy. I
have made so many sacrifices and I would do it all again. I don't mind being
miserable if it gives you the chance to move on with your life. I've loved you
from the moment I first laid eyes on you. I will love you till I die. Good
enough answer."
Buffy snapped out of the trance that his words had put her in. Buffy started
giggling uncontrollably. "Angel! That is the funniest thing you have ever said!
I'm not kidding. It's priceless. I can't remember what shops I like to go to,
but every time you're around me I get all hot, and I'm sure that you can see my
face go bright red. You just confessed that you love me more than I can imagine
anyone loving anybody else, and we can't work this out?! That's rich! How
pathetic are we? It's not like the world would end if we got together."
Angel looked at Buffy, who was still laughing as if she heard the funniest joke
in the world. He smiled sadly at her, and said, "Actually, it would."
"This made Buffy stop laughing. Okay, that was doom and gloom. I thought I was
going having to deal with this in the morning. So knock it off. Let's just
forget about it, okay?"
"Okay. So, what movie do you want to see after dinner?"
"A comedy. Any comedy." The waiter came over and asked for their orders. Angel
ordered his stake rare.
"Tell me a funny story."
"What?" Angel asked.
"Tell me a funny story. It just occurred to me that I haven't seen you really
laugh. Since I don't know any funny stories, I thought you could think of one."
Angel thought about a story that he could find humorous enough to tell her, but
his mind drew a complete blank. "I really don't know any funny stories."
"Alright, then I'll have to lower myself to joke telling. Let's see….Oh, I heard
Xander telling one today. It's kind of dirty, but here goes. Once there was a
group of whales that had the best fishing spot in the entire ocean. One day,
fishermen came to their spot, and started getting all the fish. The whales
started to starve, so the king of the whales held a big whale meeting. He
explained to everyone what was going on, and then said 'Here's my idea. I think
we should take water into our blowholes, swim under the boats, and spray the
water out of our blowholes. When the boats tip over, we'll eat all the
fishermen, and then no one will ever come to our fishing spot ever again'.
"All the whales started cheering, excited over this plan that they were sure was
going to work, when this one little girl whale swam up to the front, and said,
"Excuse me! I have no problem with the blow job, but I refuse to swallow
seamen."
Angel roared with laughter. He never thought he would see the day when Buffy
Summers told a dirty joke. She was absolutely amazing!
"Go me. Made you laugh."
Angel still couldn't get his laughter under control. He was practically rolling
on the floor of the restaurant. Buffy thought he was the most beautiful man that
she had ever seen. "You are so beautiful when you smile."
Angel looked at her, still having the laughter in his eyes. He saw complete and
total love in her eyes, as she sat gazing at him. His smile faded and he reached
for her hand. You make me smile, so I guess you make me beautiful."
"God, Angel…you are good! If I didn't know how much people were counting on me
~not~ to sleep with you, I'd probably jump you right here!"
This made Angel laugh again, and he smiled at her. Some day, Buffy, we are going
to be good together. And I will never let you out of my sight."
"I'm counting on it."
"Here's your bill." The waiter cut in, "You two have a great night. Thanks for
coming in."
"Alright, next on the list of things to do before I am sucked into certain doom,
is see a comedy. Do you know what's playing right now?"
"No, but we'll head out to the theatre and see what's playing. Race you to the
car!"
They both shot out running as fast as they could possibly run. Buffy beat him,
it seemed to her as if Angel was oddly pleased. "Buffy. Don't ever change. Stay
the way you are for ever and ever."
"That's a little impossible, Angel. Unless of course I am immortal, which I'm
not. I'll get old and wrinkled and my hair will turn gray and I'll get dentures.
It won't be pretty, but I'll be better looking than you will be. You have a few
years on me to begin with."
Angel stopped laughing and looked at her. She was right. She was going to grow
old and die, and Angel wouldn't be there to grow old with her. The thought was
like a bucket of ice being thrown on him.
"Oh no. Oh no you don't! You can be broody tomorrow, but tonight you better be
one hell of a happy go lucky guy or I will beat you up!"
Angel looked down at his love. A smile traveled up his lips to his eyes. "Buffy
Summers. You better believe that you will get old and gray and wrinkled. Nothing
is going to stop that from happening. Consider it my goal in life."
"Will do. Now come on! I want to see something funny, and that happens to be
starring a gorgeous guy."
"Well, I can't think of any comedic movies that I have done lately, so we'll
have to settle for 1 out of 2, okay?"
"HaHa Angel. You think you're funny now? Huh?! Yeah, you're just a regular Robin
Williams."
"Actually, I like to think of my humor more of the John Stewart type."
"Another one! Wonderful, you're a laugh a minute, you know that?" They stopped
and looked at each other. Under the marquee of the movie theatre, Angel slowly
lowered his head to hers, and kissed her deeply, but gently. He pulled away and
he looked at her again, her eyes still closed. "Buffy."
"Yummy" was her only reply.
"Come on. Let's see what's playing. The rest of their date went off without a
hitch. Neither one could imagine the night ending. They didn't know what would
happen tomorrow, and tonight, they didn't care. They were also unaware of the
vampire standing in the shadows, watching the scene between the two lovers. A
bloody tear ran down the vampire's cheek. "Buffy…I know I can't have you. I know
that he can't either." The vampire walked into the darkness, planning the demise
of the slayer.
The end
other peoples toys. It's fun, you should try it….
Life lessons, Part three
"Uh, Giles… You said it was important that we try to keep Buffy from remembering
things. Now she needs her memory to save the world? Is this another one of those
'damned if you do and everyone damned if you don't' type situations?"
"Yes, Xander. I'm afraid it is."
"Well we can't just let everyone get sucked into hell, but I don't want Buffy to
have to leave. She'd never do it anyway. There is no way that Buffy would leave
her mom and Dawn and us or anybody else for that matter. And there isn't
anything that you could say that would make her believe otherwise."
"I don't know, Willow. She might put up a fight, or she might understand what
must happen and why. Buffy is a very unpredictable girl. Regardless, we all need
to sit down and discuss how to restore her memory as soon as possible. I don't
want her doing anything else though. Patrolling is still out. If the Council has
people watching her, then I want there to be no indication that she has her
memory back. And when the time comes and we need her to stop the prophecy, it
will be to late for the Council to do anything to her. She should be relatively
safe while battling the end of the world."
"G-man? Did you even pay attention to what you just said?"
"Well, maybe that wasn't said the best way but…"
"We get the overall meaning. If the Council thinks that Buffy is still in the
dark, then they won't send anybody after her. That means there would be no other
distraction, which allows her to be more focused on the big fight and she'd have
a better chance of survival. Right?"
"Yes, Willow. Thank you."
"No problem…Just call me laymen"
"All right ~lame~ man"
"Very funny Xander."
"Children, please. We need to discuss the best way to go about this."
"But we are going to allow Buffy's memory to be returned, right?"
"I don't see that we have any other choice. I hate to do this to her. She'll
remember everything, fight against the end of the world, and then leave the
country and never communicate with us ever again. I don't know how I'll- she'll
deal with this."
"Well, she and Cordelia will be back soon, it will be dark in another 10 or 15
minutes. So, we can discuss what needs to be done then."
"What if Buff doesn't get her memory back soon enough. We don't even know when
this thing is going to take place. I would think that she would need to train
some. Isn't there something we can do to, I don't know, further the process
along?"
"I think I might be able to find some kind of spell. Tara and I can get the
ingredients and start the ceremony tonight."
"Let's be prepared to do just that. But I want to discuss this with Buffy
first."
"Okay, well then Tara and I'll head over to the magic box and see what we can
find."
"I'm going to go tell Dead Boy and Spike what's going on. Are Buffy and Cordy
going to come here after the mall?"
"I would assume so, yes."
"All right. I'll bring Angel and Spike over here."
As soon as the sun was down, Angel was on his way to Buffy's house. Cordelia's
car pulled up just as Angel was walking to the front door.
"Hey Angel! What are you doing here? I heard you got pretty hammered last
night."
"What?" Angel said, as over Buffy's shoulder he saw Cordelia making the sign for
'go with it'. "Yeah. Sure." Angel said still confused.
"Bye Cordy! See you at Giles'. Angel, do you want to come up stairs while I put
all this stuff away?"
"Yeah." Angel followed Buffy up to her bedroom.
"Oh! I ~have~ to show you the new dress that I bought!" She took of her shirt
and stripped down her pants before Angel could recover from his shock. "Buffy…"
Before he could say anything else, she went over to where he was sitting on her
bed and straddled his lap. "Angel, I'm confused. Cordy told me that we have been
together since I was sixteen years old, but ever since I came out of the
hospital, you haven't even kissed me. Don't you want to kiss me?"
"Buffy, it's really complicated. And you're making things difficult by sitting
on me like this." Buffy smiled at him, "Don't you mean 'harder'?" Then she
leaned towards him and brushed her lips across his. All of Angel's defenses
crumbled and he began to kiss her with all the pent up desire and longing he had
felt since he came back from hell. Unfortunately, this is how Spike and Xander
found them.
"What the ~hell~ are you two doing?! Angel! Jesus Christ! You especially know
how BAD this is! Come on, Buffy, get dressed and meet us downstairs." With that,
Xander turned and stomped down the hall, the stairs and across the living room
to the kitchen. Spike, however, stayed behind. "Slayer. Very nice. I haven't
ever seen this side of you, and I can assure you that it's a pity. You should
walk around half naked more often."
"Spike! Get out of my room! Right now! Angel, make him leave!"
"Spike. Go."
"Peaches, you're no fun at all." Spike gave Buffy one more long lingering look
before following after Xander.
"That was REALLY embarrassing! Why would Xander say that this was bad? Oh- Have
we never…you know…"
"Buffy, we have a really complex relationship. We tend to get everyone riled up
when we get together…and it's not a good riled up. I'm going to go down stairs
and talk to them. Come on when you get dressed." Angel left her and went to find
Xander and Spike.
"I can't ~believe~ what Angel was doing! What was he thinking!? He knows what
happens when he gets the happies, and he risks it for a half naked Slayer!"
"Calm down, you're giving me a headache. I, for one, am very proud of Peaches.
Finally shows the world he's a man! And come on, if you had a half naked slayer
alone in a bedroom, what would you have done?"
"Point taken. But I don't think Angel was thinking with his head."
"Oh, I think that's exactly what he was thinking with. Angel, so good of you to
join us!"
"Spike. Now is ~really~ not a good time. What's going on?"
"Buffy found a prophecy and Giles wants us all over there ASAP."
"I'm ready." Buffy said as she came into the kitchen. She was still blushing.
"Then let's go."
"Spike can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure luv, what can I help you with?"
"Why did you call me slayer?"
"Oh. That. Slayer is a girl I know. You remind me a lot of her. Sorry about the
name thing. Won't happen again, Buffy."
"That's okay… Is she an old girlfriend?"
"I wish. No she isn't a girlfriend or anything."
"Do you want her to be?"
"I honestly don't know. She loves someone else, but she makes me crazy. Ever
since I've known her, I've hated her. Now all of a sudden, I can't get her out
of my head. And believe me, it's not because y- she is any sweeter. She is still
the same egomaniac she ever was. Thinking the world is going to end if SHE
doesn't stop it. Doesn't think that anyone is good enough for her. Thinks that
people are BENEATH y- her. Now that I think about it, she really is quite
annoying."
"So why do you like her?"
"Because she knows me. She may hate me, but she understands me and she knows me.
She's not afraid of me. She stands up to me, and I like that. Or it could be
that I'm sexually frustrated."
"Well, I think you're a cool guy. She probably thinks so too. But if she's got
someone else then she's got someone else."
"Yeah, I guess your right. But I don't like it and I don't have to."
"You're right. You don't have to like it. But you do have to deal with it, and
that's even harder."
"Guys! Come on, I want to go by McDonalds before we go to Giles."
"Xander, please! You're always hungry. Wait! I know that Xander is always
hungry! Good for me. Good Buffy!"
"If you're finished congratulating yourself, can we go?"
"You're just jealous because I am the smartest woman in the WORLD!!!!"
"Sure Buff. Let's go."
"Giles. Sorry that we're late, Xander here insisted on going to five different
fast food joints on the way here."
"Oh! Come on! McDonalds has the best burgers, Burger King has the best fries,
and Wendy's has the best prices on drinks. I'm a food connoisseur."
"Xander, I don't believe you should use that particular title when referring to
fast food restaurants. It doesn't quite fit."
"Can we just get to the point of why we are all here? I thought everything was
already decided."
"Spike, the plans have changed. And now this includes Buffy."
"Me? What includes me? What has been excluding me?"
"Buffy calm down. I am sorry to admit it, but there is something that we have
been keeping from you. We thought it was best for you, but the situation has
changed and it is important that you no who you are. You are what we refer to as
a S-"
"Hold on just a bloody minute! We agreed that we would keep it from her! You
just can't tell her now!"
"Spike, like I said, the situation has changed. Buffy, you are the Slayer, and
you have certain responsibilities to this community. Well, the world really.
Buffy?"
As soon as Giles called her 'Slayer', Buffy's attention snapped to Spike. "Yeah…
What? I'm sorry, Giles, my mind went somewhere else."
"Yes, but did you hear what I said?"
"Yes. Slayer. Responsibility."
"Buffy, I want to return your memories to you. A simple spell will do the trick.
It's quite safe and you'll remember everything that has happened. Well, shall we
get on with it?"
"No."
"Angel? For the love of God, what is it?"
"One more night. I want one more night with her before we cast the spell."
"Why can't we have a date after my memory is returned. Wouldn't it be more fun
that way?"
"Buffy, before the accident, you told me that sometimes you wished that you
didn't have the slayer thing to deal with. You just wanted to have one night and
not think about it, be a normal girl. I want to spend that evening with you.
Will you let me do that?"
"Of course. I think that is a wonderful idea."
"I'm not so sure that is a good idea."
"Why not Giles?"
"Buffy, there are certain aspects of your relationship with Angel that are
unhealthy to say the least."
"Angel, do you have some sort of STD I should know about?"
"No. Giles, I am not even considering something like that. It would be a good
wholesome date. The last night that Buffy can be without the Slayer."
"Stop stating your case to Giles, I already said that it sounded like a good
idea. Sorry Giles, but you have been vetoed. When do we go and where are we
going?"
"I was thinking dinner and a movie."
"I do hope you mean in a theatre, rather than renting one."
"Giles, stay out of it. Dinner and a movie sound great. You want to go now?"
"Yeah. Let's go. We'll talk to you later, guys. After you." Angel closed the
door after Buffy. "I hope this isn't the biggest mistake ever made in the
history of the world."
"Xander, don't you think you're being a little over dramatic? I lived in fear of
Angelus when I first started working with Angel, but he's fine. He hasn't even
kissed her."
"Actually, luv, the only time that I've seen him kiss the slayer is when she was
half naked, sitting on top of him…but I'm sure you're right. Everything will be
fine."
The room sat in silence after Spike's story. Giles spoke first, "Oh Dear".
Buff and Angel arrived at the restaurant, Angel held the door open as she walked
through. The hostess led them threw a maze of tables and sat them down in a
little booth. Buffy and Angel looked over their menus for a moment.
"What are you going to have?"
"I don't know. None of this stuff is really up my alley. But the steak looks the
best so…what about you?"
"I want the Chicken Alfredo and the soup. She sat quietly for a moment, then
asked, "What was up with Giles tonight. He really didn't want us to go out. Have
we been dealing with this our entire relationship?"
"No. I actually left Sunnydale. Right after your graduation I took off. We saw
each other a couple of times, but it was really hard for us."
"Why? What could be so wrong with us? What happened."
"We just discovered that we couldn't be together anymore. It isn't anything we
can change, or get around. Being together just got too hard for us to handle. So
I moved to LA, you stayed here and saved the world, and you moved on with your
life."
"What about you? Did you move on with your life?"
"I don't know. Cordelia says that I still 'brood' after you. But I don't think
about you as much as I used to. I'm getting used to not needing you. But none of
that changes the fact that ever time I see you…my heart stops."
"Do you still love me?"
Angel remembered the first time that she asked him that question, and was ready
for it this time. "Buffy, I am so in love with you, that it makes me crazy. I
have made so many sacrifices and I would do it all again. I don't mind being
miserable if it gives you the chance to move on with your life. I've loved you
from the moment I first laid eyes on you. I will love you till I die. Good
enough answer."
Buffy snapped out of the trance that his words had put her in. Buffy started
giggling uncontrollably. "Angel! That is the funniest thing you have ever said!
I'm not kidding. It's priceless. I can't remember what shops I like to go to,
but every time you're around me I get all hot, and I'm sure that you can see my
face go bright red. You just confessed that you love me more than I can imagine
anyone loving anybody else, and we can't work this out?! That's rich! How
pathetic are we? It's not like the world would end if we got together."
Angel looked at Buffy, who was still laughing as if she heard the funniest joke
in the world. He smiled sadly at her, and said, "Actually, it would."
"This made Buffy stop laughing. Okay, that was doom and gloom. I thought I was
going having to deal with this in the morning. So knock it off. Let's just
forget about it, okay?"
"Okay. So, what movie do you want to see after dinner?"
"A comedy. Any comedy." The waiter came over and asked for their orders. Angel
ordered his stake rare.
"Tell me a funny story."
"What?" Angel asked.
"Tell me a funny story. It just occurred to me that I haven't seen you really
laugh. Since I don't know any funny stories, I thought you could think of one."
Angel thought about a story that he could find humorous enough to tell her, but
his mind drew a complete blank. "I really don't know any funny stories."
"Alright, then I'll have to lower myself to joke telling. Let's see….Oh, I heard
Xander telling one today. It's kind of dirty, but here goes. Once there was a
group of whales that had the best fishing spot in the entire ocean. One day,
fishermen came to their spot, and started getting all the fish. The whales
started to starve, so the king of the whales held a big whale meeting. He
explained to everyone what was going on, and then said 'Here's my idea. I think
we should take water into our blowholes, swim under the boats, and spray the
water out of our blowholes. When the boats tip over, we'll eat all the
fishermen, and then no one will ever come to our fishing spot ever again'.
"All the whales started cheering, excited over this plan that they were sure was
going to work, when this one little girl whale swam up to the front, and said,
"Excuse me! I have no problem with the blow job, but I refuse to swallow
seamen."
Angel roared with laughter. He never thought he would see the day when Buffy
Summers told a dirty joke. She was absolutely amazing!
"Go me. Made you laugh."
Angel still couldn't get his laughter under control. He was practically rolling
on the floor of the restaurant. Buffy thought he was the most beautiful man that
she had ever seen. "You are so beautiful when you smile."
Angel looked at her, still having the laughter in his eyes. He saw complete and
total love in her eyes, as she sat gazing at him. His smile faded and he reached
for her hand. You make me smile, so I guess you make me beautiful."
"God, Angel…you are good! If I didn't know how much people were counting on me
~not~ to sleep with you, I'd probably jump you right here!"
This made Angel laugh again, and he smiled at her. Some day, Buffy, we are going
to be good together. And I will never let you out of my sight."
"I'm counting on it."
"Here's your bill." The waiter cut in, "You two have a great night. Thanks for
coming in."
"Alright, next on the list of things to do before I am sucked into certain doom,
is see a comedy. Do you know what's playing right now?"
"No, but we'll head out to the theatre and see what's playing. Race you to the
car!"
They both shot out running as fast as they could possibly run. Buffy beat him,
it seemed to her as if Angel was oddly pleased. "Buffy. Don't ever change. Stay
the way you are for ever and ever."
"That's a little impossible, Angel. Unless of course I am immortal, which I'm
not. I'll get old and wrinkled and my hair will turn gray and I'll get dentures.
It won't be pretty, but I'll be better looking than you will be. You have a few
years on me to begin with."
Angel stopped laughing and looked at her. She was right. She was going to grow
old and die, and Angel wouldn't be there to grow old with her. The thought was
like a bucket of ice being thrown on him.
"Oh no. Oh no you don't! You can be broody tomorrow, but tonight you better be
one hell of a happy go lucky guy or I will beat you up!"
Angel looked down at his love. A smile traveled up his lips to his eyes. "Buffy
Summers. You better believe that you will get old and gray and wrinkled. Nothing
is going to stop that from happening. Consider it my goal in life."
"Will do. Now come on! I want to see something funny, and that happens to be
starring a gorgeous guy."
"Well, I can't think of any comedic movies that I have done lately, so we'll
have to settle for 1 out of 2, okay?"
"HaHa Angel. You think you're funny now? Huh?! Yeah, you're just a regular Robin
Williams."
"Actually, I like to think of my humor more of the John Stewart type."
"Another one! Wonderful, you're a laugh a minute, you know that?" They stopped
and looked at each other. Under the marquee of the movie theatre, Angel slowly
lowered his head to hers, and kissed her deeply, but gently. He pulled away and
he looked at her again, her eyes still closed. "Buffy."
"Yummy" was her only reply.
"Come on. Let's see what's playing. The rest of their date went off without a
hitch. Neither one could imagine the night ending. They didn't know what would
happen tomorrow, and tonight, they didn't care. They were also unaware of the
vampire standing in the shadows, watching the scene between the two lovers. A
bloody tear ran down the vampire's cheek. "Buffy…I know I can't have you. I know
that he can't either." The vampire walked into the darkness, planning the demise
of the slayer.
The end