*******
Part Eight (Lyrics in this part - "Good Enough" by Sarah McLachlan)
The Mall
4 p.m.
"I think he's afraid of shopping with me," Buffy said to Carly with a
giggle. Angel had left the two girls the responsibility five of
Sonny's men, saying he had 'important things to take care of.'
"No, I think he knows that our shopping stamina combined would be a
very bad thing for any man to deal with," Carly replied with a
smile. "He's heard Sonny's horror stories about me, he already knows
what you're capable of. I think it's better this way, anyway. You
can't tell me you didn't need a girls-day."
"I did," Buffy agreed. "So where next?"
*********
Buffy's Apartment
6 pm
Angel returned to Buffy's apartment, after having put in the
afternoon watching Rivera. The man had stayed away from Buffy, but
Angel knew he had his men watching her though. Those who were
protecting Buffy today had let him know they'd seen several of
Rivera's men within fifty feet of Buffy at all times.
*It's a reciprocal surveillance,* Angel realized. *I'm watching
Buffy. Johnny's watching me and Buffy. Johnny's men are also watching
Buffy. More of Sonny's men are watching Johnny, and now others are
watching Johnny's men watch them. Ouch. Makes my head hurt trying to
sort it out.*
He picked a dress out of Buffy's closet, and took it to Sonny's
apartment. He left a note on the door to Buffy's apartment, and then
got to work on his plan for the evening.
At eight, Angel got word from the men in the lobby that Buffy and
Carly were finally on their way back. He was ready. He heard their
voices, and hoped that his taking Carly up on her offer to 'help them
along', would pay off. It did apparently, as he heard the two go to
Sonny and Carly's apartment. He couldn't help but chuckle at Buffy's
confused tones.
"The dress is in Michael's room?" Buffy frowned at the note. She
looked to see Carly's self-satisfied grin, and her eyes
narrowed. "Okay, what's up?"
"What d'you mean?" Carly asked innocently.
"I suddenly have the feeling that I've been tricked into something
that you were in on," Buffy replied.
"Oh relax," Carly said, putting her arm around Buffy's shoulders and
leading her back to her apartment. "I promise you won't mind the
surprise."
"I hope you're right," Buffy replied, but followed. They went to
Michael's room, where one of Buffy's new dresses was hanging on a
hook on the door. It was an ankle-length blue silk dress, with
spaghetti straps. It had a slit up the right front, and would show up
to mid-thigh on Buffy. The matching high-heels were on the floor
nearby.
Buffy was a little irritated that Angel had seen the dress, she'd
wanted to surprise _him_ with it, not the other way around. It set
her hazel eyes into bluer than they usually were.
"Wow. That's an awesome dress," Carly said, and Buffy jumped having
forgotten Carly was there.
"You knew all about this," Buffy accused. "When."
"After Angel heard me asking you to join me shopping, he called me.
He asked if I would play along with a plan he had to give you a
romantic evening. What was I gonna say, No?" Carly smiled at
her. "Now get dressed and get over there. I had Markus let me in
before you two got back to the apartment, and I got your makeup,
brush, and stuff. It's in the bathroom there," Carly pointed the way
before leaving to let Buffy get ready.
*********
Angel heard the key in the door, and gave the place a quick glance
again. *I hope everything looks right.* He turned to face Buffy, and
his mouth dropped open. *Damn. The dress looked good. But it looks so
much better on her.*
Buffy stopped the nervous voices in her head, and unlocked the door.
She saw him, and found herself speechless. He was wearing a black
tux, and Buffy had to keep herself from drooling. She smiled at his
reaction to her in the dress, and was glad that she'd surprised him a
little. Then she noticed that he'd lit several candles around the
living room and dining room, and then she smelled the food he had
obviously made. The table had a white table cloth on it, and was set
for two, with a bottle of champagne chilling in the center.
"Have fun shopping?" Angel asked with a smile, Buffy jumped as she
realized he was standing just in front of her.
"Um, yeah," she managed.
"You look beautiful," he said.
"You look... amazing in a tux," she replied.
"Thanks," he took her hand and led her into the dining room, pulling
out a chair for her. She was grateful for the opportunity to sit, as
she felt like standing wouldn't be an option.
"Surprised?" Angel asked, still grinning at her.
"Yes, I didn't even suspect," Buffy admitted. "I just figured you
didn't want to endure the shopping experience again."
"Well, that, and also I imagine you were beginning to wonder if I was
going to ask you out again," Angel said.
"Oh. That too," Buffy said, nodding. She noticed the food in front of
her, then. "You cooked," she said.
"I've learned a little bit from Sonny," Angel said. "So eat up, and
then we can dance," he added with a smile.
After dinner, he put on a CD, and Buffy smiled. One of her favorites,
Sarah McLachlan. It would definitely have something to dance to. She
walked out to the living room after him, and watched him. *A sight I
definitely wouldn't get tired of anytime soon.* she smiled at the
thought.
//Hey your glass is empty
it's a hell of a long way home
why don't you let me take you
it's no good to go alone//
Angel walked over to her, and she answered his silent
question. "Let's dance." He smiled and pulled her to him, taking her
right hand in his left and putting his left arm around her waist.
They began to sway to the music. *Wonder if this song means anything*
Buffy thought.
//I never would have opened up
but you seemed so real to me
after all the bullshit I've heard
it's refreshing not to see
I don't have to pretend
she doesn't expect it from me
Don't tell me I haven't been good to you
don't tell me I have never been there for you
don't tell me why
nothing is good enough//
Buffy shook her head of the thoughts, *Just enjoy the evening. Don't
read more into it than is there. After two weeks, you've got a
friend, and that should be good enough for now.*
//Hey little girl would you like some candy
your momma said that it's OK
The door is open come on outside
no I can't come out today
it's not the wind that cracked your shoulder
and threw you to the ground
who's there that makes you so afraid
you're shaken to the bone
and I don't understand
you deserve so much more than this//
Buffy released Angel's hand, and moved closer, laying her head on his
chest, and putting her arms around his neck. She could've sworn she
felt him smile, as if that made any sense, and he put both arms
around her.
//So don't tell me why
he's never been good to you
don't tell me why
he's never been there for you
don't you know that why
is simply not good enough
so just let me try
and I will be good to you
just let me try
and I will be there for you
I'll show you why
you're so much more than good enough.//
Angel rubbed her back, and wondered if her silence was a good thing
or a bad thing. He decided to do something to find out. He moved his
hands to either side of her face, tilting it so her eyes would meet
his. "I think I'm going to kiss you," he said, his voice husky with
emotion. "So if you don't want me to, you'd better walk away." He
waited for her to run, not walk, to the nearest exit.
Buffy felt his hands pulling her head up, and looked into his
eyes. "I think I'm going to kiss you," he said, his voice husky with
emotion. "So if you don't want me to, you'd better walk away."
Her heart stopped. She didn't know that could happen in response to a
beautiful, romantic moment. *Like I'm going anywhere. When pigs fly*
she thought, and gave a small smile at the thought.
He leaned his head to hers, and Buffy was sure her heart stopped for
the second time. Until his lips captured hers, in a gentle, soft
kiss. Then her heart when into double-time. She hoped her legs would
continue to support her.
When Angel pulled away, he smiled down at her, and the smile widened
when she smiled back. "Oh. So that was something you wanted me to
do?"
"Um. Duh?" Buffy replied with a giggle. "Yes, I wanted you to kiss
me. And still do."
"I think that can be arranged," Angel said with another grin, before
complying with her wishes.
**************
Part Eight (Lyrics in this part - "Good Enough" by Sarah McLachlan)
The Mall
4 p.m.
"I think he's afraid of shopping with me," Buffy said to Carly with a
giggle. Angel had left the two girls the responsibility five of
Sonny's men, saying he had 'important things to take care of.'
"No, I think he knows that our shopping stamina combined would be a
very bad thing for any man to deal with," Carly replied with a
smile. "He's heard Sonny's horror stories about me, he already knows
what you're capable of. I think it's better this way, anyway. You
can't tell me you didn't need a girls-day."
"I did," Buffy agreed. "So where next?"
*********
Buffy's Apartment
6 pm
Angel returned to Buffy's apartment, after having put in the
afternoon watching Rivera. The man had stayed away from Buffy, but
Angel knew he had his men watching her though. Those who were
protecting Buffy today had let him know they'd seen several of
Rivera's men within fifty feet of Buffy at all times.
*It's a reciprocal surveillance,* Angel realized. *I'm watching
Buffy. Johnny's watching me and Buffy. Johnny's men are also watching
Buffy. More of Sonny's men are watching Johnny, and now others are
watching Johnny's men watch them. Ouch. Makes my head hurt trying to
sort it out.*
He picked a dress out of Buffy's closet, and took it to Sonny's
apartment. He left a note on the door to Buffy's apartment, and then
got to work on his plan for the evening.
At eight, Angel got word from the men in the lobby that Buffy and
Carly were finally on their way back. He was ready. He heard their
voices, and hoped that his taking Carly up on her offer to 'help them
along', would pay off. It did apparently, as he heard the two go to
Sonny and Carly's apartment. He couldn't help but chuckle at Buffy's
confused tones.
"The dress is in Michael's room?" Buffy frowned at the note. She
looked to see Carly's self-satisfied grin, and her eyes
narrowed. "Okay, what's up?"
"What d'you mean?" Carly asked innocently.
"I suddenly have the feeling that I've been tricked into something
that you were in on," Buffy replied.
"Oh relax," Carly said, putting her arm around Buffy's shoulders and
leading her back to her apartment. "I promise you won't mind the
surprise."
"I hope you're right," Buffy replied, but followed. They went to
Michael's room, where one of Buffy's new dresses was hanging on a
hook on the door. It was an ankle-length blue silk dress, with
spaghetti straps. It had a slit up the right front, and would show up
to mid-thigh on Buffy. The matching high-heels were on the floor
nearby.
Buffy was a little irritated that Angel had seen the dress, she'd
wanted to surprise _him_ with it, not the other way around. It set
her hazel eyes into bluer than they usually were.
"Wow. That's an awesome dress," Carly said, and Buffy jumped having
forgotten Carly was there.
"You knew all about this," Buffy accused. "When."
"After Angel heard me asking you to join me shopping, he called me.
He asked if I would play along with a plan he had to give you a
romantic evening. What was I gonna say, No?" Carly smiled at
her. "Now get dressed and get over there. I had Markus let me in
before you two got back to the apartment, and I got your makeup,
brush, and stuff. It's in the bathroom there," Carly pointed the way
before leaving to let Buffy get ready.
*********
Angel heard the key in the door, and gave the place a quick glance
again. *I hope everything looks right.* He turned to face Buffy, and
his mouth dropped open. *Damn. The dress looked good. But it looks so
much better on her.*
Buffy stopped the nervous voices in her head, and unlocked the door.
She saw him, and found herself speechless. He was wearing a black
tux, and Buffy had to keep herself from drooling. She smiled at his
reaction to her in the dress, and was glad that she'd surprised him a
little. Then she noticed that he'd lit several candles around the
living room and dining room, and then she smelled the food he had
obviously made. The table had a white table cloth on it, and was set
for two, with a bottle of champagne chilling in the center.
"Have fun shopping?" Angel asked with a smile, Buffy jumped as she
realized he was standing just in front of her.
"Um, yeah," she managed.
"You look beautiful," he said.
"You look... amazing in a tux," she replied.
"Thanks," he took her hand and led her into the dining room, pulling
out a chair for her. She was grateful for the opportunity to sit, as
she felt like standing wouldn't be an option.
"Surprised?" Angel asked, still grinning at her.
"Yes, I didn't even suspect," Buffy admitted. "I just figured you
didn't want to endure the shopping experience again."
"Well, that, and also I imagine you were beginning to wonder if I was
going to ask you out again," Angel said.
"Oh. That too," Buffy said, nodding. She noticed the food in front of
her, then. "You cooked," she said.
"I've learned a little bit from Sonny," Angel said. "So eat up, and
then we can dance," he added with a smile.
After dinner, he put on a CD, and Buffy smiled. One of her favorites,
Sarah McLachlan. It would definitely have something to dance to. She
walked out to the living room after him, and watched him. *A sight I
definitely wouldn't get tired of anytime soon.* she smiled at the
thought.
//Hey your glass is empty
it's a hell of a long way home
why don't you let me take you
it's no good to go alone//
Angel walked over to her, and she answered his silent
question. "Let's dance." He smiled and pulled her to him, taking her
right hand in his left and putting his left arm around her waist.
They began to sway to the music. *Wonder if this song means anything*
Buffy thought.
//I never would have opened up
but you seemed so real to me
after all the bullshit I've heard
it's refreshing not to see
I don't have to pretend
she doesn't expect it from me
Don't tell me I haven't been good to you
don't tell me I have never been there for you
don't tell me why
nothing is good enough//
Buffy shook her head of the thoughts, *Just enjoy the evening. Don't
read more into it than is there. After two weeks, you've got a
friend, and that should be good enough for now.*
//Hey little girl would you like some candy
your momma said that it's OK
The door is open come on outside
no I can't come out today
it's not the wind that cracked your shoulder
and threw you to the ground
who's there that makes you so afraid
you're shaken to the bone
and I don't understand
you deserve so much more than this//
Buffy released Angel's hand, and moved closer, laying her head on his
chest, and putting her arms around his neck. She could've sworn she
felt him smile, as if that made any sense, and he put both arms
around her.
//So don't tell me why
he's never been good to you
don't tell me why
he's never been there for you
don't you know that why
is simply not good enough
so just let me try
and I will be good to you
just let me try
and I will be there for you
I'll show you why
you're so much more than good enough.//
Angel rubbed her back, and wondered if her silence was a good thing
or a bad thing. He decided to do something to find out. He moved his
hands to either side of her face, tilting it so her eyes would meet
his. "I think I'm going to kiss you," he said, his voice husky with
emotion. "So if you don't want me to, you'd better walk away." He
waited for her to run, not walk, to the nearest exit.
Buffy felt his hands pulling her head up, and looked into his
eyes. "I think I'm going to kiss you," he said, his voice husky with
emotion. "So if you don't want me to, you'd better walk away."
Her heart stopped. She didn't know that could happen in response to a
beautiful, romantic moment. *Like I'm going anywhere. When pigs fly*
she thought, and gave a small smile at the thought.
He leaned his head to hers, and Buffy was sure her heart stopped for
the second time. Until his lips captured hers, in a gentle, soft
kiss. Then her heart when into double-time. She hoped her legs would
continue to support her.
When Angel pulled away, he smiled down at her, and the smile widened
when she smiled back. "Oh. So that was something you wanted me to
do?"
"Um. Duh?" Buffy replied with a giggle. "Yes, I wanted you to kiss
me. And still do."
"I think that can be arranged," Angel said with another grin, before
complying with her wishes.
**************