TITLE: No Matter What 5/10
AUTHOR: Goddess Isa
EMAIL: goddessisa@aol.com
SUMMARY: Buffy is just contemplating dating Riley when the unexpected happens....
SPOILER: Pangs, IWRY - Doomed and Hush both took place before Christmas and the New Year and all. You'll see my explanation below.
DISTRIBUTION: Sandee, of course - My site - http://planetslaythis.homestead.com- Crystal and Butterfly if they want it - A Soul's Redemption - Anyone else - sure, just email me & lmk where it's going - I like seeing my name in print =)
RATING: TV-14 - for now
DISCLAIMER: Characters belong to Poophead Joss. I didn't come up with that name for him, but it's *so* true. The song, 'No Matter What' is what the title is derived from and it's by Boyzone. Other song credit in this chapter goes to Amy Grant. I miss her music.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is for Ashley - thanks for the kickass challenge idea! And thank you again for sending me the story I was missing. You're the best. This chapter is also for Destiny's Child. Yes, the group. Their music was on as I wrote it, and I *do* think it helped. =)
AUTHOR'S NOTES2: Okie, these are the ones that explain the timeline, so you may want to read it to understand. Buffy visited Angel in Los Angeles on November 23rd. Something Blue, Hush and Doomed make up the weeks 'till Christmas, and Buffy *NEVER* kissed Riley. He asked her out but she didn't accept. And now we're at December seventeenth, when all the students are packing up to go home for the holidays.
AUTHOR'S NOTES3: This is the shortest chapter I've done, but I've got my reasons. Also, I used a different song at the start and I had my reasons for that, too.
03/15/00



//I will be walking one day

Down a street far away

And see a face in the crowd

And smile

Knowing how you made me laugh

Hearing sweet echoes of you from the past

I will remember you

Look in my eyes while you're near

Tell me what's happening here

See that I don't want to say

Goodbye

Our love is frozen in time

I'll be your champion and you will be mine

I will remember

I will remember you

Later on

When this fire is an ember

Later on

When the night's not so tender
Given time

Though it's hard to remember darling

I will be holding

I'll still be holding to you

So many years come and gone

And yet the memory is strong

One word we never could learn

Goodbye

True love is frozen in time

I'll be your champion and

You will be mine

I will remember

I will remember you

So please remember

I will remember you\\


The Slayer rolled her eyes but stood up and started for the elevator. She stopped for a second when she realized she knew her way around the place.

"Must be the dreams," she muttered. She took the elevator down and walked into the living room.

"Wesley, if you wanna go next, I have--"

Angel came out of the bathroom and dropped his towel in shock.

Buffy gawked at his wet, naked body. If it was possible, he'd gotten even more beautiful since she'd last seen him. God, I want him, she thought.

"Uh, Buffy, hi." he didn't move an inch.

"Surprised to see me?" she laughed.

"Uh, yeah."

"Sorry. I would've called first, but I didn't think you deserved fair warning."

"What's up?" he asked her.  Buffy grinned. "You tell me."

Embarrassed, he bent down and picked up the towel, holding it around his waist. "I mean, why did you come here?"

"There's something I need to tell you, and something I need to ask."

"Can I get dressed first?" he questioned.

"I wish you wouldn't," she smirked. "But go on."

He went down the hall and she settled on the couch, still smirking at the sight of him all naked and turned on like that.

Buffy noticed his leather jacket draped over the couch and pulled it over her legs. She snuggled against the dark velvet pillows she was sure Angel had picked out himself and closed her eyes.

"I'm just gonna rest a second," she muttered to the empty room before falling asleep.


*****


Buffy was living the moment again instead of watching it from above.

She was riding Angel on his bed, passion flowing through their bodies like she'd never felt before.

She could feel every sensation in her body heightened as their bodies meshed together. She kissed his chest and lips and ran her fingers through his hair, wanting to never wake up if she could just stay in bed with him.

"I love you," he whispered. Before she could say it back, she jerked awake.


*****


"ANGEL!" she screamed. "Angel, I remember. I remember everything!"