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Part 38
Angel didn't sleep incredibly soundly but it was worth it just to hold her. Even though it was also unbelievable torture, but he wouldn't have traded that feeling for the world. Because at least they were together. And that meant everything to him, after he'd spent so many miserable nights the previous twenty years without her in his arms. There were times he had dreamt about her but that would only make it worse because he always woke up alone again.
It had never occurred to him to even try to find another love because he knew that love wouldn't exist. Even though he'd told Buffy to move on and was grateful she had. He wouldn't have wanted her to spend the last twenty years as alone as he had been.
So now that all that was behind them, any discomfort at being this close to her was bearable. Even though it included having to resist the urge to touch her beautiful breasts or her firm stomach or... *STOP THAT!* He told himself. *Go to sleep.* He wished he could, but sleep eluded him. He mused about the fact that she was able to sleep much better than he was in this situation. *That's good, though. It means she trusts me and that's a really important part of our relationship.*
Buffy shifted slightly, rubbing against him and he bit his lip as he tried to will his body NOT to react. It didn't obey him. He stifled a moan and moved a little further away from her so she wouldn't wake up and feel his obvious arousal pressing against her through his boxer shorts.
He opened his eyes and realized he'd slept a little more. It was dark outside, he could tell through the cracks in the window covers. But that didn't mean anything, since they were going east. It felt like it was still night, but he didn't know which time zone they were in. He checked his watch to see what time it was. It was one a.m. sunnydale time, Saturday morning.
He knew it was a ten hour flight total but he couldn't remember what time it would be when they would arrive. The flight attendant had been told to knock when they were within an hour of landing. Until he heard that knock, he'd just relax and enjoy holding the woman he loved.
The sound of knocking startled him awake yet again. "Sir? We're landing soon," he heard through the curtain.
"Thank you," he replied. He checked his watch again. It was two a.m. Sunnydale time. He should have been exhausted by lack of sleep but he was too excited to be tired. He hoped that Buffy had gotten enough sleep, though.
"Buffy?" he said, running a hand through her hair. "Wake up, Sweetheart."
"Why?" she whimpered.
He held back a chuckle. "I know it's early by your time-clock - two a.m. if you're wondering - but we're almost to Paris, Baby," he replied. "You can sleep more when we get to the hotel."
Her eyes snapped open. "Paris? You did NOT say Paris, did you? Because I thought that's what I heard you say. Did I dream that?"
He couldn't help laughing at her completely adorable not-quite-awake reaction to his revelation. "I said Paris," he nodded. Before he knew it, she was kissing him, making *him* whimper.
"Oh, Angel!" she said when she pulled away for breath. "Paris? You are just too wonderful! You actually flew me to Paris?!" She smiled at him before kissing him again. "I forgive you for waking me up so early, because Paris is definitely worth it!"
He chuckled as he cradled her face in his and kissed her gently. "I'm glad you like our destination. Now, if I remember correctly, it's about eleven p.m. Saturday evening, here. It'll be midnite when we land. So we'll have all of this week to spend in Paris. We'll leave next week, Monday morning, since we'll be gaining a day on our way back."
"I can't believe you'd do this for me... for us," she said, completely at a loss for what else to say.
"I love you," he said seriously. "When we decided to take the week of Valentine's Day off of work and spend it together, I started thinking about how to make it really special. And I couldn't think of a better place than Paris to do it." He kissed her gently and added, "Now, as much as I would love to just stay here and hold you in my arms, we need to get dressed and ready for landing in about an hour."
She nodded. "Okay," she said as she rolled away and got out of bed.
He watched as she left and then got out of bed himself. He pulled on his blue jeans and a white button-down longsleeved shirt. He ran a hand through his hair and then waited for the bathroom to be free. She walked out eventually in khaki pants and a green blouse. She'd pulled her hair back in a pony tail.
"Is it really weird of me to say I'm going back to bed when we get there?" she asked with a yawn.
"No," he assured her. "Considering the rest of the population will be asleep for at least the next six hours it's not a problem."
"Good, I didn't want to sound ungrateful or anything," she said.
"You don't," he assured her and kissed her before he went on to the bathroom.
Buffy went into the main cabin and sat on the couch, smiling as she thought about how romantic this all was. She and Angel were in Paris! For ...eight whole days. "God I love this man," she said out loud.
He walked out and sat next to her a few minutes later. She laid her head on his shoulder and he pulled her close. "How'd you sleep?" he asked.
"Good, really good," she answered, wrapping an arm around his waist. "It just felt so... natural being in your arms," she added.
"I'm glad to hear it," Angel replied with a smile. "Because it felt very right holding you."
An hour later, Buffy woke as the plane started to make the descent. Once they had landed, Buffy and Angel were soon walking through the airport toward the parking lot. They got a taxi and she looked out the window excitedly at the few sights she could see in the dark.
"It's more impressive by daylight, I promise," Angel said.
"Oh, I'm sure it is," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry if I'm seeming childish but I've never been out of the country before. Not even out of Sunnydale."
"I know," Angel replied "And you're not being childish, I'm glad you're happy with this surprise. And in case you're wondering, I cleared this trip with Giles a week ago," he said. "So don't worry about anything this week, Buffy, they're well-prepared to deal with your absence on the Hellmouth. Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley are even willing to go help out if needed."
"You thought of absolutely everything," Buffy smiled. "I don't know how to ever thank you."
"Just relax and enjoy yourself," he replied. "That's all I want."
They arrived at the hotel and the porters carried their bags in. "Jones," Angel told the front desk, shrugging at Buffy as if to say, 'Got a better last name for me?'
Buffy giggled and shook her head. She didn't think about it often, but it was true Angel didn't really have a last name. Jones was what Cordelia had decided on years ago for his fake i.d. when Angel hadn't declared a preference. Buffy didn't care what his last name was, though, he was her Angel and that was all she cared about.
They took the elevator up to the fourteenth floor and Angel handed her a key when they were halfway down the hall. "I got us adjoining rooms," he explained. "704 for you," he pointed to one door, "and 705 for me," he pointed to the next door.
Buffy opened her door. There was a bathroom to her left and then a little dining area with two chairs and a table. Further in was the huge queen-sized bed. There was a door on the left wall, which she assumed led to Angel's room. He unlocked the door and went through to his own as she walked out to the balcony to admire what little she could see of the view.
*God, this is so beautiful,* she thought with a smile. *And of course he didn't want me to feel pressured so he got two rooms. That is so sweet and typical of him.*
Angel directed the porters where to put all the bags and then returned to Buffy's room. She was just returning from the balcony. "You like it?" he asked.
"How can you even ask me something like that?" she wondered. "Angel, you really went so far beyond anything that I ever would have expected. I like it. I love it. I'm so happy, I don't think I can put it into words."
"I just want you happy," Angel said and walked over to her. He pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Always."
"When I said you were spoiling me, I had no idea," she joked. They both laughed and she added, "But you wouldn't have to do *any* of this to make me happy, Angel. I'm happy just being with you."
"I feel the same way," Angel replied. "And I know I don't *have* to do these things, but I want to. I like doing surprising things to see that completely overwhelmed look on your face. In those moments, I feel like you get just a glimpse of how much I love you."
"I think I do," Buffy said, with a little smile.
"So why don't you get a few more hours of sleep?" he suggested. He was reluctant to be away from her, even for a little while, but he knew she needed a little more sleep. "When you wake up, we'll have breakfast and I'll tell you my plans for our Valentine's Day together."
"Sounds like a good idea," Buffy agreed. She didn't really like the idea of sleeping alone but she knew it was selfish to expect him to hold her again. She doubted he'd gotten a lot of sleep earlier that night. "Good night, Angel," she said.
Angel leaned down for a lingering kiss. "Good night, My Love," he said finally. He went back to his room
Buffy sighed and got undressed again, slipping on a nightshirt out of her suitcase. Then she crawled into bed. Even though she missed Angel's strong, comforting arms, she was soon asleep again.
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Part 38
Angel didn't sleep incredibly soundly but it was worth it just to hold her. Even though it was also unbelievable torture, but he wouldn't have traded that feeling for the world. Because at least they were together. And that meant everything to him, after he'd spent so many miserable nights the previous twenty years without her in his arms. There were times he had dreamt about her but that would only make it worse because he always woke up alone again.
It had never occurred to him to even try to find another love because he knew that love wouldn't exist. Even though he'd told Buffy to move on and was grateful she had. He wouldn't have wanted her to spend the last twenty years as alone as he had been.
So now that all that was behind them, any discomfort at being this close to her was bearable. Even though it included having to resist the urge to touch her beautiful breasts or her firm stomach or... *STOP THAT!* He told himself. *Go to sleep.* He wished he could, but sleep eluded him. He mused about the fact that she was able to sleep much better than he was in this situation. *That's good, though. It means she trusts me and that's a really important part of our relationship.*
Buffy shifted slightly, rubbing against him and he bit his lip as he tried to will his body NOT to react. It didn't obey him. He stifled a moan and moved a little further away from her so she wouldn't wake up and feel his obvious arousal pressing against her through his boxer shorts.
He opened his eyes and realized he'd slept a little more. It was dark outside, he could tell through the cracks in the window covers. But that didn't mean anything, since they were going east. It felt like it was still night, but he didn't know which time zone they were in. He checked his watch to see what time it was. It was one a.m. sunnydale time, Saturday morning.
He knew it was a ten hour flight total but he couldn't remember what time it would be when they would arrive. The flight attendant had been told to knock when they were within an hour of landing. Until he heard that knock, he'd just relax and enjoy holding the woman he loved.
The sound of knocking startled him awake yet again. "Sir? We're landing soon," he heard through the curtain.
"Thank you," he replied. He checked his watch again. It was two a.m. Sunnydale time. He should have been exhausted by lack of sleep but he was too excited to be tired. He hoped that Buffy had gotten enough sleep, though.
"Buffy?" he said, running a hand through her hair. "Wake up, Sweetheart."
"Why?" she whimpered.
He held back a chuckle. "I know it's early by your time-clock - two a.m. if you're wondering - but we're almost to Paris, Baby," he replied. "You can sleep more when we get to the hotel."
Her eyes snapped open. "Paris? You did NOT say Paris, did you? Because I thought that's what I heard you say. Did I dream that?"
He couldn't help laughing at her completely adorable not-quite-awake reaction to his revelation. "I said Paris," he nodded. Before he knew it, she was kissing him, making *him* whimper.
"Oh, Angel!" she said when she pulled away for breath. "Paris? You are just too wonderful! You actually flew me to Paris?!" She smiled at him before kissing him again. "I forgive you for waking me up so early, because Paris is definitely worth it!"
He chuckled as he cradled her face in his and kissed her gently. "I'm glad you like our destination. Now, if I remember correctly, it's about eleven p.m. Saturday evening, here. It'll be midnite when we land. So we'll have all of this week to spend in Paris. We'll leave next week, Monday morning, since we'll be gaining a day on our way back."
"I can't believe you'd do this for me... for us," she said, completely at a loss for what else to say.
"I love you," he said seriously. "When we decided to take the week of Valentine's Day off of work and spend it together, I started thinking about how to make it really special. And I couldn't think of a better place than Paris to do it." He kissed her gently and added, "Now, as much as I would love to just stay here and hold you in my arms, we need to get dressed and ready for landing in about an hour."
She nodded. "Okay," she said as she rolled away and got out of bed.
He watched as she left and then got out of bed himself. He pulled on his blue jeans and a white button-down longsleeved shirt. He ran a hand through his hair and then waited for the bathroom to be free. She walked out eventually in khaki pants and a green blouse. She'd pulled her hair back in a pony tail.
"Is it really weird of me to say I'm going back to bed when we get there?" she asked with a yawn.
"No," he assured her. "Considering the rest of the population will be asleep for at least the next six hours it's not a problem."
"Good, I didn't want to sound ungrateful or anything," she said.
"You don't," he assured her and kissed her before he went on to the bathroom.
Buffy went into the main cabin and sat on the couch, smiling as she thought about how romantic this all was. She and Angel were in Paris! For ...eight whole days. "God I love this man," she said out loud.
He walked out and sat next to her a few minutes later. She laid her head on his shoulder and he pulled her close. "How'd you sleep?" he asked.
"Good, really good," she answered, wrapping an arm around his waist. "It just felt so... natural being in your arms," she added.
"I'm glad to hear it," Angel replied with a smile. "Because it felt very right holding you."
An hour later, Buffy woke as the plane started to make the descent. Once they had landed, Buffy and Angel were soon walking through the airport toward the parking lot. They got a taxi and she looked out the window excitedly at the few sights she could see in the dark.
"It's more impressive by daylight, I promise," Angel said.
"Oh, I'm sure it is," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry if I'm seeming childish but I've never been out of the country before. Not even out of Sunnydale."
"I know," Angel replied "And you're not being childish, I'm glad you're happy with this surprise. And in case you're wondering, I cleared this trip with Giles a week ago," he said. "So don't worry about anything this week, Buffy, they're well-prepared to deal with your absence on the Hellmouth. Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley are even willing to go help out if needed."
"You thought of absolutely everything," Buffy smiled. "I don't know how to ever thank you."
"Just relax and enjoy yourself," he replied. "That's all I want."
They arrived at the hotel and the porters carried their bags in. "Jones," Angel told the front desk, shrugging at Buffy as if to say, 'Got a better last name for me?'
Buffy giggled and shook her head. She didn't think about it often, but it was true Angel didn't really have a last name. Jones was what Cordelia had decided on years ago for his fake i.d. when Angel hadn't declared a preference. Buffy didn't care what his last name was, though, he was her Angel and that was all she cared about.
They took the elevator up to the fourteenth floor and Angel handed her a key when they were halfway down the hall. "I got us adjoining rooms," he explained. "704 for you," he pointed to one door, "and 705 for me," he pointed to the next door.
Buffy opened her door. There was a bathroom to her left and then a little dining area with two chairs and a table. Further in was the huge queen-sized bed. There was a door on the left wall, which she assumed led to Angel's room. He unlocked the door and went through to his own as she walked out to the balcony to admire what little she could see of the view.
*God, this is so beautiful,* she thought with a smile. *And of course he didn't want me to feel pressured so he got two rooms. That is so sweet and typical of him.*
Angel directed the porters where to put all the bags and then returned to Buffy's room. She was just returning from the balcony. "You like it?" he asked.
"How can you even ask me something like that?" she wondered. "Angel, you really went so far beyond anything that I ever would have expected. I like it. I love it. I'm so happy, I don't think I can put it into words."
"I just want you happy," Angel said and walked over to her. He pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Always."
"When I said you were spoiling me, I had no idea," she joked. They both laughed and she added, "But you wouldn't have to do *any* of this to make me happy, Angel. I'm happy just being with you."
"I feel the same way," Angel replied. "And I know I don't *have* to do these things, but I want to. I like doing surprising things to see that completely overwhelmed look on your face. In those moments, I feel like you get just a glimpse of how much I love you."
"I think I do," Buffy said, with a little smile.
"So why don't you get a few more hours of sleep?" he suggested. He was reluctant to be away from her, even for a little while, but he knew she needed a little more sleep. "When you wake up, we'll have breakfast and I'll tell you my plans for our Valentine's Day together."
"Sounds like a good idea," Buffy agreed. She didn't really like the idea of sleeping alone but she knew it was selfish to expect him to hold her again. She doubted he'd gotten a lot of sleep earlier that night. "Good night, Angel," she said.
Angel leaned down for a lingering kiss. "Good night, My Love," he said finally. He went back to his room
Buffy sighed and got undressed again, slipping on a nightshirt out of her suitcase. Then she crawled into bed. Even though she missed Angel's strong, comforting arms, she was soon asleep again.
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