Sliver of the Moon

By:  Heather



DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters. They are the property of Joss and Co. I am just borrowing them. Please don't sue me. The song belongs to Skip Ewing from the album 'Until I found you'. I don't own it either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Will, you won't be a fifth wheel. We're going to a club, there will be hundreds of people there, besides, Angel is bringing a friend so technically there will be six of us."

"No, Willow, I am not trying to set you up. I promise."

"Xander and Cordy will bring you."

"Will, just be ready at nine, ok? Bye"

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief as she placed the telephone back into its cradle. She had just spent the last hour trying to convince her best friend that she would have fun if she came with her to the new club in town. Ok, so technically she would be going with Xander, Cordy, and Angel too.

Angel.

Just his name always caused a huge smile to appear on her face, in what Xander had quickly dubbed 'Angel face'. Buffy laughed as she remembered the interrogation she had encountered, upon waking, the morning after her first date with Angel.

~~Flashback~~
Buffy sleepily walked into the kitchen to find her roommates watching her expectantly. She knew that they had probably figured out that she had been with Angel the night before, but she was going to make them wait as long as she could before she confirmed it. Smiling to herself, she waved in their direction and then poured herself a glass of orange juice. When she finally seated herself at the table she looked up and found that they were still looking at her.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"So what did you do last night? Where were you?" Xander asked, with a grin.

"I left a message telling you that I was going to be late. Didn't you get it?" Buffy said

"Yeah, we got it but all you said was that you were going to be late. You didn't say what you..." Xander started but was interrupted by Willow.

"Were you with Angel?"

Looking at her best friends excited face, Buffy felt her resolve leave her and a wide smile spread across her face. "Now why would I be out with Angel?"

"I knew it! He finally asked you out!" Willow said, almost jumping out of her chair with joy.

Buffy nodded her head as she found herself giggling like a little girl. She told them their lunch together, walking in the park, and their night at the amusement park. When she finished, Willow declared that it was the most romantic story that she had ever heard and Xander said he had sugar shock. Buffy listened to both of their comments, feeling happier than she ever remember.
~~end flashback~~

That had happened a month ago and things had only gotten better. The two of them spent as much time together as they could, Buffy even convinced Giles to let them work the same shift at the library on most days. Unfortunately today was not one of those days, it was her day off, but Angel was working.

Buffy sighed as she walked out onto the front porch of her Mom's house. She had spent the day there with her Mom, they didn't get to see each other very much lately and they both missed their time together.

'Only an hour,' Buffy thought as she looked down at her watch. Angel was going to pick her up after he got off work and she was quickly becoming impatient. They hadn't seen very much of each other this week because of conflicting schedules and even though they talked on the phone, it wasn't the same. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she felt a pair of hands close over her eyes and warm breath on her ear.

"Guess who?"

"Riley," Buffy said, then laughed as she heard the growl that came from her boyfriend at the reminder of the boy who just wouldn't take no for an answer.

"You should be so lucky," he said sarcastically, "If this is how I'm going to be greeted, then I'm going home." His threat was discredited by the fact that he was barely containing his smile.

"Oh, did I hurt the poor baby's feelings? Let's try it again then," she said as she stood and turned to face him. "Hey Baby," she said in a sexy voice as she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a gentle kiss on his more than willing lips.
After a moment Buffy pulled back slightly, "Believe me when I say that I'm not complaining, but how come you're early?"

Keeping his arms tightly locked around her waste, he answered, "I finished up and Giles said I could go. I think he was just trying to get on your good side since you've been mad at him all week for putting us on different schedules."

"Well it worked, he's officially back in my good graces." Buffy said with a smile before she kissed him once again. Weaving his fingers through her hair, Angel pulled her even closer as he deepened the kiss. Buffy eagerly responded to his demands with equal passion, putting all of her feelings into the kiss.

They quickly found themselves lost in each others touch, but the sound of someone clearing their throat brought them back to the present. They broke apart quickly and turned to find Buffy's mother standing behind them with a smile on her face.

"Hi Mom," Buffy said,

"Hi" she replied

"Um, did you need something?" Buffy asked as she untangled herself from Angel.

"No, not really, I just thought I would do my motherly duty and walk in you at an inopportune moment," she said causing both Buffy and Angel to laugh.

"Good job. Angel, this is my mom, Joyce Giles. Mom, this is Angelus McClowery."

"Nice to meet you." Angel said.

"Nice to meet you, too, Angelus." Joyce replied.

"You can call me Angel," he said, shooting Buffy a look, "everybody else seems to, lately"

Buffy smiled at him innocently, "Why are you giving me that look? I like calling you Angel."

Angel finally gave up trying to act mad and smiled back at her, "So what time are we supposed to meet the others?"

"I told them to be there by 9:30," Buffy said.

"Well then I guess we have a little extra time before we need to get going."

"Why don't the two of you come inside and until then and I can get to know Angel a little better," Joyce said as she moved towards the door.

"Ooh, Angel Q&A. Sounds like fun to me!" Buffy said cheerily as she pulled Angel along behind her.

Angel grimaced, but followed her inside, "Yeah, lots of fun."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At 9'o'clock Buffy and Angel walked into the club. They had spent a few hours with Buffy's mom before they had made their escape. As they walked into the crowded club, they looked around for their friends.

"I don't think that the guys are here yet," Buffy said.

Angel looked around for a minute longer, "I don't see them either, wait, there's Spike."

Angel lead her through the crowd, while Buffy anxiously awaited her first glimpse of Angel's best friend. Angel had told her all kinds of stories about him, but they had yet to meet. Even with everything she had been told, she was a little shocked when she found herself face to face with a blue eyed, peroxide blond.

"You made it." Angel said as he slapped his friend on the back.

Spike smirked at him, "Well I didn't have a better offer. Besides," he said as he turned towards Buffy, "I wasn't going to pass up a chance to meet the infamous Buffy. Hello Cutie."

"Hi," She replied, still slightly in shock over the difference between the person she expected to meet and the one standing in front of her. "Nice to meet you."

"You too," he replied. He then turned to Angel, "I thought you said there was going to be a group of people here, Angelus. Three people doesn't seem like a very big group to me," he said with a smile.

"Buffy's friends are coming. They should be here soon." Angel replied.

"They probably had to physically force Willow into the car. On the phone earlier, she kept trying to back out of coming," Buffy said.

"Why didn't she want to come?" Angel asked.

Buffy sighed, "I don't know, something about being a fifth wheel."

"She goes places with us all the time. It has never bothered her before." Angel said.

"It's the club scene. She has been avoiding having to go out like this since she broke up with her boyfriend a few months ago.

"I can see why she wouldn't want to come," Spike said. At Buffy and Angel's questioning looks, he continued, "Well, it's no fun to be alone in a place that is packed with couples."

"I know, but I just want her to have some fun. She's my best friend, I hate seeing her unhappy." Buffy said.

Angel wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, "Baby, don't worry. She'll move on when she's ready."

"I know," she replied before placing a quick kiss on his lips. She then turned towards the other man at their table, "So, Spike, do you have any good stories that you think I would be interested in hearing?"

A wide smile spread across his face, just before Angel's hand clamped across his mouth. "Buffy, listen to nothing that this man says. He has no idea what he's talking about."

"Ok, now I know that we have got to talk," Buffy said to Spike as he was released by Angel. Just then she noticed that her friend had entered the club. "Angel, the guys are here. I'm going to go get them."

Both men watched as she walked away from the table. Spike suddenly turned towards his friend, "So, that's Buffy huh?"

"Yeah, that's her," Angel replied, without looking away from her as she greeted her friends.

Spike laughed, "Well, ANGEL, you have certainly got it bad."

Angel grimaced at Spike's use of his nickname, "I knew that I wouldn't make it through the night without you commenting on that."

"How did that come about?"

Angel laughed at the memory, "It's a long story."

"Ok, I'll get it out of you later. Here comes your girl and her friends."

"Hey," Angel said as they all crowded around the small table. Leaving her former chair available for Willow, Buffy claimed a seat on Angel's lap. Xander and his girlfriend Cordelia sat in the remaining two chairs.

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Angel's friend Spike. Spike, these are my friends, Xander, Cordelia, and Willow," Buffy said.
"Always glad to have another guy around," Xander laughed, "I'm tired of being outnumbered."

"Oh, you know that you love it," Cordelia replied. Thus beginning one of Xander and Cordelia's famous "conversations".

Spike watched the interaction between the mismatched couple. The guy seemed all right, but he had a goofy, childlike way about him, while his girlfriend was definitely a class act. He then turned his attention to the other new face at the table. She wasn't exactly like he had pictured her when Buffy had been talking earlier, but he definitely wasn't disappointed. She was also watching the good-natured argument that ws occurring between her two friends. Suddenly she laughed at something that Buffy had whispered in her ear and Spike couldn't help but think how pretty she was when she smiled. When he felt someone nudge him, he turned to find that Angel was leaning in close to him.

"What are you looking at, Spike?"

"You didn't tell me that she was a red head." he replied.

"Oh, I didn't?" Angel said innocently, even though he was very aware that he hadn't mentioned it. He also knew very well that Spike found red hair to be very attractive. "It must have slipped my mind."

"Oh I bet it did, Angel," he replied, once again stressing Angel's nickname, "I bet it did."

~*~*~*~*~*~
The group sat for a while, just laughing and getting to know one another, occasionally getting up to dance. Finally the girls announced that they were going to do the girl-group-bathroom-thing. After they had left the table, Xander asked, "Why do they do that? They can't go alone?"

"It's female code for 'we're going to talk now'." Spike replied.

"I'd like to hear one of those conversations," xander said.

Angel laughed, "Wouldn't we all. Spike, while they're gone, I need to ask you a favor."

"Sure, what do you need?"

"I need you to help me set up a surprise for Buffy tomorrow."

After hearing the details of Angel's surprise, the other two men looked at each other and laughed. Spike shook his head and looked at his long time friend, "When did you become such a sap?"

"I'd guess that it ws about the time that Buffy became a bubbly, giggling romantic," Xander said.

Doing his best to ignore their comments, Angel asked, "Are you going to help me or not?"

Spike sighed, "You know I will, but you own me one."

"Thanks Spike."

Meanwhile, the girls were making plans of a different kind.

"Buffy, Halloween is only two weeks away. We need to decide what costumes we are all going to wear to the party," Cordelia said.

"I haven't decided yet. Willow, what are you going to wear?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know, I haven't really thought about it." Willow said, without much enthusiasm.

"Will, what's wrong? Don't you want to go to the party?"

"I don't know, it really sounds like fun, but it's just more couplely stuff and well, I'm still not part of a couple."

"Haven't you had fun tonight?" Buffy asked.

Willow thought for a minute, "Well, yeah, actually."

"Well, see. You didn't think you would. I even saw you dancing with Spike a few times." Buffy continued.

"Buffy, that was just because you guys were all dancing."

"What? You don't like him?" Cordelia asked.

"No, I mean yeah, he seems nice, I guess." Willow replied.

"See, Will, you can still have some fun and not be a part of a couple." Buffy said

"I know," Willow sighed, "Ok, I'm going with you guys, but you have to help me find a costume."

"Great!"Buffy smiled, "Now let's go break the news to the guys."

The gils made their way back to the table and informed the guys of their upcoming plans. Neither Angel or Xander found the idea very appealing, but of course gave in to the wants of their girlfriends.

"You guys planned all that in one trip to the ladies room?" Xander asked.

"No, silly," Willow said, "We just made the final decision to go to the party, we haven't planned anything yet." Everyone laughed at the look of horror that crossed Xander's face.

"We need to get started though," Cordelia said. "Why don't we meet tomorrow afternoon and we can go looking for costumes?"

"Buffy's busy tomorrow." Angel said quickly.

She turned in his lap until she could see his face and then asked, "I am? Since when?"

Giving her his best puppy dog face, he said, "Since I'm asking you not to do anything tomorrow because I have a surprise for you."

"Well, I don't know...," Buffy pretended to think. "Ok! Sorry guys, I'm busy tomorrow."

"Oh, like you even had to think about it," Cordelia said sarcastically.

"Yeah, well," was Buffy's only comment.

After a few more hours spent at the club, and many more complaints from Angel and Xander about going to a costume party, the group decided to call it a night and all headed for home.
*~*~*~*~*~*

"Xander, can you let Angel in?" Buffy yelled form her bedroom when she heard the knock on the door.

"Yeah, I got it," he answered as he opened the door. "Hey, man, come on it. Buffy's still getting ready."

"Thanks," Angel said as he entered the apartment.

"So, did you guys get everything ready?" Xander asked after making sure that Buffy wasn't in hearing distance.

"Hopefully, Spike is supposed to be finishing everything up now. I told him to have it ready by 7."

Just then Buffy emerged from her bedroom, "Ok, I'm ready. What's my surprise?"

Laughing Angel leaned down to place a kiss on her lips, then he replied, "You have to wait and see."

"Hey, last night you said I had to wait until today." Buffy pouted.

"Well, now you have to wait a little while longer."

Buffy smiled in spite of her best efforts not to do so, "You are really not funny, do you know that?"

Angle smiled down at her, "Are you ready to leave?"

"Let's go!" Buffy said quickly, "Bye Xand, tell Will that I'll talk to her about the costumes they found tomorrow."

"Sure thing," Xander said, "You two crazy kids go, have fun."

"See ya," Angel said before she closed the door. They reached Angel's car and pulled out onto the street. After driving for a few minutes, Buffy once again became impatient.

"Angel, where are we going?"

"I told you, it's a surprise." he replied.

Buffy moved closer to him and asked, "Can't you give me one little bitty hint?"

"No."

"Angel! Please."

"No," he laughed, "It would ruin everything."

"Oh all right, be that way." she pouted. After a few minutes more she asked, "Am I getting to you yet?"

"Angel laughed once again, "No, you're cute when you pout."

"Ha ha ha"

When they pulled into the parking area, Buffy realized immediately where they were. They were at the park that they had visited on their first date.

"Come on," Angel said as he opened the door for her and pulled her from the car. They walked hand in hand down the same path that they walked down on that fabulous day that had happened one month before.

Lost in her memories of that day, Buffy didn't even realize that Angel had stopped walking until she felt a tug on her hand. She turned to face her boyfriend, "Why'd you stop?"

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

She smiled, "You know I do."

"Close your eyes." he said.

When she complied, Angel gently guided her forward, making sure that there was nothing that she would trip over. As they entered the clearing, Angel looked around to assure himself that everything had been set up correctly. Standing behind Buffy, he wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Now open them."

Buffy slowly opened her eyes and gasped, "Angel, I can't believe...It's beautiful." She threw her arms around his neck. Then she turned back to look at the most beautiful picnic she had ever seen. There was a large blanket lying on the ground with a huge selection of all Buffy's favorite foods. Candles had been placed around the sides of the blanket and soft music was coming from a small radio. Buffy turned back towards Angel, "I don't know what to say."

Angel smiled, "Well, why don't we eat and you can think about it."

"Okay, but first," Buffy said before moving into the circle of Angel's arms, "I think I should say thank you." With that said, Buffy pulled his head down to meet hers. Their lips met in a gentle kiss. A kiss which quickly became more passionate. Just before they both lost control, Angel pulled away.

"Your welcome" he said, breathing heavily.

:Buffy laughed, but was equally breathless, " Let's eat."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy sighed and leaned back onto Angel's chest. She felt completely safe and happy, wrapped tightly in his arms.

"I can't believe you did all of this. You are so sweet."

"There you go again with all of that 'sweet' stuff again," he stated.

Laughing Buffy said, "I'm sorry. I forgot you don't like that. How's this, You are the best boyfriend ever and this has been the best night of my life."

"That's better. So best night of your life, huh?" he asked.

Buffy nodded, "No contest."

"So nothing could make it better?"

"It would take a lot" she stated.

"Well, let's see if this will do it, he said as he handed he a small wrapped package.

"What's this?" she asked as she was sitting up so that she could open the gift.

"Open it and see," he said.

Buffy removed the paper to find a small box. When she opened the box, she found herself speechless for the second time that night.

"Angel..."

"It's a Claddagh ring. Where my father is from, people exchange them as a sign of devotion," he told her.

"It's beautiful."

"If you where it with the heart pointing towards you, it means you belong to someone, like this." he explained as he held up his hand to show a matching ring on his own finger.

Buffy smiled, " Will you put it on for me?"

Angel brought the ring to his lips and gently kissed it before placing it on her finger.

"What do the different symbols stand for?" she asked.

Angel shifted a little nervously, "The hands stand for friendship, the crown stands for loyalty, and the heart...the heart stands for love."

He quickly looked into Buffy's eyes to see what her reaction was to his statement. She was staring at him with a slight smile on her lips and her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Without his ever loosing eye contact with her, he quietly said, "I love you, Buffy"

"I love you, too" she replied in the same quiet voice. She pulled his hand to her lips and kissed his ring in the same manner as he had to her own. Once again Angel lowered his head to capture her lips in a kiss. This one wasn't has passionate as the one the had shared earlier, yet it expressed all of the emotions that they each were feeling.

Angel pulled back when he heard a slow song that he recognized began to play over the nearly forgotten radio. He slowly rose to his feet and looked down at his love.

"Dance with me?" he said, as he pulled her to her feet.

Buffy didn't reply, she just stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. When he placed his arms around her waist, she placed her head on his shoulder. Together they began to move to the slow music.

Don't think I'm crazy
I know it's not the most romantic night
It's cold and it's cloudy
The moon is just a fingernail up in the sky
but I thought that we could take a walk
And just enjoy what's there
If we can't see it all
Well I don't care (just)

A sliver of the moon
The corner of a star
A little piece of romance
keeps love shinin' in our hearts
A twinkle in your eye
or a single firefly
that's all we need to make it right
not meteors and northern lights
It only takes a sliver of the moon

As the music continued, they continued to dance, as closely together as they could. They were each lost in their own thought of the paths that they had walked, the paths that had brought them together.

Buffy looked up into Angel's eye's, "I'm so glad that I met you."

"That day, was the best day of my life," Angel replied truthfully.

The song ended and another began, but the two couple never noticed. They were no longer dancing to the music form the radio. They were dancing to the music that flowed between their hearts.

THE END