After they'd left Willow and Oz'place, they headed for the mansion first, because both Buffy and Cordelia wanted to see each other. Buffy had been surprised at first when Cordelia had crushed her into a tight hug, but happily returned the embrace. Buffy found out that Cordelia had changed a lot through the past five years, from a snobby selfish girl, to a matured and kind spirited young woman. They had a pleasant conversation until Angel insisted that he and Buffy should go, because he had made diner reservations at nine o'clock. The two women parted with the mutal feeling that they could become great friends in the near future.

Angel took her to a small, cozy Italian restaurant just outside of Sunnydale. While they were having diner they talked about what happened to them in the past five years. Buffy told him about college life, sharing an apartment with Willow, Oz and Xander, stuying until late in the night, slaying ,her mothers sickness, Oz having discovered she had a beautiful singing voice and pushed her to start a singing career after the End of Days. In return Angel told her about coming to LA, setting up his own PI with Doyle and Cordelia, the pain he felt when Doyle died, Wolfram & Heart and countless lost souls he saved, remaining a 'normal' PI after he turned human.

But they were avoiding some certain subjects.

*****

"Buffy we need to talk" Angel said when they were walking on the beach. They had decided to go there after they'd left the restaurant.

"Yeah we do" Buffy said, not really knowing where to start.

They walked on for some minutes in silence, both thinking of a way to begin. Out of the blue Angel grabed her hands and stood before her, looking deeply in her eyes. "The reason why I didn't tell you about my humanity was because I thought you moved on"

"Moved on?"

"Yes. By the time I received my humanity you were already gaining some stardom and you had Riley. I saw some pictures of you together in a magazine and I saw you were happy, that you loved him and that you finally had the normal life I wanted for you."

Buffy sighed. "I didn't love Riley. And I don't think traveling from place to place and sleeping in a different bed almost every night is your average normal life. You wanna know why I started with the singing career? Because I didn't want a normal life".. She hesitated because she wasn't sure if she would dare to say it out lout. ".Not unless I could have it with you."

"Buffy.. oh Buffy" Angel was at a loss of words. Instead of saying something he cupped her face in his hands, pulling her into a sweet kiss that showed how much he was affected by her words. After a while Angel broke the kiss, but they remained in a tight embrace. "I didn't dare to dream that you still would want me back until I saw that article in a kiosk. I was simply frozen to the spot. Cordelia grabbed a magazine and read out lout that you broke up with your boyfriend because of me"

"Yeah well, I finally realized that Riley was just a rebound guy and that I simply used him so that I wouldn't feel so lonely.. I really felt guilty about it first, but after he got money for his story.... I guess he didn't take it so well, bastard."

Angel brushed a strain of hair behind her ear. "I must admit I hated the guy first for talking openly about private things that happened between the two of you. But Buffy, that's just his way for lashing out on you, hoping that you would be hurt just as much as you hurt him."

"Well he did a great job with that. I'm not hurt about it, ok maybe a bit, but most of all I'm angry and pissed off at him." Buffy sighed, but then got a devilish grin on her face. "This is really one of those times when I wish that I still would have my slayer strength. So that I could knock some sense in him"

Angel gave her a disapproving look, but his eyes held an amused twinkle. "You know you don't really mean that and besides, wouldn't that be bad for your image? It will be in all the tabloids 'Sweet Buffy beat up her ex' But on the other hand, maybe you could get your own slayer action figures out of it."

Buffy wacked him playfully on the arm. "Hey! That's not funny. And since when did you start to make bad jokes?"

"Bad jokes huh? I'll get you for that!" Angel showed what he meant by tickeling Buffy in her sides and belly.

"Annngeell!! Sstop ah it!" Buffy managed to get out. She tried to get away but Angel yanked her against his chest, capturing her in his thight embrace once more.

"Since I spent a lot of time with Gunn, he's a friends of mine. I think his 'bad' jokes rubbed of on me"

"A funny Angel. It's a whole new side of you." She cupped his cheek in her hand and caressed his skin with her thumb. "I love it though. I'm glad you smile a lot more than five years ago." She pulled his head down for another sweet kiss.

The kiss quickly grew more passionate, as the lovers both rediscovered each other. They had been apart for to long. They crushed their bodies against each other, needing to be as close as they possibly could. Hands were roaming up and down, caressing each others bodies. Feeling the hunger consumilate them, they abrubtly stopped, both panting for breath.

"Angel"

"Buffy"

They smiled looking deeply in each others eyes.

"I love you." Buffy finally said. "I want to make it work this time Angel. I don't think I can survive you leaving me again. This time I want forever, can you promise me forever Angel?"

Angel took her small hand into his. "I promise Buffy. We will make it work this time, because we were destinied for each other. I love you Buffy Summers, with all my heart I love you."

The lovers shared another loving embrace, knowing things would work out fine for them.

The End.

This was it! Hope you liked it :) Leave a review please!