Part Four

They cut it very close to dawn, Angel just making it inside before the first rays of light flickered over the horizon. Buffy led Angel down to the basement, which had been converted into a spare bedroom. It looked like it had been used as a sitting room with a television and couches, as well as a selection of games and videos. He noticed some of Dawn's homework strewn out across the coffee table. It looked like a home; tidy but relaxed and lived in. Buffy's voice startled him out of his realisations. 'You can stay in here, there's a crib in the attic somewhere. Do you want me to get it?'

'We can look for it tomorrow night he's fine in this for today. You should get some rest Buffy. You look tired.'

'Yeah I suppose I am a little. I just, I don't think I can sleep right now.'

'Do you want to talk, there's some stuff I think maybe we need to say. I need to say.' Wow, that was articulate, Angel. He scolded himself gently.

Buffy nodded and ran a hand through her hair the emotional strain showed on her face. 'Yeah, we do need to talk. But you know, it's always like this, everything is left unspoken and half-finished. It's driving my crazy.'

'I know. I just. I can't say goodbye, or that I don't love you because… It's too hard. I don't want to shut the door and say we can never be together.'

'But we can't, Angel. Isn't that the whole point? Why you left me?'

'It was, but there's something else… A while back we found a prophecy, well stole a prophecy, it said that after I had fought some battles and averted some apocalypses then I would become human.'

'Oh.'

'That demon that we captured today it's mixed up in all of this in my prophecy. And I think, it might have something to do with you too.'

'Oh.' Buffy was standing rigid and pale, her eyes staring full of emotion at Angel. 'Angel, what are you going to do after all this goes down and you're human.'

'I'll do what ever you want me to, Buffy. You and Connor, I live for you, I'll die for you. You're part of me and somewhere in you is a part of me. There is always was and there always will be, because I love you.' 

'I love you…' Buffy stepped closer to Angel so close he could feel the heat radiating from her body. 'Angel, after this is over, stay with me?'

'I promise I'll stay with you.'

'You'd better keep that promise.'

'I. Promise.' Angel leaned down to Buffy as she moved her lips up to his they kissed slowly at first and then growing more passionate, more hungry and the lust that had stayed contained for so long broke free. Angel's hands slipped under Buffy's shirt and her hands roamed his back as she arched against him trying to get as much contact as possible. Sanity pushed it's way into Angel's head a few minutes later. 'Wait Buffy, we can't…' She recognised the situation they were in and sighed, collapsing into his chest whilst she tried to regain control of her breathing.

'I can't wait till you're human.' She told him and pulled him closer to her 'Can I sleep in here tonight?'

'Buffy…'

'I just want you to be there when I wake up. So I know I wasn't dreaming, that you're really going to stay.'

'All right.' Buffy went upstairs to change and Angel rummaged through his stuff looking for something to wear in bed, he usually slept naked but it really didn't seem like the best idea tonight. Eventually he found some grey sweat pants and pulled them on. After a moment he felt her presence behind him. Turning Angel was forced to take an unnecessary breath at the sight of Buffy wearing a pair of silk pyjama bottoms and a tight black vest top. 'How do you always look so beautiful before you go to bed?' He asked her breaking the silence.

'You don't look so bad yourself.' She told him lightly and they smiled faintly at each other. Angel, ever polite, went around and pulled back the sheets on her side of the bad before going and getting in on the other side. They lay facing each other surrounded in the intimate comfort of the bed talking for hours, interrupted only by Connor crying a few times.

The third time Connor started crying Angel couldn't seem to settle him so he brought him over to the bed and lay him down between him and Buffy, Buffy carefully began to stroke Connor's cheek. A few moments later Connor was silent and asleep on the bed one hand clutching Buffy's wrist the other clutching Angel.

'You're good with him.' Angel whispered to Buffy as she looked down adoringly at Connor.

'It just seems natural… that sounds so strange doesn't it? Well it does, being here with your son. It feels right.'

'It looks right too.' Angel told her, Angel gently uncurled Connor's fingers from Buffy and his arms, picked him up and took him back to the travelling crib when he got back into bed Buffy snuggled against him, her arms draped around him and her head leaning against his shoulder. The position was so comfortable it was like they were made to stay like that.

'Angel?'

'Yes?'

'I wish this moment could last forever.'

The next morning was a school day and Buffy was woken up by Willow running down the stairs to pick up Dawn's homework. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs awstruck by the scene below her Angel and Buffy were lying entwined in each other on the bed whilst Connor slept in his travel crib at the end of the bed. Buffy twitched as she heard Willow's steps and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Willow in the corner of the room she carefully wriggled out of Angel's arms, he murmured a slight protest and then fell back to sleep.

'Buffy…' Willow whispered tightly as Buffy came over to her.

'Don't worry, I didn't sleep with him.'

'Well, good. But that wasn't what I was really worried about.' Buffy looked at her confused. 'Remember Riley? Your boyfriend? You know, the man who pulled you back from the brink of despair after dying?'

Buffy's eyes widened in shock, and horror at her own actions. 'Oh god, I forgot I totally forgot.'

'You forgot you had a boyfriend? Buffy that is not a good sign.'

'I know, besides. I'm going to get back together with Angel.'

'Huh?' Willow shock her head in confusion 'Buffy isn't that a bit risky, what with the unstable soul and everything?'

'Hopefully, it won't be an issue soon.' Buffy told her totally unable to surpress the smile that hid just under her skin. 'But no pressing for details, I don't want to jinx it.'

'Ok, but again what about Riley?'

'I suppose I had better go and explain and break up with him.'

'Isn't that a bit harsh? To go out with him and then dump him as soon as someone better comes along?'

'But this isn't *someone* better, this is Angel. I love Angel with everything in me, by tagging Riley along under false pretences isn't that worse?'

'I suppose, you'd better just break it to him gently.  You owe him that.'

'You're right, I do owe him that.' Buffy sighed and looked back at Angel still asleep on the bed… well probably not asleep just respecting the fact that this was a conversation he had no right to be part of and pretending to be asleep for the benefit of Willow. Buffy smiled, Angel was so perfect it was unbelievable. Struggling she brought her mind back to Riley, 'I'll tell him today, but I want to check in on Giles first.'

'Buffy! Giles and Wesley are here!' Dawn's shout stopped Willow from replying and she shrugged half smiling.

'At least you can tell Riley even quicker now. Don't put it off, if you're going to break up with him make it a clean break.' Willow gave her final warning and then ran up the stairs calling at Dawn to get in the car so she could take her shopping.