Chapter Seven: Confrontations

A few minutes later, Angel found himself on the back porch of the Summers home, standing against the railing, staring out into the blackness of the night. Their last night on earth, and Buffy was off declaring her undying love to the evil undead? Angel secretly wondered if the Apocalypse hadn't already happened. Maybe this was hell, and they were all just too stupid to realize it.

Suddenly, Angel felt a presence behind him. He didn't have to turn around to know who it was. He stayed perfectly still and silent, as Cordelia moved up to stand beside him.

"She's with him, isn't she?"

"How did you know?" Angel turned to her, pain and accusation marring his face.

She met his gaze directly. "It's obvious. Anyone can see it. You just have to look at them."

Angel let out a low, feral growl as he turned away from her. "Well I didn't see it."

"You didn't want to see it. They've been through a lot together. From what Willow told me, it's a lot more than you can imagine. That does something to people Angel. When you fight beside someone, everyday - never knowing if each new battle is going to be your last - it forges a bond. Something deep and unbreakable. You know that. We've all fought together long enough to understand that. They have a connection. They've fought, side by side--"

"I don't want to hear it," he cut her off, brusquely.

"Fine." She moved closer to him, her stance determined. "But if you think that's going to make it any easier, you're wrong. You can't just deny the truth and pretend that nothing's happened. You've already done that with us. It's time you stopped running, and faced up to your fears."

"My fears?" He glared at her. "I don't have fears. I'm a vampire. I instill terror in others, not the other way around."

"Ha!"

"What did you say?" he asked, in slight disbelief.

"I said 'Ha!' You are afraid Angel. You're afraid of life. You get your curse lifted and the first thing you do is go sniffing after Buffy? Oh please, that is so over. It was so over years ago. The only reason you tried cuddling up to Buffy was because it was safe. A pretty little fairy tale. Well life isn't a fairy tale, Angel. Life is real. It's painful, and it's hard, and uncompromising. But it's real. And a hell of a lot more powerful than any stupid, schoolboy fantasy. Get over it Angel. You're just running. It's time you faced the truth."

Angel stared at her for a long, hard moment. The anger inside of him was threatening to break through the surface and rend the thinly veiled façade he had worked so hard to keep intact. She was wrong. He wasn't running. He wasn't scared of anything. "You're wrong," he said dangerously.

"No I'm not. If we do, in fact, die tomorrow, what are you saving yourself from? What pain or heartache are you avoiding by not trusting me?" She moved in closer, so that they were standing just inches apart. Titling her head back slightly, she stared up into his eyes. "What's going to happen if you face your fears Angel?" she asked softly.

Angel could feel the heat radiating from her body. She was so close. He felt his chest constrict, the muscles tightening all through his body. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he couldn't. What a damn fool he was.

He took a step back, never breaking her gaze. "I'm sorry," was all he said.

"That's a start." She took a step closer, but he held up his hands to hold her off.

"No. You don't understand. What I did tonight - what I tried to do," he corrected, "was wrong. It was an act of cowardice, but that doesn't make it all right. I had every intention of . . ." he looked away for a moment, "being with Buffy. There's nothing I can do to make it right."

Cordelia closed the distance between them, and brought her hand up to caress his face. "Is that what you really think? Tell me Angel, are all vampire's as dense as you?"

"I don't know. I'd imagine Spike's pretty high up there. I mean, he never did have the smallest shred of common sense. It's a miracle he's lasted this long. Maybe, more like a curse."

"I don't want to talk about Spike."

"Okay," he said nervously, "no complaints here."

"Kiss me Angel."

"What?"

"Kiss me."

Angel could feel his body weakening as she pressed against him. He stared into her eyes again, one last time, memorizing the look of love and desire he saw there. Slowly, he closed his eyes and leaned forward. He heard Cordy sigh as she leaned in and closed the distance. Their lips met, and Angel realized, just what this night was really meant for.

* * *

Buffy sighed in frustration as she tried to make her way past Anya and Andrew. They were arguing in the bathroom and had waylaid Buffy to play intermediary. All she really wanted was to get to Spike, but first she had to escape the evil clutches of the nerd and the ex-demon.

"Look you little cretin, you can't stay in here all night. The world is going to end tomorrow and some of us have to pee. So get out." Anya tried to push him through the open door.

'Hey," Andrew protested. "Buffy, tell her to stop it. She always has to pee. It's not my fault she has a bladder problem."

"Look," Buffy said, sternly. "Are you two finished?"

"I would be if Andrew would just leave."

"But I need to . . ."

Buffy grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him out into the hallway. Anya closed the door behind them. "If you know what's good for you," Buffy said, letting go of him, "you'll stop arguing with the vengeance demon."

"Ex-vengeance demon," he corrected.

"Right. You remind her of that when she's making party streamers out of your viscera." She smiled at him. "Goodnight, Andrew."

Buffy fled before he could say another word. She was getting anxious, and she desperately wanted to see Spike.

Quickly, she made her way downstairs, her heart racing, the blood thrumming through her veins. She needed to see Spike, needed to tell him.

Buffy was halfway down the steps when Faith came bounding around the corner, and started up the stairs herself. The two Slayers almost collided.

"Hey?" Faith said, stepping back a couple of steps, and grabbing onto the railing, her body completely blocking Buffy's path. "I thought you were going to bed? Big battle and all?"

"Yes," Buffy said coldly, "but there's something I have to do before bed."

"Yeah, I'll bet," Faith said, as she pushed passed her. "Hey?" She turned around, staring down at Buffy. "Didn't you just leave Angel? Wow B, I have to give you credit. I really didn't think you had it in you. Two in one night."

Buffy inhaled a much-needed breath, and prayed that her nerves would sustain her. There was something she had to know. "What . . . exactly . . . happened between you and Spike tonight?"

Faith smiled devilishly. "Oh, wouldn't you like to know?" She turned to continue up the stairs.

Buffy moved up and grabbed Faith by the forearm, stopping her. "Yes . . . I would," she said, her voice hard.

"Okay," Faith said defensively, pulling her arm out of Buffy's grip. "You want to know? We had a little talk, Spike and I."

"A little talk about what?"

"Oh, you know? This, that, life, death . . . sex. The whole shebang."

Buffy could feel her muscles beginning to tighten. She seriously wanted to punch Faith. "And?"

"And? The world's ending tomorrow, and neither of us had anybody to spend this last night with, so," Faith shrugged, "we . . . connected."

Buffy's eyes narrowed and she glared at Faith. "You . . ." Buffy caught her breath. She couldn't even say it. "You had sex with Spike?"

Faith laughed. "Oh, that's a good one. You worried B?" She moved down closer, her face inches from Buffy's. "Afraid I tamed your little pet vampire?"

"Yes, or no?"

Faith smiled again. "I offered. Offered to make him forget all about you. After all, we both thought you'd be upstairs doing Angel all night. I guess we were wrong. Or were we?"

"What did he do?"

"What do you think he did?" Faith snapped, her tone turning harsh. "He decided to hold out for Buffy. Dear, precious Buffy. You've trained him real well B. I have to give you credit. Although, if I ever had a vampire like Spike, the last thing I'd want him to be is housebroken."

Faith turned around and walked up the rest of the stairs. "Sweet dreams, sister Slayer," she said, looking back over her shoulder. "Enjoy your last night on earth."