Chapter 2.

Buffy woke smiling, and she stretched out across the bed, reaching for Angel. He wasn't there, and the sheets were cold. Terror spiked through her, and Buffy bolted upright, shooting a glance over at the nightstand. The heart was there, in one piece.

Buffy dressed and went up to the lobby. No one was around except a young man who was sauntering in through the hotel doors. "You must be Buffy," he said.

"Connor?"

"So, you're the Slayer with the thing for vampires."

"I'm Buffy."

"Is it just Angel and Spike, or are there others?"

Buffy parted her lips to reply, but then Angel came through the doors. He looked over at Connor and then at Buffy. "So, you two have met."

"You could say that," Buffy said.

"How's that magic working for you?" Connor asked. "Is the green heart going to replace the blue pill?"

"Jealous much?" Buffy asked.

Connor stared at her for a moment and then turned and walked out of the hotel. "He's a little immature sometimes," Angel said, depositing something on the lobby desk. Buffy came closer and saw that it was a beautifully carved wood box.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Something I picked up at the occult shop," he said, gently raising the lid so she could see the red velvet inside. "For protecting that piece of marble."

"Do you think that will make it last longer?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said, closing the lid carefully. "I don't know if anything can."

Buffy walked over to him, close, and pressed him up against the lobby desk. She put her hands on his cheeks and lowered his face to hers, delivering a deep, hot kiss that burned through her. Angel pressed her closer as he broke the kiss and brought his lips to her neck. The sensation of his teeth against her skin was almost more than she could bear.

"Careful, Slayer," he whispered, his hands traveling up her back before gently pressing her away. "I'm still a vampire."

"Not finding that a problem at the moment," Buffy said. "You know, what if we're right in the middle of something and the heart falls apart?" she asked.

"Right in the middle of what?" Angel teased.

"I'm serious."

"I guess we'd be screwed," Angel said. But then he smiled again.

"Great," Buffy said, "this is still dangerous, and you're making light of it."

"Everything we do is dangerous," Angel said. He picked up the box and took it down to his room where he placed the heart inside; Buffy followed, watching as he set it carefully on a shelf. "It's a beautiful night," he said. "Let's go for walk."

"We're going to have to talk about Sunnydale."

"Eventually."

"I don't want to miss any of the time I could be with you."

Angel smiled. "I could just drop the thing..."

Buffy grabbed his hand. "Don't even joke about that," she said, steering him out of the room and back up to the lobby. As they headed toward the door she said, "You could make a real visit in Sunnydale."

"I don't know about that," Angel said.

"Because of Spike."

"I'd rather not see him."

"He's going to find out about this."

Angel stopped walking. "Do you think I'm afraid of Spike?" he asked.

"No, I just mean that when he finds out about this it's only a matter of time before the confrontation," she said. "Maybe it would be better to get it over with."

Angel put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him head on. "Tell me this isn't about some sick desire to see your vampire lovers duke it out over you," he said.

"I don't know if I would say it was a sick desire..."

"Buffy."

"No, I don't have a desire to see you and Spike fight...though wrestling in mud or chocolate pudding might not be that bad. Is that considered sick?"

"Not if it's you and me."

"That could probably be arranged," Buffy said. "Is Spike the reason you didn't come to Sunnydale more often?"

"I had some concerns of my own here."

"Like Cordelia?"

Angel raised an eyebrow. "Cordy was a part of it."

"Where is she?"

"Recovering from what she went through."

"How serious was it between you?"

Angel sighed. "It hadn't really gotten anywhere yet."

"But you wanted it to."

"Yes."

"And now?"

"Cordy deserves to be the love of someone's life. I think if there wasn't a you and me I would have tried again with her. But she deserves better than to be my second choice." He looked away for a moment and then looked back at her. "What about Spike?"

"It became more than I wanted or expected, but it wasn't like it is with you."

Angel smiled. "It hasn't always been that great with me."

"True, but when it's good, it's the best." Angel closed the space between them and pulling her up against him. "Careful, vampire," Buffy said. "I'm still the Slayer."

"Not finding that a problem at the moment."

"Is that a stake in your pocket...?"

Angel laughed. "I'm just happy to see you," he said.

"You're really a piece of work, you know that?"

"I know."

"I love you."

"I love you too."


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next time Buffy woke, Angel was beside her sleeping. For a while she just laid there; then she glanced over at he open box holding the heart. It was still there and in one piece. She wondered for a moment whether she was more concerned about it because of her selfish desire to be with Angel or because of the possibility of releasing Angelus.

She trailed her fingers over Angel's shoulder, and he stirred slightly. It was morning and time for vampires to sleep and rebuild their strength. "Angel," she whispered, but he was too deeply asleep to respond. She kissed his neck. "I love you," she said. Then she got up and got dressed.

After enduring the stares of Angel's friends in the hotel lobby, Buffy headed out into the sunlight. It was a shame that Angel couldn't do the same thing, that he could never go with her to a beach or anywhere else outside in the daylight. Of course they were both well aware of the limitations of his being a vampire. But Buffy appreciated another fact as well - if he weren't a vampire she would never have met and fallen in love with him - and been loved by him. He would have likely been dead centuries before her birth. Though she would never admit it, she knew she had something to thank Darla for - if Darla hadn't created Angelus, Buffy wouldn't have Angel.

Buffy spent the day walking on the beach and shopping. It felt nice to be outside and to spend time by herself. She knew she was needed back in Sunnydale, but sometimes even the Slayer had to be able to take a vacation - especially when that vacation meant spending quality time with her soul mate.

And that was the real truth of it, wasn't it - that what had happened to them had happened because it was meant to be, because they were meant to be together? Fate had molded both of them into what they would need to be to be together.

When she arrived back at the hotel at dusk Wesley was waiting outside. "We need to talk," he said, steering Buffy away from the doors. They walked a short distance away. Buffy wondered if Wesley really thought Angel wouldn't be able to hear them out there if he were awake. "You have to put an end to this," he said.

"I don't think this is your business, Wesley."

"I know what it's like to be involved in an ill-fated relationship, and this one is even more hopeless than mine was."

"You don't understand this."

"Yes, I do. The two of you think this is fated. It may be that, but what fate brings to pass may not be the best thing for the two of you or the rest of the world."

Buffy sighed. "I understand this, Wesley, and I appreciate the acting as Giles. But you have to let us work this out. This is between Angel and me."

"I think this time he'll need you to be the one who lets go."

"You don't know what he needs," Buffy said. "It's about time that everyone kept their fingers out of our lives. We might belong to everyone else as far as keeping the world safe, but what is between us belongs to us alone." She heard clapping and turned in the direction of Connor who stood inside the doorway of the hotel.

"Good luck with that," Connor said.

Buffy smiled. "You are a lot like your father," she said, walking past him.

"Is that a good thing?"

"We'll see," Buffy replied.

She found the door to his room as she had left it - closed and unlocked. She pushed the door open. Angel stood by his small refrigerator drinking from a glass half filled with blood. He set down the glass when she came into the room. A drop of blood rested on his upper lip; he licked it away with his tongue.

"Sorry about the barging in," she said.

"It's all right," Angel said. "What is all this?"

"Mostly clothes," Buffy said, dumping out her shopping bags. "I didn't do much packing before coming out here." She picked through the underwear, tops, and skirts.

"Are you planning on staying a while?"

Buffy looked at him. "I'm planning on being with you. If you aren't coming to Sunnydale..."

"I'll go to Sunnydale."

Buffy stopped what she was doing and turned to him. "I thought we discussed this yesterday, and you said..."

"Spike can bite my ass."

Buffy smiled. "OK," she said. "But I don't think you're his type."

Angel shrugged. He slid his arms around her. "If you want me in Sunnydale, I'll be in Sunnydale."

"I'm starting to worry about this."

"Too clingy?" Angel asked.

"That is so not the problem."

"What then?"

"Too good," Buffy said. "Way too good for us."

"I kind of like being happy."

Buffy looked up at his face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He kissed her gently.

"What are we going to do if...when we can't do this anymore?"

"We'll do what we have to," Angel said.

"I don't know if..."

"We will," Angel said. He looked at all of the clothes and bags. "Nothing for me?"

"You'll get yours," Buffy said. But then picked up a small bag and held it out to him.

"I was kidding."

"I'm not. I owe you something for what you did."

"Which time?"

"Be serious."

Angel took the small box from a jewelry store out of the bag and set the bag down on the bed. "I bet it's earrings," he said, "something to go with..."

"Angel, open it." He looked at her for a moment and then lifted the top of the box. He stood there looking at what was inside it for so long that Buffy began to worry. "Angel..."

"Is this a joke?" he asked quietly.

"I didn't intend it to be."

Angel lifted the rose gold band from the green velvet box. His soft brown eyes met hers. "You want me to wear this?"

"That's the idea," Buffy said. "Unless..."

"Angel!" Wesley called out. "We've got a problem - Zarnack demon about to lay eggs."

"I'll be right there," Angel called back. He put the ring back in the box, then set it aside. "We'll discuss this later," he said. "If you want to change clothes and join us, we could use the help." He headed up the stairs. Buffy just looked over at the ring and sat down on the bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy did change her clothes but didn't join them. She knew Angel's group could handle whatever the emergency was without her help. Instead she spent the time pacing, waiting for them to return.

Angel finally arrived with his friends behind him. All of them were spattered with yellow Zarnack demon blood. They were talking and smiling, laughing. As the group dispersed Angel came over to her, his eyes shining. "You should have come," he said.

"I figured you could handle it."

He took her hand and led her back to his room. Once inside he lit a candle, and Buffy closed the door. She glanced at the marble heart, which was still safe and sound. She sat down on the bed as Angel took a quick shower. When he emerged from the bathroom in a blue bathrobe he got the ring and sat beside her. "Tell me about this," he said.

"It's called a ring. It goes on your finger."

"What does it mean?"

"It means that you're wearing a nice rose gold ring with a Celtic knot pattern that I got for you."

"That's all?"

"And it means that this is more than messing around."

Angel smiled. "More than it was with Spike."

"It has always been that."

Angel rolled the ring between his fingers. "I wish we could have normal lives together, a family with children..."

"I don't need that. I need you."

"Still selfish," Angel said softly.

"I'm willing to make compromises to be with you."

"You shouldn't have to."

"I want to."

"And somewhere down the road you won't blame me?"

"I can't see the future. But I know this is what I want to do now."

"What about the big picture?"

"Forget the big picture. The big picture sucks."

Angel laughed. "That doesn't sound like very wise planning."

"Yeah, well, I'm tired of planning - and I'm tired of talking. Either put that thing on or not. It's your decision."

Angel looked at the ring for a moment, then slid it on his left ring finger. "There are going to be a lot of things to work out," he said.

"I know. But I think it's time for us to do that." Buffy looked at his hand before entwining her fingers with his. "It's going to work this time," she said.

"I know."

"You believe it?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Really. Do you?"

"I think so."

"Then maybe tomorrow we should go to Sunnydale. And after that we can figure out just how we are going to work this."

"That's too much to think about tonight," Buffy said.

"No thinking tonight," Angel replied, putting his arms around her. "Tonight we just feel."