Title - Best Friends

Author - Paige

Rating - R

Summary - Buffy and Angel are best friends who grow up next door to each other. When they hit junior high, Buffy gets cool and Angel doesn't. Everything changes when she's called.

Disclaimer - Yeah right.

Distribution - Would make my day. Just ask.

Feedback - Would make the sun shine brighter.

Angel sighed and shifted in the backseat, waiting to get there. He hated long rides in cars.when he wasn't driving, that is. He leaned forward. "'Scuse me, Aunt Beth, but could I drive? At least I know we'd get there today."

Aunt Beth mocked glared at him. Her husband and kids said she drove to slow too. "No, Angelus, you certainly may not. You homicidal, remember."

Angel snorted. "Oh, I am fucking not."

She giggled. "Watch your mouth, young man."

Beth turned into the driveway and smiled into the rearview mirror. "There. We're home."

Angel peeled himself out of the car with a sigh. "Thank God."

Aunt Beth smiled at her son and his girlfriend, Willow, as they stepped into the living room. Oz rose to his feet and grabbed his cousin's bags from his mother. "Angel," he greeted, nodding.

Angel nodded back. "Oz." He looked the other boy over. "Either I grew, or you shrunk."

Oz arched an eyebrow. "Funny."

"I'm a funny guy."

*

Angel had put his things away - which mostly amounted to kicking his bags into the closet, he'd get to it when he wasn't quite as tired - and was crashed on his bed with Oz in his desk chair when the other boy started to talk. "So you and Buffy, huh?"

Angel looked at him sharply. "You know Buff?"

Oz nodded. "Slayer."

Angel nodded back. "Yeah."

"You two a couple?"

"Not really."

"One night stand?"

Angel paused, considering that. "Kinda. Kinda not."

"Friends?"

"Yeah."

"Love her?"

"Always."

"Huh."

*

Buffy arrived at the Osbourne home at eleven-thirty the next morning. Oz answered the door, tired and mussed.

Buffy gave him a big grin and stepped into the room. "Hi, Oz, how're you?"

The guitarist pointed up the stairs. "First door on the right."

Buffy smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

Oz waved a hand in a dismissive gesture and headed for his room.

*

Buffy slipped through the door. Angel was still asleep, sprawled out on his back, the sheets around his hips. Buffy dropped her purse and climbed onto the bed beside him, wrapping her arms around his broad form, pressing her face into his neck. His arms automatically went around her and she kissed the big pulse in his neck.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly, his voice rough with sleep. One of his big hands moved gently over her back.

Buffy smiled at him, craning up to give him a peck on the cheek. "How'd ya know it was me?"

Angel touched her hair, running through his fingers. "You smell like vanilla." He frowned. "You cut your hair."

She snuggled up against his chest. "I had to. It reminded me too much of you." She kissed his chest. "I missed you so much."

Angel kissed her hair and finally opened his eyes. "I missed you, too." He held up his hand, inspecting the bite mark on it. "Did you warn Oz about Jory's teeth?"

The Slayer laughed. "Yeah. Apparently your cousin doesn't like to be tickled."

Angel sat up slightly, looking down at her. "Did Jory bite him?"

Buffy frowned. "I think so."

"Shit." He lay back against the bed and curled into her.

Buffy lightly stroked his hair. "What's wrong?"

"Know any good cages?"

"Huh?"

TBC.