Thanks to all of you - I am glad you are still enjoying my little story.
Tariq - I was thinking that Buffy didn't need an invitation into her own
home - what do you think? My mythology may be off. The reviews are
inspiring, the fact that anyone takes the time to write a review is just
great! This is sort of 19 - part a - ENJOY!
Chapter 19 - Midnight at the Bronze
The foursome walking into the Bronze shouldn't have surprised anyone. They were all regulars and anyway, the red-haired one was dating someone in the band that was playing. But on closer inspection, something was different ---. Cordelia Chase is sitting alone by the bar, looking regal as always. While she is trying not to look too hard, she is surveying the crowd for Xander Harris with whom she is NOT HAVING A FLING! She senses some kind of change in the atmosphere before she spots him. He is with Willow as usual. But surprisingly Angel and Buffy are trailing them. She's surprised because those two are usually out in a moldy old graveyard about now.
Always one for fashion, she instantly surveys the girls in the group. Willow must have gone through Buffy's closet because she never shows so much skin and Dear God, it all matches! You've got to hand it to her, she's got a cute figure under those wooly sweaters. In brown leather pants and a revealing peasant blouse, she doesn't look half bad, if that was what you were going for.
Buffy is a little more put together than usual. Hence, no twigs in her hair. Although, she's never seen Buffy go for the Goth look before. As usual, her most outstanding accessory is the hulking figure behind her - otherwise known as Angel. Oh My God! He has a smile on his face. Well, Buffy must have finally decided to put out.
As has become her habit, she finally settles her vision on Xander Harris. She stops dead in her tracks. It's like Invasion of the Body Snatchers because she knows Harris and this is not Harris. She mentally figures when she last saw him - Friday at school. OK, not long enough to - to - to whatever he has done to himself.
If Willow broke into Buffy's closet, then Xander has most certainly broken into Angel's. Cordelia knows for a fact that Xander does not own a pair of leather pants. Much less of pair of custom-made, Italian leather pants, although she'll be the first to say that he should because he looks good enough to eat.
As he makes his way through the crowd, he leans over and whispers something in Angel's ear. Something about the gesture makes Cordelia's arms break out in goose bumps. The two men look through the crowd together, Angel's hand coming up to embrace Xander's back before the two break apart - Angel with the girls and Xander towards the bar.
As soon as Xander turns, he looks directly at her. His eyes immediately look directly at her as if the fifty feet or so doesn't separate them. He comes to stand behind her and orders a drink before he acknowledges her.
"Since when do you order a beer and get it?" she asks incredulously but when she turns around she ceases to speak.
What color are his eyes, she thinks. In their numerous make-out sessions, has she noticed? They have certainly not been this mystically golden hazel color before. This she would have noticed. If these are contacts, they cost a pretty penny.
He speaks as he takes a long drink of his beer, "Cordy" he says with a slight nod.
She knows that he has never called her 'Cordy' before, never been this informal with her. But she can't get past his voice. If his eyes are mesmerizing then his voice is something all together out of this world.
************************
Oz is playing bass with the band. They have begun their last set of the night and he is anxiously scanning the crowd. He has been trying to call Willow for the better part of two days, with no luck. This is definitely not like her. With all of the strange stuff that she's involved in, he always worries a little about her. It amazes him how this smart, clear- headed girl is also this budding witch who hangs with a Vampire Slayer. Then again, he thinks, he is a werewolf. Can't throw stones.
When he catches her red-hair moving through the crowd, he sighs in relief. She's with Buffy and Angel. Wherever she's been, she's OK.
He tracks her as she heads out to the dance floor with Angel and Buffy. Come to think of it, he has never seen Angel out on the dance floor. Man, they are having a good time but he could handle it better if the vamp would be a little less familiar with his girl.
Oh well he thinks. Will can handle herself, plus she looks hot.
************************************
Angel is having a good time, actually an excellent time. When he and Alexander got back from the waterfront, he had planned to spend a quiet time with his little family but the girls had other plans and he could tell that Alexander has still up for the hunt. Far be it for him to be the party pooper. So, he finds himself at the Bronze, with both Red and Buffy grinding against him in time with the music. The earlier hunt, the women, the music and the smells surrounding him combine to make him a little drunk. All he can think is that it has been a long time.
The feel of Buffy behind him and Willow in front of him as they move to the music pull him out of any introspection and he gives in to the hedonistic feelings coursing through him.
***********************************
As Xander leads her to the dance floor, Cordelia can't quite grasp what is going on, she's never felt this way before and she's been in his arms more times than she can count. She realizes that she should be royally pissed at him. He hasn't said five words to her since he walked in but here she is falling into his arms as the music slows.
He feels so good - familiar but different - and she can only fit herself more securely against him. She feels his head turn into her neck and he licks out at her neck with a cool tongue. A shiver runs through her and she holds on to him for dear life.
Alexander Harris cannot put into words the power that he feels coursing through him, the feelings that he is experiencing. He is at once more at peace and more confident than he has ever been. At the same time, he is being assaulted from every side with smells and tastes and sounds. He would like nothing more to binge on it all in a massive display of destruction. However, the man is now in charge of the beast and he is learning to channel his desires to more subtle pursuits - like the one in his arms.
What to do with this one? That is the question of the moment. She is like an annoying insect compared to his mate's magnetic beauty and mysticism. Maybe that's it. After he plays with her for a while, he'll let Willow have her. Sort of a small token of affection. He smiles at the thought as the bitch in his arms snuggles closer to him. She will be the perfect playmate with which to test out his new passions. Hey, he can finally see if her blood is blue.
***********************************
Finally, the last set is done and Oz can find out what Willow is up to. The little show that she and Buffy put on was making him at turns both hard and irritated. Usually Willow comes up right after they are finished and talks to him while he breaks down equipment. Where the hell is she? He draws on his werewolf sense of smell, and scents the surrounding space and doesn't pick up anything that remotely smells like Willow. Must be getting a cold.
"Hey there, you."
He jumps at her voice. He turns to find her directly behind him.
"Scare you, much?" she asks brightly.
His head feels a little foggy - definitely a cold - maybe a werewolf cold if there are such things. "No, well yes, I don't know, I must be coming down with something." He looks thoughtfully at her, "You OK? You seem --- I don't know, different or something."
She shrugs her shoulders in that way she has, "Just the usual, you know, weirdness and all." She looks at him in a flirtatious way and says, "Very hush-hush, you know."
"You wanta go with?" she asks.
"Sure, where to?" he answers.
She laces her arm through his, "I don't know, how about a walk in the non- full moon?"
******************************
Angel is still dancing with Buffy, as he watches Willow depart with Oz.
"How quickly they grow up" he intones in her ear.
"I know, without even a word. You would think that we hadn't taught them any better." She says as she leans up to kiss his cool cheek.
TBC
Chapter 19 - Midnight at the Bronze
The foursome walking into the Bronze shouldn't have surprised anyone. They were all regulars and anyway, the red-haired one was dating someone in the band that was playing. But on closer inspection, something was different ---. Cordelia Chase is sitting alone by the bar, looking regal as always. While she is trying not to look too hard, she is surveying the crowd for Xander Harris with whom she is NOT HAVING A FLING! She senses some kind of change in the atmosphere before she spots him. He is with Willow as usual. But surprisingly Angel and Buffy are trailing them. She's surprised because those two are usually out in a moldy old graveyard about now.
Always one for fashion, she instantly surveys the girls in the group. Willow must have gone through Buffy's closet because she never shows so much skin and Dear God, it all matches! You've got to hand it to her, she's got a cute figure under those wooly sweaters. In brown leather pants and a revealing peasant blouse, she doesn't look half bad, if that was what you were going for.
Buffy is a little more put together than usual. Hence, no twigs in her hair. Although, she's never seen Buffy go for the Goth look before. As usual, her most outstanding accessory is the hulking figure behind her - otherwise known as Angel. Oh My God! He has a smile on his face. Well, Buffy must have finally decided to put out.
As has become her habit, she finally settles her vision on Xander Harris. She stops dead in her tracks. It's like Invasion of the Body Snatchers because she knows Harris and this is not Harris. She mentally figures when she last saw him - Friday at school. OK, not long enough to - to - to whatever he has done to himself.
If Willow broke into Buffy's closet, then Xander has most certainly broken into Angel's. Cordelia knows for a fact that Xander does not own a pair of leather pants. Much less of pair of custom-made, Italian leather pants, although she'll be the first to say that he should because he looks good enough to eat.
As he makes his way through the crowd, he leans over and whispers something in Angel's ear. Something about the gesture makes Cordelia's arms break out in goose bumps. The two men look through the crowd together, Angel's hand coming up to embrace Xander's back before the two break apart - Angel with the girls and Xander towards the bar.
As soon as Xander turns, he looks directly at her. His eyes immediately look directly at her as if the fifty feet or so doesn't separate them. He comes to stand behind her and orders a drink before he acknowledges her.
"Since when do you order a beer and get it?" she asks incredulously but when she turns around she ceases to speak.
What color are his eyes, she thinks. In their numerous make-out sessions, has she noticed? They have certainly not been this mystically golden hazel color before. This she would have noticed. If these are contacts, they cost a pretty penny.
He speaks as he takes a long drink of his beer, "Cordy" he says with a slight nod.
She knows that he has never called her 'Cordy' before, never been this informal with her. But she can't get past his voice. If his eyes are mesmerizing then his voice is something all together out of this world.
************************
Oz is playing bass with the band. They have begun their last set of the night and he is anxiously scanning the crowd. He has been trying to call Willow for the better part of two days, with no luck. This is definitely not like her. With all of the strange stuff that she's involved in, he always worries a little about her. It amazes him how this smart, clear- headed girl is also this budding witch who hangs with a Vampire Slayer. Then again, he thinks, he is a werewolf. Can't throw stones.
When he catches her red-hair moving through the crowd, he sighs in relief. She's with Buffy and Angel. Wherever she's been, she's OK.
He tracks her as she heads out to the dance floor with Angel and Buffy. Come to think of it, he has never seen Angel out on the dance floor. Man, they are having a good time but he could handle it better if the vamp would be a little less familiar with his girl.
Oh well he thinks. Will can handle herself, plus she looks hot.
************************************
Angel is having a good time, actually an excellent time. When he and Alexander got back from the waterfront, he had planned to spend a quiet time with his little family but the girls had other plans and he could tell that Alexander has still up for the hunt. Far be it for him to be the party pooper. So, he finds himself at the Bronze, with both Red and Buffy grinding against him in time with the music. The earlier hunt, the women, the music and the smells surrounding him combine to make him a little drunk. All he can think is that it has been a long time.
The feel of Buffy behind him and Willow in front of him as they move to the music pull him out of any introspection and he gives in to the hedonistic feelings coursing through him.
***********************************
As Xander leads her to the dance floor, Cordelia can't quite grasp what is going on, she's never felt this way before and she's been in his arms more times than she can count. She realizes that she should be royally pissed at him. He hasn't said five words to her since he walked in but here she is falling into his arms as the music slows.
He feels so good - familiar but different - and she can only fit herself more securely against him. She feels his head turn into her neck and he licks out at her neck with a cool tongue. A shiver runs through her and she holds on to him for dear life.
Alexander Harris cannot put into words the power that he feels coursing through him, the feelings that he is experiencing. He is at once more at peace and more confident than he has ever been. At the same time, he is being assaulted from every side with smells and tastes and sounds. He would like nothing more to binge on it all in a massive display of destruction. However, the man is now in charge of the beast and he is learning to channel his desires to more subtle pursuits - like the one in his arms.
What to do with this one? That is the question of the moment. She is like an annoying insect compared to his mate's magnetic beauty and mysticism. Maybe that's it. After he plays with her for a while, he'll let Willow have her. Sort of a small token of affection. He smiles at the thought as the bitch in his arms snuggles closer to him. She will be the perfect playmate with which to test out his new passions. Hey, he can finally see if her blood is blue.
***********************************
Finally, the last set is done and Oz can find out what Willow is up to. The little show that she and Buffy put on was making him at turns both hard and irritated. Usually Willow comes up right after they are finished and talks to him while he breaks down equipment. Where the hell is she? He draws on his werewolf sense of smell, and scents the surrounding space and doesn't pick up anything that remotely smells like Willow. Must be getting a cold.
"Hey there, you."
He jumps at her voice. He turns to find her directly behind him.
"Scare you, much?" she asks brightly.
His head feels a little foggy - definitely a cold - maybe a werewolf cold if there are such things. "No, well yes, I don't know, I must be coming down with something." He looks thoughtfully at her, "You OK? You seem --- I don't know, different or something."
She shrugs her shoulders in that way she has, "Just the usual, you know, weirdness and all." She looks at him in a flirtatious way and says, "Very hush-hush, you know."
"You wanta go with?" she asks.
"Sure, where to?" he answers.
She laces her arm through his, "I don't know, how about a walk in the non- full moon?"
******************************
Angel is still dancing with Buffy, as he watches Willow depart with Oz.
"How quickly they grow up" he intones in her ear.
"I know, without even a word. You would think that we hadn't taught them any better." She says as she leans up to kiss his cool cheek.
TBC
