Chapter Two - Not Quite What He Expected

Angel felt in something of a daze. Here he was again on the verge of parting with his recently regained lover; something of a habit for him, he mused caustically. However, there was one major difference: she was being understanding. Was this real? Whenever did Buffy meekly give in to reason? She was ruled by her emotions, driven by instinct. It was one of the things he most loved about her. As they walked down the stairs, he gave her a sidelong glance, searching for signs of conflict in her eyes. All he saw there right now was determination and that alone made him incredibly nervous.

Lightly she kissed his cheek, before she turned to face her oddly tired looking friends gathered in the living room. She squeezed Angel's hand tightly, intensely aware of the daggered eyes Cordelia was sending her way. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you there's been some - uh - changes around here," she began awkwardly, a little embarrassed by the general rolling of eyes in the room before her. She gave them a wry grin, which was met by a loud harrumph from Cordelia. Unable to stand the tension any longer, Buffy turned on her. "What is your problem, Cordelia?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's the sleep deprivation!" Cordy snapped pointedly. "Do you two even know how much noise you make?"

Blushing furiously, Buffy's mortification was compounded by Dawn's riotous giggles. She felt the calming pressure of Angel's hand resting on the small of her back, and smiled up at him gratefully. Totally straight faced, Angel replied, "So sorry to inconvenience you, Cordy. Next time we make love, we'll try to keep it down especially for you." He gasped as he received a sharp dig in the ribs from Buffy, followed by a pointed look at the wide eyed, Dawn. "Sorry," he mumbled, wrapping his arm around Buffy. "Just making a point."

Cordelia rose majestically, and gave Angel a freezing look. "Well, I should think so."

Buffy held up her hand, causing Cordelia to stop. "Will you just hold off with the dramatic exit for a minute? There's something you need to hear," Buffy said. Reposing herself on the chair, Cordelia looked purposely at Angel, blatantly ignoring Buffy. Shooting her a dirty look, Buffy continued. "I'm sure you all remember our friend the 'Robed Demon'. Wes turned up some info on him and his groupies and it's not too pretty. Our boy is looking like a whole load of trouble."

Frowning, Willow turned to Wesley. "But I thought it had all been sorted?"

"I'm afraid not," he answered quietly, almost apologetic. "I have every reason to believe there was a greater purpose at work behind that spell he cast on Angel, one that could put Buffy and Angel at great risk. We already know he wanted to raise Gwah Ra Kal but what we don't know is why."

Angel glanced round at them all. "Which is why I'm going to LA. As soon as possible."

Involuntarily, Cordy's face lit up and she threw her arms around Angel's neck. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! I just knew you'd get me out of here eventually."

Swiftly disentangling himself, Angel drew closer to Buffy. "We need to split into two teams. Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Wes, I need you with me. Everyone else is staying here to help research the demon clan, or in Buffy's case, demolish the demon's face," he explained. Seeing the sour look on Cordelia's face, he added, "Research is important, you know, and I need my best guys on it." At his compliment, her face softened slightly, but still her pout remained.

"So what's happening with Spike?" Xander asked. "Does the evil bloodsucking fiend really have to be in our face?"

"Hey!" Spike objected defensively. "I am here you know. Why don't you just go shag your bint?"

As Xander started forward, his face reddening with anger, Willow laid a restraining arm on his shoulder. A look passed between them and Xander sat back down, sending Spike one last withering glare.

"We could do with Spike," Fred spoke up. "Extra muscle and all."

Smirking at Angel's glower, Spike said, "Cheers, Twig. Nice to know someone around here appreciates me."

"She'd be the only one," Angel muttered under his breath.

Not bothering to respond, Spike sat down, knowing his work here was done. Then he saw the thing that was making Angel so twitchy. His little slayer was up to something, and Angel being Angel, had not quite worked out what yet. Not surprising considering all of his brains pretty much dribbled out his ears whenever he set eyes on Buffy. It was so strikingly clear to Spike though. Buffy was no obedient little woman; she took orders from no one. She was only going to go follow the poof to LA! Oh, this was going to be one fun trip to the big smoke!

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After the others had been unceremoniously herded from the room by an all- business Buffy, Angel had been left staring wordlessly at his team. He knew from their expectant look they wanted answers, but he was not sure what to say. Everything had happened so quickly with Buffy, his head was still spinning. All he could focus on right now was the immediate task of protecting the woman he loved.

"So are you going to talk to us, Angelcakes, or make an art form out of gawping," Lorne chastised lightly.

"I'm sorry, guys," Angel responded quickly. "A lot of things have changed and I guess you want to know where that leaves you."

"Got it in one, bro," Gunn confirmed, stony faced.

"To cut a long story short, the mission hasn't changed. I'm still on a quest for redemption, be that in Sunnydale or LA, but the difference is now I'm with Buffy," he told them.

"We got that already. But where are you and Miss Likes-To-Fight going to be living?" Cordy questioned. "It's not like you can just up sticks and leave LA. You do have a son unless you've forgotten."

Angel winced visibly at the reference to Connor, and countered angrily, "Of course I haven't forgotten. Which is why I'm going to split my time between Sunnydale and LA for the time being until Buffy and I have decided what to do."

Fred's eyes widened. "What you haven't even discussed it with her? I wouldn't be happy if that was me," she exclaimed.

Folding her arms self-satisfactorily, Cordy gloated, "My point exactly."

Ignoring her comment, Angel continued. "I need you all to know that Angel Investigations will continue whatever happens. We still have work to do in LA."

"But will you be a part of it?" Lorne asked bluntly.

"In some way, I always will. But right now my priority is Buffy. Please try to understand that," Angel answered.

Surprising him, Gunn suddenly spoke. "I get it. You're putting your girl first." In response, Gunn received a dazzling smile from Fred that made his insides melt. Aware of the team's eyes on him, Gunn snapped good naturedly, "What are y'all staring at? You better go get Wesley so we can get this demon's ass."

Half-heartedly saluting him, Fred pressed a kiss to his lips before scampering off to find Wesley. Watching the whole scene with a soppy grin across his face, Angel mentally caught himself. He had not been so happy in ages. It was all down to one tiny blonde vampire slayer.

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Willow twiddled her hair nervously. She really had never been good with secrets. Noticing her slight unease, Xander patted her arm reassuringly, and looked up at Buffy questioningly. "So I'm getting this right. You want us to pretend you're in Sunnydale while all the time you're going to be in LA, tagging De-, I mean Angel," he clarified.

Sighing, Buffy flopped onto the bed beside him. "Yes, Xander. As I said the other three times, that's what I want you to do. That okay?" Buffy noticed Willow's fidgetting. "You ok?" Not trusting herself to answer, Will nodded vigorously and attempted a kind of half frown, half smile.

"Angel's not going to like this," Dawn predicted grimly, stretching out on the floor.

Regarding her sister closely, Buffy replied, "I know, Dawn, but it's something I have to do. I have to make sure he's safe. Anyway he won't even know I'm there."

Unable to hold back any longer, a nervous giggle escaped Willow's lips. Everyone stared at her, startled. "I'm sorry, Buffy," Will gasped as she tried to control her giggling. "I just don't think it's a good idea. He'll know you're there. He can sense you."

Buffy went to reply but was swiftly cut off by Xander. "She really does have a point, Buff. But we're your bestest buds, and we won't say a word. Good job that An's not here, because she'd soon let the cat out of the bag."

It was just at that point that Angel strode into Buffy's room. Will jumped slightly, and looked guiltily down at the floor. "So what would Anya let out of the bag then?" Angel asked, gazing apprehensively at Buffy.

Quickly she crossed the room to him and kissed him softly. "Nothing at all. Except how much I'll miss you," she said sweetly.

Hooking his finger under her chin, he pulled her in for a lingering kiss. "Not as much as I'll miss you," he replied tenderly, his eyes locked with hers. A large coughing sound from Xander broke the moment. Angel gave him a sharp look, and Xander stood up.

"Okay, getting the message. We'll leave you alone," he said huffily, carting out a much put-out looking Dawn along with him and Willow.

As the door closed behind them, Buffy sat demurely on the bed, glancing up at Angel. "So alone at last," she purred, sliding further back on the bed. "Whatever could we do."

Coming closer, Angel eyed her slender curves appreciatively. "I have no idea," he answered innocently, unbuttoning his shirt. "Maybe you could let me know."

The next thing he knew there was a tangle of limbs, and he was all over her. He could not get enough of her skin, of her lips, of the soft silk of her hair. She was beautiful, so very beautiful and he wanted all of her. Lost in a blur of passion, he forgot all about his mission. Buffy was the only intelligible word he could form. And he cried it again and again as she reminded him just why she was his soulmate.

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

Clinging to her hand, Angel looked at her sadly. "I really don't want to go."

"I know," she murmured, lacing her fingers through his. "I don't want you to either."

Looking at the car and the waiting passengers, Angel reluctantly prepared to disentangle himself from Buffy. "I better go," he said. Before Buffy could reply, his lips were on hers, his hands in her hair. Breaking off, panting for unneeded air, Angel told her, "I love you."

"I love you too," she said softly. Giving her one last look, Angel walked towards his car.

"Don't forget me!" Spike called, racing towards the front door.

"Or me!" seconded Vince, haphazardly tucking stakes into his pocket as he ran.

Rolling his eyes, Angel quickly got into the Plymouth. "As if I could," he muttered.

As Vince ran on, Spike caught hold of Buffy's arm. "What, Spike?" she demanded, pulling away from his hold.

"I know what you're up to," Spike hissed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," denied Buffy, trying to turn away from him.

"Don't play games, Buffy. We both bloody well know you're going to follow him and when Peaches finds out, he's not going to be happy," Spike warned her.

Looking him dead in the eye, Buffy conceded, "Okay, you know. Just don't tell him."

"As if I would," he scoffed, walking to the car. "Made a promise to a lady."

Lightly Buffy smiled at Spike's words as the Plymouth drove away. He really was totally Love's bitch. Then she mused, weren't they all? Of course Angel would find out she was there; she was counting on it. She just wanted to actually be there before he twigged. Then and only then would she think about how angry he would be - and just how sexy he looked when he was angry. Buffy could not wait. Picking up her weapons bag, Buffy quickly hugged her friends and Dawn, then left.

As Willow, Dawn and Xander waved her off in the jeep, they were startled by Cordelia's voice. "What's going on?" Taking in their panicked looks, Cordy quickly came to a conclusion. "Angel doesn't know, does he? Oh, great!"

Will looked appealingly at Cordy. "Please don't tell him. It's really important to Buffy that she's there with him."

Considering her options for a moment, Cordy finally answered. "Okay. But you all owe me big time." And she really meant it. Buffy being in LA without Angel's knowledge was sure to bring trouble. She was just glad to stay far out of it.

To be Continued.