Chapter Four: The Blond Bombshell
Angel was in total shock. He was more surprised than he had ever been in his two-hundred plus years of life. The person stirred as Angel just watched in disbelief. Angel didn't think he'd see them again. He scooped them up in his arms and made is way back to Wolfram & Hart.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Okay, make a right at the stop sign," Willow said to Giles as she watched for familiar landmarks. They had just arrived in L.A and Buffy decided the best place to go would be Angel's. Willow directed Giles to the street and he pulled the bus alongside the curb in front of the Hyperion Hotel.
Buffy rubbed her hands on her jeans. "Okay, here I go." She said it but she didn't move.
Xander reached over and squeezed her shoulders. Dawn smiled warmly and Willow nodded. Faith gave her a thumbs up and Giles opened the bus door. "Yeah, I'll be back in a minute," she said, half-jokingly. Buffy walked up the walkway that lead to the front door.
*** "I think that qualifies as happy to see me," Angel said her after their last encounter.
*** "I'm not going to say good-bye. I'm just going to leave. Understand?"
*** Angel was there for her when her mom died.
"The funeral was... " Buffy sighed. "It was brutal, but it's tomorrow that I'm worried about."
"What's tomorrow?"
"That's
exactly what I don't know. Up until now I've had a road map. Things
to do every minute, having to do with Mom."
"Tomorrow
the stuff of everyday living resumes."
"And everybody
expects me to know how to do it, because... I'm so strong." She
finished sarcastically.
"I can stay in town as long as
you want me."
"How's forever? Does forever work for
you?" They looked at each other for a moment and were soon
kissing passionately until they both pulled away. Angel, ever the
gentleman apologized, but she told him that she was grateful he came.
"I didn't think I would make it through the night."
Looking at the sky, Angel announced, "I have only a few more minutes before I have to go."
Buffy settled against his chest, "Good." ***
*** The night of the prom where Angel had broken up with her.
"I've been thinking... about our
future. And the more I do, the more I feel like us... You and Me...
Being together is unfair to you. You deserve more. You deserve
something outside of demons and darkness. You should be with someone
who can take you into the light. Someone who can make love to you.
I'm sorry. Buffy... you know how much I love you. It kills me to say
this." "Heart? You have a heart? It isn't even
beating."
"Don't."
"Don't what?
Don't love you? I'm sorry. You know what? I didn't know that I got a
choice in that. I'm never gonna change. I can't change. I want my
life to be with you."
"I don't."
"You
don't want to be with me? I can't believe you're breaking up with
me."
"It doesn't mean that I don't..."
"How am I supposed to stay away from you?" Buffy was already near tears. She couldn't believe that the love of her life was leaving her. ***
He never really let her down though..
*** "I never thought you'd
come."
"It's a big night. I didn't want to miss it.
It's just tonight. It doesn't mean that I..."
"I
know. I mean, I understand."
"Dance with me". ***
Buffy stopped at the front door closing her eyes before she but her and on the door handle.
*** A passionate night. Angel's lips, his hands caressing her. She felt him inside. Pure bliss. ***
But that night had consequences. Angel lost his soul. It was her fault. She was responsible for that. Stupid ironic poetic justice.
*** "You know what the worst part was, huh? Pretending that I loved you. If I'd known how easily you'd give it up, I wouldn't have even bothered.
"That doesn't work anymore.
You're not Angel."
"You'd like to think that,
wouldn't you? It doesn't matter. The important thing is you made me
the man I am today!" ***
*** She had managed to bring him back, Willow re-ensouled him and Buffy plunged a knife into his gut.
"What's
happening?"
"Shh. Don't worry about it. I love
you."
"I love you."
"Close your eyes."
***
*** "Angel?
"Hmm?
"Do
you snore?
"I don't know. It's been a long time since
anybody's been in a position to let me know." ***
He had stayed the night that night. And the next day when she got home from school. They shared their first kiss. Buffy smiled to herself, remembering. The exchange of heat and tongues. Then he vamped out, scaring her to death.
*** Their first encounter...
"And who are you?"
"Let's just say... I'm a Friend."
"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend?"
"I didn't say I was yours.***
*** "Sorry
you had to wait. Okay. Look, if you're gonna be popping up with this
cryptic wise man act on a regular basis can you at least tell me your
name?***
"Angel.
"Angel. It's a pretty
name." ***
