They left and Methos drove them back to the B and B. He pulled into the parking lot and looked at Buffy who was sound asleep. He picked her up and carried her to their room, smiling as she grumbled.

He undressed her and tucked her into bed, then he undressed too and crawled in with her.

The feelings that he had for Buffy were increasingly strong. He had promised himself after Alexa's death that it wouldn't happen again. It had tore him apart to lose Alexa and bury her overseas. Buffy was ….different. She was everything that he looked for in a woman, and he was scared to death. At that moment she turned and curled into him, her hair partially covering her face. He gently brushed it back and kissed her, then slid into sleep with her.

The insistent ring of the phone woke Buffy. Methos too, for he rolled over with a grunt and picked it up, "Yes." He came awake more as he heard a cultured British voice, "I'm sorry. I was told that Buffy Summers was staying in this room?"

"She is, just a moment." Methos gently kissed Buffy who opened one eye, "It had better be good news." She whined sleepily and took the phone, closing her eyes again.

"Hello?"

"Buffy?" came Giles voice and Buffy smiled. "Hi, what's up?" she asked and Methos rolled in curiosity over at the happiness in her voice.

"Who was that Buffy?" Giles asked.

"Giles, I patrolled last night and I'm pretty tired." She said evasively and Giles sighed, accepting that her life was private. "Sorry dear. Something has come up and the group of us are coming up there on Friday evening."

"Including Angel?" Buffy asked softly, and Giles winced, "Yes."

"The insurance is getting my apartment fixed still, where will you stay?" She asked.

"Angel has booked the lot of us at a couple of local B&B's, don't worry about us."

"I can't wait to see you guys. You can meet the Slayers, including our new one. Give Dawnie a kiss for me"

"I will, see you on Friday, Buffy." Giles hung up and looked at Willow, "I don't think she was terribly excited." And Willow snorted, "Angel?"

"Angel."

Buffy handed the phone to Methos and he hung it up, looking at her blank face.

"What's the matter Sweet?" he asked and Buffy rolled over, frustrated. "How long will it feel like Angel is such a big part of my life? I feel like I walk on eggshells around him. I told him about you and he was hurt, but it didn't hurt me to hurt him. Gaah! I don't even know what I'm trying to say!" Buffy grabbed her hair and yanked and Methos smothered a laugh. "And I forgot to ask why Giles and the gang are coming here." She threw herself back on the bed with a moan of disgust.

"Love isn't supposed to be easy. It just is." He said and Buffy looked at him and snorted inelegantly, "What a load of crap. Love is painful and you never know when it's going to blow up in your face or you're going to have to stick a sword in the man you love to save the world."

He raised an eyebrow at her outburst, "See?"

"Oh shut up." She rolled over and sighed, "Does knowing Angel will be here bother you?" she whispered.

Methos sat up and gathered Buffy into his arms, lying back down.  "He will always mean something to you Buffy. Even if you don't know it you have already made a choice. You could be there with him but you're not." He hugged her and said quietly, "I'm glad you are here with me."

Buffy nodded, and slowly slid into sleep, Methos' warmth and heartbeat soothing her.

"Angel is the past. I hope I am the future." He said quietly to the dark.

Methos was eating breakfast with Buffy when he looked up, "I need to fly to London later today."

Buffy swallowed her bacon and took a drink of orange juice. "OK."

"You're not upset?" he asked incredulously.

"Um no. Why, do you have a crazy wife in your attic that you didn't mention?"

"No!"

"So, no problem. Though I'll miss you like crazy."

Methos face softened, and he took Buffy's hand, "I will miss you even more." He said simply. "Plus, I'll be home Friday."

"I'm glad, I want you to meet Dawnie and Xander and Giles."

They finished up their breakfast and Buffy stood, stretching up to the ceiling. Her curvy body whetted his appetite for more than food.

"So, you wanna fool around until you have to leave?" she asked and he smiled wickedly, "Let's."