Buffy applied the finishing touches to her makeup, some light mascara and clear lip gloss. She smoothed down her light blue top, and casual jeans. Just then the doorbell went.
Laura poked her head around the door, "Do you want me to get it? And you look lovely by the way."
"I'll get it thanks." Buffy said, as she came out the door.
"Lunch is ready in twenty minutes, so you have a little time to talk."
Buffy reached the front door and opened it. Angel stood behind it, looking slightly nervous. He had a bunch of yellow and white Gerberas in one hand, and a carrier bag in the other. He was dressed all in black. Buffy's heart almost stopped for a minute in appreciation.
"Angel." She breathed softly.
"Hi." He answered shyly, in a un-Angel like way.
"You're exactly on time." Buffy stated, before stepping
back to let him in.
"These are for you." he said, holding flowers out.
"Thank you." she said with a smile. "Lunch isn't ready yet."
"Oh, Tara sent this over." He said, pulling a box of milk chocolates out a bag. "To say thanks to you all."
"She didn't have to do that!" Buffy exclaimed, taking them from him.
Angel shrugged. "I can take them if you want."
"That's alright thanks." Buffy giggled.
She motioned him to follow her as she walked upstairs. He followed her into her bedroom.
"Take a seat." She said, nodding towards her neatly made bed. He did as he was told.
She put some music on and took a seat next to him.
"Have you been doing anything this morning?" he asked.
"Went food shopping with Laura. Ryan's only just got up. I don't get how he can stay awake until six in the morning, get up at twelve and not be a zombie." Buffy answered.
"Yes, I would have to sleep till at least three. He has a tough job." Angel said.
"Yeah, but he loves it. It's what he always wanted to do. When we were little we used to practically live with us, whenever any of us got a little hurt, he would get out his doctors bag, and look after us." She told him, with a wistful smile.
"How much older is he than you?" Angel asked.
"He's twenty-six. So, nine years older. Laura is Twenty-five." Buffy said.
"When exactly did you move to LA?" Angel asked.
"A week and two days ago." She answered. She paused before adding, "I'm sorry about last night, crying like that."
"Don't be sorry." Angel chastised, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Buffy picked up a photograph of her and a girl she had said was called Faith the night before. They were smiling in the picture, dancing with each other. They were both wearing the same red dress and it looked like it had been taken no more than a year ago. The girl had long dark hair lose about her shoulders, and Buffy's was the same length and style, just a different color.
"Faith's my twin sister." she said softly, almost to herself.
Buffy picked up another picture of the three girls together. "Dawn's eleven. She was always trying to be like Faith and me. She used to beg Mom for the same clothes as us, to cut her hair the same length. Mom was soft with her, let her do anything. Dawn used to cook these strange foods, mix different things together and make us all try it. We had to pretend it was the yummiest thing in the world to spare her feelings, well Faith used to tell her when it was disgusting, which was most of the time."
Angel watched her share these memories with him. He watched her face as it brightened in happiness at memories, then looked sad again. He thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, even though it obviously masked great pain, the cause of it he did not know.
"Buffy, Angel, lunch is ready!" Laura called up the stairs.
Buffy put the photograph down, "We better go." she said, and got up. She almost told him. Angel made her forget everything and just want to pour her heart out to him and Buffy had barely known him for a week. But as Laura had said, he was drop dead gorgeous. He had deep, soulful eyes that made you want to drown in them. Buffy was falling and falling fast.
She thought she had been in love with her first boyfriend, Tyler, but in a week she felt more in love with Angel than she had with Tyler in three years.
"I'm sorry Ryan couldn't be here, he got called to an emergency at the hospital." Laura apologised as she served chicken on to the plates.
"He's been so busy lately, is he overworking himself?" Buffy asked.
"I think he does it to forget." Laura commented, "I didn't mean…"
"It's ok." Buffy interrupted.
Angel was seated to Buffy's left and Laura was opposite her.
"Have you enough to eat Angel?" Laura asked.
"Yes, thank you." he answered.
The three continued to talk about random things until they finished.
"I'll get desert." Buffy said, and left the room.
Laura looked at Angel, "You like her." she stated.
"I do." He answered without hesitation.
"I know it's none of my business, but, please don't hurt her." she said with a look in her eyes Angel couldn't place.
"I won't." Angel promised.
Buffy came back through the door, a plate in one hand with a chocolate cake on top and smaller plates in the other.
She cut generous slices and gave them to Angel and Laura and took a bit for herself.
"It's gorgeous Buffy." Laura complimented.
"Thanks." Buffy replied.
You made it?" Angel asked surprised.
"Yeah, why?" Buffy said.
"It's so lovely; I thought it must have been professionally made." Angel said with a grin.
"I like cooking." She said, the sad look in her eyes coming back.
At that point Angel made a promise to himself, he would, if it killed him, make her happy. He would chase her demons away, and make her eyes sparkle again like they did in her pictures.
