CHAPTER 4: MORNING A GLOW

Angel:

This time around I woke up first, before my love. I looked down at her sleeping form and watched her sleep peacefully in my arms. I stroked her scalp once again because I know how much she liked the feeling; even though we needed to talk I didn't wake her. There would be time for that later tonight when I could go places with her.  It was mid afternoon right about known from what I could tell. I did not have clocks in the mansion- I would I have to fix this place up if I am going to stay-- if she wants me to stay.

I watched her chest go in and out under the covers and I took an unnecessary breath making her shiver. I pulled her body father into mine and held her bringing the covers over her. She sighed unconsciously as I held her and stroked her hair. She stirred in my arms suddenly. She looked over to the other side of the bed were I had been lying before. I felt her tense, I suppose that she didn't know that I was here and she was panic stricken about me not being on that side.

"Angel?" she cried.

"I'm here," she turned around and looked at me lying in his arms.

"Morning,"

"I think its afternoon, but good morning to you too,"

"Sleep well?"

"Yes of course being with you I always will. I've been awake for an hour."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Couldn't, never could,"

"Why were you staring at me anyways? I know I looked all messed up."

"You look fine, not fine beautiful, Buffy,"

"But you don't count," she smirked as I ran my hand over her back since she was still sitting up.

"Who else is going to see you my sweet?" I said in a low tone, lifting my self-up to kiss her shoulder and lowing I back down. 

"MMMmmmhhh… Your right," she gave in and sighed. She lay back down next to me and hugged me. I kissed her tenderly. "I' m kind of hungry," she sighed and looked up at me.

"I don't think so I have food,"

"Only plasma in the fridge?"

I nodded yes in reply as I laughed.

"Well that's okay no adventure is two big for Super Angel and Wonder Buffy," she exclaimed sarcastically.

"Daylight," I moaned sadly as I kissed the bottom of her spine. I guess she felt me frown because she snapped her head around to look at me. She nestled into my chest. I thought of everything I couldn't give her and the life she deserved better than me, to be in the sunlight. How I wished she would accept me for the animal I am.

"Stop thinking Angel; don't think you're not good enough for me because you are. You deserve more than me even because you choose to help people for your own free will I was the one that was chosen. You are the one thing that I love in this world, and I thank you for everything you given me, from sadness, to worry to eternal happiness," tears welled in her eyes. " You are the one that should forgive me for me being so mean to you over the past four years and not understanding that you loved me. I had so much resentment for all those years. When I was sad I would think of that night sitting down on the pear when you gave me the claddagh and you smiled at me. I think of your smile and my world lights up. When you smile my life makes sense. I was put on this earth to help people and love you and only you. I've been way too stupid over the years and I couldn't see that you were the one. I'm sorry," she said a tear slipped down her face, "It's all my fault, I'm sorry."

I was stricken by her thoughts; I cupped her face and looked down at her, "is that what you truly think, this is your fault?"

She nodded and just cried as I wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"It's not, it never was, it was not my fault either, it's was no ones fault. Things just happen. Do you understand me? I love you I always will. Nothing can change that not the sorrow or the misery and especially not the happiness. We can be almost like a real couple now. No more doubts, no more fears, only forgiveness and happiness. We will be together, I promise you. The only thing we have to worry about now is telling everyone and getting food." I smirked trying to lighten my tone even though emotions were built inside me.

"I have a better idea! I'll take a shower and get all dressed and then we will talk, and then it will be nightfall. Patrolling and food for me…us!" she cheered and sat up.

"You have stuff here?" I questioned.

"Um… ya!" she smirked grabbing the sheet and ran to the dresser, "Burr… its cold maybe we should think about heating."

"Or I could be your heater," I smirked and jogged to her rapping my arms around her.

That would work if you were warm or maybe you weren't all naked," she joked.

"You don't like me like this?" I smiled.

"I like you anyways, sunny side up, dressed or naked, doesn't matter. All works for me." she giggled.

"Well how about you just go take a shower now," I smiled and hit her butt as she grabbed her shampoo, conditioner and towel.

"That works, I'll miss you," she blew me a kiss and walked on.

"Same," I set my blanket on the bed and made it. I cleaned her stuff off the floor and mine as well. I smirked as I did this- I couldn't clean them, what was I going to wear? Forget that now I was going to shower with her.

I stepped in the bathroom the water was running and she had no idea that I was in there. I climbed into the shower/bath and grabbed her. She screamed and then turned around and giggled. She tried to look annoyed, but failed miserably.

"You scared the crap out of me Angel!" she punched me.

"What not happy to see me?"

"I'm always happy to see you," she giggled in to my mouth as I bent down and kissed her.

"Okay how about I wash your hair?"

"Shampoo please," I asked. She bent down to get it I admired her back muscles as they stretched out. She looked incredible. She handed me the shampoo bottle and I squeezed some of the blue goo in my hand. I massaged it into her hair and she moaned. I knew she loved when I played with her hair on her head and I had never done this to someone else. Hearing her moan made me smile. I finished my deed. "Alright, wash it out and conditioner then," I watched her wash It out. It amazed me how she had grown in these last few years. Last night she seemed so sad, but today with me she had smiled more than I have seen her smile in the last couple of years when I had come to help her or watch over her. Maybe I truly did make her happy. Suddenly she handed me the conditioner I think she was ready for another time of me to wash her hair. "Okay, wash it out again." She did that too and then she turned around and looked at me ready to wash my hair.

"Wait I am not done," I protested. She looked puzzled at me. But then when I grabbed her washcloth and smothered it with soap she understood. She had to be completely cleaned. Head to toe. I washed her shoulders with the washcloth. I let the washcloth drop and used my hands; I stopped for a second to see if she would protest, she didn't. I proceeded. I moved my hands down to her stomach and rubbed in clean I moved back up to her neck slowly brushing over the scar I had left. I finished and she turned around in excitement to do me now.

Buffy:

I took the shampoo in my hand and reached up and massaged the soap in his hair. He was much taller than I, so I had to stand on my tipsy-toes. It was hard, but I finished. "Wash mister," I said hitting him on the butt like he did to me before. He did I watched his back muscles as he moved his hands up to his hair, he was amazing still. He had stayed in shape all those years. "Okay, body wash time!" I exclaimed over the hot water running. I took the washcloth and covered his shoulder with it letting the soap seep down ward. I scrubbed his back with my fingers. Coming back up to his shoulders, I massaged his traps with my palms and kissed his back. I finished my job and he turned back around to wash off.

"Wait I am not done," I protested. She looked puzzled at me. But then when I grabbed her washcloth and smothered it with soap she understood. She had to be completely cleaned. Head to toe. I washed her shoulders with the washcloth. I let the washcloth drop and used my hands; I stopped for a second to see if she would protest, she didn't. I proceeded. I moved my hands down to her stomach and rubbed in clean I moved back up to her neck slowly brushing over the scar I had left. I finished and she turned around in excitement to do me now.

Buffy:

I took the shampoo in my hand and reached up and massaged the soap in his hair. He was much taller than I, so I had to stand on my tipsy-toes. It was hard, but I finished. "Wash mister," I said hitting him on the butt like he did to me before. He did I watched his back muscles as he moved his hands up to his hair, he was amazing still. He had stayed in shape all those years. "Okay, body wash time!" I exclaimed over the hot water running. I took the washcloth and covered his shoulder with it letting the soap seep down ward. I scrubbed his back with my fingers. Coming back up to his shoulders, I massaged his traps with my palms and kissed his back. I finished my job and he turned back around to wash off.

"All done!" he said, and turned the water off. He looked at me and then the towel, "only one," he said, "we'll share." He stepped out of the bath/shower and dried him self off. "Your turn," I jumped out and dried the towel. He took it back from me and wrapped it around his butt.

"What about me?"

"I couldn't forget you love," he picked me and I wrapped my legs around his waste. His hands slid around my back with the towel and he carried me over to the bed. I got up and got my clothes from the dresser tossing him a red button up shirt.

"There you go, got a duster in there too, but no pants," I smirked and put on my underwear, "Guess we have to go shopping for more than one thing." I giggled and finished putting on my clothes, black jeans and a white plain tee shirt.

"Ya, well we got an hour until sunset, how about I drink my 'plasma' and make a fire since your cold and we can call Giles and tell him we need to meet and talk."

"Good plan, now get dressed and I'll go fix you some plasma. Hot or cold?"

"Hot, taste better."

"Coming up I'll go and make some for you."

"Thanks." I watched her walk out of the room, I loved her, but yet I think I should go. The power inside of me is telling me I need to be in L.A. working my problems out. She walked back in the room at that second; I cut my sad thoughts off and stared at her lovingly.

"Here you go," she smiled and walked into the living room where there was a leather couch and recliner.

"Do you want me to start a fire since you are cold?" I asked sipping some blood from the mug.

"That would be great," she smiled and was kind of distant as she sat on the couch. I grabbed the small fluffy blanket from the closet and pulled it over her. I kissed her on the head and she curled up in it. I placed some longs in the fireplace and lighted it with the lighter. Soon the fire had become a roaring fire. I sat down next to her on the couch and set my glass down on the table. The next thing I knew she was sitting in my lap cuddling with me and she was about to go right back to sleep in my arms when I had to suggest something.

"We should call Giles and tell him to call everyone and for them to meet us at your house at how bout eight?"

"MMkk," she sighed laying her head back on my shoulder and resting, she was obviously tired from lat night. I was proud that I could tire her out.

I dialed the number at Giles I heard two rings and then came, "Hello?" It was Giles.

"Do you want me to start a fire since you are cold?" I asked sipping some blood from the mug.

"That would be great," she smiled and was kind of distant as she sat on the couch. I grabbed the small fluffy blanket from the closet and pulled it over her. I kissed her on the head and she curled up in it. I placed some longs in the fireplace and lighted it with the lighter. Soon the fire had become a roaring fire. I sat down next to her on the couch and set my glass down on the table. The next thing I knew she was sitting in my lap cuddling with me and she was about to go right back to sleep in my arms when I had to suggest something.

"We should call Giles and tell him to call everyone and for them to meet us at your house at how bout eight?"

"MMkk," she sighed laying her head back on my shoulder and resting, she was obviously tired from lat night. I was proud that I could tire her out.

I dialed the number at Giles I heard two rings and then came, "Hello?" It was Giles.

"Hello Giles, it's Angel, I wanted to tell you that I am in town and Buffy is at the mansion with me discussing things, so no need to worry about her. Well she wanted me to call you and say that we want all of the 'Scooby Gang' to meet at Buffy's tonight at eight. Is that fine with you?"

"Yes, um, that will be fine, is everything alright then?"

"Everything is fine; we just need to talk with you guys if that is alright?"

"Fine with me, I'll call the others."

"Thank you. Good bye Giles."

"Um Angel?"

"Hmm?"

"Take care of her for me."

"I will good bye."

"Bye." I hung up the phone soon after Giles did and looked down at Buffy she was now staring at me.

"Giles going into 'over-protective-dad' mode?" she asked and scrunched her nose.

"Yup, pretty much, but that's all right he said that he would meet us there with everyone at eight. So we have an hour until sunset and four hours until we have to be at your house."

"Alright,"

"What do you want to do in the mean time?" I winked at her suggestively knowing that she still couldn't see me.

"I'm tired Angel, just let me sleep then we will go get you some pants, and me some food, then we'll go to my house." She said and kissed me tenderly on the lips, "Ewe, you taste like raw pig," she giggled.

"You taste like peppermint," I laughed.

"The wonder of toothpaste, try it sometime. " She yawned and set her head back on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her possessively. I kissed her head lightly.

"Good night," she smiled in my arms and fell asleep contently.

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