Rating: PG-13 (I have my reasons for putting up the rating.)
Summary: Takes place a five months after Darla stakes herself.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters… It all belongs to Joss Whedon and co.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think!
Chapter 21- After The Kiss
Riley sighed and looked around the room. How long had he been here?
The door opened and Buffy marched in.
"Buffy! Thank god! I thought I was gonna be stuck here for…" Riley trailed off when he noticed the look on Buffy's face. "What?"
"Why didn't you stop me?"
"From doing what?"
"Saying what I said."
"I'm sorry. I… guess I just didn't think about it."
"I really want it to work with Angel."
"Why?" Riley looked at Buffy in disbelief.
"We've had lots of missed chances. We've been through a lot together. And I love him."
"Do you?"
"Yeah." Buffy said softly.
"That's not what you said last night."
"Last night didn't matter."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"What can he give you that I can't?"
"Lot's of things."
"Like what?"
Buffy racked her brain for ideas. "Well…"
"See." Riley cut in. "You can't think of anything."
"I didn't say that."
"But I can give you more! What's he gonna give you? All you can get from him is a life of slaying and misery. I can let you have a proper life. A normal life."
Buffy shook her head. "Are you with the Initiative again?"
"Stop trying to change the subject."
"Answer my question, Riley."
Riley opened his mouth and the answer came out before he had even thought about it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Faith moaned and rubbed her side.
"Stitch?" Wesley asked as he handed her a cup of coffee.
Faith nodded.
"Serves you right."
"But it was funny." Faith took a sip of her coffee.
"Not the part about Buffy and Riley though."
"Nah. That was hilarious."
"Think about what Angel felt when she-."
"When she what?" Angel glared at them from his spot by the door of Wesley's office.
"Nothing." Wesley said quickly.
Angel sighed heavily and walked over to sit on the other side of Faith.
"You sigh way too much for a dead guy." Faith commented.
"Thanks." Angel muttered gloomily.
"Oh great. Leave me to do all the work why don't you."
"Sorry D. Too much laughing." Faith grinned.
"Don't call me that." Darla frowned.
"So… have you got anything?" Wesley sat up hopefully.
Darla shook her head. "No."
Wesley nodded. "Alright."
"Hey, what have you got?" Gunn's voice floated over to them from the door.
"Nothing." Angel, Wesley, Faith and Darla chorused.
"Oh."
"They obviously don't want to be found." Wesley took his glasses of and wiped his eyes.
"You don't say?"
Wesley looked over at Faith.
"There's a whole load of sexual tension between those two." Darla murmured loud enough so that only Angel could hear her.
Faith looked at Darla and then at Angel. "What the hell are you two smiling about?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buffy gaped at Riley in surprise. Whatever she expected him to say, it wasn't that.
"You what?" Buffy half whispered.
Riley turned his head away from Buffy.
"You said-."
"I know I said. But I had to go back."
"You had a choice." Buffy hissed.
"Did I?"
"Yes!"
"I wanted to finish what I started. See it through."
"Why?"
"Why not?" Riley looked straight into Buffy's eyes.
"What are you planning?"
"I can't tell you."
"Riley, you can tell me."
"I'm sorry. It has to work this time."
Buffy closed her eyes briefly. "Forget it."
"So you'll let me go?"
"No." Buffy shook her head.
"But…"
Buffy didn't stay to hear his reply.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What's gotten into you two?" Faith's eyes wandered from Darla to Angel then Wesley.
Angel grinned. "Nothing."
"Hi, y'all!" Fred greeted as she walked in carrying Connor. "I think somebody needs feedin'."
"Yeah, I'm starved." Faith agreed.
"Not you." Fred gave Faith a 'don't be silly' look. "Connor."
"Yeah. I'll-." Angel stretched out his arms.
Before Fred could hand Connor over, Darla snatched him up carried him to the kitchen.
"Okay…" Angel got up and followed Darla.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darla hummed softly as she put Connor in his high chair. She turned when she felt Angel behind her.
"I'll be fine." Darla assured.
"It's not about that."
"What then?" Darla busied herself with Connor's milk.
"Um… this is kinda awkward. But… what was the kiss all about?"
"It was just a bit of fun." Darla shrugged.
"Oh…" Angel nodded. "Oh good, 'cause you know… I'm with Buffy now and…"
"I know."
"Good, good. Just thought I'd clear that up."
"OK."
"That's it?" Angel was surprised by Darla's reaction.
"Is there anything else?"
"It's just that I thought you'd take it little… harder. Like after I threw you out. After we… you know."
"After you used me."
Angel winced. "I didn't use you."
"Right."
"Darla look at me."
Darla sighed loudly and met Angel's eyes.
"I don't know what's going on with you lately but-."
"You never do."
"All I'm saying is that…"
Angel was interrupted by Connor loud wail.
"Little attention seeker." Angel grinned and picked Connor up from his high chair.
Darla smiled. "He gets that from you."
Angel glared at her. "We'll finish this later."
To Be Continued…
A/N: What more trouble will the Initiative be brewing? Is there more to the mission than it seems?