A/N-Nominated in the Third Round Thwack Awards! Thanks everyone!
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Chapter 7
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"Turn right up at the corner" Buffy instructed Wes.
"No, you want to turn left, much nicer neighborhood you have to drive through." Cordy countered.
"I think I know how to get to my own house." Buffy replied indignantly.
"Yes, but we aren't all super heroes now are we. We could get mugged." Cordy pointed out.
"We're in a car Codelia." Buffy replied
"OK, carjacked. Either way, not pleasant." Cordy responded.
Buffy simply rolled her eyes and another unintentional growl left her chest.
"OK, you know what? That's enough with the growly." Cordelia said, turning around in Angel's car to face Buffy. "I mean, Angel doesn't even growl that much. You could have just as easily moaned, or jeez, even a sigh for pete's sake. I think you're enjoying this just a little too much." she finished and pointed a disapproving finger at Buffy for emphasis.
"You know Wes," Buffy started. "She's right. I'm enjoying this so much and I really want to spend more time with Cordy and you all alone. Cooped up in Angel's car, with no food. By all means, take a left." Buffy said in the most innocent voice she could manage.
"Right then, right it is." Wes replied, steering the car around the turn.
"Hey!" Cordy shouted. Seeing the apologetic look Wesley shot her, she turned back around in her seat, sporting a large pout and mumbling, "and you were just starting to grow a pair....."
As 1630 came into view Buffy popped forward in her seat. "Oh thank god. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see home." she said as they pulled up to the curb.
"Yeah, well, I don't think we've ever been happier to get rid of you either." Cordy snickered.
**********
"Oh, oh, oh, they're here!" Dawn came bounding into the dining room, before turning to the front door and dashing outside. Buffy had just barely made it out of the back seat before she was nearly tackled by a really happy Dawn. "I am *so* glad to see you. Well, not SEE YOU, see you since I can't really *see* you, but I'm happy you're home!"
"Feeling's mutual." Buffy replied. "Is everyone here or at the Magic Box?"
"Oh, we're all here. Angel's been feeling a little sick so we've been camped out here all day." Dawn supplied.
"Sick?" Buffy asked, fear beginning to creep up in her. "Sick how? How can he be sick? He's a vampire! Is it the spell?"
"Um lets see, what order would you like that in?" Dawn replied. "He's not sick, sick. And no, he's not a vampire, he's a Slayer. Which, in case you've forgotten, is still human."
"Noooo. I haven't forgotten. But you still didn't say what's wrong with him. Oh for crying out loud, I'll just go see myself." And with that, Buffy headed for the door.
"OK, but don't say I didn't warn you!" Dawn shouted after her.
"Oh don't mind us Buffy" Cordelia called, "We'll just get all the bags and bring them in all by ourselves!"
Buffy just waved behind her in response and went inside.
"Brother, just what I wanted to see. More of the Buffy and Angel show." Cordy bit out as she grabbed a bag from the trunk of Angels car. "Hey Dawn! Good to see you! Say, you wouldn't mind grabbing a bag would you? Thanks! You're a life saver!" Cordy smiled as she started to the door.
**********
"Where is he?" Buffy asked as she walked in the house. "Oh, hey guys!"
"Buffy!?" A chorus rang out from the dining room.
"Man am I glad to see you! Please tell me you've figured this all out. Oh, but where's Angel? Dawn said he was sick?" Buffy asked glancing around at the varied assembly, garnering a couple of snickers, and several floorward glances, but no immediate answers.
"Oh my god. Is it that bad?" Buffy drew her own conclusions from the lack of answers and began searching through the house calling out Angel's name. Not finding him on the ground floor, Buffy made her way up the stairs, her fears starting to grow. She had barely topped the stairs before running smack into Angel, catching both off guard and sending both parties to the ground in a heap of flailing arms and legs.
"Sorry!" They both said at once. But as they regrouped, Buffy and Angel both stared at the other person, seeing themselves staring back at them. Each one could only stare amazed. Buffy finally broke the silence as she rolled off of Angel. She stood and gingerly helped Angel up.
"Are you all right?" Buffy asked "Dawn said you were sick."
"Yeah, well, um Tara helped me. So I'm um, better, now. She's a...a , nice girl." Angel replied, feeling the tell tale warmth of a blush that he had come to know all too well in the last several hours.
"Yeah, she is." Buffy answered hesitantly, noting Angel's blush and wondering just what exactly had happened.
"What did you do to my hair?" Angel asked glancing up at Buffy.
"I didn't do anything to your hair. At least I can't see it to do anything to it, what's your excuse?" Buffy asked noting the mussed low ponytail. "Thought you had long hair once upon a time?"
"That was completely different. Your hair is all, strange." Angel replied.
"Buffy? Angel? Could you come down here?" Giles called up the stairs, interrupting their exchange.
"Guess we should get down there." Angel offered pointing down the stairs.
"Yeah. Figure out how we got all presto change-o." Buffy said and stood aside to allow Angel down the stairs.
"Yeah." Angel replied.
**********
Buffy followed Angel into the dining room to the gathered assembly, as Angel greeted Wes and Cordy.
"Where's Gunn?" Angel inquired.
"Ah yes Angel," Wes started, "we concluded that he should stay behind to continue on the cases we were currently working and to provide a reliable contact in LA should we need one."
"Oh. Makes sense." Angel replied, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, well, if you two could take a seat..." Giles indicated toward the table.
"Um, sure, if we had some. Got a few extra groupies here." Buffy pointed out, glancing around the table at all the occupied chairs. "Speaking of which, why is Spike here?"
"Ahhh, SUCH a good question." Giles mumbled.
"Hey!" Spike replied indignantly. "I've been trying to help here. If it wasn't for me, you'd have hauled Angel to the hospital over a fit of vapors!"
"Fit of who? Angel's having fits?" Buffy asked confusedly.
Seeing the color drain from Angel's face, Giles quickly intervened. "Angel was feeling a bit ill earlier, but I believe he's fine now. Xander, Spike, would you fetch some chairs? I believe there are some in the basement. Now, Buffy, shall we begin?" Noting Buffy's nod of agreement, her proceeded on. "What is the last thing you remember before you became, well, became Angel?"
"Well, I was talking to some guy at the Bronze, think his name was Max, and then next thing I know I'm all Barry Manilow in some demon bar." Buffy shrugged.
"What's wrong with Manilow?" Angel asked
"You're joking right?" Buffy replied
"Wasn't even his song anyway it was..."Angel mumbled before Giles interrupted.
"You were singing? At a demon bar?" He asked with no small amount of confusion in his voice.
"Oh this, ought to be good." Spike said, setting his chair down.
"Shut up Spike." Buffy, Angel, and Giles answered together. Drawing a small pout and whispered "Fine" from the blond vampire.
"It's a demon kareoke bar owned by an empath demon. You sing for him, and he can read you. I was hoping he could help me find Dru and Darla." Angel hurried out.
"Looking to reunite the family then, eh Angel?" Spike said. Earning him several nasty looks from the group. "Fine, fine, whatever. Feelin' a bit peckish anyhow. Care for a mug luv? Got the primo stuff from Willy's since you were comin'." Spike asked.
Buffy's stomach gave a resounding grumble at the suggestion. "I guess." Buffy replied rather shyly. "Can't seem to eat enough, even if it is disgusting." Buffy said then turned to look at Angel. "Remind me to ask you about that later."
"Know what you mean. Man, you have a high metabolism for someone so small." Angel responded.
"Slayer perk." Buffy said nonchalantly
"Yes, well, back to the problem at hand. Buffy, do you remember anything out of the ordinary that night? Anything unusually about this fellow you were speaking with? Was there anything strange at all before your switch?" Giles asked.
"Nope. Not that I can think of." Buffy replied. "We were chatting, and he bought me a few drinks. That's about it."
"Maybe he put something in her drink." Willow spoke up excitedly. "Did he say anything unusual while you were talking? There's a couple of spells that we found that could be done with a potion and incantation. But it requires both people to take the potion." Willow visibly deflated.
"No, it was all pretty much straight forward stuff. We were commiserating about ex's." Buffy said.
"I just can't figure who would have the power to something like this without you both together." Willow said.
"You were talking about ex's?" Anya asked. "As in ex-lover ex's?"
"Ahn, now's not the time.." Xander interrupted.
"You said his name was Max?" Anya continued.
"Yeah, I think that's what he said his name was. Why?" Buffy asked.
"Tall, kind of slender with green eyes and black hair?" Anya probed.
"Yeah! You've met him?" Buffy answered.
"Met him? I trained him." Anya responded. "You, didn't happen to mention anything about wishing to swap bodies with Angel did you?"
Buffy snorted, "Of coarse not! I'm not that stupid. And why would I want to switch bodies with Angel anyway? I just said that I thought it would be nice if he knew what it was like to be me." Buffy said. Sudden realization hit her and her eyes grew wide before she groaned loudly and let her head drop to the table.
"Stupid Buffy, stupid Buffy, stupid Buffy" she began chanting as she banged her head repeatedly on the dining room table.
**********
TBC...
A/N- I apologize that this chapter isn't quite as humorous as the previous ones, because you know, gotta start throwing that plot in somewhere!
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Chapter 7
**********
"Turn right up at the corner" Buffy instructed Wes.
"No, you want to turn left, much nicer neighborhood you have to drive through." Cordy countered.
"I think I know how to get to my own house." Buffy replied indignantly.
"Yes, but we aren't all super heroes now are we. We could get mugged." Cordy pointed out.
"We're in a car Codelia." Buffy replied
"OK, carjacked. Either way, not pleasant." Cordy responded.
Buffy simply rolled her eyes and another unintentional growl left her chest.
"OK, you know what? That's enough with the growly." Cordelia said, turning around in Angel's car to face Buffy. "I mean, Angel doesn't even growl that much. You could have just as easily moaned, or jeez, even a sigh for pete's sake. I think you're enjoying this just a little too much." she finished and pointed a disapproving finger at Buffy for emphasis.
"You know Wes," Buffy started. "She's right. I'm enjoying this so much and I really want to spend more time with Cordy and you all alone. Cooped up in Angel's car, with no food. By all means, take a left." Buffy said in the most innocent voice she could manage.
"Right then, right it is." Wes replied, steering the car around the turn.
"Hey!" Cordy shouted. Seeing the apologetic look Wesley shot her, she turned back around in her seat, sporting a large pout and mumbling, "and you were just starting to grow a pair....."
As 1630 came into view Buffy popped forward in her seat. "Oh thank god. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see home." she said as they pulled up to the curb.
"Yeah, well, I don't think we've ever been happier to get rid of you either." Cordy snickered.
**********
"Oh, oh, oh, they're here!" Dawn came bounding into the dining room, before turning to the front door and dashing outside. Buffy had just barely made it out of the back seat before she was nearly tackled by a really happy Dawn. "I am *so* glad to see you. Well, not SEE YOU, see you since I can't really *see* you, but I'm happy you're home!"
"Feeling's mutual." Buffy replied. "Is everyone here or at the Magic Box?"
"Oh, we're all here. Angel's been feeling a little sick so we've been camped out here all day." Dawn supplied.
"Sick?" Buffy asked, fear beginning to creep up in her. "Sick how? How can he be sick? He's a vampire! Is it the spell?"
"Um lets see, what order would you like that in?" Dawn replied. "He's not sick, sick. And no, he's not a vampire, he's a Slayer. Which, in case you've forgotten, is still human."
"Noooo. I haven't forgotten. But you still didn't say what's wrong with him. Oh for crying out loud, I'll just go see myself." And with that, Buffy headed for the door.
"OK, but don't say I didn't warn you!" Dawn shouted after her.
"Oh don't mind us Buffy" Cordelia called, "We'll just get all the bags and bring them in all by ourselves!"
Buffy just waved behind her in response and went inside.
"Brother, just what I wanted to see. More of the Buffy and Angel show." Cordy bit out as she grabbed a bag from the trunk of Angels car. "Hey Dawn! Good to see you! Say, you wouldn't mind grabbing a bag would you? Thanks! You're a life saver!" Cordy smiled as she started to the door.
**********
"Where is he?" Buffy asked as she walked in the house. "Oh, hey guys!"
"Buffy!?" A chorus rang out from the dining room.
"Man am I glad to see you! Please tell me you've figured this all out. Oh, but where's Angel? Dawn said he was sick?" Buffy asked glancing around at the varied assembly, garnering a couple of snickers, and several floorward glances, but no immediate answers.
"Oh my god. Is it that bad?" Buffy drew her own conclusions from the lack of answers and began searching through the house calling out Angel's name. Not finding him on the ground floor, Buffy made her way up the stairs, her fears starting to grow. She had barely topped the stairs before running smack into Angel, catching both off guard and sending both parties to the ground in a heap of flailing arms and legs.
"Sorry!" They both said at once. But as they regrouped, Buffy and Angel both stared at the other person, seeing themselves staring back at them. Each one could only stare amazed. Buffy finally broke the silence as she rolled off of Angel. She stood and gingerly helped Angel up.
"Are you all right?" Buffy asked "Dawn said you were sick."
"Yeah, well, um Tara helped me. So I'm um, better, now. She's a...a , nice girl." Angel replied, feeling the tell tale warmth of a blush that he had come to know all too well in the last several hours.
"Yeah, she is." Buffy answered hesitantly, noting Angel's blush and wondering just what exactly had happened.
"What did you do to my hair?" Angel asked glancing up at Buffy.
"I didn't do anything to your hair. At least I can't see it to do anything to it, what's your excuse?" Buffy asked noting the mussed low ponytail. "Thought you had long hair once upon a time?"
"That was completely different. Your hair is all, strange." Angel replied.
"Buffy? Angel? Could you come down here?" Giles called up the stairs, interrupting their exchange.
"Guess we should get down there." Angel offered pointing down the stairs.
"Yeah. Figure out how we got all presto change-o." Buffy said and stood aside to allow Angel down the stairs.
"Yeah." Angel replied.
**********
Buffy followed Angel into the dining room to the gathered assembly, as Angel greeted Wes and Cordy.
"Where's Gunn?" Angel inquired.
"Ah yes Angel," Wes started, "we concluded that he should stay behind to continue on the cases we were currently working and to provide a reliable contact in LA should we need one."
"Oh. Makes sense." Angel replied, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, well, if you two could take a seat..." Giles indicated toward the table.
"Um, sure, if we had some. Got a few extra groupies here." Buffy pointed out, glancing around the table at all the occupied chairs. "Speaking of which, why is Spike here?"
"Ahhh, SUCH a good question." Giles mumbled.
"Hey!" Spike replied indignantly. "I've been trying to help here. If it wasn't for me, you'd have hauled Angel to the hospital over a fit of vapors!"
"Fit of who? Angel's having fits?" Buffy asked confusedly.
Seeing the color drain from Angel's face, Giles quickly intervened. "Angel was feeling a bit ill earlier, but I believe he's fine now. Xander, Spike, would you fetch some chairs? I believe there are some in the basement. Now, Buffy, shall we begin?" Noting Buffy's nod of agreement, her proceeded on. "What is the last thing you remember before you became, well, became Angel?"
"Well, I was talking to some guy at the Bronze, think his name was Max, and then next thing I know I'm all Barry Manilow in some demon bar." Buffy shrugged.
"What's wrong with Manilow?" Angel asked
"You're joking right?" Buffy replied
"Wasn't even his song anyway it was..."Angel mumbled before Giles interrupted.
"You were singing? At a demon bar?" He asked with no small amount of confusion in his voice.
"Oh this, ought to be good." Spike said, setting his chair down.
"Shut up Spike." Buffy, Angel, and Giles answered together. Drawing a small pout and whispered "Fine" from the blond vampire.
"It's a demon kareoke bar owned by an empath demon. You sing for him, and he can read you. I was hoping he could help me find Dru and Darla." Angel hurried out.
"Looking to reunite the family then, eh Angel?" Spike said. Earning him several nasty looks from the group. "Fine, fine, whatever. Feelin' a bit peckish anyhow. Care for a mug luv? Got the primo stuff from Willy's since you were comin'." Spike asked.
Buffy's stomach gave a resounding grumble at the suggestion. "I guess." Buffy replied rather shyly. "Can't seem to eat enough, even if it is disgusting." Buffy said then turned to look at Angel. "Remind me to ask you about that later."
"Know what you mean. Man, you have a high metabolism for someone so small." Angel responded.
"Slayer perk." Buffy said nonchalantly
"Yes, well, back to the problem at hand. Buffy, do you remember anything out of the ordinary that night? Anything unusually about this fellow you were speaking with? Was there anything strange at all before your switch?" Giles asked.
"Nope. Not that I can think of." Buffy replied. "We were chatting, and he bought me a few drinks. That's about it."
"Maybe he put something in her drink." Willow spoke up excitedly. "Did he say anything unusual while you were talking? There's a couple of spells that we found that could be done with a potion and incantation. But it requires both people to take the potion." Willow visibly deflated.
"No, it was all pretty much straight forward stuff. We were commiserating about ex's." Buffy said.
"I just can't figure who would have the power to something like this without you both together." Willow said.
"You were talking about ex's?" Anya asked. "As in ex-lover ex's?"
"Ahn, now's not the time.." Xander interrupted.
"You said his name was Max?" Anya continued.
"Yeah, I think that's what he said his name was. Why?" Buffy asked.
"Tall, kind of slender with green eyes and black hair?" Anya probed.
"Yeah! You've met him?" Buffy answered.
"Met him? I trained him." Anya responded. "You, didn't happen to mention anything about wishing to swap bodies with Angel did you?"
Buffy snorted, "Of coarse not! I'm not that stupid. And why would I want to switch bodies with Angel anyway? I just said that I thought it would be nice if he knew what it was like to be me." Buffy said. Sudden realization hit her and her eyes grew wide before she groaned loudly and let her head drop to the table.
"Stupid Buffy, stupid Buffy, stupid Buffy" she began chanting as she banged her head repeatedly on the dining room table.
**********
TBC...
A/N- I apologize that this chapter isn't quite as humorous as the previous ones, because you know, gotta start throwing that plot in somewhere!