Hey guys, sorry about the delay in getting this chapter out but I just had the week from HELL and wasn't in the mood to write anything fluffy, or anything at all for that matter - except my letter of resignation for my boss! Uhrg, now I have to get a new job - hate job-hunting, blach!

*

*

*

Angel strode up the path until the lights and music of the house were a dim blur behind him, not for the first time in his life he was very grateful for such a large garden to hide in. It was so big that if you didn't want to be found then you wouldn't be. He slowed his pace and took another gulp of champagne, pausing to look up at the tree house he and Spike had built as kids with the help of their dad. The thick wooden ladder was still propped securely against the tree and for a moment he was tempted to climb up and maybe even sleep up there, though he suspected he'd need more than the bottle of champagne to send him off tonight.

He kept walking until he reached a heavy stone picnic table that was always in the garden all year round. He slumped down onto one of the long stone seats and dumped the enormous dish of chocolate-coated strawberries and champagne on the table with a sigh. It was doubtful that anyone else would wander this far up the garden tonight. Thankfully, he could be alone for a bit.

He reached down under the table hoping a couple of lanterns would be under the table where they were usually stored, complete with lemony candles to keep bugs at bay. He was lucky and found two with relatively new candles and proceeded to light them with the silver lighter he carried - despite the fact that he no longer smoked; though tonight he was wishing he did!

He pushed his mask higher up on his head before snapping it off and laying it on the table. He stared absently at its simple chiselled lines as he wondered what the hell had been going on in his head all day, or ever since he had laid eyes on the stunning Buffy Summers. He had acted totally out of character and then actually expected to-

He frowned, what he had expected he wasn't sure but the way she had made him feel wasn't a sensation he was used to and he had wanted more of it.

He took another gulp of champagne and grimaced, in short he had acted like a total idiot. She'd been trying to explain something to him after their kiss too, but like the idiot he was he had cut across her explanation and made a run for it. Not that her explanation could have been much good, but still, he should have listened to her and maybe understood what was happening. Instead he was sitting outside feeling as if he'd spent the last twenty-four hours on a roller coaster with no idea why.

To sum up his feelings Buffy had successfully put his heart and libido in the blender and had pressed frappe! He lowered his forehead to the tabletop but resisted the urge to bang it, as it would probably hurt like hell and he didn't need physical injuries too. He groaned to himself, there was absolutely no way out of this one, he had actually done possibly the most stupid thing in the world - he had fallen in love with his brother's future wife. Not just in lust, but in love.

*******************

Buffy scowled at her lightly growling belly, she really would have to go in for food soon. Her stomach was voicing its resentment at emptiness increasingly more often. Besides, there was only so much time a girl could spend sitting alone under a tree wallowing in self-pity that she had scared off the only guy she had ever really, really liked in a romantic sense.

Buffy pulled a face, actually time spent wallowing on that subject could be unlimited particularly if assisted by ice cream, weepy movies and a fat duvet. After all, it wasn't everyday you met the absolutely perfect guy you could see yourself marrying and then frightened him off.

Decided, she scrambled to her feet and pulled her mask back on. If she was going back in she needed that mask. Hoping her wig hadn't slipped too much she began carefully making her way back down the garden in the darkness.

When she rounded a curve in the path she spotted two little lights fluttering weakly through the darkness. That didn't look like the house but it had to be somebody who might not mind lending her a light to guide her back to the house. In trainers and jeans the walk wouldn't be a problem but sweeping skirts and four-inch heels did not promote balance and grace so a bit of light would really help.

She moved towards the lights realizing as she drew near that shouting out a warning that she was coming might be a good idea. Because she sure as hell wouldn't like being sneaked up on in the dark if it was at all avoidable.

"Um, Hi." She said from a few yards away.

Angel froze. That voice sounded a lot like Buffy, but his lucky brother was indoors slobbering on her - wasn't he?

Hastily he swallowed his mouthful of strawberry, "Um, Hi?" he replied.

A voice that was unmistakably Buffy came out of the darkness a few yards behind him, "Angel? Uh, is that you?"