Author's Note: I am terribly sorry it took me this long to get this part out. But on the flip side, I put a lot of thought into this part. So I really hope you like it! I am really happy with how it turned out. The song is "2 Become 1" by the Spice Girls. Yes, I know, but just read it XD
Dedication: To everyone in my Neopets Buffy guild, Simply Buffy. This is in honor of our 21 members! Yay! You guys are the best. XD
Part 6
Sunnydale, California
February 16th 2003
Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, and Giles sat around Giles's living room quietly. They had been in shock since Buffy had called.
"I just can't believe we found her," Willow said.
"Hey, not-so-dead-boy did it. He said he would find our Buff, and he did," Xander said.
Anya looked bored. "When are we going to go home and have sex?"
Xander turned and gave her a look. "Anya. This is a special time. This is a time when I need to be with my friends."
Anya shrugged. "So what? You found her. Now do we have to sit around here and talk about it all night?"
Xander turned to the others and smiled. "So, where were we?" Anya pouted and sat back on the couch.
Trying to move on from Anya's little outburst, Tara spoke. "It's pretty amazing. After all these years." She turned to Willow. "I'm looking forward to meeting her."
Willow smiled and patted Tara's knee. "She'll love you." Tara smiled back.
"Do you think she's going to come home?" Xander asked Giles.
Giles sighed and wiped his glasses. "I really don't know. I mean she has started a new life...a good one, from what she told me. I suppose it will be her choice."
There was a moment of silence.
"I hope she at least comes to visit. But maybe, after she graduates in the spring, she'll come home, and it will be..." Willow's voice trailed off. She knew that things could never be quite like they used to be.
"I wonder if her and Angel are back together," Tara said quietly.
"Knowing them, they're probably going at it like wild dogs right about now," Xander said.
"Maybe not. First Buffy is going to have to forgive Angel. And that might take a while," Willow said.
New York City
the same night
"Oh my God, Trace, I want him so bad!" Buffy moaned as she walked in the door.
Tracey looked up from her magazine, amused. "Well then what are you doing up here alone?"
Buffy gave her a look. "I can't just throw myself at him! I can't come off slutty." She set her purse down and began to remove her shoes.
Tracey tossed her magazine aside and sat cross-legged on the bed. "Lynn, my dear friend, come sit down." Buffy sat down across from her.
Tracey smiled slyly. "Have you ever heard of the third date rule?"
Buffy gave her a look. "Of course I have."
"Well, then you should know just what to do to solve your little problem."
"You mean on the next date I should sleep with him?"
"Why not? I know you want to. And I'm sure he does too. And the third date rule says that you can't be considered slutty if you wait...till the third date."
Buffy moaned and fell back onto the bed. "Trace, I want him soooo bad!" She buried her face in the pillow.
Tracey smiled. "Well then you shall have him. Let me know when you schedule your next date. I will arrange to stay with Dani and Kris, so you can have some privacy."
Buffy looked up. "Really?"
"Totally! And as for the date...I think it's time to bring out the red dress!" She waggled her eyebrows. The girls laughed as Buffy chucked the pillow at her.
That Friday Buffy walked in after work and screamed.
Tonight was the night. The third date.
She couldn't believe she had had to wait 4 whole days before she could see him again. But one of the crime writers had been out sick, and between that and the surprise English assignment she had received on Tuesday, she had had an incredibly busy week. And after her talk with Tracey on Monday, she had been so anxious too.
But it would be well worth the wait. Angel had told her on the phone that he had special plans for tonight.
And she had special plans for after.
Tracey walked in the door and screamed. Buffy screamed back.
After they calmed down, Tracey looked at the clock. "We'd better get you ready! He'll be here in two hours!"
Buffy ran to shower while Tracey lied everything out. Then she got to work on her friend's hair and makeup. Buffy wanted to look ultra-glam for tonight.
Then she put on the red dress.
Tracey stepped back. "Wow. You look so amazing."
And she did. The sides of her hair were clipped back, and the whole thing was loosely curled. The red dress looked great. It hugged her curves perfectly and showed a lot of cleavage. It was short, but not too short, and her red high heels topped off the look.
"You are going to knock his socks off." Then there was a knock at the door. Tracey squealed one last time.
"Okay girl, you go for it." she hugged her. Then Buffy pulled back. "What's wrong?"
Buffy spoke softly. "Trace...what if I'm not good? I haven't slept with anyone since my first time with him."
Tracey put her hand on her shoulders. "Lynn, don't worry. We got the protection, you looked at my Cosmos, you are ready, trust me." Angel knocked again. "Now go!"
Buffy smiled and walked to the door. She slowly opened it.
Oh. My. God.
Angel could not believe how amazing she looked. He tried not to stare at her body in the dress, but it was very hard not to.
I wonder if she's wearing a bra. She can't be!
Angel shook his head. "Wow. You just look..."
Buffy blushed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Still trying to keep his hormones in check, he reached out his arm. "So are you ready?"
Buffy waved goodbye to Tracey and shut the door. "Yes. So where are we going?"
Angel smiled. "That's a surprise."
Buffy gasped when she climbed out of the cab. They were in front of one of New York's famous theaters.
"Oh my God, Angel, are we seeing a play?"
He grinned. "I have two tickets to see the Broadway play Chicago."
Buffy gasped. "Oh my God, Angel! I loved the movie, I've wanted to go see the play so bad!" She threw her arms around him. He hugged her back.
Nope. Not wearing a bra.
She pulled away, and he snapped back to reality. "So, let's go take our seats," he said. Arm in arm, they walked inside.
Three hours later, they came out into the lobby. Both were grinning. "That was just amazing," Buffy said. "You have no idea how much I loved that. Thank you so much Angel."
Angel grinned. "I enjoyed it too. And you're welcome."
He helped her put her coat on and they walked out near the doors. "Oh no!" Buffy groaned. It was pouring outside.
"I'm going to get all wet," Buffy whined.
Angel put his hand on her shoulder. "You stay right here. I'll get us a cab."
Angel ran out to the curb while Buffy stayed inside the doors. A moment later she ran out to Angel and the waiting cab.
"Ick!" Buffy whined as she sat down. In the short walk she had gotten completely soaked. She was thankful she had her jacket on, because her dress would have become very see-through.
Angel was soaked as well. "It's okay. You still look beautiful."
Buffy smiled. Then it hit her how similar this was to another rainy night with Angel she had had. Weird, she thought.
The cab pulled to a stop in front of Buffy's dorm. Angel paid the cab driver and they ran up the steps. "Come up to my room and dry off," Buffy said quickly. Angel nodded, and they rushed inside.
Once inside they shook off. Then they took the elevator up to Buffy's room.
Buffy put her purse down on the desk. "Why don't you just stay here, I'll go get us some towels," she said. He nodded.
While she was gone, Angel took the opportunity to look around the room. At the desk was Buffy's laptop and textbooks, along with pens and pencils and some odds and ends. Above the desk there was a bulletin board, packed with stuff. There were many photos of Buffy with Tracey, Danielle, and Kristen, as well as some souvenirs from their cheerleading.
Buffy walked back into the room, holding two towels. "Here," she said, handing him one. Silently, they both dried off.
Say something! Buffy screamed at herself. She wasn't about to blow this.
My God she looks hot. I want her so bad.
After they had finished drying off, Angel sadly realized that she was probably waiting for him to leave. "Well I guess I'll go now." He set the towel down and picked up his jacket. He started to put it on and he walked towards the door, even thought everything inside of him was screaming at him to stay.
"Angel wait."
He turned, surprised, to see her standing there biting her lip. "Please don't leave." She took a deep breath.
"Angel, I can't do this anymore. I can't just pretend like we're just two normal people out on some dates. Because that isn't what this is."
Angel froze. Is she saying what I think she's saying?
She took a step towards him. "This is much different." She paused, tears in her eyes. "I love you Angel. I never stopped. And I'm not going to hide it anymore." With that said, she closed the final distance between them and kissed him. Only this kiss was different from the previous ones they had shared. Buffy wasn't holding back, and Angel could tell.
He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her, returning the kiss just as passionately. They both felt all the pent up tension inside come bursting out.
When they couldn't breathe anymore, their lips broke apart, but not the rest of them.
Angel tried to hold back tears. "I didn't know if you could still love me, after everything I did to you." One tear spilled over. "Can you ever forgive me?"
Buffy was crying now too. "I forgave you the moment you walked through that door," she whispered.
"I love you too Buffy. I always have and I always will."
They kissed again, even more passionately. Their hands roamed along each other's bodies, exploring each other.
Candle light and soul forever, A dream of you and me together, Say you believe it, say you believe it...
They broke apart, gasping for air. "You have no idea how much I missed you," Angel whispered. "I thought about you every day. Every moment."
Buffy smiled slightly. "I thought about you too." They kissed again. "Let's stop talking now."
Free your mind of doubt and danger, Be for real don't be a stranger, We can achieve it, we can achieve it...
He kissed her again. Then he reached his hands under her butt and lifted her up. He carried her over to the wall and held her up against it. They broke the kiss and she smiled. "I want you so badly..." she pushed his coat off of his shoulders and kissed him again.
"Not as much as I want you."
He slowly removed her jacket, and she unbuttoned his shirt. He kissed her neck and her chest. Their hands roamed frantically as all of their love for each other broke free.
Come a little bit closer baby, get it on, get it on, 'Cause tonight is the night when two become one...
Before he removed her dress that had been driving him crazy all night, he paused and looked into her eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
He pushed the straps of her dress down, and it fell to the floor. "You are so beautiful." He continued to kiss her.
I need some love like I've never needed love before (wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more (wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be...
When they were bare before each other, Angel scooped her up in his arms and lied her down on the bed before him. He climbed on top of her and kissed her yet again.
Silly games that you were playing, empty words we both were saying,
Let's work it out boy, let's work it out boy,
Any deal that we endeavour, Boys and girls feel good together
Take it or leave it, Take it or leave it...
They broke the kiss and paused. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
Then he proceeded to show her just how much.
Are you as good as I remember baby, get it on, get it on,
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one...
Later...
Buffy and Angel lied in bed, arms around each other, feeling perfectly content. Buffy smiled. "That was incredible."
He smiled down at her. "You were incredible."
She smiled slyly. "No, you were."
Angel laughed. "We could go back and forth all night, and I personally think there are much better things to do with our time." He kissed her neck. Then he stopped and pulled back slightly.
"I just have to ask you one thing."
She pulled the sheets around herself and sat up slightly. "What's wrong?"
He looked down and smiled slightly. "Did you plan this? I mean this tonight."
Buffy blushed and lied back down. "Maybe," she said with a smirk.
He laughed. "I knew it! I mean, obviously Tracey isn't here, you had the protection, even though you haven't been with anyone since...." his voice trailed off. "And that dress."
She smirked. "I take it you liked the dress?"
He threw a pillow at her. "I can't believe it! You wore that...tiny piece of fabric just to drive me crazy!"
She threw her head back and laughed. When they were both done laughing she spoke. "Well, I mean ever since you showed up here I've wanted to....do what we just did. After a very sexually boring 4 years, those...feelings were kind of hard to fight."
Angel smiled. "I guess I'm just irresistible." He paused."Although I do admit, I was feeling the same way." He paused again. "But I still don't really understand how you can just forgive me for everything I did to you all those..."
"Exactly, all those years ago! That is in the past. It is behind us! Hell, I started a whole new life! And when I saw you again, all those feelings that made me leave 4 years ago were gone. All I saw was you. And I just wanted you to love me again."
Angel shook his head slightly. "Has anyone told you that you are amazing?"
She just smiled.
He settled back down next to her and put his arms around her. "Buffy Summers....or Lynn Herring, or whoever you are...I love you. I never stopped."
She blinked back tears. "I love you too."
He kissed her passionately. After a moment they broke apart, but only slightly. "If you really do love me so much, why don't you show me," Buffy whispered.
He smiled, crawled on top of her, and kissed her again.
