I am so unbelievably sorry about how long it has taken for me to post this. But I'm just incredibly busy at the moment. Honestly I can't really see the next part coming out for at least three weeks if not longer. I've just got loads on my plate at the moment… so much sorryness on my part.
Uhm, someone pointed out I'd made a mistake with the ages, it was just me being really stupid Angel's actually 26 not 28.
On the press invasion points, the press really do this kind of stuff. That's why I wanted to write about it, but I don't know I guess it depends where you live as to how bad it is, but in England it really is appalling. So anything I say the press have done is based on my knowledge of the sort of stuff I've heard about, not made up at all. As to why Kat's never been found out about, there is a reason, I wasn't really going to go into it, but if you want (which u appear to) I will. It doesn't really matter very much as far as the storys concerned but I'll put in a bit… next part saying all about it.
If you can't remember what happened, There was just the whole mystery of the broad sword thing, and Buffy and Angel decided they couldn't have a relationship but had a few weeks to mess around in at least.
Deep breath. Okay end of really long author's notes.
Weasy
PS I'm not entirely satisfied with this part, but I suspect I can't keep you waiting any longer!
Part Seven
//People often talk about pivotal moments in life as though they were some rare commodity that comes with heavy advance warning and lots of advice… //
By ten o'clock the others had come down from their meeting with Wes, Joyce and Giles had remerged from the bedroom (looking far too perky for Buffy's taste), and then disappeared back down to the basement. While Gunn popped out to fetch the Saturday papers the group had migrated to the Games room and Buffy and Angel were thoroughly thrashing Xander and Kat (with many intervals for happy dances) while the others stood by chatting amiably, and swapping horror stories from the tests Wes had just given them.
"Oh… and another point for me!" Buffy claimed victoriously. Spinning around in her own mini-cheer as Xander glowered at her.
"It was out!" Xander moaned.
"No it wasn't."
"C'mon Willow," He pleaded, "Back me up, it was out."
Willow just shook her head. "Sorry, Xand. That makes it eighteen – two to Buffy and Angel."
Xander had opened his mouth to complain again when he was interrupted by a loud bellowing laugh from the hallway. Suddenly silent every person in the games room pricked their ears for more. "I can't believe…" and more laughing followed. Curiosity finally overcoming her Faith leapt to her feet and wrenched the door open to find Gunn on his knees in the hallway, laughing silently to himself so hard that tears were leaking out of the corners of his eyes.
While Faith crept over to him, the others abandoned the game and moved over to the door, watching in rapt fixation. Kneeling in front of Gunn she pried the paper from his hands. "I'm sorry… it's just… so unreal…"
Flicking the paper open, Faith ran her eyes over the page reading aloud as she did so. "Iraq, boring, sports, extremely boring… 'Giles in love triangle with woman and her daughter'!" She almost screamed.
A huge wall of "What?!" rose up from those around her. And they flooded out to inspect the paper. Buffy managed to get to it first, and ripping it from Faith's hands scanned the article, as she took in the picture her heart stopped, the first was simple enough, a candid shot of her mom and Giles holding hands, in the second Giles's hand was wrapped around the arm of a teenage blonde, holding her close as he ferried her into a building… she knew at once that the picture was from the day before, when the press had been outside school… but how could they think that she was involved with Giles? It was so… wrong.
A moment later Spike had the paper and was darting in and out of the others, quoting bits aloud. It wasn't funny… it was unfair because people would believe it, even if it wasn't true. Lost in her thoughts Buffy almost didn't notice Angel sneaking up to her until his hand was stroking her cheek gently bring her back to consciousness.
"It's only a news paper, baby. Everyone will have forgotten tomorrow." He reassured her.
"Like hell they will! Everyone still thinks you're gay." She reminded him.
"Does it matter if they do?" He asked, swiftly changing tactic. "Your friends and your family know it's not, and they're the only people that matter."
"Perhaps." Smiling softly, Buffy blocked out the sounds around her totally concentrating on the smooth circles Angel was carving on her skin with his finger tips, when they brushed gently against his lips she kissed them gently. She opened her eyes just in time to catch his surprised reaction.
"I'll make it up to you." He promised.
"Let's go to the Hyperion tonight then." Kat cut in, instantly making Buffy and Angel aware of their audience, blushing, Buffy hung her head a little, still uncertain at her friends reactions.
"I don't know-" Angel replied, distractedly trying to figure out Buffy's discomfort. Kat looked to Buffy for support. Catching her eye and feeling it *was* her duty as a teenager to party, Buffy turned to Angel smiling a little wickedly she let one hand trail along his side.
"You did say I should live as normal a life as possible…" She nudged.
"Still-"
"I could always come too." Gunn added. "I haven't taken Fred out since the baby was born." Buffy let her hand run lower, curling tightly around his hip.
"You know you want to say yes." She informed him. Bowled over at her shiny new confidence. Angel sighed before nodding at Kat.
"I know I'm going to regret this."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of finding dresses, Joyce had again vanished off somewhere and Buffy wondered somewhat jealously where she spent all her time. By the time evening rolled by, a fair number of people had voiced their doubts. Giles had cleaned his glasses with extreme vigour before pointing them in a half stabbing motion at Angel. A lecture was involved somewhere too, though Buffy had managed to slip out the back with Kat before they were spotted. Joyce had sighed and insisted they were careful, while Wes had given a long list of reasons why it was an extremely bad idea for the group to go out – in return Angel had immediately invited him to attend as well. So that in the end there were twelve in all in attendance, though at present only six were ready to leave.
The guys paced at the bottom of the stairs freshly kitted out in new Tuxes. The club they were going to, Caritas held a strict formal policy, and though he knew Lorne the owner would have let them in anyway it was nice to blend. As Angel gazed at the crowd of new residents to his home he was somewhat overwhelmed. How was it that one tiny girl managed to control him so recklessly? He knew that he shouldn't be letting them go to Caritas but he was bound to obey whatever Buffy wanted. Paired with Kat's own spoilt little sister ways they were unstoppable. He had the distinct impression it was going to ruin him some day, though as the entire groups' gaze shifted towards the stairs he suddenly had a lot of difficulty caring about that.
The six girls were standing still at the top of the stairs, presumably taking stock of their escorts' shiny new tuxes. Willow and Fred made a move to travel down the stairs first, Willow in an emerald green concoction, which brought out the colour of her eyes, Fred in a similar dark blue. Cordelia followed slightly behind them, her strapless black number earning a low whistle from Xander. She shot him a dirty look.
At the top of the stairs Kat and Faith were having a whispered conversation, Faith was dressed in her usual style though it shifted a little less to the slutty with a red dress that clung to her curves. She looked distinctly uncomfortable though and Angel suspected she would probably slip out later and change. Kat's dress was grey with a rose detail brought out in black aplique. Though it made her look years older, it passed the older brother inspection, that is, until she turned around and revealed a shocking amount of creamy white skin. Forcefully biting his tongue, Angel almost swallowed it when Buffy came into view, her dress was lilac satin that clung across her chest and waist and then flew out around her like a trail. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her blonde hair was swept up into a loop, except for those few tendrils that hung around her face. Heat shot through Angel at her closeness and he silently willed her down those few steps so that he could just touch her, and numb the burning inside him.
Instead she paused to join in Kat and Faith's conversation, and as if on some unspoken command, Kat and Buffy seized Faith by the arms and steered her purposefully down the stairs - not stopping until she was positioned in front of Spike. "Make sure she doesn't change." Kat instructed him fiercely, and Spike nodded in compliance, a slight smile playing on his lips.
A quick ride in two battered old Buick's brought them to Caritas. Buffy was kinda disappointed by the cars actually, she thought Angel would've had something… well, cooler, but the Buick's were a little bit less conspicuous than any flash thing he could have had. Caritas turned out to be an old converted warehouse, a bit like the Bronze, but somewhat more classy. Kat immediately spotted a friend of hers from School, and went with her and Cordelia to scope out guys – much to Xander's dismay. Faith and Spike disappeared into the crowd to dance as soon as they arrived and the others milled around ordering drinks.
Feeling the beat thrumming through her veins Buffy was suddenly desperate to dance. Spotting Angel by the bar Buffy headed over to him, unaware of the heads turning in her wake, before she made it to him he noticed her and stood up to greet her, drawing her in for a slow kiss he slipped his hand into hers, before breaking away and asking her what she wanted to drink.
"I'm not thirsty." She tugged lightly at his hand. "Come dance."
Angel pulled a face. "I'm not… I can't."
Buffy pouted. "Please?"
Before Angel could reply they were interrupted by a handsome man pulling Angel into a tight hug. Dropping Buffy's hand to clap the guy on the back Angel pulled away grinning at his friend. "Lindsey, where've you been?"
"I went back to see the folks." Lindsey told him, a wry grin on his face. "I told them they could just see me on TV, but apparently that wasn't good enough." As soon as she heard his voice, sudden recognition shot through Buffy. This guy was Lindsey McDonald. As in *the* Lindsey McDonald, who'd co-starred along with Angel in 'Bill and Ted' and gone on to find fame and fortune. Apparently they'd kept in touch. Lost in awe Buffy came to, to find Angel and Lindsey staring at her questioningly.
"Uh… huh?" She managed.
"This is Buffy. " Angel saved her. "She's staying with me for a bit."
"Is she really?" Lindsey asked, eyebrows raising in a suggestive gaze.
"Hello? She's right here. And she really wants to dance. Please Angel?" Buffy demanded forgetting her company for a moment.
"You'll never get him on the dance floor. But if you want…" Lindsey motioned toward the dance floor with one hand. Buffy stood for a moment in hesitation Angel's gaze burning into her. "I think this is your last chance Angel." Angel still said nothing.
"Uhm, yeah okay." Buffy finally agreed, taking the proffered hand and heading out toward the dance floor. If Angel wouldn't dance with her, she could at least make him a little jealous. As the reached the floor the final chords of 'Over my Head' faded and 'Lucky' Began. Lindsey's hand resting on her waist, made Buffy start with surprise, even in the two short days she had spent with Angel had become intrinsically used to his touch. Fighting the nagging sense of guilt she was feeling she let the music flow through her twisting her body sensually to the music, she let her eyes close, slipping into automatic pilot as she took in everything around her. Someone bumping into her shifted her back into awareness she raised one hooded eye to Lindsey's. He was gazing at her questioningly.
"What?"
"Just wondering, if you could Tango."
Buffy blinked. "Er…"
"I'll teach you." He wheddled.
"Okay." Shouting over the music Lindsey taught Buffy the basics of Tango, first guiding her in the footwork, Buffy spent the whole time staring at her feet and treading on him… with much giggling the evening wore on.
In the distance Angel glowered at them over his martini.
//When really all the true life changing decisions are made on the spur of the moment, normally when your shocked out of reason by grief, passion or jealousy… those are the moments that will really change everything. Don't believe me? You'll see…//