I am sooooooooooo sorry that this is late. Think of the sorriest you've ever been multiply it by ten and that's how sorry I am. I've just been so busy it's unbelievable. Plus, I was having a huge problem with how exactly to end this… but after inspiration from Love, Actually (now on sale go buy it!) and an Einaudi Concert I've finally sorted it out, and after this there are only two more parts. Expect them in the next few weeks, and if they don't appear bug me! I'm serious, send me lots of emails and It'll remind me to get round to it. halfevilkids@yahoo.co.uk
Plus generally if you're still reading this I'd really like to hear from you, suspecting as I do at the present that no one remembers this… it would be nice to know if people did. If you need a reminder of what happened last it's all up at in the last part… Buffy and Angel get together after Buffy finishes filming the gap ad (having realised they were both being daft) and go party some.
Part Eleven
//Sometimes time just catches up with you…//
They didn't make it back to the Hyperion till past three the next morning. Though Angel had refrained from getting too intoxicated, he stumbled into the house filled with that same hysterical laughter that seems so utterly contagious after a night on the town. They'd gone to the cinema first, though neither could very clearly remember what it was they had seen, given that Buffy had spent the entire time curled up in Angel's lap, making out with such passion the usher had to kick them out for the next showing. They'd hit a few clubs next, though they'd avoided Caritas and instead gone to the star clubs, the ones so elite that only the fact that Angel was Angel allowed them to sneak in, in their jeans. Buffy, even without one of her sexy outfits was the belle of the ball, and Angel kept her close to his side, growling in jealousy every time anyone came too near for his taste.
Leaning heavily on each other in an attempt to control their laughter to the point where they might be able to walk in a straight line, they made a beeline for the couch in the sitting room, and collapsing on it Angel pulled Buffy into his lap. Half-heartedly shoving him away Buffy managed to separate herself from him. "Do you want a drink?"
"Uhm… Rum?" He replied optimistically.
"Coffee then." She rolled her eyes. Slipping out of the room she listened with half an ear to Angel's ramblings and suspected he had drunk more than one victory drink.
Completely oblivious to her surroundings, she didn't even notice that there was another person in the room, as she filled the kettle with water. But when Angel's proclamation of "Tabhair póg dom, is Éireannach mé" was followed by a stifled laugh Buffy swung round in shock, spilling water on the floor as she did so.
"A take it you had a good time." Kat said from her seat at the table mug of cocoa wrapped in her hand.
"What did he just say?" Buffy replied suspiciously.
"'Kiss me, I'm Irish.' If I recall correctly." Kat smiled. Suppressing a laugh Buffy lifted the kettle in her direction.
"Want some coffee?"
"No. I'm fine." She shrugged, "Coffee makes me jittery and I can't sleep so… bad idea."
"Help get Angel sober then?" Buffy asked as she filled two mugs with strong coffee and headed for the door, pausing her eyes brightened "Ohh! He's so out of it he won't notice if we go through his scripts!" Kat laughed in response, and picking up her own mug followed Buffy out.
When Gunn came in for his shift the next morning he found all three of them curled up on the sofa asleep. he contemplated letting them sleep longer, but given the good news he was reluctant to wait, so, instead he shook them awake and in a few minutes they'd all managed to pull themselves into a semi-upright position and were glaring at him through sticky sleep-eyes. "What?" Angel finally demanded.
"I picked up the paper this morning." Unable to contain his grin Gunn revealed the paper, the headline blared 'Fool's Gold' Realising none of them were in a state to read, he chucked the paper at them. "They found a skeleton, in one of the extinct volcanoes up by the Rockies, clutching a lump of melted gold" he filled them in, briefly before smiling in victory, "There isn't one single item about any of you in the whole paper – I checked the other too, nothing. Looks like Wes knew what he was doing when he hired Lilah."
Angel's lips twisted into a smirk. "I'm sure he did."
Beside him Buffy just looked shell-shocked. "It's over?"
"I guess." Kat supplied, equally quietly. "But they ought to stay for a bit longer, dontcha think? It's just been one day, tomorrow…" She trailed off.
"Of course." Gunn agreed. "But it's definitely the beginning of the end."
Unnaturally subdued, Gunn watched with puzzled eyes as his audience slowly got up and left each one with a myriad of emotions flashing across their face. Some people just couldn't tell a good thing when it happened to them.
They called a meeting. After calls home it was decided that Oz, Cordy, Willow and Xander should go home that day, and they did without much ado, assured that Buffy and Joyce would probably only stay another day or two. In the silence that followed Buffy and Kat curled up in front of 'The Princess Bride' on repeat and both solidly stone-walled Giles and Joyce who appeared overjoyed that everything was going so well. Angel went to work, after promising he would speak to Buffy later.
As afternoon rolled around Wes came in, he rolled his eyes at Kat and Buffy's lethargy, and grabbing the remote of the floor clicked the television off. When he the pair turned to glare at him he glared right back. "Buffy, the clothes have arrived. I've also been informed the launch party is tonight starting at seven."
Buffy pulled a face. "Do I have to go?"
"You are contractually obliged. This was explained yesterday." He replied patiently.
Buffy sighed. "When's Angel coming back?"
"Tomorrow, they're doing a night shoot."
"Then who's going to go with Buffy to the launch?" Kat demanded.
Wes shrugged. "You can if you want. They said you should dress in the clothes they sent, that's all."
Kat's face split into a sunshine bright smile, "C'mon, Buff."
"But I don't want to go without Angel." Buffy protested as she was bodily dragged from the room by Kat.
"Oh, Please, he's not going to stop obsessing over you because you go to *one* party without him. Besides you heard what Wes said he couldn't have come if he wanted, and he *hates* these things."
"And you love them?" Buffy guessed.
"Well, duh!" Rounding the corner of the lobby the pair were greeted by a huge crate, five feet tall, and Gunn on a ladder next to it trying to open it up. Gasping in shock, Buffy couldn't help but smile. That was a helluva lot of clothes.
Seven o'clock arrived quicker than expected and Buffy and Kat were forty minutes late for the launch as the Buick got stuck in the typical LA traffic. It was certain that there hosts noticed, as soon as they stepped through the doors of the great hall, at the Beverly Hills Hotel where the launch party was taking place, all eyes were on them. They were dressed simply enough Kat in gap jeans and a light stripy jumper with her hair pilled on her head under a felt fedora, so that tendrils escaped to frame her face, and Buffy in a cord pleated mini-skirt and a shirt with tiny pink flower detailing, her hair loose around her shoulders. Simple, but effective, both were immediately asked to dance by well dressed gentleman, and Kat with a excited glance at Buffy easily excepted, but Buffy refused and sought out the refreshments table as a place to stand and watch Kat enjoy herself.
Helping herself to a vol-u-vent she listened to the pianist in the corner and tried not to think about *him*. A voice in her ear whispering "I thought you liked to dance?" startled her out of her reverie and she jumped in surprise, thereby knocking her assailant in the chin. Feeling the sharp pain in her shoulder she spun to face him and saw Lindsey's pained face.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" she gushed guilt wracking her as he eyed her suspiciously. Seeing her anguish he smiled painfully, rubbing the underside of his chin.
"It's okay." Seeing she looked unconvinced he laughed lightly and lifted her face so she was looking into his eyes. "Really." She stiffened at his touch, and realising what he had done he dropped his hand.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah." She sighed. "This just isn't really my thing… I mean it was, and I love to party, but I just…" She glanced around the room. "I don't know. I guess I'm in a weird mood. Can't decide what to think."
"Well, are you sure you don't want to dance?"
"I'm sure." She nodded over to the pianist. "Who's he?"
"Einaudi, he's an Italian pianist, They use his work in-"
Lindsey was cut off by Kat bounding up to Buffy and wrapping her in a hug. "This is soo cool! Thank you, thank you, thank you for inviting me!" She exclaimed, the words slipping off her tongue at a hundred miles an hour and her enthusiasm obvious in every thank you. Turning she saw Lindsey and blushed slightly at her own exuberance. "Hi, Linds." She muttered, the nickname she had used for him when they had been kids slipping our unchecked.
He eyed her oddly. "I'm sorry… you look really familiar…"
"It's Kat." His eyes remained impassive. "Kaitlyn West?" Still no recognition, she rolled her eyes. "Angel's little sister. You used to play at our house when we were kids."
"Oh yes!" He finally responded. "I remember now… you always wanted to play with us."
She sighed. "Yep that's me. Angel's kid sister."
"I haven't seen you in years." Handing her a glass of champagne from the table, he smiled at her. "You've certainly grown up into a beautiful woman. Tell me where you've been hiding?" Kat blushed in response, and started to tell him about the time she spent abroad, swapping stories they got to know each other again.
Buffy quickly grew disinterested with the conversation, having heard both sides before and turning back to the table picked up a glass of champagne before heading of into the crowds in search of someone to talk to. Almost bumping into someone as she did so, taking a step back to apologise she realised it was the white haired pianist she had almost tripped. Sticking out a hand she smiled warmly. "Hi! I was listening to you play earlier, the music was beautiful."
He smiled. "Thank you."
//when time does catch you you're forced to close you're eyes and take that leap, not knowing watch the future holds… you have to appreciate what you have now. Not what it could have or might have been, or else you'll never see true beauty where it lies.//