New Way of Life
NOTE: I do not own these Angel and Buffy characters, but if you see anyone whom you do not recognize, he/she belongs to me.
A/N: This story takes place after Chosen, but before Conviction, meaning it's the summer in between. To put down a recap, Spike burned up, everyone (minus Anya) escaped on the school bus, Buffy and her friends haven't split up yet, and Angel Inc is preparing to move into W&H. On with the story…
CHAPTER 4
Dawn re-entered her and Buffy's room a little later that day, close to two o'clock. Buffy sat on her bed, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her golden curls covering her droopy face. Dawn smiled and went to join Buffy on the bed, playfully poking her in the arm.
Buffy moaned lightly and opened her eyes. She pulled her left hand from under the blanket to push a piece of her hair from her eyes and behind her ear. "Dawnie?"
"Hey," Dawn smiled at her. "I went to have lunch with Xander. We would have invited Gunn, but he totally refuses to wake up. He's got major jet lag." Buffy nodded, cuddling her blanket a little. "I wish you could have come, too, but I knew you didn't get any sleep last night."
"Sure, I did," said Buffy. "I went to bed nice and early at like three, maybe four in the morning."
Dawn giggled then glanced passed Buffy. "How is he?"
"He's fine," Angel's voice replied. He awoke then and looked at the two sisters.
"Oh, good," said Dawn, holding a bag up she had with her. "I brought you both some lasagna from the restaurant we went to. Angel, I thought you'd kill for some. How long has it been since you ate anything that didn't used to flow in an animal's veins?"
"Dawn," Buffy chided.
"Been a while," Angel said then tried to sit up, but moaned.
"Hey, careful," said Buffy, going to help him. She propped a few pillows up behind him and he leaned against them. "There you go."
"Thanks," Angel said then panicked as Dawn went towards the large window, which was very close to Angel's cot. "What are you doing?"
"Letting some sun in," Dawn replied, putting a hand to the drapes. "It's too dark in here."
"Can't you just turn on a light?" Angel suggested.
"Angel, relax," said Buffy. "You had to go to my car from the airport in the daylight and no scorch marks. You're human now. You'll be fine."
Before Angel could object, Dawn pulled back the drapes and the sound they made as they came apart was like someone drawing a pair of swords. Angel covered his face at first, but soon eased as the sun's glow radiated down on him. It was an incredible sensation; a sensation he had forgotten.
Buffy smiled at him as Angel uncovered his face and allowed the sun to make contact with him. "Feels pretty good, huh?" the Slayer asked.
"Yeah." Angel looked at her, actually returning the smile.
Dawn looked at them both with a gleeful look on her face.
"Aw, you're all smiling. Why?" Everyone turned to see that Willow had just entered. "Sorry. Someone left the door open a little."
Buffy turned to her sixteen, almost seventeen-year-old sister. "Dawn."
"What?" Dawn defended herself. "It's just Willow. She doesn't have a hatchet so I'm guessing she won't kill us."
"Willow, any luck?" Buffy asked the witch.
"Guess you could say that," she replied. "Angel, we haven't found what did this to you yet, but I did make a little healing remedy for you."
"Magic?" Angel asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, but don't worry," Willow assured him, holding up a tiny bottle, which had a clear liquid in it. "It's just your basic healing potion. Think of it as a mystical Red Bull."
"I don't know about this," said Angel, thinking of the last time he'd gotten involved with a spell. It had backfired so badly that it had sent him and the rest of his friends back to the teenage years, also known as the worse years.
"Angel, you're not a full strength," Buffy reminded him. "I can hold you down and make you drink it."
Angel couldn't help, but smirk, "Do it if you want."
Buffy just gave him a look, trying to cover up the amusement that statement gave her.
Willow went up and sat on the side of Angel's cot, handing over the potion. Angel sniffed it a little and decided it smelled better than blood at least. He slowly took it to his lips then let it enter his mouth, going down his throat.
"It tastes lemon-y," Angel told Willow.
She sheepishly played with a piece of her hair and said, "Yeah. I added a little seven up for flavor."
"How do you feel?" Buffy asked Angel.
"I feel more relaxed I guess," Angel replied. "Not as sore."
"You should be functioning better in an hour or so," said Willow.
"Oh, great," Dawn smiled. "Then you can come to dinner with us. Right, Buffy?"
"Sure," Buffy shrugged. "If you want to."
"Fine," Angel agreed.
Later that day, Gunn poked his eyes open and he sat up releasing a yawn. The jet lag had really taken a lot out of him and it felt good to get some rest without having to worry about a demon crashing through the window. Gunn looked around; no Xander, which was a relief. He got up and headed for the door to see a key and a note taped to it. Gunn took the key and read the note to himself, which said:
Hey, Gunn!
Listen, roomy, I thought you'd want a key of your own. If you need me I'll be over in Willow and Kennedy's room.
Yours truly,
Xander
Gunn shook his head with pleasure. The guy was weird, but at least he was thoughtful. Gunn stuck the room key in his pocket before leaving out. He went across the hall and knocked on Buffy and Dawn's door.
"Hey," Angel greeted, opening the door.
"Angel?" Gunn asked in surprise. There stood the fallen vampire champion, who didn't look so fallen anymore. "What happened to you?"
"Willow gave me a potion," Angel explained, closing the door when Gunn entered. "It's doing a little for me. I still can't move too fast or anything, but I feel…"
"Human?" Gunn supplied.
"Yeah," Angel said, hiding his delight in the word. "How are you doing?"
"OK," Gunn shrugged. "Got some sleep in as soon as I got to Xander's room. God, jet lag can kill a brother."
Angel chuckled a little, buttoning up the front of his black shirt. "I'm going out to dinner with Buffy and Dawn soon. Did you want to come?"
Gunn shook his head. "Nah, these are your people."
"I'm guessing you're not having any fun."
"Hey, I came here for you."
"Why?" Angel suddenly asked. Gunn looked at him in confusion. "Why'd you come with me? Why didn't Wesley?"
"Look, if you want him here instead I could call—"
"That's not what I mean," Angel told him. "I just want to know why you came."
"You're my friend," Gunn replied simply. "Ain't that enough?"
"I thought I could never be your friend," Angel reminded him.
Gunn looked at him like he was crazy for a moment before the memory hit him like a brick to the head. Back in LA when his old gang attacked Lorne's club. Gunn had stated Angel's exact words before all of those people and he'd even confirmed them later.
"Angel, dang man, I ain't mean it. Well, then I probably did, but I don't even think that way now."
"This doesn't have anything to do with the touch of humanity does it?"
"It's not just that." Gunn shook his head. "Can't explain it."
"That's fine. You still didn't answer my question, though. Why'd you come?"
Gunn shrugged again. "Like I said. You're my friend and I wanted to be there for you."
"Like you weren't back at that building?" Angel asked. Gunn matched his brown eyes with Angel's. "Gunn, I know I'm not the only one allowed to feel guilt, but it really is my thing."
"I shouldn't have left you," Gunn said seriously. "If I had gotten there a second later—"
"But you didn't," Angel cut in. "If it hadn't been for you I would have been vamp food. Ironic deaths aren't my style."
"Got a point," Gunn agreed. "Hell, if your ass hadn't been all down and out I could've dusted every last one of them."
"That right?" Angel smirked.
"Damn straight," Gunn replied boldly, hiding his own smirk.
"Angel?" Both men turned to see Dawn standing in the doorway. "Oh, hey, Gunn."
"Sup, kid?" Gunn addressed.
Dawn hid a frown. She'd known the guy for less than a day and he was already calling her kid. "Angel, Buffy's waiting in the lobby. Come on."
Angel turned to the man before him. "Gunn, I'll see you later?" Gunn just gave off a single nod, watching his friend follow Dawn out.
Gunn left out as well, heading for Xander's room. He stopped and decided to look in on Willow and Kennedy. Xander opened the door to the girls' room, surprised to see Gunn on the other side.
"Roomy," Xander ginned.
Willow appeared behind Xander. "Oh, Gunn."
"Hey. I just, uh, came to see if you found anything out about Angel," said Gunn a bit awkwardly.
"Nothing yet," Willow told him. "But why don't you come on in? Join the research party?"
"Nah," Gunn shook his head. "I'll just—"
"What? Crawl into our room and hide out during your whole stay?" Xander cut in. "Come on. Become one of us."
Gunn sighed and finally stepped inside, Xander closing the door behind him.
A couple hours later that evening, Angel and Buffy walked down the carefully lighted streets of Rome, side by side. Buffy couldn't take her eyes off the full moan that floated in the sky. It was such a better sight than back in California.
"It's really pretty here," Buffy commented. "I mean it's better than the hell hole I'm used to. And now it's technically a real hole so that makes it a funny pun."
Angel nodded his agreement. "It is nice. The food was good, too. I forgot how savoring chocolate is."
Buffy laughed light before stopping at a water fountain and taking a seat. "You ever been to Italy before?"
"Few times I guess," Angel shrugged. "In any case, I think I like it better now."
"Yeah, what without the slaughter and mayhem." Angel looked at her for a moment before glancing away. "Oh, no, Angel, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"No, it's OK," Angel assured her, flashing his chocolate eyes back at her. "Really."
Buffy smiled at him a little. "Careful, Angel, this might just be our most successful date."
"This is date?"
"Dinner, big moon, little sister snooping around, yeah, it's a date."
Angel let off a laugh before looking down into the water. Buffy stared at him strangely, narrowing her eyes at him. "What is it?" Angel asked, noticing the look.
"Nothing. It's just I'm not used to seeing you with the big jollies."
"It's Rome. Kind of brings things out in me."
Buffy leaned in closer towards him. "Just Rome?"
Angel looked closer into her eyes, so deep and hazel. He had missed those eyes. "Maybe not just Rome…"
The two moved in nearer, now as close as they could get. They slowly tilted in, ready for a kiss.
"Hey, guys," Dawn called, running up. Angel and Buffy broke apart and looked at her. "Sorry, I took so long." She waved her ice cream cone a little. "They were all out of strawberry. I had to get vanilla." She stared at the two of them as they both looked at a little off. "Um, did I interrupt something?"
Buffy exchanged a look with Angel before replying, "No. Come on. We better get back to the hotel." Buffy went up and put an arm around Dawn, leading the way back. Angel sighed and followed after them. The large moon seemed to guide them on their way.
A/N: Hope you liked because there is way more where this came from. Please review!