Spring Break

Part Five

Disclaimer: See first Chapter.

Posted: October 27, 2004

Author's notes: Sorry for the long wait!

Out-of-Reality- Sorry about the long wait, I meant to get these up all within a few days of each other, but life likes to screw with plans like that, doesn't it? And do you really think I'd tell you, and ruin the whole thing?

Freezyboncoolipants- I don't think you've reviewed this chapter before...huh...And I'm sorry about the long wait!

Queen Boadicea- what did I say to get that kind of response? I hope I haven't seriously ticked you off...Oh, that...But hey, don't worry about it, in general, and I'm not trying to piss off any male readers, but males tend to be idiots. And yeah, Buffy doesn't seem to be too choosy...she should have kept herself all for Angel, no matter how long she had to wait...

A/N: look, they've got mustaches!

For her third date she dressed in a simple cotton sundress. It was light blue, and she put on blue eye shadow to match.

When 12 o'clock rolled around, a knock came on the door, but no one was there. A white rose and a sheet of paper sat on the mat.

Dear Buffy,

I wanted to surprise you. Here are the directions to our date.

L.

She read the directions and set off. She reached the pier, and then headed towards the waves as the note instructed. Once her feet were wet and she had slipped off her sandals, she walked thirty steps back towards the beach house. Then she turned towards the shore, and looked.

She looked towards her left, compensating, but all she saw was families and couples. When she looked straight ahead, however, she saw a blanket with only one person sitting here. He had broad shoulders, a bit of a tan, dark brown hair, and soulful, deep eyes.

"Angel," she breathed, stepping towards him. She didn't even feel the searing sand beneath her feet.

"Angel," she said, staring down at him.

"Buffy," he smiled up at her and her heart melted a bit.

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you," he looked down at his lap a moment, seemingly unsure, "Hi, my name's Liam O'Connor, and you must be Buffy Summers," he held up another white rose. She took it silently, unsure of what was going on. "Sit down, stay awhile."

"H-How?" she tucked her legs beneath her.

"Shanshu prophecy. I thought I had signed it away, but I guess a nickname, no matter who calls you by it, or how long, doesn't count as a legal, binding signature."

"I don't understand."

"The prophecy talks of a vampire with a soul, fighting the good fight, stopping the apocalypse, and being forgiven for his crimes. I was given mortality, though I lost my strength.

"I wanted to ask you out, but I had to know you weren't totally happy. I couldn't ruin that for you."

"You set this whole thing up, me being part of the show!"

He nodded.

She sighed, "Let's just get this over with. What do you have planned?"

He pulled a picnic basket from behind him, and she just stared at him, amazed.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her eyes tearing up.

"Because I love you. I left for so many reasons, and all this time, it's killed me inside. I wanted them to hook us up sooner, so we could have more time together.

"But this isn't a blind date."

"You've never known Liam. Buffy, please, I know I hurt you, but if you still love me, or think you can once again, give me a chance."

She was flustered by what she saw in his eyes, so she changed the subject, "What'd you bring?" she asked, sliding the wicker basket to her. She rummaged through, finding sandwiches, apples, grapes, cookies, and bottles of water from a local Mom and Pop store.

"Buffy-"

"Let's just get this over with."

He was confused. Could she possibly not feel the same as he? She had been the only thing that kept him going through the darkest of times. It grieved him every second he had not been with her, been near her. If he hadn't already been dead, the separation would have killed him. When she had died, something in him had died, knowing he hadn't told her one last time how he felt.

They ate in silence, lost in their own thoughts. She was torn inside, confused and in turmoil. Was he being truthful? Did he really love her as much as she loved him? Could she trust him with her heart again? Or was she just a stop on his newly human tour?

She looked up at him, to see he had tomato seeds on his cheek, and she had to smile as she brushed the offending seeds away. She sat back as if she'd been shocked. His half smile told her she wasn't the only one to feel the current.

She looked away, and he sighed, inaudibly, looking down at his lap.

"Have you ever been roller blading?" she asked suddenly.

"No."

"Would you fancy trying?" she smiled at him, and he was perplexed at her change of mood.

Fifteen minutes later, she had rented two pairs of blades. She laced hers up quickly, and it was seconds before she found her balance. He sat and watched her, her light blue dress dancing about her perfectly toned, suntanned legs. She skated a six-foot strip from where he sat, her blonde hair blowing behind her.

She stopped in front of him, "Come on!" she pulled him onto the eight wheels, and his feet would have gone out from under him if the wall hadn't been there to stop them. She held him up by pure strength while he got his feet under him.

"Sorry," he mumbled, embarrassed.

"We'll go slow," she released one hand as he gripped the other, looking down to monitor his feet. She led him first one way a couple of feet, and then the other. They made a few circuits, her encouraging him the whole way.

"It's just like ice skating," she told him.

"Except it's been a very, very long time since I've skated. Not exactly a past time of the undead."

"But I thought..." her brow wrinkled, confused.

"I did that for you, to make you happy. And I had better balance then. How do humans manage?"

She laughed long and melodious, "I wouldn't know, I haven't been totally human in a long time."

"Don't say that."

"Why not, it's the truth. A chip that was supposed to react to human suffering allowed Spike to beat the crap out of me. And I've got demon essence. When I came back, I came back wrong," she had accepted the fact, though it still stung.

"You came back perfect," he stopped, pulling her to a stop as well. The effort cost him his balance. She tried to pull him back up, but he ended up toppling backwards. She screamed as she was pulled down onto him.

He was laughing hysterically as she landed. "Oof!" was his only utterance as he continued to laugh. She stared down at him. Her dress had gone up in the front, and there was little between her and him. "Ow," he moaned in between peals of laughter.

"Angel, you're causing a scene," she murmured as people stared. She didn't see what was so funny, but being on top of him like this was driving her crazy.

She climbed off him, pulling him into a sitting position. She slid the hem of her dress self-consciously.

"Oh, ow. That's gonna smart," he breathed.

"What's so funny?"

He looked at her, kneeling in between his legs, and he felt the sensation known as taking his breath away. "I-I'm not sure," he stared at her glowing face.

She smiled, turning away. His gaze was making her blush. She stood, bending down to help him up. She heard a whistle, and shook her ass, smiling down at him.

"I've got the better view," he whispered, staring into her eyes, "They just want what they can't have."

"Says who? Come on."

After an hour or so, they returned the skates and walked around. He had problems walking after the gliding motion, and she couldn't help but laugh at him.