Summary: Buffy's birthday curse is broken when she and Riley run into Kate and Angel at a Backstreet Boys' concert in Los Angeles.
Angel's Timeline: After 'I Will Remember You', before 'Sanctuary'.
Buffy's Timeline: After 'Pangs', before 'The Yoko Factor'.
Genre: Romance/Drama.
Lyrics: Backstreet Boys' 'I Need You Tonight' and 'Drowning', and Sarah MacLachlan's 'Angel'.
Disclaimer: Yet another post-'I Will Remember You'-baby fic and I still don't own Buffy or Angel.
Author's Notes: In bold characters are speaking; the lyrics are in italics, and the flashback is underlined.
Blissful Concert
Chapter One – Memories Of Us
In the living room, Joyce smiled a little, while Dawn stuck out her tongue. Her mother adored Riley. She was much more a fan of Angel. Angel of mysterious looks and the unreadable eyes, Angel of big sacrifices because of his love for her sister. Dawn would never tell how she found Angel crying outside the limits of Sunnydale, she would never tell how he opened his heart to her and made a lifetime keeper of a secret…
Riley Marcus Finn, born and raised in Iowa and a proud soldier of a governmental program called 'The Initiative', stealthily walked in the feminine bedroom. His girlfriend, who would be nineteen in a week, was sitting on the windowsill, staring at the oak tree standing in front of the house, apparently deep in thought. Her hair shone under the moonlight and she whispered something the wind carried away, into the night.
Knowing how she hated when anyone approached her from behind when she was distracted with something else, he slammed the door closed to announce his presence. Her head whipped around and stared at him, slightly confused for a minute, like she didn't know who he was. A flicker of something – disappointment, perhaps? – sparkled in her eyes, but it was gone before he could recognize the feeling in it. She smiled brightly.
"Riley!" She greeted him with a feather-light kiss. "What do you want? You called earlier and said you had something to give me. What is it?" She asked, curious. Riley grinned, boyishly, and held out two pieces of paper to her. She took them, looked down and read them. "Oh, God!" Buffy breathed surprised. "These are tickets to a Backstreet Boys' concert", her eyes met his briefly. He grinned wider.
"Yes, they are".
She looked back down at the tickets, staring at the city where she would need to travel if she really wanted to see the concert.
"In Los Angeles", she whispered.
"Yes. I heard your mother complaining to Dawn you don't go visit your father since thanksgiving, and I know it's a little early, but I'd really like to meet him, baby. He could take us in. He's a bachelor, isn't he?"
Buffy wasn't listening to Riley's rant.
Los Angeles.
The city of angels.
The city of her Angel.
God help her.
Kate Antoinette Lockley, police officer currently working for the Los Angeles Police District – LAPD, walked in her boyfriend-wannabe's office. His friend and secretary, former May queen and former cheerleader Cordelia Marie Chase, was carefully filing her nails. At the sound of heels clicking against the floor, Cordelia looked up with a graciously fake smile, which faded the moment she saw it wasn't a client, but Kate.
"It's you", she said icily.
"It's me", Kate said as coolly. It wasn't a secret to anyone that Cordelia and Kate hated each other passionately. The policewoman thought the brunette was a spoiled little girl. And Cordelia, who knew with whom Angel's heart really was and had watched first hand how deep that love ran, considered Kate a nosy bitch, always wanting to know who was the blonde girl Angel brooded after.
But, for Angel's sake, they tried to act civilized around each other.
"Angel's inside", Cordelia went back to her nails.
"We're going to the Backstreet Boys' concert next week. The first performance", Kate said victoriously.
"Gee, teenage much?" Cordelia muttered. Her head suddenly snapped up, her face very pale, and she got up and ran to Angel's room. "Do not come near this door, do you hear me?" The brunette warned seriously, slamming the door behind her. Kate was left open-mouthed, staring indignantly at the closed door.
Cordelia turned around her Manolo Blatnihks' heels to stare at her boss, who was brooding because, of course, of Buffy.
"What now, Cordelia?" Angel asked, his voice sounding tired even to Cordelia's ears. She sat on the chair across to him.
"You're not taking Kate to the Backstreet Boys' concert next week", she more demanded than said.
"Why not?"
"Besides the fact that she'll look quite pathetic between the crowds of thirteen-years-olds, Buffy will be there", she said, in usual Cordelia-fashion – tactlessly. Angel would pale, had he the ability of doing so, "with her new boy-toy. You plus Buffy means brooding you. And I so don't wanna deal with more of your broodage than I already do".
That said, Cordelia walked out of the room and locked the door behind her. Kate, who was bored flipping through Cordelia's shiny new issue of 'Cosmo', got up.
"Is he free now?"
"No", Cordelia said coldly. "He's brooding and will be for a long time. You better leave".
And that Kate did, absolutely furious.
"Fine!" She yelled. "But, if he thinks he's not taking me to the concert next week, he might as well forget it, because he's going with me!"
One week later…
At the sight of the arena crowded with excited teenagers, Buffy relaxed. There were too many people around, too much noise for Angel's taste. She skillfully ignored the tug of disappointment she felt at the thought of not seeing Angel's beautiful face and hearing his smooth voice.
A pretty blonde, around her thirties, looking awkward between the teenagers and young women, took the second seat after Buffy's, leaving the one between them empty. She placed her crocodile's leather purse on the chair and smiled politely at the slayer, who smiled back. Riley was off somewhere buying Buffy a bottle of water.
Suddenly, the warm tingle that never failed to warn Buffy of Angel's nearness hit the slayer with full force. It was so intense that her head spun and she felt dizzy.
Riley approached her the same moment that the blonde smiled to a man whose face Buffy would recognize even if she lost her mind.
Angel's chocolate brown eyes met Buffy's hazel ones and the world stopped for a moment.
Angel knew he would regret leaving it to Kate to choose their seats, but, being the eighteenth-century-born-and-raised in catholic Ireland, he had to let her pick. And, boy, did he regret it, when his chocolate brown eyes met Buffy's startled and unexpectedly pained hazel ones. She looked more beautiful than ever, and he drank in her sight, knowing he would never see her again for quite a long time.
Of course, leave it to timing-lacking Kate to ruin the moment of Buffy and Angel's first eye-lock after over two months.
"Baby, are you okay?" She asked the same moment Riley shook his head dangerously too close to Buffy's face.
"Earth to Buffy!" He called. Riley and Kate looked at each other and then hugged.
"Katie!"
"Ri!"
"Kate, this is…"
"Buffy", Angel whispered.
"Angel", the blonde whispered back. Riley and Kate looked at each other and then at them. The music started to echo in the air that very moment, saving the former lovers from embarrassing questions.
The first notes of 'I Need You Tonight' rang as the crowd cheered hysterically. Kate clapped happily and Riley wrapped an arm around her waist. She leaned against his shoulder as she started humming along with the piano's notes.
As Riley and Kate looked more like a couple than Riley with Buffy and Angel with Kate, the vampire cautiously took his seat next to the woman he sacrificed everything for.
"He showed no hurt feelings at the mention of my name", he whispered. "You never told him about… us?"
"No", Buffy whispered, as she dared to stay a little bit closer to the man she was capable of dying for. "Talking with anyone, but with those who have watched us all along, about you…" She stopped for a moment, hesitating. "It would mean that everything we lived together meant nothing to me. Like they're memories I don't cherish. Memories I don't treasure", she looked at him for a long time. "Memories I don't love. It would mean that part, that chapter of my life was over".
Open up your heart to me
And say what's on your mind
I know that we have been through so much pain
But I still need you in my life
This is time
"Baby… Buffy" Angel corrected his slip a little too late, leaving both him and her surprised at how easily the endearment still left his lips. "That part, that chapter of your life, as you say, is over", he hung his head sadly. "We are over".
"No, we're not. We're never over, Angel, and you know it", her hand brushed slightly the healed flesh of her neck, where his mark was. "Angel… I'm carrying a baby".
Angel felt his heart breaking in a billion pieces.
And I need you tonight
And I need you right now
I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
I really need you tonight.
"Congratulations", Angel barely managed to choke out without roaring his despair out at her. "Riley must be very happy".
Buffy widened her eyes.
"Eeeewwww! No!" She exclaimed. She took his hand and placed it on her still flat abdomen. The life pulsed inside it, strong, vibrating. "He's not the father". At his questioning look, she said, "I didn't have a test made. I know I'm pregnant… I feel it. You see, whenever you're around, no matter where I am, I tingle. And I've been tingling for nearly two months".
Angel held his inexistent breath. It made sense, the tingle story. He tingled as well when she was around. But if the baby was two months then… God, could it be possible?
"Baby, I must be insane or something, but… I'm almost a hundred percent sure we're gonna have a kid".
I figured out what to say to you (uh)
But sometimes the words
They come out so wrong (yes, they do)
And I know, with time, that
You will understand
That what we have is alright
This is time
"Buffy, it's not possible", Angel lied – he knew there was a slight chance that the baby was his. It was slight, but it was a chance nonetheless. "We're not… intimate…" He would have blushed, had he the ability. She did blush, "since two years ago today".
"I know", she whispered. "I know. But, Angel, both my heart and my instincts can't be wrong. Over the years I learnt to trust them. And both my heart, and my instincts, tell me this baby is yours", she looked at him. Their whispered conversation still was under the boys singing Buffy and Angel's favorite tune, 'I Need You Tonight'. "Probably this is the Powers' way to say we're really meant to be".
"God", Angel's resolution was wavering. Suddenly, Buffy groaned and leaned into his embrace.
Memories, the erased memories, were assaulting her.
All those endless times we tried to make it
Last forever and more
And baby I know I need
Oh, yeah
I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
I really need you
Mature plan.
"We stay in touch, just not…" "…Literally".
A kiss.
Love on the table.
The perfect yum.
Licking ice-cream of Angel's strong, warm chest.
"A normal girl sleeping between the arms of her normal boyfriend".
I'll never forget…
"Pleasantly numb"
"It's over, and we're together"
I'll never forget…
"Only sooner in her case"
I'll never forget…
"More than ever I know how much I love you"
I'll never forget…
"A minute? No, there's not enough time!"
I'll never forget
"How am I supposed to go with my life knowing what we had? What we could've had?"
"No one will know but me".
A kiss.
Despair.
Tears.
"Oh, God, there's not enough time!"
"Please, baby, please…"
I'll never forget!
Buffy was crying when she opened her eyes.
"Oh, Angel", she breathed. "How could you bear those memories?"
His eyes tore up immediately.
I need you, I need you baby
It's gotta be this, it's gotta be this
No, it doesn't matter if it's wrong or if it's right
I really need you tonight
They were cuddled together. Forced by Buffy, who wanted to know every little detail of that day, Angel had told her their perfect day, crying, and Buffy had cried with him, as her own memories became clearer and clearer.
"I was right", she said in a low voice, happily. "You and I are finally having a baby".
"Yeah", his hand came to rest against her abdomen. "Wow", he whispered. "A baby. Our baby, beloved".
Her hand came to rest over his.
"Our second chance".
He smiled and she smiled back; then they heard both Kate and Riley calling them. Buffy sighed.
"We've gotta go", she said as they got up. "As you know, break up is not the most fun thing to do".
"Hey", he pulled her flesh against his, "everything'll end up fine. We'll be together".
They kissed quickly.
I can't imagine a life
Without your love
And even forever don't seem like long enough
"ANGEL!" Kate exclaimed, relief dripping clearly from her voice. "Oh, thank goodness you're okay! I was so worried!" She threw herself at him and Angel held her awkwardly, feeling Buffy's eyes burning holes at his back. Kate felt like someone was shooting daggers at her and looked around.
Buffy smiled angelically at her.
"Hum, yeah, Kate, can we go? I have something to talk to you".
"Sure!" The police officer said. She turned to look at Riley. "Goodbye, Riley. Call me, okay? Bye, Buffy. It was nice to meet you".
"Bye, Katie. Send Becca my love", Riley said. Buffy solemnly ignored Kate and focused all her attentions at Angel. Her eyes shone with unspoken love.
"Tell Cordelia I'll stop by your office later, okay?"
"We… She'll be waiting for you", he said with a nod, signaling he had understood the message between the lines. Then he turned around and walked away, while Riley and Buffy watched him and Kate go. This time, however, her heart was singing with joy, knowing they'd be together soon and had earned their final happiness.
"That Angel guy is very impolite", Riley said. "He's your friend and didn't say goodbye".
"He never does", Buffy whispered.
As Angel drove his Plymouth between the streets of Los Angeles to drop her at her apartment, Kate sensed there was something he wanted to tell her. And her sixth sense warned her she wouldn't like it.
"Are you alright, Angel?"
"Yes", he nodded, not looking at her. "It was the crowd, and all those girls yelling and crying. It made me jittery".
"You said you needed to talk to me", Kate recalled. Angel's lips were a thin line on his handsome face. "You can tell me anything, Angel", she said softly.
"Can I?"
"Yes you can", she assured.
"Okay", he sighed. "I don't think we can be anything beyond friends".
Kate fell from cloud nine.
"I care for you", he hurried to add, "but I don't love you. I gave my heart away four years ago and never tried to retrieve it back".
"That's okay, Angel", Kate whispered hiding perfectly her pain.
Meanwhile, decided to spend her night and subsequent day with Angel, Buffy had made Riley drive her to her father's home, where she picked her duffel bag up and told Hank she would spend the night with her friend Cordelia, and then to the address written on the card Angel had slipped in her pocket before they said goodbye. Now, the rented car was parked in front of the huge building for quite a long time.
"It's late, and your friend is probably waiting", Riley said and leaned for a kiss. Buffy ducked it, thanks to quick reflexes. "What's wrong?" The commando asked confused.
"Riley, I can't do this".
"What? Kiss me?"
"I can't do the whole thing. I can't be with you when… I just can't".
"Why not?"
She took a deep breath. Why did he have to be in love with her?
"Angel and I are in love. And we're having a baby. We were a couple until last year and we're gonna try again".
"Angel? Kate's boyfriend?" Riley asked astonished.
"He never was her boyfriend, at least not for him", she corrected him, as she got out of the car, duffel bag hanging from her shoulder. "I'm sorry. Goodbye, Riley".
"Honey I'm home!" Buffy yelled laughingly as she walked in the Hyperion hall. Angel looked up from his book with a smile. Buffy smiled back and threw her bag on the floor. "It's done. We're once again Buffy-and-Angel", she said happily as she snuggled next to her love. "Now we tell the baby-news and the reunion-news to mom and to the gang".
Angel simply side-looked at her and she kissed his shoulder.
"I know! I hate this as much as you do! Maybe even more!"
Angel sighed softly and kissed her neck. Buffy giggled, and then moaned delightfully when he licked her collarbone. Apparently they were all by themselves, because Cordelia was nowhere in sight, and Angel wouldn't be so tactile with her if the brunette was somewhere around.
In a second, his skilled hands were massaging the soft, silky skin of her inner thigh.
"Angel… Oooh, this feels so good… But we can't…"
Angel looked at her with a smirk.
"We can", he said. "You see, when they reversed…"
"Angel?"
"Hmmm?"
"Shut up!"
"That was nice…" Buffy purred twelve hours later, after they were pleasantly numb from their long session of love. It was somewhere around ten in the morning. "How was your curse altered?"
"I was a vampire with a soul and a clause, then human, then a vampire with a soul", he resumed simply. She smiled and stretched up to kiss him and probably begin… going for it again, when Cordelia pounded at the door and yelled:
"Are you guys decent down there?"
"Give us a minute!" Buffy screamed back, as she handed Angel his boxers and slipped his shirt and her panties on. "Okay, now we're fine!"
Cordelia opened the door and leaned against the doorframe, grinning slightly at the sight of her usually broody boss looking very satisfied and Buffy's shiny face and disgruntled hair.
"There's someone on the phone for you, boss", she told Angel, then glanced at Buffy. "It's Giles, Buffster. Apparently that fishy boy-toy of yours didn't tell them you're no longer with him and watcher-man called to check in with Angel".
"Behave, Cordy", Angel said, smiling. Cordelia was obviously pleased and happy with his and Buffy's reunion.
Why wouldn't she be! A happy Angel meant a working Angel, and an actively working Angel meant she got paid more often. And, if she got her paychecks every month regularly, by God she would deal with Buffy and Angel's constant PDA, even if it made her sick.
"Thank you", Angel said. "Tell Giles that Buffy and I have stuff to talk about", he wisely chose to ignore Cordelia's soft snort when he used the word 'talk', "and we'll call him later".
"Fine. But, if you go to Sunnyhell, don't forget to let me know. You guys will need your own, personal cheerleading squad", the brunette said and left. Angel laughed and gave his full attention to the blonde goddess next to him.
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here