Summary: Set about a year after Not Fade Away. Angel's not happy, neither is Buffy. But she comes to town and needs his help and he just needs her. Not a great summary, but let me know if I should finish it up.
Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all.
Feedback: Appreciated
After Angel had showered he took one final look around the room he planned to keep Buffy in for the next few weeks. He had chosen the third floor back bedroom because the windows had been bricked off. Cordelia had originally wanted him to use these rooms so there would be no risk of sun exposure. "I am so not going to dust buster your sorry ass up if you forget to pull the drapes, mister." He had decided on the room downstairs because he actually liked looking out the windows. The other room felt too much like a tomb to him. And he had spent quite enough time in tombs in his day, thank you very much.
He had spent the better part of the past seven hours trying to make it look livable and he hoped Buffy would feel the same, once she got use to the fact that he had kidnapped her. There he had finally admitted it to himself. He was about to kidnap the woman he loved and try to convince her to spend the rest of her life with him. As well as confront her with the fact that Willow had messed up a little more than anyone had thought. Maybe she'd think it was romantic and not try to kill him right off.
Naw, wasn't gonna happen, she was going to be royally pist and try to injure him severely. He went through the room one last time, making sure there were no sharp wooden objects. Or anything else she might use to try to kill him with.
Angel looked at his watch, time to go. He had a moment of doubt. Maybe he could convince her over lunch to stay with him on her own. He'd try, but if she was set on going, he'd follow through with his plan. He just hoped she'd speak to him when she woke up.
Buffy paced nervously as she waited for the bellboy to retrieve her bags. She was more than capable of doing it herself, but when she called to concierge to let him know she was checking out, he insisted. "Please miss, its part of the service."
Trying to clear her mind of last nights events, Buffy felt her body betraying her. What was it about Angel that could set her blood boiling after all these years? She loved him, that was a given. But her physical reaction – it was crazy. One look from him could send heat coursing through her whole body, one touch and it took all her willpower to keep herself from throwing him to the ground. One kiss could send all thought and reason entirely from her mind.
She had drunk from him last night. She should have been disgusted with herself, but all it did was throw her farther over the edge of sanity. She was his mate and if she were honest with herself, she had relished it. She had finally put her mark on him. It was so primal, so animalistic, and it felt so good, so right. When she and Angel had first been together, before the whole Angelus debacle, they had talked about the bloodlust, the blood play that vampires engaged in. She had wanted to play a little herself, but Angel had said no. It wasn't something to be played with during heavy petting, it would push him too far and he wasn't sure he could reign himself in. But maybe someday, when they had decided to take that final step together. Well, they had taken it and now here they were, older, but maybe not so wiser. She was seriously considering seeing that shrink at the council's new offices when she got back to England.
Angel touched his shoulder. It had healed, but the memory of Buffy biting and drinking from him, he moaned out loud, the thought was enough to make him lose control. He could feel the demon in her. It was not in control, but it was intensifying Buffy's natural instincts and bringing some of it's own to the forefront. Guess there really were no accidents, all things happened for a reason and Buffy's being here at this time was too perfect for the both of them.
An unnecessary breath caught in Angel's chest when he saw Buffy standing in the entry way of her hotel. God, she was so beautiful. A combination of strength and vulnerability. He just couldn't lose her again. And he would decimate anyone who stood in his way. He felt the strength of his resolve solidify. He gripped the steering wheel to stop his trembling. Where did this emotional conviction come from? It was almost a violent need. Now wait. Did he mean it-would he really eviscerate anyone who tried to stand in his way? He thought for a moment. Yes, he absolutely would, without a second thought.
As he pulled up in front of Buffy, all doubts and fears fled. He was doing the right thing, the only thing, for the both of them. Angel stopped the car in the shade of the hotel's awning. As he was about to open the door, Buffy poked her head in the window.
"Pop the trunk and I'll have the doorman put my bags in – too much sun." She gave him a smile that was as bright as sunshine.
The sight and smell of her sent his senses whirling. Okay, he thought, get a grip. He smiled back at her. "Sure, Buff, thanks."
Once she was settled in the passenger seat, she turned towards him. "So, what's for lunch? I'm starving."
"I thought we could go back to my place and I'd cook for you. Sound alright?"
"Sounds fine. I've been wanting to see the place. Willow told me about it, but I never quite made it up before you moved into Wolfram and Hart." She tried to sound nonchalant, but she felt her heart beat just a bit faster and her skin flush. And of course, she knew Angel would sense it, as well. Damn vampire senses.
Yes Angel thought as he did a mental high five. She was excited to be with him. Her voice gave no indication, but her body told him otherwise.
"I like the place, but how does it compare to Wolfram and Hart? I saw the offices in Italy and I'd guess the L.A. office didn't suck." Buffy popped a piece of cheese in her mouth as Angel finished preparing her lunch.
He looked over at her. "It really wasn't my style. But the necro-tempered windows were pretty cool. Loved being able to stand in the sun. Lunch is ready, shall we sit?"
"Umm, I'm starving." She looked at the meal Angel had prepared. "Looks great. I didn't know you could cook."
"Lots you don't know."
She gave Angel a side-long glance. Yes, lots of things she didn't know. Five years worth of things she didn't know. "You're right." With that she dug into her meal.
Angel loved to watch her eat. For being such a petit thing she could really pack it away and still have room for desert.
Buffy looked up at him. "What? You know I have a high metabolism."
"I know, just love the way you enjoy food. I missed that." Angel stood and warmed some blood in the microwave.
"So, are you all alone here now? I thought you had Spike and Fred – is that her name? – living with you?"
Angel shifted uncomfortably, trying to discern her feelings with the mention of Spike's name. "Actually, Fred's gone too."
Buffy felt his sadness with the mention of the young girl. "Sorry, I knew that. I didn't mean…
Angel stopped her before she could continue. "No, don't…don't apologize. Her name's Illyria. Spike's sort of taken her under his wing."
He thought about that for a moment. "Actually, Illyria's taken Spike as…I don't know. She calls him her pet. And he lets her." Angel again looked for a reaction from Buffy.
She sighed, stopping her fork in mid-air. "It's funny. When you lose a lot you do things no one else can understand, even you don't understand." She shrugged and looked at him. "It helps the numb."
Buffy put her fork down. "You know, I'm feeling really tired. Must the turkey in this pasta. Can't seem to keep my eyes open."
Angel caught her before she fell. Boy, those drugs really worked faster than he thought. Maybe he used too much, but he was afraid that as a slayer, she'd need more than an average person. He held her to his chest and felt the strong, steady beat of her heart. His heart. She was going to be fine.
He had two options here. Lay her on the couch, wait until she woke up and then take her to get a rental. Stop this madness before it got out of control. Or, take her to the room he had prepared and convince her this was the right thing for the both of them.
She had said it herself, when you lose a lot you do things on one else can understand. Angel wasn't going to help the numb. He was going to stop it.
