Hey everyone, so here I am, finally back and here's a celebratory chapter
for my finishing my degree! Yay!
Feedback is as always.loved.
5. Surprise!
As it happened things didn't go exactly to Angel's plan, but then, when did they ever?
It was Monday morning, and by the time Angel had spent two minutes at work he knew he wouldn't have time to breathe around his schedule, let alone make one phone call to the LAPD.
He had meeting after meeting with a load of different people, lawyers, partners, staff, and others besides, it wasn't surprising that Angel was all but resigned to leaving the call for another twenty-fours hours or so. He'd waited over five years to see Buffy again, he supposed that waiting another day probably wouldn't kill him, though it pissed him off that he knew how to find her and couldn't just because of his stupid job.
Though that wasn't right, it wasn't a stupid job, being a lawyer was all he'd wanted, and now he was on the verge of partnership and he really couldn't afford to be complaining about his work. He shrugged to himself as Cordelia announced a DA he had to 'discuss' a case with. He just hoped it would be more civilised than their last discussion. Saying that they had disagreed would be an understatement.
And so the meetings began. And they went on and on. At times Angel found it hard to remember what he was talking about because the image of meeting Buffy again kept popping into his head and was distracting. But he did try his best, honestly! At least, that's what he told himself.
Buffy
I woke up to an empty house on Monday which wasn't unusual since Faith often went on her shift very early, that or very late, I smiled, Faith always did everything in its extremes. Mondays weren't generally very busy as my practice was closed and it was normally a day reserved for non private clients. This particular Monday held just one meeting concerning a patient and their court case and an afternoon of mocha's and girly stuff with Willow, my best friend since high school.
Most of my thoughts were on our trip to Boston at the end of the week so that we could spend Christmas with Dawn. I still needed to pack and knew it wouldn't be a simple task, this is one thing that Faith and I differ on, Faith is able to pack in five minutes with a small suitcase and me, well I know that I'm incapable of travelling light. Faith loves to rib me about it but I justify it by explaining that I need a good choice of clothes when I'm away from home.
Besides I still had some work to do before the holiday break, having appointments with patients on Tuesday and Wednesday and this meeting.
If I was honest, I'd just as soon ignore the morning meeting and just go straight to the fun afternoon but unfortunately I knew I couldn't. I was often called in by various firms to assess their clients for court cases and had an obligation to them. I enjoy my job but it's just the non- psychological aspect of it, including tedious meetings and stuff that gets a bit annoying, though I suppose they are as important as the rest of it. At least I'll have a good afternoon, I was eager to get the meeting out of the way.
I walked towards the receptionist's desk and told the girl, called Cordelia, that I was here to see Mr O'Connor. It probably wasn't going to be any different from the other court cases that I'd been called in on. Most of them were for me to assess a patient for the court or the lawyers. I hadn't worked with this particular firm before and knew that it was probably because I was younger and others had more experience in this area and this looked like a significant firm. I guess they couldn't get anyone else this close to the holidays.
"Ms Summers, Mr O'Connor is ready to see you now." How nice of him! Twenty minutes late as well. Oh well, I think all lawyers are like that, the rich ones at the very least expect you to be at their beck and call. I hope this won't take too long; I've got to meet Willow in a while.
I walked into a lavishly decorated office to find that Mr O'Connor was having a phone conversation with his chair and back to me. Yeah he's ready to see me alright! I guess I'll have to wait again, and listen to the backend of his conversation.
"Yeah Kathy I know okay? I know," He slowly turned in his chair and for a second I thought I was going crazy. And then he'd turned around completely and I knew I wasn't mad. It was him! I looked at him with a mixture of confusion and excitement while trying to stay calm and collected. It wasn't as if he'd spent the last five years obsessing over me. Unfortunately that didn't stop an "Oh my god." Escaping from my lips and he looked up still listening on the phone. He didn't appear to have recognised me but then he looked at me again and stared as if his eyes were boring through me. "Yeah, I'll see you later Kat, bye." After another second of him staring and me feeling like this was a very weird way to start a meeting he seemed to remember himself.
"Hi." Was all he said and I couldn't actually think of anything better.
"Hi." Okay so this was getting weirder by the second, here was I attempting to pretend his presence wasn't affecting me, which wasn't helped by his lack of articulation.
"It's you." Was all he said next and then, "Buffy?" I took the opportunity to take the conversation forward as it wasn't going anywhere very fast.
"Yeah, hi, do you remember me?" I asked after another second of almost gawking, it was inevitable really.
"Of course I do, you remember me then?" I nodded as he indicated for me to sit down.
"Yes I do." I never knew I was good at acting, my face portraying none of the cartwheels that my stupid romantic heart was doing. He's probably not interested; don't get your hopes up, though while I thought this, my eyes scanned his hands. No rings. And there went my heart again. But that didn't really mean anything. I really should get back to the point of why I was here; this was taking too long already, my head thought practically though I think my heart just wanted me to sit there drinking in his gorgeous features. Hmmm no harm in doing a little of that while I'm sat here though, I grinned inwardly.
"We have a meeting." I said eventually. He creased his brow as if he'd forgotten somehow. Was I distracting him? He looked at his computer and scanned his schedule.
"I have a meeting with Elizabeth Summers." I smiled, he was confused, not that I wasn't but, he was so cute when he was confused. I smiled.
"That's me." He looked at me with those gorgeous brown eyes and I fell in love again. Don't be ridiculous Buffy, you don't know him, my head started saying while my heart told it to shut up. It knew otherwise.
"I thought you said your name was Buffy?" He really remembered me, maybe this was meant to be. Stop it, you're kidding yourself.
"I'm surprised you even remember but yes my name is Buffy, its Buffy for short." He nodded and sat down himself though he was still looking at me.
"Ah, explains that then," He said quietly. I suddenly remembered his name again.
"What about you? Mr Liam O'Connor, wasn't it Angel?" I asked him what I'd been wondering. He smiled slightly, though he didn't look amused.
"Well, my name is Liam Angelus and I only really use Liam at work. Don't know what my parents were thinking with calling me Angel, I think mom thought it was cute." I smiled. "What?"
"Well, I think it is cute." I told him.
"Yeah, maybe it is, for a girl." I smiled; in fact I don't think I could stop. "See?" He said after my subsequent silence.
There was an odd few seconds of silence where I watched him and he seemed to do the same with me but neither of us said anything. I remembered the reason for me being here and considered his job at this firm. He was obviously doing very well, this was a prominent law firm and the decoration of his office only emphasised this.
"Do you think we should talk about the case?" I asked him.
"Oh, yes, yes of course." And he started collecting various papers from his files and we had what would have otherwise been a normal meeting, aside from this being Angel. Angel! And the small glances I stole at him several times. Was he always this cute? And from what I could see he definitely worked out, yum! Okay, I think I should try to concentrate on the papers in front of me.
Angel
'It's Buffy!' was the almost constant scream that threatened to escape from me as we sat there. I wonder what she's thinking. Well, it might be the case you're both meant to be thinking about, duh! I just couldn't help looking at her, though I tried to avoid openly staring at her, even though she was so beautiful. This is my chance, there's got to be reason, maybe this is fate and we are meant to be together. I can't let this chance go. I just need to keep my cool.
Buffy
When the meeting was over I took my notes and new file and got up, shaking his hand. I really didn't want to let go, I wonder if he's seeing anyone? Yeah, that wasn't a random thought was it?
"It was nice to see you again Buffy." He said sincerely, smiling though he didn't seem to be particularly thrilled, maybe it was me. He obviously hadn't been pining over the plane ride for five years.
"Yes, it was good to see you too." I said a little disappointed.
"Bye." I started towards the door with my mind a mess of indecision. You should ask him out! This is your chance! Don't be so stupid, he won't want to! Too many parts of me telling me different things, I'd made up my mind on my own and I was about to turn around, decision decided when he called after me.
"Buffy wait!" It's cliché to say but my heart leapt, I hoped it would be one of those moments, he would ask me out. So I was disappointed when I turned round and saw him standing there with my bag. Of course, I'd been too busy thinking about him to remember to take it with me, which made me look like the dizzy blonde that everyone expects.
"Oh, thanks, my mind must have been somewhere else." I admitted though not that the somewhere else was him.
"No problem." This time my heart felt like it seeped out of my feet into the floor and I tried to look neutral and not disappointed as I turned to go again. I'd probably get home and hate myself for not asking him out.
"Buffy," I heard him say when I was almost at the door, great, what exactly had I stupidly left behind now? I turned.
"Yes?" He looked down for a second; odd, I could have sworn he looked nervous which was again, cute; I tried not to get my hopes up. Who the hell was I trying to kid? Hello, this is Angel!
"Would you like," He paused, swallowing, and my stupid heart was jumping about, "Would you like, to go out sometime? I mean." He seemed to stumble for words so I quickly told him, trying not to start jumping about in the same fashion as my heart was doing.
"Yes, I'd like that." And he grinned at me. He'd actually asked me, he asked me out. I wondered whether he remembered our flight as much as I had.
"How about going out Friday?" He asked still smiling, my smile however quickly disappeared. Shit!
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'd love to but I can't." He looked disappointed and the great grin had gone.
"That's okay, maybe." I thought I'd better explain.
"Its just Faith and I are flying out to Boston on Friday; I'd love to go out otherwise." He smiled, looking as relieved as I was.
"You're flying to Boston with your sister?" He asked while I silently reflected that he had a great memory.
"Yeah, you have a good memory," He smiled lightly,
"Not really, only with certain things, certain people, people that are worth remembering." I smiled, how could I not smile? That has got to be one of the nicest things someone has said to me, or a guy has said to me. I think I'm grinning like an idiot here but I don't think he minds. This is like one of my dreams, he likes me, I like him, must be fate after all.
"Thanks, well yeah, we're going over to spend Christmas with Dawn. She's at Harvard Law now." I smiled proudly; I seemed to really love to tell people that.
"That's great, but since you're going to be in Boston," He paused, obviously thinking.
"Yeah, maybe when I come back after Christmas, we figure Dawn will want to be partying it up with her friends over New Year, so we're coming back before then."
"We could do that or we could go out before you go, maybe tomorrow, if you're not busy." He added quickly. Well, he definitely gets points for eagerness.
"I'm not busy, that would be nice." How have I maintained this calm façade? I shouldn't ask really, just be grateful for small mercies!
"Okay then, I'll call you later." Am I dreaming? I'm probably still waiting to see that lawyer and I've drifted to sleep. Nope I'm not, did I really have to pinch myself though?
"You've got my card. Bye Angel." I told him before I walked out, not before time; my legs were officially of the jelly variety by the end of that conversation, I doubt I'd have held out much longer, but then I could have fell into his arms. His strong well-defined arms, okay get a grip. I have a date, and this isn't just any, it's with Angel! I can't wait to tell Willow and Faith. A date with Angel, what am I going to wear?
Angel
I have a date with Buffy, she's still so beautiful, even more so than I remember. I've got to tell someone.
Things may not have gone to plan, but as it turned out, things turned out better than that.
Tbc
Not the end!
Feedback please...and I'll get to the next chapter as soon as I can, hint, the more feedback, the quicker I will be.
Becca.
Feedback is as always.loved.
5. Surprise!
As it happened things didn't go exactly to Angel's plan, but then, when did they ever?
It was Monday morning, and by the time Angel had spent two minutes at work he knew he wouldn't have time to breathe around his schedule, let alone make one phone call to the LAPD.
He had meeting after meeting with a load of different people, lawyers, partners, staff, and others besides, it wasn't surprising that Angel was all but resigned to leaving the call for another twenty-fours hours or so. He'd waited over five years to see Buffy again, he supposed that waiting another day probably wouldn't kill him, though it pissed him off that he knew how to find her and couldn't just because of his stupid job.
Though that wasn't right, it wasn't a stupid job, being a lawyer was all he'd wanted, and now he was on the verge of partnership and he really couldn't afford to be complaining about his work. He shrugged to himself as Cordelia announced a DA he had to 'discuss' a case with. He just hoped it would be more civilised than their last discussion. Saying that they had disagreed would be an understatement.
And so the meetings began. And they went on and on. At times Angel found it hard to remember what he was talking about because the image of meeting Buffy again kept popping into his head and was distracting. But he did try his best, honestly! At least, that's what he told himself.
Buffy
I woke up to an empty house on Monday which wasn't unusual since Faith often went on her shift very early, that or very late, I smiled, Faith always did everything in its extremes. Mondays weren't generally very busy as my practice was closed and it was normally a day reserved for non private clients. This particular Monday held just one meeting concerning a patient and their court case and an afternoon of mocha's and girly stuff with Willow, my best friend since high school.
Most of my thoughts were on our trip to Boston at the end of the week so that we could spend Christmas with Dawn. I still needed to pack and knew it wouldn't be a simple task, this is one thing that Faith and I differ on, Faith is able to pack in five minutes with a small suitcase and me, well I know that I'm incapable of travelling light. Faith loves to rib me about it but I justify it by explaining that I need a good choice of clothes when I'm away from home.
Besides I still had some work to do before the holiday break, having appointments with patients on Tuesday and Wednesday and this meeting.
If I was honest, I'd just as soon ignore the morning meeting and just go straight to the fun afternoon but unfortunately I knew I couldn't. I was often called in by various firms to assess their clients for court cases and had an obligation to them. I enjoy my job but it's just the non- psychological aspect of it, including tedious meetings and stuff that gets a bit annoying, though I suppose they are as important as the rest of it. At least I'll have a good afternoon, I was eager to get the meeting out of the way.
I walked towards the receptionist's desk and told the girl, called Cordelia, that I was here to see Mr O'Connor. It probably wasn't going to be any different from the other court cases that I'd been called in on. Most of them were for me to assess a patient for the court or the lawyers. I hadn't worked with this particular firm before and knew that it was probably because I was younger and others had more experience in this area and this looked like a significant firm. I guess they couldn't get anyone else this close to the holidays.
"Ms Summers, Mr O'Connor is ready to see you now." How nice of him! Twenty minutes late as well. Oh well, I think all lawyers are like that, the rich ones at the very least expect you to be at their beck and call. I hope this won't take too long; I've got to meet Willow in a while.
I walked into a lavishly decorated office to find that Mr O'Connor was having a phone conversation with his chair and back to me. Yeah he's ready to see me alright! I guess I'll have to wait again, and listen to the backend of his conversation.
"Yeah Kathy I know okay? I know," He slowly turned in his chair and for a second I thought I was going crazy. And then he'd turned around completely and I knew I wasn't mad. It was him! I looked at him with a mixture of confusion and excitement while trying to stay calm and collected. It wasn't as if he'd spent the last five years obsessing over me. Unfortunately that didn't stop an "Oh my god." Escaping from my lips and he looked up still listening on the phone. He didn't appear to have recognised me but then he looked at me again and stared as if his eyes were boring through me. "Yeah, I'll see you later Kat, bye." After another second of him staring and me feeling like this was a very weird way to start a meeting he seemed to remember himself.
"Hi." Was all he said and I couldn't actually think of anything better.
"Hi." Okay so this was getting weirder by the second, here was I attempting to pretend his presence wasn't affecting me, which wasn't helped by his lack of articulation.
"It's you." Was all he said next and then, "Buffy?" I took the opportunity to take the conversation forward as it wasn't going anywhere very fast.
"Yeah, hi, do you remember me?" I asked after another second of almost gawking, it was inevitable really.
"Of course I do, you remember me then?" I nodded as he indicated for me to sit down.
"Yes I do." I never knew I was good at acting, my face portraying none of the cartwheels that my stupid romantic heart was doing. He's probably not interested; don't get your hopes up, though while I thought this, my eyes scanned his hands. No rings. And there went my heart again. But that didn't really mean anything. I really should get back to the point of why I was here; this was taking too long already, my head thought practically though I think my heart just wanted me to sit there drinking in his gorgeous features. Hmmm no harm in doing a little of that while I'm sat here though, I grinned inwardly.
"We have a meeting." I said eventually. He creased his brow as if he'd forgotten somehow. Was I distracting him? He looked at his computer and scanned his schedule.
"I have a meeting with Elizabeth Summers." I smiled, he was confused, not that I wasn't but, he was so cute when he was confused. I smiled.
"That's me." He looked at me with those gorgeous brown eyes and I fell in love again. Don't be ridiculous Buffy, you don't know him, my head started saying while my heart told it to shut up. It knew otherwise.
"I thought you said your name was Buffy?" He really remembered me, maybe this was meant to be. Stop it, you're kidding yourself.
"I'm surprised you even remember but yes my name is Buffy, its Buffy for short." He nodded and sat down himself though he was still looking at me.
"Ah, explains that then," He said quietly. I suddenly remembered his name again.
"What about you? Mr Liam O'Connor, wasn't it Angel?" I asked him what I'd been wondering. He smiled slightly, though he didn't look amused.
"Well, my name is Liam Angelus and I only really use Liam at work. Don't know what my parents were thinking with calling me Angel, I think mom thought it was cute." I smiled. "What?"
"Well, I think it is cute." I told him.
"Yeah, maybe it is, for a girl." I smiled; in fact I don't think I could stop. "See?" He said after my subsequent silence.
There was an odd few seconds of silence where I watched him and he seemed to do the same with me but neither of us said anything. I remembered the reason for me being here and considered his job at this firm. He was obviously doing very well, this was a prominent law firm and the decoration of his office only emphasised this.
"Do you think we should talk about the case?" I asked him.
"Oh, yes, yes of course." And he started collecting various papers from his files and we had what would have otherwise been a normal meeting, aside from this being Angel. Angel! And the small glances I stole at him several times. Was he always this cute? And from what I could see he definitely worked out, yum! Okay, I think I should try to concentrate on the papers in front of me.
Angel
'It's Buffy!' was the almost constant scream that threatened to escape from me as we sat there. I wonder what she's thinking. Well, it might be the case you're both meant to be thinking about, duh! I just couldn't help looking at her, though I tried to avoid openly staring at her, even though she was so beautiful. This is my chance, there's got to be reason, maybe this is fate and we are meant to be together. I can't let this chance go. I just need to keep my cool.
Buffy
When the meeting was over I took my notes and new file and got up, shaking his hand. I really didn't want to let go, I wonder if he's seeing anyone? Yeah, that wasn't a random thought was it?
"It was nice to see you again Buffy." He said sincerely, smiling though he didn't seem to be particularly thrilled, maybe it was me. He obviously hadn't been pining over the plane ride for five years.
"Yes, it was good to see you too." I said a little disappointed.
"Bye." I started towards the door with my mind a mess of indecision. You should ask him out! This is your chance! Don't be so stupid, he won't want to! Too many parts of me telling me different things, I'd made up my mind on my own and I was about to turn around, decision decided when he called after me.
"Buffy wait!" It's cliché to say but my heart leapt, I hoped it would be one of those moments, he would ask me out. So I was disappointed when I turned round and saw him standing there with my bag. Of course, I'd been too busy thinking about him to remember to take it with me, which made me look like the dizzy blonde that everyone expects.
"Oh, thanks, my mind must have been somewhere else." I admitted though not that the somewhere else was him.
"No problem." This time my heart felt like it seeped out of my feet into the floor and I tried to look neutral and not disappointed as I turned to go again. I'd probably get home and hate myself for not asking him out.
"Buffy," I heard him say when I was almost at the door, great, what exactly had I stupidly left behind now? I turned.
"Yes?" He looked down for a second; odd, I could have sworn he looked nervous which was again, cute; I tried not to get my hopes up. Who the hell was I trying to kid? Hello, this is Angel!
"Would you like," He paused, swallowing, and my stupid heart was jumping about, "Would you like, to go out sometime? I mean." He seemed to stumble for words so I quickly told him, trying not to start jumping about in the same fashion as my heart was doing.
"Yes, I'd like that." And he grinned at me. He'd actually asked me, he asked me out. I wondered whether he remembered our flight as much as I had.
"How about going out Friday?" He asked still smiling, my smile however quickly disappeared. Shit!
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'd love to but I can't." He looked disappointed and the great grin had gone.
"That's okay, maybe." I thought I'd better explain.
"Its just Faith and I are flying out to Boston on Friday; I'd love to go out otherwise." He smiled, looking as relieved as I was.
"You're flying to Boston with your sister?" He asked while I silently reflected that he had a great memory.
"Yeah, you have a good memory," He smiled lightly,
"Not really, only with certain things, certain people, people that are worth remembering." I smiled, how could I not smile? That has got to be one of the nicest things someone has said to me, or a guy has said to me. I think I'm grinning like an idiot here but I don't think he minds. This is like one of my dreams, he likes me, I like him, must be fate after all.
"Thanks, well yeah, we're going over to spend Christmas with Dawn. She's at Harvard Law now." I smiled proudly; I seemed to really love to tell people that.
"That's great, but since you're going to be in Boston," He paused, obviously thinking.
"Yeah, maybe when I come back after Christmas, we figure Dawn will want to be partying it up with her friends over New Year, so we're coming back before then."
"We could do that or we could go out before you go, maybe tomorrow, if you're not busy." He added quickly. Well, he definitely gets points for eagerness.
"I'm not busy, that would be nice." How have I maintained this calm façade? I shouldn't ask really, just be grateful for small mercies!
"Okay then, I'll call you later." Am I dreaming? I'm probably still waiting to see that lawyer and I've drifted to sleep. Nope I'm not, did I really have to pinch myself though?
"You've got my card. Bye Angel." I told him before I walked out, not before time; my legs were officially of the jelly variety by the end of that conversation, I doubt I'd have held out much longer, but then I could have fell into his arms. His strong well-defined arms, okay get a grip. I have a date, and this isn't just any, it's with Angel! I can't wait to tell Willow and Faith. A date with Angel, what am I going to wear?
Angel
I have a date with Buffy, she's still so beautiful, even more so than I remember. I've got to tell someone.
Things may not have gone to plan, but as it turned out, things turned out better than that.
Tbc
Not the end!
Feedback please...and I'll get to the next chapter as soon as I can, hint, the more feedback, the quicker I will be.
Becca.