"Have you ever had a strawberry before?" Buffy asked Angel, scooting closer to him.
"Not that I can remember," he replied. She held out the red fruit and he closed his mouth around it. He kept his eyes locked on hers as his tongue swirled around her fingers licking the juices from the strawberry off them, making it a completely sensual act. When he was finished, Buffy leaned in and kissed him, loving the faint taste of strawberries and Angel.
"Mmmmm, yummy." Angel leaned back in wanting more. Buffy gave in, maneuvering herself nearly onto his lap and wrapping her arms around him.
"Hey, don't start anything you can't finish in the middle of the park, babe."
"You started it. Besides, we're in the SECLUDED section of the park." Despite her words, she slid off his lap and reached into the picnic basket. Searching for a moment, she pulled out a Hershey's bar.
"I couldn't find any chocolate covered strawberries which are like heaven on earth, so we have a little experiment." She broke off a piece of the candy and popped it into Angel's mouth. Then she held out another strawberry which Angel took a bite of. He chewed, savoring the combination of flavors. "Good?" Buffy questioned.
"Very. You try." He fed her the same delectable treat.
"Delicious. Almost as good as you." Buffy realized how cheesy she sounded, but she was so in love that she didn't care. She kissed him softly, then lay back on the blanket, pulling Angel down beside her. Together they stretched out in the sun.
If I could think back and see this thing clearlyIf I could just remember when.
Of all the things I hold so dear to me
I miss the people we were then.
Buffy awoke disoriented. She was supposed to be in the park with Angel. Not alone in her bed. Then it all came back to her. Angel wasn't human or even here with her. He was still a vampire who lived in Los Angeles, hundreds of physical and emotional miles away from her.
God, what is wrong with me? Buffy thought. Yes, ever since Angel left, there had been a small constant ache in her, but she grew to ignore it. And yes, she had dreamed of him being human even years after they had broken up. But this was different. This was her 5th human Angel dream in a row and they were more intense than all her other dreams. All day, even at her busiest moments at work, she couldn't get him out of her head. Glancing up to make sure her door was closed, she walked over to her closet, dug through a pile of clothes, and pulled out an old shoebox. She sat on her bed and gingerly lifted the top.
The first thing she picked up was a worn picture, the only one she had of Angel. Willow had taken it at the beginning of junior year when she was in a photography class. Buffy gazed at the picture, amazed at how young and happy she looked dancing in Angel's arms. She placed the picture aside and picked up a movie ticket stub from the soft core film they had accidentally seen. She smiled at the memory. They had thought it was about food. But, well, there was that one part with the food. She set aside the small piece of paper as well and withdrew a jewelry box containing a silver cross. She opened the box, ran her finger over the metal then set it aside and pulled out two items: a creased piece of paper and a folded up t-shirt. She had found them in the mansion when she went there a few weeks after graduation and knew that he had left them behind just for her. She had worn the shirt every night to bed until it had lost his scent. She held it to her chest, wishing it still smelled like him, that she could have that connection. She unfolded the thin paper to find herself, or rather a charcoal drawing of herself, looking back at her. Angel had never shown her any of his drawings because he was self conscious and because Angelus had given her a drawing. But somehow, after he left, it seemed appropriate. It made it obvious how much he loved her because every stroke of the charcoal had clearly been made with such tenderness. She set the drawing down and picked up the last item in the box, a book of sonnets. She opened to the front page and gently traced the letters of 'Always' written out in Angel's beautiful script. Then she flipped forward. Angel had told her that this poem reminded him of how he felt for her and it had soon become her favorite.
"How do I love thee ? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old grief's, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life !--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."
Buffy felt overwhelming emotions begin to bubble up inside her and quickly put the book down. What a way to start off the day. She put everything back in the box and went to take a shower. When she came back, she got dressed quickly. She grabbed her purse ready to leave but then impulsively opened the shoebox still sitting on her bed and pulled out her silver cross necklace. She swung her hair to the side and clasped the chain around her neck. She tucked it under her shirt, not wanting Giles to question her about it but needing to keep Angel close to her heart.
It's time once again to revive some old some new
Buffy's fingers moved deftly over the keyboard, typing up the records for the day. She heard the bell of the front door jangle, signaling someone's entrance. It was past closing time and so just to be careful, she reached for the stake she kept in her desk and slipped it into her sleeve. Moving stealthily to the door of the office she shared with Giles, she stepped into the front room of the store.
"I'm sorry but we're clo-...Angel." She actually felt her heart skip a beat. She stared at him in disbelief at his appearance as hope sprang unbidden into her heart. Then she realized that gaped jaw wasn't her most attractive look, so she shook herself out of her stupor. "Hi," she said almost shyly.
"Hey," he replied, his velvety voice flowing over her.
"What's going on? Are you okay? Is there some kind of demon? What's wrong?" The words spilled out quickly as Buffy suppressed her hopes thinking they'd only lead to disappointment. She took a few steps towards him, yet still didn't get to close.
"No, actually, for once I have good news." He grinned at her. "I'm human." The bomb he just dropped exploded around her and she felt dizzy. She ungracefully plopped down in one of the leather desk chairs on display, breathing deeply, trying to regain her composure. Images from her dreams danced through her head. "Buffy," Angel asked softly, trying to break through the haze of shock. He walked over to her and gently placed his hand on her knee. The contact sent an unexpected spark of heat through her bringing her out of her thoughts. "Maybe I should have led up to that," he smiled softly."How? Why? When?" Angel pulled up another display chair across from hers and sat down.
"I'll start at the beginning. A few years ago, Wesley found a prophecy that said that once I found my redemption I would become human. So a few years later, a few battles later, here I am." Buffy took a few minutes to digest everything he had told her. She clenched her fists trying to suppress the urge to reach over and touch his newly warm skin, to feel his heart being under her hand.
"So you're redeemed?" she said slowly. "That's so great for you, Angel. Congratulations."
"Thanks, I..." The bell at the door jangled once again interrupting Angel. Buffy sprang up from her chair to see a young man and woman enter the store.
"I'm sorry, we're closed."
"Yeah, and from now on you'll be permanently closed," the boy said vamping out. Buffy began giggling.
"Oh man, that was lame. I mean I've been around awhile and I've heard some really lame threats, but that was by far the lamest."
"Prepare to die, Slayer," the girl said also vamping out while the boy looked upset at Buffy's laughter.
"Wow, that's the most trite thing you could have possibly said. You two are so not entertaining. Jeez, what's a Slayer got to do to have a little fun?" she said exasperatedly. Then, lightening quick, she grabbed her stake. "Oh wait. I know." She ran towards the two vamps kicking them both in one full swoop. They were fledglings and the fight was quick. She staked one then threw the other one off her back. The vamp slid over the counter knocking off the display of pens Giles had set up that morning.
"Shit, Giles is gonna kill me." She rammed the stake home and sighed heavily.
"Some things never change do they?" Angel said, giving her a small amused half smile.
"No, they don't." She smiled back but it was bittersweet. "Why don't I clean up here, then I can lock up and we can go somewhere to talk."