Buffy knew Angel was following her. His car was creeping along behind her and despite all efforts she found it oddly comforting. No, the fact that he'd become Cordelia's lap dog in the past few years was totally embarrassing in her opinion, but the fact that he did still care about her made her believe that deep down he still was the Angel she'd known and loved. Buffy made a spontaneous decision and stopped walking. She'd caught Angel by surprise, which pleased her. He rolled right next to her before hitting his breaks in the realization she'd stopped moving.

Buffy couldn't help cracking a little grin and his blunder. She spoke into his open window. "I haven't forgiven you for the fool you have become, but I also do not fancy ruining these shoes. So do you mind giving me that lift?" With out waiting for an answer Buffy opened the passenger door and slid in.

Angel didn't say anything, just gave her a little half smile. 'God this girl makes me crazy.'

'Oh that smile, it is enough to make any girl go weak in the knees.' Buffy thought.

They drove in silence. But both were surprised that it wasn't a tense silence, it was a pleasant one. Both knew their were unsolved problems and things that needed to be dealt with but for the time being both were just basking in the company of the other whom they had missed so much.

When they parked in front of Buffy's house she turned to open and get out of the car. Before she got the opportunity to Angel lightly touched her arm.

"Buffy, those things that Cordelia was saying…"

"Angelus, to be frank I do not care weither they were true or not. In my opinion it is irrelevant. What matters are you let her speak that way about Cayden and Kathy. How could you Angel? I mean those kids always looked up to you for everything. You used to be so protective, what happened? I can deal with the fact you let her walk all over me, but your brother and sister? Jeez, Angel, did you even stop to look in the mirror?"

Everything she'd said was in a soft and gentle tone. Angel felt it tore into him deeper than her yelling and accusations. "Buffy, I don't know what to say. When you your father tore you from my arms that night and I was powerless to stop it… and then when I realized there was no way I could contact you, I felt like I'd failed you. I gave up. I let people, namely Cordelia, speak for me and I never stood up for what mattered in my life because if felt like no matter what I did or said it didn't matter."

"Angel what happened had nothing to do with you," Buffy didn't know why she was being so nice all of a sudden, but in his eyes she saw someone truly broken and she wanted to do anything in her power to make that look go away. "You couldn't help the chain of events that night. My father…God I don't even know what to say, but it is infuriating that not only did he emotionally scar me, but you as well. You never should have been at my house that night, but just because you were doesn't mean you could have done anything to stop it. And you have to know I have never ever held that against you." Then Buffy had a thought. "Come with me, I have something for you."

Angel turned off the car and together they made the way into her house and upstairs to her bedroom. Angel wanted so badly to take her hand, but he could tell Buffy's recent kindness to him was extremely tentative.

"Wow." Angel thought out loud when they reached her room.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, I didn't mean to say that. It's just this room has changed so much since the last time I was in it."

Buffy smiled, "Yea, Willow helped me decorate last weekend. Couldn't be the new me in the old me's bedroom…if that made any sense at all."

Angel smiled at her babbling; he'd forgotten how much he missed it.

"Um…I'm just going to throw a few things in the suit case. You can just sit down."

Angel hesitantly sat down on Buffy's bed. For the fleetest second he gave a thought to his situation. Here he was sitting on the bed of the hottest new girl in school, alone in her house…Bad Angel, she's finally talking to you lets do away with the dirty thoughts.'

'Smooth Buffy, have a touching conversation then bring him up to your bedroom and sit him on your bed all alone in your house. Let's guess what he must be thinking.'

It took Buffy almost 30 minutes to pack. Angel wouldn't say anything, but if truth be told he was getting quite bored…he was a guy after all. Finally he saw her stand on her tiptoes pulling out a shoebox from the top shelf in her closet. She blew the dust off then made her way towards him. She stood a little ways from him. As he was still sitting on the bed and she was standing in front of him, her face was only a few inches above his own.

"I told you I had something for you. Most of them are only half written. I was kinda stubborn and never tried to send any." Angel looked at her funny.

"What! I thought if you wanted to talk to me, then you would write. It never occurred to me that my father had intervened. I just thought…" She died off not finishing her statement.

He looked deep in to her hazel eyes and saw them instantly glaze over. "What did you think Buffy?"

Buffy looked down at the floor, avoiding his gaze, "I thought that you'd just forgotten about me," she mumbled.

"Hey," he whispered bringing his hand up under her chin, "Never."

Neither knew how long they'd been there staring into each other's eyes. But slowly and with out thought on either's part their faces began to inch closer to each other. Finally their lips locked. It was sweet at first, almost a purely innocent kiss between two friends. But soon it grew. Both were lost in their passion for each other. Angel wanted to remain in the passenger seat so that Buffy wouldn't feel threatened, but the passion was building and soon he wouldn't be able to contain himself. As if reading his mind Buffy opened up her own mouth and slide her tongue against his lips. Instantly Angel opened up to her and in doing so wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck in response. She'd moved in between his legs as he was still sitting on the bed in an attempt to bring their bodies closer together. Angel wanted her so badly; he didn't know how to handle the emotions she brought forth in him. He knew if they didn't stop now he'd do something that he was sure she'd regret. Unhappily he pulled away.

Buffy looked up at him with shock clearly written in her face. She jumped back and turned away from him. "I am so sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"Buffy, it was my fault. But I don't want you to think I am looking for something from you."

"Angel, can we not talk about this…Ever?"

"Sure anything you want," What she'd said had really bit him but he refused to show it.

The kiss had sent Buffy spiraling over the edge. It was one of those things she really hadn't planned for and was completely embarrassed of. She mentally forced herself to ignore the feelings Angel provoked with in her.

He, ever the gentlemen, walked over and picked up her suitcase. He then proceeded to walk out of her room and down the hall without another word. Buffy looked in the mirror and found her face to be flushed and her lips swollen. She felt very exposed and decided to change prior to following Angel out to his car.

Angel waited in his car for Buffy to come down. One might say he was brooding on the recent events. When Buffy finally did come down he looked up to see she was in gray sweatpants and a white tee shirt. He was amazed at how beautiful she looked even dressed like that. When she got into the car he took a moment to glance over and noticed her slightly swollen lips. He couldn't help being slightly aroused by the sight of her and quickly reverted his attention on the road.

When they arrived at his house Angel led Buffy to the spare room directly across from his own. She would never admit it out loud but she was glad. She felt safer when Angel was around. Despite all the hurt he could do to her himself, she still felt safer from the outside world. Angel turned to her and smiled before walking out the door, shutting it behind him.

Buffy sighed and lay down on her bed. 'What was I doing kissing him like that? Smooth one Buffy.'

About an hour and a half later Angel knocked on her door. "Come in," she hollered from inside. He opened the door to find his favorite blond bent over a desk with books and paper piled all around. Her whole body screamed irritation and Angel couldn't believe how cute she was. "Urg!" she screamed. Angel fought the desire to smile and walked up behind her.

"Hey what's up?"

"This damn math problem. What does it matter any ways it isn't like I am going to ever use Algebra 2 in my life."

Angel finally couldn't suppress a chuckle and he received a dirty look from Buffy. "Why don't you let me see it?" She moved over and allowed Angel to lean over her book. It turns out Angel wasn't half bad at math and he was soon able to show Buffy the mistakes she was making.

"…Once you've finished that you get x22," he finished.

"You are amazing," Buffy said sarcastically.

"Hey," Angel responded looking into her eyes. For the second time that day the couple found their faces mere inches from each other.

"WELL," Buffy said loudly causing Angel to jump and straighten up from his hunch over the desk, "um…what was it you wanted?"

"What,"

"You came in here, and although I am grateful for the homework help, was their something you wanted?"

"Oh yea, um dinner is ready."

"You cook!" Buffy exclaimed, jumping out of her chair and running downstairs to the kitchen.

Angel laughed and followed her down.

"Angel this tastes amazing," Buffy said as they sat around the table eating homemade spaghetti and meatballs. "When did you learn to do this?"

"After my dad left my mom was having such a tough time with stuff she needed help. I stepped up and started making the meals for mom and the twins. I had to learn quick cuz those kids are damn picking, they won't eat anything unless it tastes just right." They both laughed over that.

"I don't mean to be rude, but didn't you guys use to have a cook?"

"The servants and such were all my dad. My mom never liked the idea of people other than family living and working in her home. Besides once Dad moved out he took the staff with him."

"Oh, that must have been tough."

"What."

"Everything," at the blank look on his face she continued, "your father's infidelity, watching your mom get put through that. Being forced to chose between parents."

"Well I never really thought I'd have to explain it to you, I mean you went through the same thing right?"

"Yeah. I guess the no good father's is something we have common, huh?"

Angel smiled and so did Buffy. He loved her smile; it brightened up her whole face, and not to mention his whole world. "Buffy, earlier today was…"

"A mistake," Buffy finished.

'I was going to go with wonderful, but hey,' Angel chose to say nothing.

Buffy saw the hurt in his eyes and wouldn't allow it to change her feelings. "Angel, you changed into someone I am completely embarrassed of. You treated your once friends like dirt. Willow, Xander, and the others didn't deserve what you did. Hell I didn't deserve what you did. For what ever reason you did it doesn't matter. The fact that you were too much of a coward to stand up for what you feel and what you believe in is quite frankly, pathetic. I am not ready to forgive you for that. I am sorry if today I led you on, but I can't fathom a friendship with you right now, let alone anything more."

"But you can't ignore there is something between us. God Buffy, it felt like an electric current was running between us. I know you felt that."

"NO Angelus no. I'm sorry but your wrong. I am going to bed, please do not follow me."

She walked out of the kitchen and Angel banged his head against the table.

The next morning, Angel was up and down in the kitchen making pancakes before Buffy's alarm went off. While she trudged to the bathroom to shower and dress, he was preparing the breakfast for them and his mother.

Buffy came down at the same time Kalie did, which disappointed Angel. He'd hoped they would have time to talk; although what he would have said he didn't know. They ate quietly, neither Buffy nor Kalie being morning people. Then Kalie left for work and Buffy and Angel headed towards school. They didn't speak in the car but their minds were going a mile a minute. Angel trying to think of anything he could say to her, and Buffy praying with every ounce of her being that he wouldn't say anything. As soon as they got to school Buffy jumped out of the car and walked to where Willow and the group were seated. Angel was about to follow when he heard Spike and Doyle calling his name. Regretfully he allowed Buffy out of his sight.

The first part of the day at school was ALMOST uneventful. Buffy got cornered in the hallway during one of the passing periods by non other than Parker Abrams. He pushed Buffy up against the lockers as people were walking by. Buffy was amazed that none of them seemed to take notice. 'What is it with me being assaulted in these hallways?'

"Hey Buffy," He said.

"Hi Parker," Buffy said with as subtle disgust as she could muster. She looked into his eyes and saw the shallow brown pools and she silently wondered how she could have ever liked him. Especially when she knew someone who's chocolate brown eyes bared his soul to her… 'Whoa, stop right there, where did that come from.'

"You are looking good, Buff," He said while gazing up and down her body. Buffy fought the shudder of disgust she felt raising from the core of her being.

"Thanks"

"So I was thinking, maybe you and I should go out sometime."

Buffy chocked back a laugh, but it came out anyways, "Sorry Parker, but you are about five years late." With that she pushed him away and walked down the hall. Parker was more then pissed. He made a quick check to see that no one was looking and might have over heard their conversation, when he didn't see anything unusual he made his way in the opposite direction than Buffy had gone. Little did they know, someone had seen them.

Then came lunch. As Buffy and Willow were in line for food Buffy told Willow most of the story of the prior evening.

"I can't believe he kissed you like that. What a pig!"

"Well Will, he didn't totally force me into it."

"But still…" Willow trailed off at the look on Buffy's face, "Buffy, please tell me you aren't developing feelings for Angelus."

Buffy's eyes grew wide, "NO of course not. Jeez Will how could you say that? You of all people know what he did to me."

"Well I just needed to make sure. Angelus is quite the player and I don't want you to get hurt again."

"Thanks for the advice Will, but it is so NOT needed."

"But…"

"But what?"

"He clearly likes you."

"No he doesn't," but at the look on her friend's face Buffy continued, "I mean so what if he does? It doesn't make any difference."

"Well I hope you are sure, because Angelus is kind of know for getting what he wants and clearly you fit in the category."

"Once again, thanks for the advice, but it isn't needed."

"Ok, I hope you're right."

They sat down with the group and began to eat. Allowing thoughts of their serious conversation completely slip from their minds for the time being. Then Buffy felt someone tap her shoulder.

On the other side of the cafeteria

Angelus had seen the earlier interaction between Parker and Buffy and he was fuming. He'd told Doyle what had happened, and Doyle would have sworn he'd seen flecks of gold enter Angel's eyes due to his anger. Doyle was getting concerned. He hadn't seen his friend act this aggressively or possessively since…well if he was honest, since Buffy had gone. He wasn't sure which Angel he liked better, the passive one who didn't care what happened to him or to those he loved, or the aggressive one who was going to snap anyone's neck who looked at him funny.

At the current time Angel was making his way over to Parker Abram's table, Doyle shuddered. 'I'd certainly hate to be that guy,' he thought.

Angel pulled at Parkers collar and brought Parker's ear up to his mouth.

"We need to talk," he hissed.

Parker was visibly trembling. 'What a pansy,' Angel thought.

Angel brought him towards one of the walls in the cafeteria, out of hearing range. Then he whipped him around so Angel's back was to the cafeteria and Parker could see its inhabitants.

"Angelus," Parker gulped, "is there something wrong?"

"Yea, there's something wrong Parker. What the hell did you think you were touching my girl today?"

"What? Who? I wasn't around Cordy, you know I'd never touch anything that was yours, besides way I hear it you weren't dating anymore," At Angel's glare Parker stammered on, "Not that I'd go for her if you had broken up. I never touched her I swear."

"I don't give a damn about Cordelia Chase."

"Then who…" Realization dawned on his face, "Look man, I never…I mean I didn't, we were just talking…"

"SHUT UP!" Parker quitted immediately, "You listen to me, you come within 20 feet of her I will hunt you down and your mother won't recognize your body once I am done with it, you understand," Parker merely nodded as he'd lost his ability to speak. "You touch her and I will know, you speak to her and I will know, you look at her in the wrong way I will know. And by God, if you entertain any thoughts of her I swear…" Angel stopped. Here he was threatening the hell out of Parker and the guy was actually smiling. No he wasn't even paying attention to Angelus he was looking beyond him. Angel turned to see what the commotion was.

"Looks like I'm not the one you have to worry about, now is it." Parker smirked and walked away keeping an arms length distance between him and Angelus.

On the other side of the cafeteria

Buffy turned to see Riley tapping on her shoulder.

"Buffy? I knew it was you, the first day you came I recognized you. Even though you look so different from the way you once did. You look even more beautiful and amazing then you once did and until I saw you that day I wouldn't have believed that to be possible." Buffy flushed furiously. She didn't really fancy Riley, but she was never one to avoid flattery whenever possible.

Willow put a huge sloppy grin on her face, "Riley would you like to sit down?" She began to move over, leaving him a space between Buffy and herself when Riley started speaking.

"Oh no Willow, I have to go to the office, a T.A.'s job is never done," he tried to joke. "Um, actually I just wanted to stop by and ask Buffy if maybe she'd like to go to the Bronze with me tomorrow night?"

"Oh, well…I don't know… I mean…" Buffy started stammering. Riley seemed like a nice guy, why was she so hesitant. And he'd gotten a lot cuter than elementary school. 'I should give him a chance, why don't I want to?'

Angel chose that moment to interrupt the group.

"Hey guys."

"Angelus what a surprise," Xander sneered.

"No it isn't Buffy's talking to a boy, he got jealous so he came over to avoid her hooking up with someone else," Anya said.

"Anya!" Buffy exclaimed. She looked at Angel who seemed completely unfazed by the comment and was beginning to reply her and Willow's earlier conversation. 'Does he really think he can just wiggle himself back into my life, because I am something he wants?' Buffy thought. She looked at Willow and Willow had an 'I told you so' look. Buffy chose that moment to take charge.

She turned back to Riley and gave him her sweetest smile. "Sure Riley I would love to go out with you tomorrow night." As she said this she took his hand and began rubbing small circles on it with her thumb. "Oh," and she pulled out a pen, "Here's my cell number, call me and we'll work out details," No one missed how she pulled his arm around her to write her number on his hand. Willow was smiling and the rest of the group had an impassive look, except Angel. Angel was sitting there, in complete and utter shock.

An: Hope you like. Sorry it wasn't sooner but rehearsals for sound of music are kicking my butt. I was so overwhelmed by the reviews. Jeez, you guys make me feel so special. I have always entertained people on stage it is such a cool feeling to know I can do it by writing also. As for my Riley/Parker question. I got mostly Riley requests, but I wanted to appease the want for a Parker bashing as well…and I may bring Parker back later on! Thanks for the ideas. Those were the best. Love ya all! Jenn