Disclaimer: All of the characters do not belong to me, but to Joss Wheedon and his crew for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Note: Thanks for the reviews, sorry if you didn't like the last chapter. Hope this one is better. Please read and review.

Rating: PG: for language

Chapter 4

Always be Waiting

"Well, this is the place." Angel led Buffy down a flight of stairs into Karatos.

"Wow, this place is, uh, exotic. A lot of variety." Buffy said, looking around. "There's an empty table." Buffy pointed to a small circular table across the room with two chairs. They walked over and sat down.

"What do want to drink?" Angel asked.

"A coke would be great."

"Okay, I'll be right back." Angel walked off in the direction of the bar.

"Well, you're new, and I'm betting not from around here, either." A green demon with red horns on his forehead walked up to Buffy, smiling. "Oh, and girl you are in some serious pain."

"Excuse me? I'm sorry, but who are you?" Buffy looked up, confused.

"Oh, I see you've met Lorne--he's the host I was telling you about." Angel walked up with two cokes.

"Hey, Angel heart, oh and you have her pain matched." Lorne frowned.

"Ah, yeah," Angel quickly changed the subject. "Lorne can read people's vibes, and when they sing, he can see their past and future."

"Nifty, talent you got there."

"Thank you," Lorne said, "Now, let me guess you're Buffy. And what a past you two have, I mean, wow. In all my years I haven't heard of one like yours. And a vampire in love with a Slayer, what are the odds?"

"You told him--" Buffy looked up at Angel.

"No, I sing here every now and then. And since that's part of my past, then he knows it." Angel explained.

"Well, I'll let you love birds start on your drinks, it was nice meeting you, Buffy."

"You, too," Buffy looked at Angel and said, "Love birds?"

"He um, exaggerates things--nicest guy, though."

"Oh, no I liked him, don't get me wrong."

"Here's your coke." Angel sat down and handed Buffy her drink.

"Thanks…. I think I'm going to leave after we're done here. I'll go back to the hotel with you first, but there's a hell of a lot happening in Sunnydale."

"I'm sorry, I'm sure everything works itself out…. Are you sure you can't stay a little longer."

"Yeah, it's not because of the whole Darla thing, honest. I really have to get back, I'm sure they'll be another apocalypse waiting for me."

"I understand."

"I wish I could stay longer, but--"

"It's cool."

- - - -

Buffy and Angel walked through the lobby doors. "If you wanna wait here, I'll be right back. I'm just gonna grab my bag real quick."

"Okay." Angel sat down on a chair and watched Buffy as she walked up the stairs. Five minutes later, he looked up to see Buffy coming down the stairs with her brown bag over her shoulder.

Buffy walked over to Angel and set her bag down on the couch. "I just want you to know that I'm not holding any grudges, no hard feelings. And I'm really sorry about jumping to conclusions."

"Thanks, and don't worry about the conclusion thing." Angel stood up and walked towards Buffy. "So you're going to take the bus?"

"Yeah."

"There's a bus stop about one block North of here."

"Thank you." Buffy said, by this point they were standing very close, nose to nose. "Um, I should uh…" Buffy was talking slowly, as if it was hard to say what she wanted. "Should, really uh going get--I mean uh get going." But she didn't move.

Angel looked down at her with his chocolate eyes, and it was as if she was looking at her home--were she was meant to be. Buffy leaned forward and kissed Angel. The passion that had been trapped was let free. The kiss escalated in moments. Their tongs did the tango as Buffy lifted one hand up behind his neck and ran her fingers through his hair, she placed her other hand on his cheek, caressing it lovingly. Angel entwined his fingers in her blond hair. His other hand slid down her back and slipped under her blouse, so that it lay on the small of her back. His cold touch sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. It was like no time had passed, that they were meant for this, for each other.

Some part of Buffy knew this wasn't a good idea, but it felt so incredible right. She mumbled into his mouth, "Angel, we--we, oh God, Angel, we…." But she couldn't bring herself to say the last word. This felt so good, she was surly in heaven.

Finally, Angel pulled away, "You have to go, Sunnydale is waiting for their Slayer."

"Yeah, I guess they are…but just for the record…someone in Sunnydale will always be waiting." Buffy whispered, looking longingly into Angel's eyes.

"Buffy--I--have a safe trip back."

"Thanks." Buffy walked away, picking her bag up and swinging it over her shoulder as she went.