Chapter 3

"Mom, I'm home!" Buffy yelled as she walked through the door after a lengthy good by to Angel.

"Who was that?" Joyce asked from the living room.

Buffy decided to play stupid. "Who's who?" she asked.

"The boy you were just swapping tongues with." Joyce said cheekily.

Buffy blushed and came into the living room it sit next to her mom.

"That was Angel." Buffy answered.

Joyce looked considering and said "And when am I going to meet this Angel?"

Buffy smiled and answered "Tomorrow night when he takes us out to dinner." She looked over at her mom and continued "He wants to make a good impression."

"Well isn't that sweet." Joyce unfolded her arms and said "If he's going to all this trouble, I'm sure I'll like him."

Buffy hugged her and said "You will mom. He's a very sweet person."

'Well kinda,' she thought.

"I hope so Buffy." Joyce gave her daughter a hug. "I love you sweetie."

"I love you too mom."

They hugged for a minute until Joyce got up and said "Hold on a sec."

She went into the kitchen and came out a second later with two cupcakes, one with a lit candle on it. "I didn't have time to make a cake. I hope this makes up for it."

She set it before Buffy and said "Make a wish."

Buffy smiled and said "All my wishes were granted today. You do it."

Joyce shrugged and blew out the candle.

The next day

"He's taking you and your mom out to dinner?" Willow asked Buffy as they were walking to class. "Wow, Oz hasn't even met my parents yet."

Buffy laughed and said "Well neither has Angel. My mom saw us kissing on the porch last night. EWWW! She actually used the term 'swapping tongues'!"

Both she and Willow shared a shiver. "So does she know that you and Angel…" Willow trailed off.

"Consummated the relationship? No. I'd like her to meet him before I inform her of him taking her only child's 'innocence'." She used air quotes for the last part. She and Willow sat down at a bench.

"So how was it?" Willow prompted, "I mean you guys were still naked when we showed up. He has a nice tush by the way."

"Hey!" Buffy smacked her in the arm. "Eyes to your own boyfriend. And it was all that and more. You know how you hear about those 'Wham bam, thank you maam' first times? God not Angel. He knew how to use those hands. And when he-"

She was cut off by Xander plopping himself down in between them.

"What are we talking about?" He asked.

"Buffy's night of endless throws of passion and pleasure with the delectable Angel." Willow answered cheekily.

"Okay saw enough of that yesterday. I really don't need a play by play." Xander exclaimed. "Anything else?"

"Angel's taking me and my mom out for dinner tonight." Buffy answered.

"Wow." Xander said surprised, "The big meet the parents dinner. And he's taking you out, wow. Big points in the perfect boyfriend area. Bet your mom's impressed."

Buffy nodded and said "It's frustrating though. He won't tell me where we're going. All he said was dress nice and to be ready by 7 o'clock."

Xander nodded and said "It must be. You don't know whether to wear red or black to go with the décor of the restraunt."

Buffy and Willow looked at each other and got up and started walking away. Xander looked confused. "What? What'd I say?"

That night

"Mom" What should I wear?" Buffy yelled from her closet.

"Wear the red dress with the black beading!" Her mom yelled back. "What should I wear?"

Buffy considered it for a moment and then answered "The green dress with the black designs!"

A couple of minutes later Joyce came into her room putting her earrings in.

"What time did Angel say he was going to be her?"

Buffy was putting the finishing touches on her makeup and looked at her mom through the mirror and answered "He was being really mysterious. All he said was to dress nice and be ready by 7. It's 6:55 right now."

Joyce leaned up against the door frame and asked "Is he always this mysterious?"

Buffy grinned and turned around. "He can be," She answered "but his surprises are always good surprises."

Joyce considered this and then asked "So how long have you known him for?"

Buffy thought for a moment and then answered "Since we moved to Sunnydale. He helped me out of a situation when a couple of guys wouldn't take no for an answer."

Joyce cocked an eyebrow and asked "How long have you been dating?"

Buffy go sheepish and answered "Since I got back from L.A. this summer."

Joyce's eyes widened. "That long and you haven't introduced us?" she exclaimed. "Why haven't you done this before? Or eve n told me about him?"

Buffy shrugged and said "You never asked if I was dating some one. And he's slightly older than me."

Joyce's eyes narrowed. "How much older?" She demanded.

Buffy bluffed. "He's 20 or just turned 20 a couple of weeks ago."

Joyce relaxed. "Well that's not that bad. I thought you were going to say he was 30 or something." and laughed. Buffy laughed as well, kinda convincingly.

Then the door bell rang. Buffy got a huge smile on her face and got really excited. "He's here! Do I look okay?" She asked nervously.

Her mm laughed and said "You look fine. Now go answer the door before he leaves. I'll be down in a minute."

Buffy quickly kissed her cheek before running down the stairs. She pulled open the door to find Angel about to knock again with two roses in his hand. When he saw her, his mouth dropped open. "Buffy… Wow, you look amazing!" He was able to get out.

She grinned and said "You don't look so bad yourself."

He pulled her into a hug and she took the chance to whisper "Mom thinks you just turned 20 and we met after you saved me from some lowlifes."

He whispered back "I'm the owner of a nightclub called the Bronze and I inherited a lot of money when my parents died when I was 16."

Buffy pulled back and asked "You're the owner of the Bronze?"

He shrugged and said "Silent owner. I give them money to keep it open, they don't ask to meet or talk with me."

Buffy nodded and said "Good deal. Remind me about free drinks later."

He laughed and then saw Joyce at the top of the stairs. All of a sudden he got really nervous.

"Hello," Joyce said walking down the stairs, "You must be Angel."

He nodded and handed a rose to her as she reached him. "Yes mam'. I'm the man in love with your daughter." He said.

Joyce's eyes widened and she replied "You are, are you?" She looked over at Buffy who was biting her lip nervously. "Well it's nice to meet you Angel." She said shaking his hand.

Buffy grinned at Angel and said walking over to the closet "Are we ready to go?" She pulled out coats for her and her mom. Angel rushed forward to help her put it on.

Joyce grinned at the sight. As Angel wrapped an arm around Buffy's waist and walked her to the door, she asked "So where are we going?"

Angel grinned and said "It's a surprise."

Buffy glared at him as he opened the door for her and her mom. Buffy gasped as she saw what was on the street. "Angel," she whispered "Is that…"
"A horse drawn carriage?" Angel answered. "Yep."

It looked like a Cinderella carriage, but without the whole pumpkin shape. There were icicle lights wrapped around it and it was drawn by two stunningly white horses.

Buffy whispered in his ear "How are you able to afford this?"

Angel grinned and said "You'd be surprised at how much people spend at the Bronze."

Joyce was stunned. She'd expected him to show up in a broken down clanker, not what looked to be an extremely expensive carriage. "I didn't know they had these in Sunnydale." She said.

Angel answered "They don't." When Buffy and Joyce stared at him, he continued "I have a friend in the next town over. He owns a company that takes tourists around the parks. He gave me a deal on it."

Buffy hugged him and gave him a kiss "I love it." And kissed him again.

Angel grinned and held out his arms for the Summers women to take. "Shall we?" He asked.

They laughed and walked down to the carriage. Angel held out his hand for Buffy to use to climb in. Once she was settled in, he started to help Joyce in, when she stopped and said "I think I just might like you Angel."

He grinned and said "I hope so Mrs. Summers."

She laughed and said "Please, call me Joyce." and then climbed into the carriage.

Angel motioned to the driver and climbed in and sat down next to Buffy.

As the carriage started down the street Joyce asked "So what do you do for a living Angel?"

"I'm the owner of the Bronze." He answered.

"Oh isn't that where you hang out all the time Buffy?" Joyce asked surprised. "Well now I know why."

"Mom!" Buffy said indignantly, "I go there for other reasons, like to see bands for instance, who's music I dance to, with Angel. But that's not the point."

Joyce laughed and asked "Then what is the point Buffy?"

She thought for a second and said "I cant' think of one right now but when I do, it'll be really good."

Both Joyce and Angel laughed. Angel wrapped his arm around her shoulders when she crossed her arm's indignantly. "You should follow your own advice to Giles and lighten up." he whispered in her ear.

She grinned at him and said "I'll lighten up when you tell me where we're going."

Angel looked out the window and said "We're here."

The carriage stopped and Angel got out to help them down. As Buffy stepped down she was amazed. "Oh, Angel," she breathed "It's amazing!"

They were at the park and Angel had it decorated to look like a fairy tale. There were fair lights everywhere and there was violin music playing the Sleeping Beauty waltz. (A.N. The song that Rose and the prince sing to each other in the woods.) There was food already set out on the tables. Buffy turned to Angel and hugged him tightly. "This is unbelievably perfect." She whispered in his ear. He hugged her back and whispered back "You're unbelievably perfect Buffy." He kissed her forehead and said "I love you Buffy."

"I love you too." She whispered back.

They pulled away when they heard Joyce say "This is beautiful Angel." She turned towards them and continued "This is too much. Are you sure you can afford this?"

Angel grinned and answered as he pulled out their chairs for them, "I'm a smart saver."

For most of the night things went as planned, until they were halfway through dessert. There was a comfortable silence as all three were enjoying their chocolate torte. Then Joyce put down her fork and asked bluntly "Angel, are you sleeping with my daughter?"

Both Buffy and Angel choked at the same time. "Mom!" Buffy cried out indignantly. Joyce just crossed her arms and waited for Angel to answer.

Angel set down his fork and said "Before I answer your question, there are a few things I would like to say. I completely honor and respect your daughter. She brought a light into my life that I thought was dead a long time ago. I love your daughter with all my heart. And I plan to marry her someday." He paused and then answered her question truthfully. "Yes we are sleeping together."
Joyce pursed her lips and asked "And what would you do if she were to get pregnant?"

Angel sat back and said "I would love the baby as much as I love Buffy and I would respect any decisions she would make."

Joyce nodded and picked up her fork and said "I appreciate your honesty. I think that you're perfect for Buffy." And took another bite of her torte.

Buffy and Angel smiled at each other and went back to their dessert. After all the food was eaten and gone, Angel asked Joyce to dance. As they were waltzing Joyce asked "Are you serious about marrying my daughter?"

Angel grinned and said "As a heart attack. Your daughter is my world Joyce. I would do anything for her."

He glanced over at Buffy, who was sitting at the table watching them. Joyce saw him watching her and smiled. "Do you think that the carriage can take me back home?" Joyce asked, "I'm tired and I have to work tomorrow."

Angel stopped dancing and asked "Are you sure?"

Joyce nodded and said "I'm sure. You and Buffy go dancing somewhere." She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "It was really nice to meet you Angel. I hope to see you by the house more often." With that she walked over to Buffy and whispered something in her ear and hen got her purse and left. Buffy got up and waked over to Angel. Once she reached him, he took her into his arms and started dancing.

Buffy grinned and said "Well, that went well."

Angel laughed and said "Yea, except for your mom trying to kill me with her death glare."

Buffy laughed and said "My mom likes you. And I'm glad that she respects that we're serious about each other and that we're sleeping together."

Angel smirked and said "I'm not sure we do much sleeping."

Buffy slapped his chest and laughed. They continued dancing until Buffy said "My mom said a very cool thin before I left. She said that she wouldn't expect me home until tomorrow night."

Angel grinned and asked "So what do you want to do until then?"

Buffy smirked and said "I want to go back to your place, take off all my clothes and…" She stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear an extremely explicit statement.

Angel's eye's widened and asked "Is that anatomically possible?"

Buffy grinned and said "I'm double jointed."

Angel picked her up and said "Well, lets go try that out."