AN: i'm hoping that the next Ch wont take as long 2 post, im using writting as a way to stop myself shopping. lets hope it works :)

36:30

Andrew followed Xander to a nearby park. He stood back for a few minutes and watched as Xander took his obvious frustration out on a small tree. After a few minutes when it seemed the tree couldn't take much more, He walked over to his younger cousin.

They stood in silence for a few moment before Xander finally spoke

"Why?"

Andrew sighed and sat down on one of the swings. Xander was asking more than the obvious but he chose to answer the current problem.

"Why what?"

"Oh come on Andrew, I'm not stupid. Why, what's with this test. You're obviously on the council so you obviously know what Angelus did last year. Not just to the town but to Willow, Cordy, Me. Not to mention Buffy. How could you happily lock them up in a room? How could you make him human? It the one thing he wants in all the world and you handed it to him on a silver platter."

Andrew nodded in understanding. Xander was upset because he couldn't get past Angel's demonic counterpart.

"Alex…I asked Mr. Giles to bring you here so you could try and understand. This is only partly about Angel. You've been completely blind with anger and frustration from the second you walked into that room and saw him. Did you even see Buffy?"

"What? Of course I saw her. Blond, kinda short, been one of my best friends for the past two and half years."

"Right…so what was Buffy doing in the room while we talked?"

Xander opened his mouth but then shut it when he realized he didn't have an answer.

"I take it you have no idea. Alex, she was smiling. Now I'm not quite sure what she's been like since you've known her but I doubt she's been a perfectly happy girl. Can you name one time when she was happy? Or better yet, when was the last time she smiled."

Xander sat in silence. He knew that what Andrew was saying was right but he didn't want to bring himself to believe it,

"Angel brings out in her a youthful happiness that I'm sure she has never experienced. She is a young woman forced to grow up well beyond her years. Now you love her…that much is obvious. Do you love her enough to see her happy?"

"She can't be happy. Not with him, one moment of happiness and boom, we're back to where we were before all this."

"Do you understand how rare true and pure happiness is? It just doesn't happen. Whatever it is between Buffy and Angel is not normal."

"That's what I keep saying!" Xander exclaimed, "It's not normal. It isn't NATURAL! It can't be happening."

"But it is happening. Nothing either you or I can do will change that what is happening in the lives of those two is nothing short of amazing. Their love goes deeper than ever. It makes them both happy. The world is kind of short of happy people."

Xander sighed and started to swing. Everything Andrew said made too much sense to ignore…even though he did try. Eventually he jumped off the swing and sighed.

"I'll never be able to like what's going on with them. And I'm even less likely to approve…but I'll try to accept."

"That's all I wanted."

Andrew smiled as they walked back to the hotel. He knew that path Xander had chosen was a difficult one but he also knew that with time it would be better for all.

"And anyway, this test will make Buffy a hell of a lot stronger." Alex muttered to himself.

"How?" Xander asked. Andrew glanced over in surprise when he realized he had spoken louder than he thought.

"Oh…You'll see."

Back at the hotel, Buffy and Angel were beginning to get extremely bored. There was only so many movies a person could watch and there was only so much time a person could sleep. And they still had 36 hours to go.

Buffy walked over to the bag that had been packed for her and searched through it. At the very bottom was a folder. At first glance she groaned but after a few moments passed the folder began to look more and more appealing.

This can't be happening. Why am I even thinking of this? It must be a new torture method. I'm going to kill every council member.

She took the folder to the table and also retrieved a few books from the bag. Angel was still reading and she didn't really want to disturb him so she sat down quietly and began her assignment.

After a while, Angel looked up to see what the annoying scratching was that was causing him to lose concentration. He looked over at Buffy who was writing on a pad of paper. Curious, he made his way over to the table. Seeing three textbooks laying open Angel smiled.

"Am I actually seeing Buffy Summers do a history assignment?"

"Oh shut-up." Buffy muttered, a frown appearing on her forehead.

"That's a definite yes then." Angel chuckled, "Would you like some help?"

"I don't need help…Is there such a thing as a brain transplant?"

"Not in the human world. There are a few demon clans that specialize in…hey; I happen to like your brain as it is so there will be no more talk of that. Now what period of History is the assignment on?"

"Cold War."

"Hmm, I was involved in a part of that. What part specifically?"

"All of it…I don't know."

Buffy let her head fall to the table in frustration. Angel took a look at the assignment sheet and shook his head in amusement.

"You only have to do an essay on one specific event of the Cold War. What have you chosen?"

"I don't know. I don't even know what happened in it. Was the Vietnam war part of it?"

"Not a war, never declared, but yes."

"Well…what part were you involved in? I could get a first hand account."

"I was in Germany for the majority of it, came back to the USA just after the collapse of the Berlin Wall."

"I've heard of that. Were you in Berlin when that happened?"

"Yes I was. It's probably the most important part of that era…Why don't you do that."

Buffy smiled and looked up cheekily.

"Angel that's a great idea. And I know I'll be able to get it done if you help me."

Angel looked into her eyes and kissed her. He took a book and placed it in front of her, "look through this and find all references to Berlin."

"You're going to make me do the whole thing aren't you."

"It's the only way to learn. Now I want this done by the time they let us out."

"But I only have three textbooks."

"And an eyewitness account."

"And the internet I guess." She added looking over to the laptop near the TV.

"The Internet. Well sure I mean…if you want. Let's see what's in the books first okay."

Buffy eyed him suspiciously but nodded her consent. After an hour of scouring the books, with Angel writing down any facts he could remember, Buffy through her hands up in frustration.

"That's it. I'm using the net."

Angel glanced at the computer then back at his notes,

"You go ahead. I'll um…I'll keep going here."

"Well why don't you come and look as well I mean I'm only going on the books. Any help I can get would be really great."

Angel looked down at his notes one more time before going to the computer.

"I'll make us some Hot Chocolate if u can boot it up."

"Sure." Angel replied.

Angel stood staring at the computer for a few minutes until Buffy returned.

"Have you turned it on?"

"What? Oh no not yet. I was thinking."

Buffy frowned and turned it on. As she opened the browser and search engine she had a sudden thought.

"Angel, can you search the stuff I ask? I want to double-check them with the books."

"Um…"

"Great."

Buffy went back to the table and watched as Angel sat at the desk. He put his hand on the mouse and moved it slightly. He jumped as the curser moved quickly across the screen. Buffy giggled slightly as her suspicions were confirmed. She went and stood behind him.

"You don't know how to use a computer do you?"

"What? Of course I can use a computer I've just….I mean I don't…Okay I don't know."

"Angel, why didn't you just say so?"

"It's the computer age. Everyone's meant to know how to use one."

"Angel, everyone has to start somewhere. Come on, I'll teach you."

"What about your assignment?"

"We can do both at the same time."

Buffy grabbed a chair and patiently began to teach Angel the basics of modern machinery.

In the outer room, Xander was almost doubled in laughter.

"243 years old and he doesn't know that basics of a computer? This is hilarious."

"Hmm, maybe." Andrew looked at his cousin, "So Alex, what is your assignment on?"

Xander's eyes widened as he saw his 3 elders staring intently at him.

"Krap." He muttered

Reviews

Thank you all once again for your reviews. Keep them coming, they are muchly appreciated.

To my Beloved Mel and Aly, thank you as always for your continued support of this fic.

3988Akasha: Beg all you want, it may get me moving faster. I'm so glad you're enjoying this fic.

Blondiegrl: I know I know. Hence that there has been none in the latest chapters

SailorNeo: Yes they are fun. I should do more :P

Buff: Y thankyou J

YeLo: I know I know…finally. Thanx 4 the support

crystalix: during my big bout of writers block I had someone mention their friends so I chose Giles and Xander because eout of Everyone, it was those two that had the most issues with the couple. And the pair I always thought had great dynamic so yea J

Jen: Hours…I'm starting to hate that word. Why did I ever make it 48…oh well, I hope I've cut it down a bit.

Annoyingbynature: of course it wouldn't happen normally, I doubt I'd last even 1 hour but it is fanfiction…tho even I have doubt as to whether they can last much longer. We shall see

never look back: me 2 J