Chapter 11

"Wow, Sunnydale is... small." Ville commented.

"I kind of like it." Buffy said. They had three days before Christmas and Buffy had decided to surprise Angel for his present. The next night, Buffy and Ville were headed to Finland for Christmas and New Years. Ville had opted to go with her, saying, "There's no reason to go to a strange town by yourself." Buffy smiled. "His office is in the downtown area."

"Downtown? They have a downtown? I thought only big cities have downtowns."

She shrugged. "I guess all towns have to have a downtown. Aren't they usually the older part of the town or city?"

"I guess so." Ville blew the last of the cigerette smoke out of the window and put his cigerette out in the ash tray. "So, he doesn't know we're coming?"

"Nope. It's a Christmas surprise."

"That's romantic."

Buffy shrugged. "Still don't know why you decided to come."

"It's a strange town. You would have been by yourself. It's not safe."

She rolled her eyes. "Good to know I have an older brother watching my back. And if I do get attacked, what are you gonna do? Wheeze at them Mr. I-Have-Asthma-But-I-Refuse-To-Stop-Smoking?"

"I'll just hire someone to attack back. Besides, I was thinking more about you being alone with him and people you don't know. Think of me as a chaperone."
"Yes, because we still live in the 18th century."

Ville lit up another cigerette. "I'm just looking out for someone I love. You'll thank me one day."

"Right." Buffy looked at the building she'd pulled up in front of. "I guess this is it."

Ville squinted out the window and looked at the plaque on the side of the door. "I think that's Angel's name. Can't be sure. My eye sight's shit."

"Get glasses."

"Glasses aren't rock 'n' roll."

Buffy laughed. "Right."

"And they don't go with my tattoos."

"Ok, who are you, Joan Rivers?"

"That broad is scary. I think she has wind-ups installed behind her ears."

"What?"
"If her skin starts sagging, she can just wind it up and get rid of the sag."

Buffy shook her head. "I'm just amazed that you know who she is."
"I was at the Oscars with you when you were nominated. You talked to that Rivers broad while I stood back." He fake shuddered. "Scary bitch."

"She said you looked like a wild animal had attacked you."

Ville shrugged. "It's my style. I don't really care what she thinks."

"That's a good attitude to have." She said approvingly. "Come on. Let's go surprise Angel."

Ville got out and stomped on his half-smoked cigerette. They headed into the office building and up to the second floor where Angel's office was. A tall, well-built woman with long dark hair sat at a desk in the outer office filing her nails. She glanced up at them and then went back to filing for a few seconds. Then she must have realized who Buffy was because she shot to her feet and put on a huge smile and seemed to pose.

Buffy looked at her for a moment and then said, "Is Angel in?"

"Oh wow, you're Buffy Summers. When Angel told me who you were, I couldn't believe it. I also couldn't believe that Angel actually snagged a big Hollywood actress." The woman said.

"You must be Cordelia."

"Yes. That's me." Cordelia held her hand out to shake Buffy's. "It's an honor to meet you. Do you still have the Golden Glode statue?"

Buffy lifted an eyebrow and glanced at Ville who seemed to be trying to hide a smile. She looked back at Cordelia. "Um, it's sitting in my LA house."

"That's so... neat. I used to be an actress."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I... I got bored with it."

"Not going anywhere?"

"Oh, no... I had plenty of things lined up. Commercials galore."

Buffy nodded. "What commercials? I may have seen them."

"Oh, I doubt it. You're a Hollywood actress, you probably don't have time to watch commercials."

"No, I like to watch a little TV when I'm not filming."
"Oh, um... Did you ever see that dish soap commercial for the soap that was supposed to make your hands feel extra soft and cut greese? Those were my hands."

Ville's face burst into a smile and he tried to stifle his laughter. Buffy elbowed his rib cage. "Listen Cordelia..."

"Please, call me Cordy. All my friends do and you know, we're practically family."

"Right... Cordy... Can you just let me into Angel's office without telling him I'm here. I sort of wanted to surprise him."

"Oh, sure. Hold on." Cordy pressed a button on her phone. "Hey Angel, there's a Hollywood actress here to see you."

Buffy rolled her eyes. Real subtle. It's not like Angel hangs out with a lot of actresses.

"Buffy's here?" Angel asked. A few seconds later, the doors to a massive office opened. "Buffy!"

"Hey." Buffy walked over and hugged him tightly, kissing him gently. "Merry Christmas."

"What are you doing here?" He asked, still holding onto her. "I thought you were headed to Helsinki."

"I was, but I had to come to LA for Christmas with my mother before I could go to Helsinki and I thought I'd surprise you."

"Oh my God!" Cordy squealed. "Is that your Range Rover out there? I love Range Rovers!"

Buffy shook her head and looked up at Angel. "Are you too busy to show Ville and I around?"

"No. In fact, I could use a break." Angel said. "Cordy, we're closing up shop early today. Go ahead and go home."

"Really?" Cordy asked. Angel nodded. "Cool. I'll see you tomorrow, then." Cordy put on her million watt smile and looked at Buffy. "It was so awesome to meet you. I hope we can see more of each other. I would love to talk about what it's like to be such a great actress." She randomly hugged Buffy tightly and then waved at Ville and walked out.

Buffy looked at Ville who couldn't hold it in any longer. He started laughing. "I've seen and heard some crazy shit in my time, but that was... Hilarious! Is she always like that?"

"Sometimes worse." Angel said. "Let me grab my jacket and I'll take you on a tour of Sunnydale. You mind if I stop by my house before we do, though? I wanna get out of this suit."

"Sure." Buffy said. "We'll follow you there."

"Ok."

"This isn't a house." Ville said, staring up at the huge stone mansion sitting in front of them. "This is a fucking gothic mansion."

"Bam would love this place." Buffy said, turning off her engine.

"I wonder how much a place like this costs."

"Ask him."

"That would make sense. I like to be mysterious and slightly sneaky."

"Come on." Buffy opened the door and got out. "Angel, this place is amazing."

"Thanks." Angel said, waiting for her and Ville to join him at the front door. "My dad found it and thought I would love it. It was a real fixer-upper, but I did it. I made it my home sweet home. Wait till you see the inside." Angel opened the door and allowed Buffy and Ville to walk in before him. The entry way was high and airy with an old chandalier dangling from the ceiling. There was an antique table standing against the left wall where a mirror hung over it and pictures of Angel and other people sat on the table. One, Buffy noticed, was new and as she walked by, she realized it was one of her and Angel at Ruisrock. Ville noticed it too and smiled, nudging her arm slightly.

Angel led them into the large living room where a massive fire place caught everyone's eyes. There was a very angular couch in front of the fireplace with a beautiful dark oak coffee table in the middle of the couch and the fireplace. There were cube-like candles placed here and there in little clusters. Angel headed off down a hallway, saying he'd be back. Buffy walked over to a pair of French doors and looked out. There was a beautiful garden with a fountain in the middle and a staircase that led up to somewhere unknown. Buffy turned and on the wall to her left was a large picture of lush, green hills. She assumed it was Ireland and when she looked closer, the words in the bottom right hand corner caught her eye.

Galway, Ireland

1995

"I took that picture after my grandfather died." Angel said, walking in behind her. "His funeral was in Ireland and this is the view from his backyard."

"It's beautiful." Buffy said.

"Have you ever been to Ireland?"
"A couple of times. Mostly Dublin, though."

"It's a great city, but my family comes from Galway."

"Never been there."

"It's pretty." Ville said, walking over. "We played there a few years ago."

"And I wasn't there? Huh."

"So, what would you like to see in this 'one Starbucks town', as Xander likes to call it?" Angel asked.

"Um... Anything you want to show me. You know, like... Where you like to hang out, what school you went to... Where you grew up."

Angel smiled. "My dad's probably out in the garden working on his roses. We'll stop by and see him first."

"Ok. Whatever you want to do."

Angel smirked and slipped his hand into hers. "I'm sure he'd love to meet you."

Buffy sat in the passenger's seat of her Range Rover and glanced back at Ville smoking in the backseat. Angel sat in the driver's seat navigating the car to a beautiful house on Revello Drive. It was a two story house with a palm tree and a huge old oak in the front yard. The porch was pretty big and even had a swing to the right of the door. Angel didn't go up the porch steps, though. He headed around to the side of the house and opened the gate to a private fence. The backyard was pretty big. At the very back of it, an older man worked in a large garden, tending carefully to some vines growing up the fence.

"Dad." Angel said.

The older man looked up and smiled. "Liam, my boy, how are you?" Angel's father said in a thick Irish accent. "And who is this beautiful woman here?"

"Dad, this is Buffy."

"So, you're the one that's got my son in such a frenzy. Well, I can see why."

"And this is her friend Ville Valo."

Angel's father shook Ville's hand. "Interesting name you've got there."

"He's Finnish." Buffy said.

"Ah! From the Old World too."

"Yeah." Ville said. "Helsinki."

"Well, let's get inside and let me get washed up. Liam, you show your guests to the living room and I'll join y'three in a few minutes."

"Sure." Angel took Buffy's hand and led her and Ville through the back door and into a fairly large kitchen. They took a right into a small hallway and through a breakfast room filled with bookshelves stuffed with old books and then into the living room where a comfortable looking couch sat in front of a large picture window. "Have a seat."

"This place is nice Angel." Buffy said.

"This is where I grew up. Straight through there is the main dining room and it leads back into the kitchen. The stairs are just beyond those French doors. That's where mine and my brother's old rooms are... And my dad's room of course."

"Is it still your old room or has your dad changed it?"

"It's still my old room. He didn't have the heart to change it."

"Can I see it?" Buffy stopped. "Wait, that would be bad."

"No, it's fine. Come on."

Buffy looked at Ville as Angel pulled her towards the stairs. "I'll be right back."

"Sure you will." Ville said sarcastically.

"Shut up." She hissed back at him.

Angel led her up the stairs and turned left. His was the first door on the right of the hall right across from a spacious bathroom. The room had football memorabilia everywhere. There were a few trophies from various games, mainly football, and a desk with a computer on it. The bookshelf next to the desk had lots of old books. She fingered a few, reading over the titles. Some were textbooks, but most were old books by authors that died years before Buffy's parents had even been born.

"Wow." She said. "This is quite a collection."

"I've always loved to read." Angel said, watching her.

"I've actually got a similar collection in LA."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Well, it's mainly first editions of children's books, but..." She smiled sheepishly. "I've always loved a good fairytale."

"Especially if the prince gets the princess in the end."

"Those stories are always good." Buffy smiled as Angel took her hand and pulled her closer. She leaned into him and allowed him to kiss her gently.

After a long moment, Angel pulled back a little and smiled. "You know, you're the first girl that's made it up to my room and gotten to make out with me up here."

"Really? I find that hard to believe."

"It's true."

"Then I'm honored."

"Come on, we better get back downstairs." Angel held her hand as they walked back down the stairs. Ville was still sitting on the couch where they'd left him.

"Typical boy's room." Buffy said to him. "Lots of American football stuff. He's a big Notre Dame fan."

"The Fighting Irish." Angel said, making a fist.

Buffy sat next to Ville in the middle of the couch and Angel took the empty seat as Angel's father came in and sat across from them. He smiled at Buffy. "So, you're a movie star, then?"

"I prefer the term actress." Buffy said. "I'm not really into that whole superstardom thing."

"Not one for the wild parties?"

"No. Not really. Although, some of the people I'm friends with can turn a small get together into an... interesting gala."

"I've known quite a few of those people in my day. All you need is some good friends and a good pub."

"I'll drink to that." Ville said.

"And what is it you do?" Angel's dad asked Ville.

"I'm in a band."

"What instrument do you play?"

"I sing. But I can play the guitar and the drums."

"Are you any good?"

"Dad." Angel shook his head.

"No, it's fine." Ville said. "I think we're pretty good. We're not the best, we still have a lot of work to do, but we do what we can."

"Good answer." Angel's dad said. "I like a man who can admit his faults."

The front door opened and a tall man who looked a lot like Angel's father and a short woman with bright red hair walked in. They froze when they saw Buffy and Ville sitting on the living room couch.