AN: Welcome to my first attempt at BtVS fanfiction. This is a work in progress so please be patient with updates. Reviews and feedback are welcome and demanded!
Summary: Two months have passed since "Not Fade Away". Angel has found Buffy after months of searching. He comes bearing the news that he was given back his humanity by the PTB in exchange for averting the apolycapse. Starting their relationship again, Buffy is estatic to finally have what she has always wanted with the one person she has ever loved.B/A...with slight fluff.
Fellow BtVS fans...please review!Your comments help me to know ifI should continue writing my story! Please submit any form of review. Creative criticism is welcome! PLEASE REVIEW!
Chapter Four: Can I Have This Fight?
Willow, Xander, and Dawn returned shortly after midnight. Willow had felt it necessary to give Buffy and Angel some much needed privacy. So the trio went into town, ran errands, went out to dinner, and then the local club for a few drinks. The band playing was pretty good and the next thing they knew it was getting late.
Unlocking the front door, Willow could sense the calmness in the air. Buffy and Angel must have made with the talk and then Angel must have left.
But contrary to her belief, there he was sprawled out on the couch. And s peacefully sleeping Buffy lay in his arms, her head resting on his chest. Willow couldn't help but smile.
Dawn went to touch Buffy. Willow stopped her. "Let them be. They seem very comfortable…together."
Dawn gave her a puzzled look but moved up the stairs nonetheless. Xander and Willow followed her up.
"Are you sure we should leave the two of them alone like that?" Xander questioned. "The last time they were in a position like that–"
"Angel was a vampire with a curse and Buffy a teenager." Willow interrupted. "Xand, Angel is different now, completely different, and I can feel it. And we have to trust Buffy. She had been through a lot the past year and hasn't really relaxed since then." She stopped in front of her bedroom door. "They'll be fine. I seriously don't think they will rush back into their relationship." She thought. "Well, not rush that fast."
Xander nodded. For as much as he tended to dislike Angel due to eternal jealously, it was nice seeing Buffy so calm and relaxed like the way she was whenever she was around Angel in the past. He gave his red-haired best friend a peck on the cheek before walking down the hall to his own room. I still can't believe ol' Dead Boy ain't so dead anymore. Hmm. What other name can I call him now? Xander pushed open his bedroom door. I'll have to start a list.
Buffy had this amazing dream where Angel had come to her saying that he was human and then he spent the night holding her as she listened to his heart beat strongly and rhythmically.
Opening her eyes slowly, she was amazed to find herself sleeping on the couch. That's odd. I never do that. She shrugged. Must have fallen asleep while watching a movie on TV. Buffy looked at the wall clock. 7 a.m. Even without an alarm clock, I'm up early.
Mugs slowly being placed on the counter and the smell of coffee caught Buffy's attention. If it wasn't for her Slayer hearing, she wouldn't have caught it. Dawn up before her, that was something to make a note of.
Buffy threw back the blanket and jogged into the kitchen. "Dawnie, what are you doing up so earl–" She stopped dead in her tracks. The backdoor was open onto the back porch. Angel was leaning against the banister, sipping coffee and looking at the sky. The early morning sun glowed on his beautiful face.
Angel sensed her and turned around. "Hey, what are you doing up? I was gonna make you breakfast in a bit. Go relax and I'll be done in a few minutes."
Buffy gasped. The tears sprang back into her eyes. "It wasn't a dream. It was real," she whispered.
Buffy moved towards him and he wrapped her up with his arms as she sobbed against his chest. "Shh. Of course it was – is – real. I'm here for you in a way I never could be in the past. As long as you want me here." He looked down into her watery eyes. "You once told me that you'd always be my girl. I want you to be my girl again."
Buffy smiled. "I was always your girl no matter who I was with. And I want to be your girl again, too. I've dreamt of this ever since you came back from Hell. It's like my wildest dreams are coming true." She swiped at her eyes. "What are you doing up so early?"
Angel laughed. It was something Buffy had not heard often but had always wanted to hear more. "I still haven't gotten used to sleeping the whole night. Even at Wolfram and Hart I would be up late at night and would go into the office in the later afternoon. I always find myself waking before sunrise. I've gotten somewhat addicted to standing outside as the sun rises. I've watched it every morning since becoming human. The way the sun first hits my face is like a drug. It revitalizes my soul and makes me feel so much at peace."
Buffy was speechless. Angel just amazed her. He was like a child experiencing life for the first time. And Buffy had this intense desire to experience life with him – and him only. All of a sudden, butterflies sprung up in her stomach. She had a thought.
"I have an idea." She glanced at the clock: 7:30am. "I usually am training at this time. Would you like to help me? I'm trying to work on this new kick-punch-jump move, and I would love our criticism on what I'm going wrong. I usually try it against the punching bag and always fall."
"Hmm. That sounds…boring." Buffy's face fell. Angel grinned. "I have a better idea. How about you try it on me?" He laughed at her puzzled look.
"That would be fun and all, but, umm, wouldn't I – uhh – hurt you?"
"What I neglected to mention last night was that besides getting my Shanshu and becoming human, I am still a Champion. The Powers allowed me to keep me strength in case I was ever needed to aid you or any of the other Slayers."
Buffy's eyes suddenly lit up and a smile slowly crawled across her face. "I have an even better idea than yours. You say you still have your vampire strength? I have been looking for a decent sparring partner since I killed Caleb. You have always been the best one. So," she raised her eyebrows, "wanna fight?"
Angel wrapped his arm around Buffy. "I thought you'd never ask."
They squared off against one another in the basement. The punching bag had been removed for maximum room. Buffy tried her hardest not to stare at Angel's rippling muscles and broad chest. He had removed his shirt to allow for more maneuverability. Bad news for Buffy's attention. She could already feel the rumblings of desire in her stomach. I can just pray that I don't jump him right here and ravage him. She laughed inwardly. Like he would protest…
Angel was also feeling the desire for Buffy pulling for attention in his mind. It didn't help that Buffy's training clothes consisted of a sports bra and spandex cutoff pants that showed off her voluminous figure. Angel saw a flash in Buffy's eyes and assumed she was feeling the same way he was: it was going to be hard to keep their hands off one another once they were done.
As one, they charged towards one another, fiercely kicking and punching. Buffy executed a roundhouse kick aimed at Angel's midsection and then charged on him with rapid-fire punches, one after the other. Angel slid down and knocked her legs out from under her so fast she didn't even time to leap out of the way. He sure does have his speed still, Buffy silently commented as she landed flat on her back. Angel quickly pounced on her, using his strong arms to hold her down.
"I thought you said you have been training every day," Angel playfully mocked her.
"I'm just warming up," was her teasing response.
With supernatural speed that comes from being the Slayer, Buffy brought her legs up and into Angel's chest, throwing him across the room. She jumped up and into her fighting stance. Angel picked himself up off the ground and eased into his own fighting stance. He loved fighting her; the way her toned muscles flexed on her perfect body amazed him. How bad he wanted that body overtook his mind again. We'll get there eventually...
Before Angel could clear his head again, Buffy charged him and launched into another series of kicks and punches that drove him against the wall. He furiously blocked every move she threw at him. He could start to fell his heart rate increasing rapidly. Buffy didn't look winded at all but Angel could see the sweat glistening on her brow.
Even after all these years they had spent apart, Buffy still could pretty much anticipate Angel's every move. And she was sure Angel was thinking the same way. Buffy threw all her energy in attacking him with furious punches and beautifully executed kicks to vulnerable spots on his wonderful body.
An excruciating hour passed and neither had gained any ground on the other. Sweat gleaned on both of their bodies and the intensity with which they fought against one another was beginning to tale a toll on both of them. Growing impatient, a vice she still couldn't rid herself of, Buffy decided it was time for her new move; the move that has sparked this intense sparring match. Once completed, she should sail over her opponent as he fell to the ground in pain. Keyword: should. She purposely slowed down her offensive.
Angel had been keeping up with Buffy's rapid fire attacks, but just barely. When they began to come less often, Angel took that as sudden exhaustion on Buffy's part. He regretted thinking that when Buffy did that kick-punch-jump move she had mentioned earlier. He easily deflected the first portion of the attack, but couldn't keep up with the rest and went falling backwards, arms wind-milling against his side as he fought for balance. Unsure where Buffy would land in relation to him, he allowed himself to fall to the ground.
Buffy, meanwhile, had misguided the distance between her and Angel when she launched into her new attack. Her foot got caught amongst something on the ground and her forward momentum caused her to collide with Angel, forcing him down faster and harder than she knew he had anticipated. His breath left his body in a whoosh as Buffy landed unceremoniously on top of him.
Straddling his body, Buffy leaned close to Angel's face. Her chest heaved up and down as her heartbeat slowed from the exertion. Angel remained still, but breathing. That's a good sign. For a moment there I had forgotten he was alive. "Angel," she whispered. He groaned in response. Fear began to overcome Buffy's senses. I hurt him. I had warned him, but he didn't listen to me.
As Buffy fretted about him, still slung across his body, Angel slightly slit his eyes so he could see her magnificent beauty bearing down on him. She was beautiful no matter what sort of expression crossed her lovely face. All at once, he grabbed her and leapt up, startling her so much that he was greeted with a yelp of surprise. He pushed her up and off of him, twisting his body in such a way that she ended up underneath him in exactly the same way he had laid under her.
Buffy scowled, but then laughed. "That's it! I've had enough! You win."
Angel laughed and then helped Buffy to her feet. "Actually, you bested me in the fight. I just played your feeling for me against you; I knew you would worry that you hurt me during the match."
Buffy playfully smacked Angel's arm. "You naughty boy!" She then pushed her body against his. Stepping up on tiptoes, she brushed her lips coyly against his. "I like naughty boys."
Angel arched an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? How's this for naughty?" He grabbed her closer to him, kissing her deeply and fiercely. How he had longed for this.
They remained locked in one another's embrace for several minutes, until someone cleared their throat. Turning as one to the sudden sound, Angel and Buffy stopped kissing to find Dawn standing at the top of the basement stairs.
"Sorry to interrupt the smooch-a-thon, but there are hungry people in this house and I don't think they would appreciate burnt toast."