Disclaimer: Not mine
AN: whew...after that last hiatus, I hope there won't be anymore! But unlikely to have v. frequent updates anyways, still got school work. sigh

Many thanks to mickeyblueeyes (which big fight do you mean? I think I may have written about it before. And as of now, the past may be put on hold for a few chapters...you'll see), Goddessa39 (I'm not fond of Bill either, but someone I know is...thus), Kastia (yes ma'am :) Soon), monkichl (aww...thanks sweetie, but you're obviously in dire lack of good BA fics...go read Ducks or Jo, meanwhile, I'm at your service), Regan (I'm glad to be back :) thanks! no pressure...lol) and Imzadi (as perceptive as ever, and thanks for the lovely imagery of Angelus bending over backwards...lol mm...children, we must all thank Imzadi...I feel a particular good mood coming over me.)Thank you all for being a wonderful reader and let me know that you appreciate my little input. You guys are the best!

Chapter Thirteen

"I'm very happy to finally meet you Buffy." Lindsey smiled and stood to shake hands with the blonde as she approached the table with her son.

Buffy, however, felt a slight embarrassment as she recalled the circumstances which they last met in. But she smiled back at Lindsey, although he does work for Angelus, the man standing in front of her seems sincere. "It's nice to meet you too. This is my son, Alex."

"Hello Alex, I've heard so much about you."

"Hello." Alex replied taciturnly. Buffy felt her face heated at her son's reply and would have shoot Alex a stern look if she hadn't been interrupted by Faith's appearance.

"There you two are." She greeted Buffy and Alex both with warm hugs and sat down on the empty chair between Lindsey and Alex.

"Hello Aunt Faith." Alex's sweet voice brought a slight turned corner of his lips from Lindsey.

"So, have you guys ordered?" Faith leaned conspiratorially towards Alex, "they make a fabulous chocolate à la death and spunky crème brulée, the mango sorbet with chocolate crépe is equally sinful."

"Hey, no indulging in sweets. Good nutritious food first. Maybe something with extra broccoli."

"Mom! Yuck!"

Lindsey looked on, feeling a little left out until Faith looked in his direction with a smile; all of a sudden, he was invited into the warmth and he chuckled at his own silliness.

Afterwards, dinner carried on without a hitch. The food was wonderful and all the diners felt extra ravenous and ate more than they used to under the influence of such wonderful companionship. Buffy and Alex shared anecdotes of their years on the road. Faith and Lindsey filled them up on the wedding details and bits of fun stories of their job. After the main courses have been removed, the ladies took their leave to refresh themselves.

"So, what do you think of Lindsey?" Faith asked anxiously.

"He's totally in love with you." Buffy gave her a huge smile. She felt a little relieved and silly for thinking that her friend could ever been a victim of that nice man's vicious plots. Getting to know Lindsey tonight was exactly what she needed and she felt proud that her friend had found someone who loves her and deserves her love.

"You met him all for 2 hours!" Faith rolled her eyes, but her grin and the blush on her cheek cannot hide the pleasure she felt to hear her friend confirm what she already knew.

"Yes, but he knows you so well and that shows in his extremely attentive way of making your dinner just the way you like it. And those little looks…mm…dead giveaways."

"Yeah, I guess." Faith let out a little girly sigh that Buffy never thought she'd hear from Faith. It was almost…gushy. "But do you…approve?"

"You mean, besides good taste in his fiancée?" Buffy teased, but she caught the serious look Faith gave her in the mirror. "Okay. I think he's great."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really. He seems very intelligent, very smart, but still nice. He, at least, has some manners. Unlike Alex. I wonder what's gotten to him."

"Aw. I noticed that too, I think your son's just being protective. It's so cute."

"Well, his mama's not too fond of the tactics." Buffy joked. "Okay, I'm ready to go."

"You go ahead first, I gotta make a call to check with the caterer."

"They're still working nine at night?"

"They're wedding caterers, this is their money money time."

As Buffy approached their table, she found Lindsey all alone and looking towards her in a contemplative manner. "Where's Alex?"

"Oh, he went to check out the desserts they have on display." He nodded towards the other side of the room.

"Oh." All of a sudden, things became awkward as they realize that they're alone for now and the strain brought by the other side of their acquaintance starts to show.

It was Buffy who made the first move. "I forgot to thank you for helping me the other day."

"Oh, it was nothing." Lindsey felt slightly relieve that they're broaching the topic. He started carefully, "I think you should know that I am Angelus O'Connor's lawyer."

"Yes, I know that." Buffy felt tense, she started to remember that she had no idea what ground Angelus and she are on now. She had felt that last collision to mean an end of their marriage, but is that also what Angelus felt? What if Angelus still refuses to divorce her?

"He's told me that you've decided to get a divorce." He paused, "Is this what you want?" Buffy nodded and offered no further information, "If you wish, I would prepare the papers."

"So, he's agreed to it?"

"Yes. He wants me to represent you if you wish. But if this is going to be a no-fault divorce, based on your long period of separation, I could just prepare the necessary documents and it should proceed without a hitch."

"That would be exactly what I want." She wetted her suddenly dried lips.

"Okay, then I will do that." He cleared his throat, "About the divorce settlements."

"I don't want anything from him, just the divorce." She interrupted him firmly.

Lindsey nodded, "There's something I should tell you though. Angelus asked me for an invitation to the wedding."

Buffy look alerted, "And?"

"Well, I wasn't really able to not invite him."

"We have to tell Faith." Lindsey looked stricken, "Don't worry. I'm sure she'll understand." Buffy offered Lindsey a shy smile.

Alex came bouncing back with Faith, "I'm getting the Mango sorbet with pineapple crepe."

When group came back to the Inn, Alex was sent off to his bed for the big day tomorrow when they're moving into Faith's apartment.

The adults, however, went into the inn's sitting room for some coffee.

"What? I can't believe you work for that bastard! How did I not know this? And you invited him to our wedding!" Faith's reaction was expected, but it was late and her voice rang out clear with the silence around them.

"Sh…! It's no big deal Faith."

"It is a big deal! My fiancée works for the lowest scum on earth and he hid that from me? And he's going to be at my wedding? Are you kidding me that it's not a big deal?"

"He's only one of my many clients." Lindsey explained as calmly as he could, "And we don't socialize, which is why you never knew about him."

"You didn't try to hide him from me?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"No! Why would I do that? I had no idea you even know him."

"Alright, then why did you invite him to the wedding? I didn't see him on the list!" I'd have scratched him out.

"Actually he wasn't." Lindsey sighed, "As I said, we don't socialize. He knows that I'm getting married and that was it. I had no idea he knew who I'm marrying and I knew that I was under no obligation to send him an invitation." He looked at Buffy, "He asked me for an invitation just this morning."

"And you gave him one?"

"Lindsey's hardly in the position to refuse him." Buffy pointed out.

"Are you going to be alright seeing him?"

"I'll be fine."

"He did tell me to go through with the divorce papers." Lindsey reminded them with the detail that Angelus will soon be out of their life.

"I still can't believe I have to entertain the scum on MY day." Faith grumbled.

TBC...
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