Buffy walked into the room, barely breathing she was so nervous. Looking towards the corner she saw the man huddled in the corner that was either her Angel, or a horrible perversion of that person. She didn't know whether to run to him and assure him that everything would be alright or to attack him with all the fury and hatred she reserved for the part of Angel that he kept prisoner.

Instead she approached the figure with deadly calm and held up a hand to stop him from even opening his mouth. She didn't think she could bear to hear him speak, for if it were Angel she didn't want to hurt him with the fear that was probably visible in her eyes and if it were Angelus she didn't want to crumble and throw herself into his arms.

"Don't speak at all please." She said, her voice strong, but foreign to her own ears. The Angel figure just stared at her, anticipating her next words. "The challenge is for me to see into your heart....to see the fantasy you created and separate which one is really Angel's and which one is Angelus'. I think I know how to do it....but I can't be objective if you talk to me. Even looking at you now, I want to believe you're him, but I'm afraid and if you speak it will only confuse me."

She moved closer to him and he stayed silent. She breathed a sigh of relief, the fact that he was complying with her soothing her slightly.

"I know you're wondering how I'm going to see into your heart if you can't speak to me." She took another deep breath. "I think I know what to do, but I'm afraid to do it. God, you look so much like him!"

She looked away for a moment, attempting composure and steeling herself for what she was about to do.

"I'm going to kiss you." She stated bluntly. The Angel figure's eyes widened either with either surprise or fear, she wasn't quite sure. "I think it's the only way to see inside you. Please. Please just step over here and kiss me."

She closed her eyes, entire body tense and fearful. She felt the Angel figure come even closer to her. That was positive right? She could always feel Angel's presence. And yet that the same time, she could always sense when Angelus was near.

His lips touched hers and she felt her body tense. The kiss began and suddenly she was no longer in that room. She was in another room, both watching a scene unfolding and part of it as well. It was the Angel figure's fantasy. It was what was in his heart. Now it was up to her to decide if it was a deception or the real thing.

The bed was warm, as were the arms encircling her. It was an odd thing to be sure, seeing as vampires didn't have any sort of warmth to speak of and yet, somehow he was. He was warm, and inviting and close by, holding her, touching her.

She felt his lips on her neck, soft and tender. She smiled, feeling her heart lift as if she had somehow been expecting the worst and having it not happen a great weight taken from her. She wasn't sure why she had expected him not to be there, but thankfully her fears had been unfounded.

Smiling, she murmured good morning and rolled over to stare lovingly into the eyes of her Angel.

"You look beautiful." He told her. "Just like I knew you would."

"You've thought about this?" She asked him, a small smile gracing the corner of her lips. "You...me...making love?"

"Of course Buffy." He answered simply. "Haven't you?"

"Well I..." she paused, unsure of what to say to him. "I did. I really did, I just...I wasn't sure if you were thinking it and if you were if it was even right for us to...I mean you're a vampire and I'm a slayer not to mention you're my first..."

He silenced her with a kiss that made her stop cold for a second with the intensity of it. It was different than the night before. The kiss, his arms, everything was different...stronger. It was as if there were no barriers between them now and the intimacy of it made her want to cry.

"I love you." His voice was strong and unafraid. It had taken him so long to admit it to himself and even longer to admit it to her, but now the words just seemed to roll of his tongue as if he had always said them to her.

"I love you." She responded. She had told him this before, but this morning it was different. He stared at her for the longest time, not saying anything and the most curious smile played upon his face.

"I'm glad I was your first Buffy." He finally whispered. His eyes didn't meet hers, rather they seemed incredibly interested in the bed spread. "I can't give you a lot of things in life, but I'm glad I could give you last night."

"You have no idea what you've given me Angel." She told him honestly. Reaching out, she grasped his hands in hers and she marveled at how well they seemed to fit together. "Last night was just one thing above many, albeit an amazing one thing."

He smiled back, but didn't say anything and suddenly Buffy was seized with a bout of anxiety.

"It was...I mean, you...enjoyed it...right? Enjoyed...me?"

"How can you even ask me that?" Angel exclaimed, completely shocked. Now it was Buffy's turn to look away.

"I just wanted to make sure. I mean, it was my first...and you've had other relationships. Two hundred years worth for heaven's sake. I didn't want to disappoint you."

"Buffy you could never..." Angel broke off, searching for the right words. "You're right I have been with other women. Many times, as a matter of fact. But never in all those two hundred years did I fully and completely love a single one of them the way that I love you. Don't you see? It was my first time last night too! And it couldn't have been any more amazing. It was magic."

"I'm glad to hear that." She said with a sleepy smile. Kissing him lightly, she snuggled closer into his arms and closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep with the feel of her boyfriend's arms surrounding her, and a bright future ahead for the both of them.