Title: I Finally Remembered You. Part 30 – Art and Lorne

Rating: R/NC-17 for other chapters

Pairing: Xander/Angel

Summary: AU futurefic. Slash. Xander, not Buffy, had gone to see Angel in "I Will Remember You" Years later, he finally keeps his promise.

Spoilers: All of BtVS & Ats

Warnings: M/M, mild language, more in future chapters

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Words in Italics indicate thoughts.

Angel sat in a chair in the corner of Xander's workshop. He found that he enjoyed watching Xander work in this room that was more his own than the room he slept in. Angel thought briefly about offering to help, but realized quickly that this was Xander's art, the way sketching was his. Plus, you know, wood and vampire… non-mixy things.

So, Angel sketched in his chair in the corner of Xander's workshop while Xander worked on whatever projects he had at the moment.

"What are you drawing over there?" Xander asked, breaking Angel from his reverie.

"The look on Willow's face when I growled at her in the hallway," Angel said with a chuckle.

Xander groaned, "I still can't believe you did that. We just fell asleep talking, we've been doing that since we were in pre-school and still had to take naps."

If Angel could have blushed, he would have.

"I know, but I'm a vampire, we're possessive," Angel said.

"You can't play the 'but I'm a vampire' card in every situation, you know," Xander said with a slight smile of exasperation on his lips.

"What are you working on?" Angel asked in a not so subtle attempt at changing the subject.

Xander shook his head, letting the vampire slide, this time.

"Promise you won't laugh?" Xander said.

Angel's curiosity was now piqued. "I promise, what are you making?"

"I'm making Spike a bookshelf. I know he pretends to be all tough guy, gutter-snipe, but I figured out awhile back that he's actually upper-middle class and educated. I'm sure you know that he loves to read, even if he won't admit it to anyone."

Angel chuckled at Xander's assessment of Spike; it was all true.

"Why would I laugh at you making Spike a bookcase?"

"Because I'm going to show you what I'm using for the feet and as handles for the doors. I'm putting doors on it so he can hide his books from unsuspecting eyes," Xander admitted.

Angel stared down at the items Xander had placed on the table and threw his head back and laughed, long and hard.

"You promised not to laugh," Xander accused with a pout.

"Xander, I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing because it's perfect. No once else would come up with the idea of using old railroad spikes as decorative feet and handles on a bookcase. Spike is going to love it," Angel said.

"Really? It's not too much?" Xander asked.

"No, it's just right," Angel assured him.

Xander opened his mouth to say something more when Angel's coat started ringing.

Angel pulled his phone out of his pocket and stared at it for a moment, trying to remember which one was the on button.

Xander patiently took the phone from his hand, pushed the correct button and handed the phone back to Angel, who smiled sheepishly in thanks.

"Hello?"

"Angel?"

"Lorne? Is that you?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Yes Angelcakes, it's me. I thought I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with you after…" Lorne trailed off.

Angel winced. "I'm sorry Lorne, I should never have asked you to do that to Lindsey. It was wrong of me and I have regretted it ever since."

There was another moment of silence before Lorne cleared his throat and said, "My contact told me you needed to talk to me about something important?"

"Yes, I was hoping you could help me out. You're the only link I know of to the Powers That Be and….."

"I'm out of the crime fighting business Angel," Lorne said abruptly.

"It's not exactly business, it's sort of a personal matter," Angel admitted.

"What do you mean?" Lorne asked, intrigued.

"Well, there's this guy Xander and a few years ago…."

"Xander? Isn't he the one Cordelia told me about?"

"Uh, probably," Angel answered, not really shocked that Cordy had confided in Lorne.

"What about him?"

"You know about the day and how it got taken back?" Angel asked, not sure how much Cordy had told Lorne.

"Yes, Miss Thing told me all about it," Lorne replied.

"He's starting to remember. I guess he had dreams all along, that he didn't remember once he woke up, but now he does and…" Angel proceeded to fill Lorne in on the events surrounding Xander's dreams and the shared flashback.

"And you want to know why, when he shouldn't remember anything, right?" Lorne asked.

"Pretty much."

"Where are you?" Lorne asked.

"Huh?"

"I can't really give you a good read over the phone, so where are you, I'll come to you."

"So you'll help?" Angel asked in surprise.

"Of course, but I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for the boy. And for Cordy," Lorne said softly.

Angel gulped. "Thank you. We're in England, outside of London, we'll send a plane for you."

"I'll see you in a few days then," Lorne said before disconnecting the call.

Angel turned to look at Xander who was watching him anxiously.

"He's coming here, he's going to help?" Xander asked, wanting assurance, even though he had followed Angel's side of the conversation.

"Yes, he'll be here in a few days and hopefully we'll find some answers," Angel answered as he stepped into Xander's open arms.

He hoped that this also gave him a chance to repair his friendship with Lorne, hoped it wasn't too late to try.