"Mahal"
By: Lynn
DISCLAIMERS: Making it short...NOT MINE!
SUMMARY: AU; Just another story where everybody's human and Angel, Oz, and Xander are the new students in school.
DISTRIBUTION: Are you kidding me! I NEED someone to host my fics. Just e-mail me if you want them. Previous Parts found at: http/
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BETA READER: Ashley Russo (last parts un-beta¡¦ed)

Part 15

"Angel?"

"Yes?"

"Are we there yet?"

Angel smirked at his girlfriend sitting next to him as he drove his convertible. She was currently blindfolded and she didn't seem to like it one bit.

"No, but we'll be there soon." He then focused his attention back to the road.

"Good," she fidgeted in her seat and wrinkled her nose, "Because I'm starting to get dizzy with this stupid thing on." She fingered the thick, black cloth tied tightly over her eyes. She was tempted to tear it off, but she knew it would upset Angel if she ruined his birthday surprise planned for her.

"Buffy, you've only had on for a little over a minute."

"Doesn't mean it's been the most enjoyable minute of my life," she argued. She heard her boyfriend laughing at her, so she punched him on the nearest body part of his, which was his shoulder.

"Hey! Unless you wanna spend your birthday in an airbag because we got into an accident, I suggest you don't hit the driver."

"Then I suggest you don't laugh at the girlfriend," Buffy shot back. She felt the car make a left turn and then stop.

"Okay, we're here, but don't take off the blindfold. Alright?"

Buffy pouted and crossed her arms, "Fine," she unhappily agreed. Angel leaned over and kissed her pouty lips.

"Wait right here," he told her and got out of the car.

"Where else would I go with this stupid thing on," she mumbled to herself. She heard Angel open her door, then he lightly grabbed her hand and helped her out of the car.

"You're just doing this to take funny pictures of me," she stated as Angel guided her to where ever they were going.

"I am not. Okay stop right here." She halted in her steps and waited for Angel to take off the offending piece of fabric tied around her head.

"Ready," he asked as he untied the knot, but kept it over her eyes.

"Angel! Get it off of me already!" He finally obeyed her and uncovered her eyes. She jumped and gasped in surprise at the sight before her. In front of her was the greatest view of the park's lake. The light of the setting sun reflected off the rippling water. Tiki torches were already lit around the area and twinkle lights hung from the trees. But amongst all of that were the mass of family and friends gathered around, smiling at her.

"Surprise," they all yelled.

Buffy beamed in delight, "Oh my gosh...this... is so sweet. Thank you guys!"

She turned around and threw her arms around Angel, first. After she kissed him on the cheek, she took his hand and dragged him along as she greeted her guests.

"Happy Birthday, baby," Joyce said to her older daughter as they embraced.

Joining in the hug, Giles kissed his newly turned eighteen-year-old on top of her blonde head. "Yes, happy birthday, dear," he greeted.

"Don't forget me," they heard a voice whine. Dawn forced herself into the family hug and gave Buffy a squeeze to the waist with the arm she wrapped around her big sister, also giving her own greetings to the birthday girl.

"So who's idea was this," Buffy questioned once the family let go of each other.

"Well, us, but it was Angel who came up with the setting," Joyce answered, smiling at the boy that captured Buffy's heart.

Once again, Buffy turned around and threw her arms around Angel, "It's beautiful," she told him.

He leaned in closer and pressed his forehead against hers. "Anything for you."

"I think we lost them," muttered Joyce to her husband, to which he just shook his head in response, leading the rest of his family away to leave the couple alone. But their cute little moment was interrupted when Angel felt silly string being sprayed on the back of his head.

Whipping around he found Gunn red handed with a mischievous grin on his face and a can in his hand. Throwing down most of the pink colored string that stuck to his hair, neck, and back, Angel glared back at his buddy and growled, "You better run, Gunn."

"And what are you gonna do?" Gunn challenged, "I don't think Buffy feels like beating anybody up for you on her birthday." Immediately after taunting Angel, Gunn quickly sprinted away with an angry brunette on his tail.

A couple hours later, Angel and Buffy secluded themselves away from the party that was still going on. They sat cuddling close to the edge of the lake, looking up at the beautiful night sky.

"So are you having a good birthday?" Angel softly said into Buffy's ear.

She leaned her head back against his shoulder and looked up at him. She laughed when she spotted something pink in his brown hair. Plucking it out and throwing the piece of silly string that Angel missed, she answered, "The best."

"Good," he kissed the side of her head. "I have something for you."

"Ooh! A present!" She turned around and faced him anxiously, "Hand it over or no one gets hurt."

Angel laughed at her playful eagerness while reaching into his pocket and pulling out a square box. It was wrapped in shiny, green paper and was topped off with a silver bow that was slightly smooshed since it was in has pocket for a while.

He handed it over to her and watched with nervous eyes as she lifted the lid.

She let out a gasp when she revealed what was inside. "Angel, it's beautiful." In the box was a dainty gold necklace with the prettiest charm she had ever seen. It was a single stemmed rose attached across the top of a small gold heart, the petals of the flower were outlined with small diamonds.

"I love it, thank you." She laid a gentle, lingering kiss on his lips before handing him the box so he can put the necklace on her.

Angel removed it from the thick layer of cotton and draped the chain around her neck and then clasped it securely.

When he was done, she turned back around to gaze into his brown eyes.

"I love you," he softly said to her.

She smiled broadly at him. It was the first time he had said that and she felt exactly the same way. "I love you, too," she returned.

Again, they drifted closer together and poured all the emotions they were both feeling for the other into their kiss. Quickly, the kiss increased its intensity, stirring up other feelings in Angel that made him break away from her before he cracked.

Both of them were breathing hard as Angel suggested, "We should head back."

"Do we have to," she whined, sounding like a five-year-old.

"Can't have a birthday party without the birthday girl." He stood up, taking Buffy up with him.

"Fine," she sighed disappointedly. They both dusted off their pants before walking back to the party hand and hand.

"Hey, we were just coming to get you," Tara said when she and Spike met them half-way. "They want to do the cake and song thing now."

"You know Buff," Spike said as they turned back around to walk with Buffy and Angel, "If you want, there can be an after party kegger. A few phone calls and I can make it happen."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Thanks Spike, but I think I've had enough keggers."

"You can never have enough keggers, Love"

Catching Spike off guard, his sister smacked him on the back of his head and scolded him. "Stop using Buffy's birthday as an excuse to get people drunk."

Rubbing the sore spot Tara had left, Spike tried to ignore Buffy and Angel's smirking and laughing, and muttered, "The cake better be good."

TBC…