Chapter Seven

Angel was attempting to get through his mountain of paperwork when the door to his office burst open and he was faced with a furious Buffy.

Angel: Buffy

Buffy: Why didn't you tell me!

Angel: Tell you what?

Buffy: About the prophecy! You know, the one where you BECOME A HUMAN!

Angel: Buffy

Buffy: Don't Buffy me! You knew and you never told me!

Angel: (standing up) Will you let me explain! Look, a few years ago I stole a scroll from Wolfram and Hart. Wesley translated part of it which said that when I saved the world from an apocalypse, when I achieved my destiny, then I would become human

Buffy: And you didn't think to tell me this? Not even the other night!

Angel: How could I! You'd just get your hopes up thinking that maybe someday I could be human when it's never going to happen!

Buffy: How do you know that?

Angel: Because it signed it away okay!

Buffy closed the door slowly and stepped closer, confusion on her face.

Buffy: You what?

Angel: I signed it away

Buffy: (shaking) Why?

Angel: Because it was the only way. If I didn't then I wouldn't be able to defeat the evil in Wolfram and Hart

Buffy: So you gave up the one thing…the one…(whispers) How could you?

Angel: (grabs her by the shoulders) I had to Buffy! Otherwise the world would have suffered, including, eventually, you! I couldn't let that happen, it would have been selfish of me!

Buffy: Selfish? Selfish! No, selfish is asking for too much, or not giving enough. You have spent over a hundred years repenting for your sins and you've been fighting evil for as long as I have! You deserve the prophecy, you deserve to become human. I think you signed it off because you don't think you deserve it. Because you're so wrapped up in your self-disgust and in your misery that you think you have to give everything you have (shakes him off) you're wrong!

Angel: Look it's done okay! It's done! I can't change the past! God I wish I could! But I can't! (after a long pause) Buffy, I think it's best if we don't see each other any more

Buffy: Maybe

Angel: We can still call. We can keep in touch, just not…

Buffy: Literally…funny

Buffy's eyes widened suddenly and Angel gasped as he realised where he'd heard that before. On The Day That Wasn't. The perfect day that they were together for…he forced himself back to the present to look at Buffy. She'd turned white and was staring at him.

Angel: Buffy. Buffy, are you ok?

Buffy: I just…I just had this feeling…I guess like déjà vu…but it was…it felt so real…it just kinda…kinda threw me…anyway I erm…I think you're probably right. I'd better go. Classes start in six hours and I've had practically no sleep for the past two nights so…(pauses) Bye

And with that she left, left Angel alone. He sat down with a sigh and rubbed his forehead with his fingertips…remembering…

He laid her down on the kitchen table, kissing her passionately, her lips, her neck. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer, urging him on. She sat up and he pulled her jumper and camisole off over her head, then pulled her to him. She kissed him hungrily as her fingers wandered to his shirt. She unbuttoned it and ripped it off his shoulders, pressing his chest to hers. She reached down and took off his trousers and boxers and he laid her back down on the table, slipping her trousers and pants off. He climbed on top of her and the table split in half, causing them to fall to the floor. Angel chuckled softly before Buffy gripped his hair and crushed his lips to hers again, letting out his name in a breathy moan. Angel groaned and rose up on his arms, staring down at her before –

Suddenly the door opened and Spike walked in, interrupted Angel's thoughts.

Angel: Are you incapable of knocking or something?

Spike: And are you a complete berk? What the hell do you think you're doing! Buffy loves you Angel, she LOVES you? And you're just pushing her away! I know the whole sex thing is a bit annoying but it wasn't always about that was it?

Spike was right. It wasn't. Before they first slept together they'd just sit together, talking and kissing, not worrying about what the next day would bring. If she'd had a bad day he'd hold her, kiss her hair and everything was perfect. It was all that he wanted, to spend time with her. But things were different now. They knew what it was like to be together completely, how good it felt, how much they desired each other. How could they ever work through that? Spike seemed to be reading his mind.

Spike: Yeah I know, she's older now. You've been together once before so now you've got a taste for it, she wants you, you want her, blah blah blah. But give it a chance at least, can't you? And you never know, that prophecy might come through

Angel: Spike, you know I signed it off

Spike: So? Doesn't mean that's the end of it. They might decide to be gracious and give it you

Angel: Or they might give it to you

Spike: Don't be daft

Angel: You saved the world from the apocalypse

Spike: Hey I didn't know what that bloody amulet did before I put it on, did I? I just thought it'd scare the demons off or something, I didn't expect it to kill me! If I'd have known I think I'd have thought twice about wearing it!

Angel: But you deserve it more

Spike: Stop trying to be so bloody noble, it doesn't suit you. Just go after her Angel, for god's sake. I don't think I can stand anymore brooding. From either of you

He didn't need to be told twice

Chapter Eight

Buffy got back to the school and leant on the door for a minute. It had been so real…she had a perfect memory of saying those exact words to Angel. Then there'd been a flash of images. Her and Angel in bed, her and Angel eating ice cream, Angel's hands on her, Angel kissing her…in the daylight. It didn't make any sense. Was some unknown power showing her what she could have if Angel ever became human? She sighed. She had a pounding headache, she was never going to be able to sleep. Not tonight. She moved away from the door and had got to the bottom of the stairs when she felt a familiar stirring inside, a pull on her stomach, a pounding in her heart. She turned around and there he was, standing at the door.

She slowly moved forward and opened the door. They stood there, staring at each other for a long moment. Just when she felt like she should say something, he moved forward, pulled her into his arms and kissed her, firmly and passionately. Her knees went weak and if he hadn't been holding her she thought she would have fallen. She responded immediately, running her fingers through his soft, thick hair and kissing him back. A hand pressed on her back, pushing her closer to him while another tangled itself in her hair. They pulled apart slightly to look at each other, panting. She moved forward and brushed her lips over his top lip, nibbled his bottom lip, then he tightened his grip on her and crushed her to him once more. She pulled him further inside and he kicked the door shut as he let her lead him.

They moved over to the sofa, collapsing on it as the kiss became hotter. Angel lay on top of her as they caressed each other. Buffy moaned gently into the kiss and slipped her hands under the back of his t-shirt, gently stroking his back with her finger tips, causing him to groan in response. Her stomach somersaulted as his fingers danced over her bare abdomen and she wrapped her legs around his, her body aching for his touch. They pulled apart slowly and opened their eyes to stare at each other, both breathing heavily after the heat of the kiss. Angel kissed the tip of her nose, then slowly withdrew his hands from her and sat up, looking down at her.

Buffy: (giggling) I guess that was a little too fast to be starting with huh?

Angel: (smiling) Just a little

Buffy sat up and leant her head against Angel's shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, leaning back against the sofa. She brought her legs up and curled into him.

Buffy: Mm, you smell good

She nuzzled his neck gently, nibbling his earlobe. He growled low in his throat and she giggled.

Buffy: Did you just growl?

She nibbled his ear again and placed her hand on his stomach, tickling him playfully. He convulsed and laughed, trying to stave off her hands. He managed to get the upper hand and pinned her to the sofa, tickling her mercilessly. She giggled and half-heartedly tried to push him off her. He leant down and kissed her neck whilst tickling her and she moaned happily. Then she heard the stairs creaking.

Faith: B? Is that you?

Angel, with Buffy still pinned to the sofa looked round to see Faith watching them, with a thoroughly amused expression on her face. He quickly removed himself from Buffy, allowing her to get up, her face flushed pink with embarrassment.

Faith: Not interrupting anything, am I?

Angel: No, no…(to Buffy) I'd better be going

She grabbed his wrist to stop him

Buffy: You don't have to go

Faith: No, you don't have to (winks)

Angel: (smiling) I really should

Buffy walked him to the door and he opened it then turned to face her

Angel: (smiling) We'll talk later, okay?

Buffy: (nodding) Okay

He bent down and kissed her softly. He started to pull away but she moved to her tip-toes to prolong the kiss. He smiled at her and left, glancing back once. She shut the door and turned to look at Faith, a smile playing on her lips.

Faith: B, didn't know you were back with Angel

Buffy: Neither did I, until about 15 minutes ago

Faith: (grins) Looks like you two were getting pretty cosy back there

Buffy: Don't worry Faith; we're not going back to grr. We're going to be careful this time…I swear!

Faith: Sure thing B

Buffy: Hey you fancy doing some training? Got a little pent-up energy to burn

Faith just gave her a knowing smile.