Title: The Marriage Proposal
Author: Edel
Email: see other chapter…
Distribution: my update group: www.groups. B/A group: www.groups. If you want it on your site, just ask!
Spoilers: None, AU.
A/N: I want to apologise to you all, I know I haven't updated any of my B/A fics in ages, but I've been busy and my muse has taken off for parts unknown since summer 2005. But I've some extra chapters so here goes...I'm trying to lure my muse back so keep your fingers crossed and review! Thanks for sticking up with me and enjoy :P
Chapter 4
Buffy gulped in a deep breath, and glanced over her shoulder at the man standing behind her. Fiancé, and future husband, she corrected herself. This thought created a desperate panic inside of her, which Angel seemed to sense.
"Hey, hey," he whispered soothingly. "It's alright."
"Alright! It's not alright!" she hissed. "In a minute, we're gonna have to go into my apartment, where my friends are waiting for the big news I promised to tell them earlier! So do not tell me that everything is fine and dandy!" She drew in short breaths as she tried to compose herself. Angel looked down at the blonde and felt a moment's pity for her. He lightly clasped her hand in his.
"And I'll be there with you," he assured her softly. She slowly looked up at him, unsure and confused about the comfort and warmth that she was now experiencing. She shook her head as she turned back to the closed door.
"Let's rock 'n roll," she murmured.
Willow glanced up as she heard the front door slam, and looked on in confusion as Buffy entered the living room, followed closely by a familiar-looking handsome man, who seemed to tower above the petite blonde. She tore her gaze away from the pair to look at Oz seated beside her, who was too confused by the couple before them.
"Hey guys," Buffy began in a soft voice, drawing everyone's attention. She briefly looked back at Angel. "Angel, I'd like you to meet Willow, Oz, Xander, Cordelia, Anya and Faith," pointing each person out to him. "Guys, this is Angel. My fiancé."
"Oh my god!"
"B, you're getting married?"
"Are you in any way kidding?"
"I bet you're only marrying him for hot monkey sex!"
"You got knocked up, didn't you?"
"You guys, stop it!" Buffy yelled. "Yes Will, a big oh my god. Yes Faith, that means no more nights of hunting for helpless sex slaves for you," a grin appeared on her face as she continued. "No Xand, I'm totally not kidding, and that is my business, Anya!" She paused for a moment, then murmured softly with a wink to Anya, "But it is a reason." She looked at Cordelia. "God Cor! Was that the first thing that popped into your mind?"
The brunette shook her head. "It was the only thing I could think of that made sense," she told her friend.
"Well, no. I'm not pregnant," Buffy said.
"How come we've never met you before Angel?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, and how did you two meet?" Xander interrupted.
"We met while he was secretly tutoring me last year," Buffy answered.
"But…you kick ass at Law," Faith said.
"I do? I mean, I do, right!" Buffy amended with a short laugh. "But my mind was so preoccupied with mom last year, so I enlisted the help of Angel, and there was… there was a spark," she looked over her shoulder at her future husband, and then back at her friends, very conscious of the fact that Angel was relieving her of some tension by soothingly rubbing his thumb over knuckles. She took a deep breath, and tried to ignore the feelings that seemed to be sparking inside her.
"He asked me out to dinner, and we've been dating for the past few months. I wanted to tell you, but I thought that once the tutoring ended, we'd have ended too. Imagine my shock when he popped the question," she finished with a chuckle. Willow smiled happily, as the others chatted quietly about the big surprise. Unnoticed, Buffy dragged Angel into the adjoining kitchen.
"I can't believe I pulled that off," she murmured in disbelief.
"You were great," Angel whispered, pulling her close for a friendly hug.
"Great? I'm not great! You've no idea what it's like, having to lie to your friends and family." She immediately regretted her comment as she felt Angel stiffen and pull away. She sighed, dejected.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," she murmured, placing her hand on his on the granite counter. Instantly a tingling sensation shot up her arm, and erupted in her gut. She gasped as he stepped closer, but before any naughty fantasies of what could happen could pop into her mind, a cheery voice interrupted them.
"We were wondering where you two lovebirds were hiding," Willow uttered with a grin as she and Xander stepped into the kitchen. Buffy immediately stepped away from Angel.
"So Buff, how did your mom take the news?" Xander enquired. Buffy looked at Angel, desperate panic clear in her emerald green eyes.
"You know, I still can't believe you haven't told her," Xander chuckled in the hospital lobby.
"Shut up, Xand," Buffy warned. She took in a deep breath and tried to compose her shaky nerves, but to no avail.
"You gonna be okay?" Willow asked with a small smile. Buffy nodded, plastering a cheery smile on her glossy lips. Gripping Angel's hand in her own, she walked down the busy hallway until she reached her mother's room. Knocking on the closed door, she slowly entered.
"Mom?" Buffy called out softly, afraid her mother was asleep.
"Hey sweetie!" Joyce greeted, grabbing the remote off the bedside table to switch off the television. Her smile briefly grew as she caught a glimpse of her daughter's hand clasped tightly in the larger hand belonging to the tall, dark and handsome man behind her. She was glad Buffy had found someone.
Joyce could never recall Buffy having a serious relationship, the longest being several weeks in highschool with Scott Hope. She knew her daughter liked to remain single and independent. Maybe this man would be the one. She broke out of her reverie as she realised Buffy was talking to her.
"Mom, this is Angel O'Connor. My fiancé." Joyce blinked.
"I'm sorry, but I could have sworn that you introduced this man as..." she trailed off, as she saw the seriousness shining in her daughter's eyes. She suddenly sat up in her bed.
"You knocked her up, didn't you!" she accused, glaring at Angel. "Taking advantage of my baby, that's-"
"Mom! I am not knocked up!" Buffy sighed. "Why does everyone keep thinking that?" she muttered. Her mother exhaled heavily.
"Buffy, can I speak to Angel alone for a minute?" Seeing her daughter beginning to protest, she held up a hand. "I promise I won't bite." Buffy was silent for a moment, then nodded, and stepped out into the hospital corridor. Angel drew in a deep breath. Joyce gestured fir him to take a seat beside her bed.
"Angel O'Connor, is it?" Joyce asked.
"Yes ma'am," Angel answered politely. Joyce paused.
"Was Rupert Giles your guardian?" He nodded. "He was a good man," she noted. "I was saddened to hear about his death." Angel's head shot up.
"You knew Giles?" Joyce nodded. "Briefly. He had some business dealings years ago with my ex-husband." Angel processed this for a moment.
"Mrs Summers-"
"It's Joyce," she interrupted. "Mrs Summers makes me feel old." Angel smiled slightly.
"Joyce... I know you didn't want to talk to me about Giles."
"Yes," Joyce agreed. She hesitated. "Buffy, she isn't pregnant, is she?" she asked.
"No, he replied.
"Then why are you marrying her?"
"Because... I love her, and she loves me," he lied. Joyce mulled over this for a few minutes, and then proceeded to call her daughter back into the room.
"I just wanted you to know that I've decided to give both of you my blessing," Joyce started, then added as an afterthought, "though I doubt Buffy would have let me get in the way of marrying the man of her dreams." She turned to her daughter.
"Of course I'll be expecting the story on you two, where you met, why you kept him a secret for so long. Why would anyone want to do that?" Buffy giggled nervously.
"I was afraid he would be stolen from me," she joked, slipping an arm around Angel's waist. Angel in turn placed a lingering kiss on her sun-kissed head. Joyce smiled warmly at the attractive couple they made.
"You two are so cute!" she gushed. "Oh, think of the children!" Buffy's head shot up.
"Wh-what?" she croaked.
"Well, they'll obviously be very beautiful," Joyce continued. Her smile faded as she took in her daughter's sudden pale complexion. "Honey, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just a little tired," Buffy assured her.
"I'm gonna take her home," Angel told Joyce. "It was nice to meet you."
"You too, Angel," she replied. "Hopefully I'll be out of this ridiculous nightgown and wearing actual clothes when we meet again." Angel chuckled as he led Buffy out of the room. Xander and Willow stood as they approached.
"How did she take it?" Willow asked.
"Surprisingly well," Buffy answered. "Listen, I'm gonna catch a ride home with Angel, so I'll see you guys later, kay?"
Buffy glanced out the car window, and looked over at the silent driver.
"Where are we going?" she asked softly.
"Here," he responded, pulling off the road and parking the car beside a secluded beach.
"Where are we?" she yawned as he opened the door for her.
"Santa Monica," he answered as they slowly walked down to the shoreline. Buffy stopped in her tracks.
"Excuse me, what!" she demanded incredulously. "As in the one in Los Angeles?"
"One and the same," he murmured, continuing to approach the water's edge.
"But... this place is like a two hour drive from Sunnydale!" she exclaimed.
"I'm well aware of that, since I drive up here a lot."
"Why?"
"To think."
"You drive for two hours just to think," she stated.
"Well, no. I normally drive up here in the middle of the night, so it would only take over an hour, and I could be here for hours, just thinking."
"Sounds like brooding to me," Buffy muttered.
"Well, that too." She flicked her hair out of her face.
"So, why are we here?"
"I wanted to show you this place," he began.
"I grew up in LA, so obviously I've been here many times," she cut in.
"Ah, but not at night, when the stars are actually visible," he guessed.
"No," she slowly replied.
"Also," he added, "it felt like the right place to give you this." He dug into his coat pocket and retrieved a small velvet box. She gasped as he opened it to reveal a stunning diamond ring. She looked up at him.
"You didn't have to go to this much trouble," she murmured.
"Maybe not, but a real ring does help make it look more real," he told her, slipping it on her finger.
"It's... it's beautiful," she whispered, looking up and finding herself lost in his dark gaze. She blinked, and he glanced away. On impulse, she reached up and placed a fleeting kiss on his warm lips. She gazed up at him, and saw something burning strong in his brown eyes.
"C'mon," he said gruffly. "I'll take you home."
TBC...