She'd almost intervened when she saw his small group of friends fighting to get him in the elevator back at his condo. Though she had to remind herself that it may be a little hard to explain her sudden presence at his place, so she stayed out of sight as she watched the show continue. One thing was for sure, he was going to be in a world of pain come tomorrow.

She stayed out of sight until his friends had somehow managed to get him safely into bed, then she waited a few minutes longer until the last of them exited his place. Standing in his foyer she double checked the deadbolt before heading towards the kitchen to explore his cabinets.

Shaking her head, she carefully climbed on top of the counter to reach the one door above the stove that she hadn't been able to.

"Finally," she sighed, spotting what she'd been searching for all along. She huffed, grabbing one of the bottles of pain reliever from the cabinet, hoping carefully off the counters ledge, and after grabbing a cold water from his fridge she said a silent prayer to the powers as she made her way into his bedroom.

Gently nudging his door open, her breath caught in her throat as he slowly came into view. His clothes were strewn haphazardly throughout the room, his shirt hanging off the one of the posts on his bed. She bit her lip in an effort to stay quiet, he was sprawled diagonally across the mattress, just the corner of his comforter pulled across his lower half, one leg anchored on the floor she could just make out the seam of his boxers which caused her to release a breath she hadn't even known she was holding.

Inching by him, she sat the bottle of pills along with the water on his little side table where he'd somehow had the mind to sit his phone. Grabbing the charger she plugged in the device just as she heard the faintest snore fall from his lips, her eyes drinking him in just one more time she let out a deep breath, he really was too cute for his own good. Tugging on the comforter, she covered him up as best she could. Leaning down, her fingers lightly stroked against his brow, she hoped he wouldn't feel too badly come tomorrow.

"Goodnight Angel," she whispered softly to his sleeping form.

Tip toeing back out of his room, she let out a deep breath as she closed the door behind her, trying to shake the strange feeling coursing through her out of her system. She couldn't quite put her finger completely on it but she was absolutely certain there was something different about this particular man from anyone else she'd ever met, certainly different from anyone in all her years of doing this wish granting business, and it was bound to make for an interesting tale to share with the others for years to come if nothing else.

She just had to survive the ride with him first.

Sitting down, her eyes drifted around the apartment she was getting a little more used to, still trying to get a sense of who Angel was, she thought about everything she knew so far about the man and what little she knew of what exactly he wanted, and tried to grasp at edges of the picture she was trying to create for him.

Tonight hadn't exactly been helpful in the ways she had hoped, he was far too caught up in her to deal with anyone else the entire time so that didn't give her a lot to go on. She figured she could always ask him about past girlfriends and see if there was some sort of pattern he liked, maybe one she should know to avoid even, maybe a preference pattern or something. Any deep discussions really hadn't taken place between he and his friends either, it was all light hearted, drinking your face off fun.

She did get to note how he acted with his friends, however, and how they were with him. And how many women were drawn to him... even if he was otherwise busy trying to play Where's Waldo. She quickly knew it wouldn't be hard finding him potential dates.

OoOoO

Angel groaned as he tried waking up, trying to get the random ass dreams filled of Disney princesses and of a certain beautiful blonde wish granter women out of his head in the process. He was back to being convinced it was all just some weird ass dream or something as he struggled to sit up in the bed, last night's activities catching up with him in full force.

He wondered if going out drinking with the gang were one of those things he was getting too damn old for, too. He sure didn't remember feeling this bad ten years or so ago after a night out.

Spotting a new water bottle and some much needed medication off to the side of his bed, he hurried to down a couple pills before laying down again and wishing hard for some relief.

OoOoO

When he finally got out of bed, showered and got himself cleaned up, Angel braved grabbing his phone to see what onslaught he'd missed through the night and headed for the kitchen, feeling starved but unsure if he would be able to actually keep anything down still.

The soft, "How are you feeling?" coming from behind him nearly had him jumping out of his skin. He half convinced himself none of what happened the day before was real, but there she was. He turned around and nearly choked on damn air as his eyes took in Buffy's small frame, the light sundress she had on, the way her lips created such an easy, welcoming smile, her eyes twinkling as they met his.

"You're still..."

She giggled a little and nodded her head. "Still here, still have a job to do if you're up for it."

Angel's tongue slipped out to wet his suddenly dry lips. He wasn't sure how these so called Powers That Be expected him to be concerned about some soulmate dream woman person when they sent her, he was utterly convinced as long as she was in his life he would find it nearly impossible to give a second thought to anyone else. "D-did you leave last night? I couldn't find you."

Her smile grew just slightly. "I didn't leave the club until you did," she answered.

"I couldn't find you," he repeated, remembering bits and pieces of the night before.

"You weren't supposed to be finding me."

"That seems to be a theme of some of our conversations."

"Well... it is the truth."

"Just... I mean just out of curiosity... why exactly is it again that you can't be this whole happy ending person I wind up with?"

He could have swore she blushed a little. "That is just not how this works. It's against the rules, it's the biggest against the rule as we have gone over. It's just now how this is supposed to go."

"Says who?"

"The higher ups, The PTB, who knows who else really."

"Why do you listen to their rules? Why should I?"

"Because it's my job too, it's part of the balance of the universe and all of those lovely things?"

"But why?"

Buffy shrugged. "It's just how it is. I'm sure there's a million reasons as to why but I don't have all those answers. Like, for example, I don't have an answer to even how you are feeling. Or, if you enjoyed your birthday. Or, if you maybe want to go over some of our plans, or go... I don't know... go out for breakfast - or I guess brunch now - and try some social exercises."

Angel fought hard not to smirk at the cute little face she made, how her body twisted just slightly as she teased.

"Well... how about I get a pre-breakfast, large ass cup of coffee and then we can go out to eat and you can talk with me about whatever you want."

Buffy rolled her eyes before offering to start a pot up for him.

OoOoO

Buffy tried to ignore those warm chocolate colored eyes staring holes into her as she tried to focus on finishing her latest note from their ongoing conversation about some more of their basic back and forth trying to get to know one another better. She figured getting a fuller scope of just who Angel was and how his life was might help since he wasn't overly helpful with any questions she had about specifics when it came to the end game prize here they were trying to make happen.

She was starting to think they might just have to do some trial and error with this charge to start out with. Sooner the better too if he kept looking at her the way he had been all damn morning so far.

He wasn't questioning his sanity as much but she was taking over that job a little for herself with all those deep glances and way too smooth words he had pouring her way.

Buffy pushed a loose strand of her hair out of her face and behind her ear, looking around the small dining room they were in until someone caught her eye. "She's cute."

"Who?" Buffy gave him some clues as to where to look before he discretely turned his head until he spotted the girl in question. He blinked a few times before shrugging. "I guess," he replied slowly, already having an excuse as to why it would never work.

"You guess?"

Angel gave another slight nod before grumbling, "She's a brunette."

The pen that she was tapping against the little notebook she was using slowly came to a stop, looking up her eyes narrowed when they met his again, "And just what is your preferred hair color?"

He smirked, "Blonde," he was enjoying getting under skin far more than he should.

Shaking her head she tried to fight the blush she felt coming over her again, it wasn't that she'd never had a charge try to come onto her before, but this was definitely the first time she'd had trouble ignoring the advances. "Okay, so you gotta thing for blondes," she grinned, scribbling something across her notepad. "At least we're starting to get somewhere. Any other preferences you feel like sharing?"

"Such as," Angel asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Eye color, height, body type?" She sighed, "Do you prefer someone who's more active, or are you more of the stay in type? Like I said, the more you open up, the easier and quicker this process will be, you will be able to get on with your happily ever after and I will be able to get out of your hair."

Well he definitely didn't like the sound of that, "Green," he whispered, his voice coming out far huskier than he'd intended.

"Angelll," Buffy whined, poking her bottom lip out in a mock pout. "You are not helping."

His gaze locked onto her mouth, he had the overwhelming urge to lean over and touch his lips to hers. He refrained, barely, chuckling instead he threw his hands up in surrender, "Only being honest, Beautiful."

She grinned, "Liam Angelus. You are impossible."

That earned her a full on laugh, "Now that's not fair." It wasn't that no one knew his name, it was on his all of his identification after all but no one used it, ever. "What's your middle name?"

Buffy shook her head, "No way mister, it's my turn to ask the questions, remember?" Obviously he was more taken with her than most, it was best all around if she kept her guard up as much as possible or else nothing good would come of this she was sure.

His eyes darkened, resting on his elbows his large frame leaned across the small table, "Let's make a deal."

"A deal?"

He nodded. "I'll answer whatever you want, I'll go out with whoever you pick, but…"

"But," she repeated, her heart rate increasing, that tiny voice in her head screaming that this was a terrible idea.

"Whatever secrets you want to know of mine, you have to tell me the same," he paused, thinking over his words carefully before continuing. The last thing he wanted to do was get her in trouble with whoever the hell it was she worked for, but he felt something when she was around. Something he'd never felt before, it wasn't love or any of that nonsense, but it was something and he at the very least wanted the chance to explore. "And," he added after some consideration, "For every date you set me up on, you have to let me take you out." Seeing the hesitation in her eyes he quickly added, "Even if it's just as friends."

Letting out a deep breath her teeth rolled over her lip as she contemplated what he was saying. Technically they wouldn't be breaking any rules but it was definitely a slippery slope. "Just as friends," she asked, needing him to clarify it for one more time.

The corner of his mouth ticked up into a barely restrained smile, "Friends," he nodded again.

OoOoO

Sitting back in his apartment she still wasn't sure how he'd talked her into this. Somehow their little agreement had turned into him convincing her that he was too hungover to start today, then that had turned into him convincing her to have a movie night with him back at his place. Grabbing one of the comforters from the hall closet he spread it across them as he took a seat next to her on the sofa. Her knees curled under her, she turned a bit so that she could face him, ever the gentleman he made sure to leave enough space between them so that they weren't touching but still close enough she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

He'd let her choose what they watched. After all it was the least he could do after convincing her that this was a good idea, but to his surprise she hadn't picked any of the chick flicks most girls gravitated towards, instead she chose some horror movie that if he were being honest had him a little jumpy at times.

"Can I ask you something?" he finally asked after going back and forth with himself inside his head.

She smiled, "Well duh."

"Do you ever get lonely?"

That was a loaded question, one that she'd asked herself on occasion. Working for the powers could get lonely at times, it wasn't like she didn't have friends, but every once in while she did find herself longing for something more, something outside of charges and duty. "Doesn't everyone?"

Without much thought he reached out and tucked a few stray hairs back behind her ear, she really was beautiful. She was deflecting and he knew it, but he'd let it slide for now. If he'd learned anything about his very own little tinkerbell it was that she had the tendency to withdraw when he pushed too far and that was the last thing he wanted, especially now that he felt like he was finally making some headway. "Well," he sighed, "We have each other now, for the next three hundred and sixty three days or so at least so there shouldn't be any reason either of us should feel like that."

Leaning back against the cushion, her eyes focused on the small stubble that had begun to show along his jaw. "Keeping track are you?"

He just smirked, of course he was counting down the days. This didn't happen to just anyone, and as weird as it had been at first to get used to him, he was slowly starting to come around. Buffy was most definitely a part of that though, had his guide or whatever she wanted to call herself been some burly bearded man he wasn't sure he could have been convinced. In all his life he'd never spent much time thinking about God or otherwordly things, back when his parents were alive they hadn't been very religious so it wasn't something that he'd really been brought up around, and after they passed away he'd pretty much strayed away from anything remotely close to church. But now he couldn't help but wonder if all this was somehow meant to be, obviously it was what with him being chosen and all, but more than that he almost felt like Buffy had been picked just for him, she had to have been.

She was essentially a stranger, and yet he couldn't help but worry about that sad gleam he would catch flashing behind her eyes when she would talk about herself and her place in the universe.

He couldn't even begin to wrap his head around what it must be like to be in her position, to really know what her life must be like. He was sure there were many perks to this job, life calling... whatever it was. He was sure that helping people was always an amazing thing of course, but he couldn't seem to get past the sinking feeling he would get when he thought too much into it.

Always helping others get what they want in life, being in this world and being around others but not really being a part of it, not getting to decide what you want your own self and go after it... it sounded like in other ways it was a raw damn deal.

Hell, he wasn't entirely sure this whole idea of trying to really befriend her or whatever rather than just use her for some end game happily ever after was even better or worse. For now, he could only see the upside. He was entirely fascinated with her, he wanted to be around her, enjoy her, get to know anything he could... he wanted to have someone around who he could be completely open to as well, who knew parts of him no one else obviously did but he would get a nagging thought in the back of his mind wondering if it wouldn't be damning for her when the year was over. She would lose out on potentially one of the few beings she was close to. She had explained he wouldn't even remember any of this after the contract was either fulfilled or time ran out... but that she would. He just didn't know how he would handle something like that.

OoOoO

With a quick snap of her fingers, Buffy was back home, her mind telling her to once again ignore the strange feeling coursing through her from her short lived time so far with Angel. She let out a deep breath, placing her trusty little notebook down on her dining room table while coming up with a few quick "meet cute" moments she could create tomorrow to get this ball rolling.

Deciding to do away with any more thoughts of her latest assignment as she walked into another room, Buffy did everything she could to keep the handsome new man in her life from her mind but that seemed easier said than done. She found herself wondering if he was asleep yet as she made herself a quick snack, she smiled as she grabbed a key from her junk drawer when looking for a sticky pad. One of the last things Angel had said to her before they parted ways tonight was of him asking her to bring something from her house for him... "Be it a thumbtack or paperclip even, just... just something," he had told her.

Rolling her eyes, she'd snatched it up and placed it on top of her notebook.

OoOoO

Walking up to the counter so he could get them each a refill of some far too expensive coffee, Angel found himself barely able to catch a woman tripping to the side of him. "Whoa," he called out, balancing her and the empty cups still grasped in his fingers. "You okay?" he asked and his eyes widened as she looked up at him.

Blonde hair, green eyes.

He barely heard her response, his head turning back around to find Buffy back at their table. She smiled brightly at him, throwing a thumbs up his direction to boot.

Helping the young woman back on settled ground, he looked her over again. She was now trying to apologize but he waved her off, especially as he knew the wizarding woman over there was probably the one who made her fall into him to begin with. He did his best to make small talk for a few moments but found it incredibly difficult when his mind was elsewhere and he knew his every move was being watched by her. The blonde was quick to turn flirting with him and lead the conversation though and somehow by the time he got their cups refilled he had apparently agreed to meeting up with her again.

"See? Now that wasn't so hard," Buffy smiled, taking her cup from him when it was offered.

Angel's head looked at the door where the blonde had disappeared through just a few moments before. "You really think I'm going to fall in love with her?" he asked.

Buffy shrugged. "I can't really tell you that. I can sometimes get some glimpses into the future but it's by a few minutes at most so I can plan accordingly for a 'chance' meeting or something of the like. I can't tell you how you may feel about that girl if you got to know her. I can't really see the whole picture of what's to be, what's to come."

"No offense, but there does seem to be some flaws in your wish granting system."

That made her chuckle. "I don't make the rules. There's not a perfected science, at least not yet. And... I mean for many... it's at least a start toward something, a chance."

"Uh huh. Well, we will see, I guess."

OoOoO

Walking with Angel to his office, Buffy took a deep breath as she stared up at the tall building, probably one of the if not the largest in the small town. "What?" Angel asked, taking in the look on her face.

Once he told her what he did for a living she just didn't see it, she had a hard time imagining him in an office all day, working some nine to five for some reason. And she told him such.

Angel smirked a little. "Well... I used to be an artist. I kind of did a little bit of everything... mixed media, painting, anything that came to me really. I wasn't some big name or anything but I made a living doing that for awhile."

Buffy let that bit of information sink in for a moment. "You used to be an artist?" she echoed. "How does one 'used to' be something like that?" she wondered out loud.

"I have a studio still, I mean not much of one... but it's there. I haven't used it in years though. I just... I don't know. One day I lost inspiration to do anything it felt like. Even for fun, or, like, just for myself... it was like nothing came out anymore. So..."

Buffy was silent for another few minutes. "Can I see it? Sometime?"

Angel shrugged. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his keys and slipped two small keys from it. Asking for her notebook, he wrote down the address and pass code to the building and handed it and the keys to her. "Have at it."

Hearing his name being yelled, the two looked over at a young man just coming out of his car. Buffy recognized him from The Bronze as one of Angel's friends. Easily putting distance between herself and Angel, she smiled softly at him once more before walking back the same way they had just came.

OoOoO

Looking around the studio she was in complete awe. No wonder he was able to support himself through artwork there for a while, most of the time when someone told her they were an artist they turned out hard pressed to prove it. If by chance they could prove it, their quality of work usually spoke for itself in explaining the whole starving artist thing, but Angel, he was amazing.

There were probably twenty pieces of art scattered about in various stages of completion. Clearly in the wrong profession, he was doing the world a disservice by keeping all of these masterpieces locked away. Spotting a pile of canvases stacked in the corner she carefully made her way over to them, like everything else they were a thing of beauty. Each of them depicted a woman, nude, in various positions. Though they weren't gratuitous, rather the opposite she was utterly captivated.

Flipping through the images it took her second to realize that all of them seemed to be of the same woman, you couldn't see her face but there were little details that gave it away. The crease of her elbow, the slope of her breast, the dip in her side, they were all identical in every single one. The thought of who this mysterious woman might be crossed her mind, obviously Angel had been enamored with her, perhaps the black and white drawings were her first to clue to finding his happily ever after.

Her curiosity peaked, she pulled a sheet of one of the larger pieces. In an instant all the air rushed from her lungs, it felt like the one time she'd been thrown from a horse when she was out riding with Lorne. Her head was spinning, it couldn't be that was impossible. Taking a deep breath she looked back at the portrait before her, the woman's face was nothing more than a gaping smear of charcoal but there was no doubt in her mind, the woman was her. Not only was every curve, every line identical but he'd even gone as far as to capture the small birthmark she had just below the curve of her hip. At least she thought it was a birthmark, she'd had the mark for as long as she could remember, barely larger than freckle it formed a near perfect heart. Being a servant to the powers meant that she had never indulged in pleasures of the flesh, no one had ever seen it before, well no one other than her parents and they were long gone.

None of this was making sense, as carefully as she could she began examining every piece she could get her hands on. Turning open a sketchbook laid across his desk she spotted three more images where the mark was visible. Her thoughts were racing, this was impossible, as carefully as she could manage she gently tore one of the less provocative pieces from the album, this was something she definitely needed another's opinion on.

OoOoO

He couldn't seem to concentrate on anything, he'd been so spaced out during his damn meeting this morning he'd had to excuse himself from the room. Ever since he'd been holed up in his office staring aimlessly at his computer, he had a million things to do he knew that and yet he couldn't seem to stop his thoughts from circling back to a certain blonde, and it wasn't the one he had a date scheduled with tonight either.

No, instead of focusing on Jenn… or was it Lynn, he honestly couldn't even recall though he was sure Buffy had not only her name but an entire file made for the girl, he'd have to ask for her to refresh his memory before he took off later. In the meantime he was searching through Google for something he could take Buffy to do, the problem was he had no idea what she liked. For all he knew she could snap her damn fingers and land on top of the great pyramids of Giza, wasn't exactly something that was easy to compete with.

Growing frustrated he slammed the laptop closed, this was useless. Of course he could just ask her what she would like to do, but knowing Buffy she would turn their "date" into some opportunity for him to bump into some other potential love interest and that was the last thing he wanted. He promised her friends, and it wasn't that he was intentionally trying to break that promise or anything but even if that's all they could be, he still wanted to take her out. Show her what it felt like to be the one his attention was focused on, and he honestly just wanted to know more about her life, about her, about who or what she was before she became whatever it was that she is, and at the end of it all if she just so happened to feel something more than he couldn't say he would be disappointed.

ButImBroken:

Written with the endlessly talented Scribes1015!