Angel was in the middle of a conversation, hell in the middle of a sentence, when his cell phone laid off to the side lit up with incoming texts from one Buffy Summers. All tension from his face and shoulders seemed to relax in that moment, grabbing from the device he closed his eyes and tried to get back to what he was saying while reading through her messages.

Skipping over her latest topic for just a moment, he answered her other questions that came in about how late he was planning on staying in the office and if there was anything she might be able to help out with. Honestly, he hadn't found himself as productive as normal today and had thought about just calling it a day probably after the call he was in and a few more e-mails, but if Buffy wanted to come in that was another story. He really didn't think going home would have ended much better than how his time at the office had been panning out anyway.

Reminding her that it was her day off and she really didn't have to come in did little to change her mind, so with a soft smile at the prospect of getting to see her after all, he told her he could probably find something to put her to use with before going back to try and answer her about his worst dating experiences that had been her topic of choice earlier while trying to end the now rather unimportant phone meeting he'd been in the middle of.

OoOoO

Buffy smiled at the security guard as he called her over, nodding at the stack of two large pizzas once she got closer. After throwing on some new clothes earlier, she had sent him another message warning him she was on her way... though since she had slept in and was running on no food she would probably be needing to get something in her stomach before she got hangry, asking him if there were anything he might want, which then just led him to offering to order something in or insisting he pay for something. Eventually she just gave up and agreed to the pizza idea.

Scooping the warm boxes up, she thanked the guard while breezing through some small talk before heading on her way toward the elevators.

Angel's smiling face greeted her after knocking on the heavy door to his office, effectively easing whatever second guessings she had lingering in the back of her mind about this whole thing. "And here you were thinking you would have a nice little break from me huh?" she joked.

"I don't mind having you here," Angel admitted with a shrug.

Walking over to grab a slice, she went ahead and made herself comfortable by looking over everything on his desk before finding a seat. "Well good, because I was pretty sure I'd wind up bored out of my mind today just being stuck at home."

"Now, aren't you the same girl who was just so very recently telling me that I worked too much and needed a life outside of this building?"

"Hey, now, I do have a life outside of work, thank you very much. My best friend just happens to be out of town for awhile and the past few weekends I really haven't done much outside of sleeping in and binge watching random shows on Netflix... and I think it's starting to get to me. Recharging is nice but apparently it also gets really boring after awhile."

"And you have no one else besides them to go take on the world with?"

Buffy shrugged. "I mean, yeah, I do... just... no one I really need to see all the time, you know? I still like to go out and have fun sometimes though. And, speaking of such, did you ever meet up with dear Lindsey last night?" she asked then rolled her eyes at his string of excuses for not only last night but apparently the whole weekend.

OoOoO

"So, what exactly have you been up to today, Mr. Angelus?" Buffy asked after getting a new slice, curling her legs up under her on the sofa.

Making a face at the formal name, "Just odds and ends mostly, nothing too exciting," he explained. "Returned some phone calls and e-mails, looked over a mountain of paperwork that I didn't understand half of. I did have every intention of coming in here to work out some more plans for the upcoming Christmas party but my brain just wasn't having it I guess."

With that, Buffy seemed to brighten up a little. "Okay, now that bit of business I absolutely know I could help out with. Not to brag or anything, but my first job when I was still in high school was birthday hostess at a bowling alley," she chuckled and shot a wink his way, "So I totally know what I'm doing."

"Obviously," he agreed.

"Mmhmm. So, in case you haven't already heard... I have already put together a couple hotel options for you to check out as you so wish... which I gave to Lindsey the other day. Personally, I have my own favorite pulling in the lead but I also don't have a full scope idea of what you are looking for and plan on doing with the space so that might help narrow things down a bit." She only grew more animated as she tossed around theme and decoration ideas, asking him about what were his absolute must dos and must haves, and he began to wonder if he shouldn't just put her in charge of the whole thing. Truthfully, within a handful of minutes it seemed she did more than he knew he, Wes, and Linds would manage to come up with between now and Christmas itself. He had yet to manage to ruin one of these events but every year he sure felt like he was scrambling around down to the very last minute.

Walking around to the other side of his desk, he fiddled with his computer for a moment before calling her over. Offering his seat up to her, he started showing off some of the folders with endless photos of previous years' parties, the endless string of files pertaining to each of them as well that had been backlogged.

Angel couldn't help but laugh as she started practically dancing in the leather seat as she looked through everything and even shooed his hand away after a few clicks, taking over like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It wasn't long before she had created a few new files even to save some of her favorite themes, decoration ideas, and even caterers. "How would you like to just take this whole thing over, I know it's out of your normal scope of work but in all honesty you seem to already have a much better handle on this than Lindsey or I ever have."

Her fingers paused over his keyboard, "Like the whole thing," she asked, sending a quick glance his way.

He just shrugged, "Well ya, if you want to. As you can see I'm pretty much drowning here, and the whole party planning thing has never really been my thing, I constantly second guess whether or not I did too much or not enough. By the night of the party I'm usually so over the whole damn thing I don't even get to pretend to enjoy it."

"And you don't think Lindsey or anyone else will mind that you're giving it all to the new girl?"

He gave her a funny look, "In case you haven't noticed I don't too much care what Lindsey does or doesn't mind," he smirked, "If he has a problem, which I doubt he will, he'll get over it. Besides, he'll probably just be grateful to be off the hook for all the last minute shit I usually throw on him with this."

After going over some more of the details with Angel, she couldn't deny the small bubble of pride she felt with being handed such a task. It was going to be a lot to take on for sure, but it was something she was actually excited about so she hoped it wouldn't be too bad. She'd nearly choked on the slice of pizza she had just taken a bite of when he mentioned the budget and slid her one of the company cards so she could get a start on things. She tried to ask him if she should get his approval on any big spends beforehand but he just waved her off.

OoOoO

It was getting late, the sun had been down for hours, and even though he kept glancing at the clock he couldn't help but wish time would slow down if only a little. The truth was not only had they gotten a lot accomplished, he'd even managed to make some headway with the large stack of papers he'd only combed through earlier, but he'd actually found himself enjoying the evening. Which he himself had long lost hope of that being possible in those four walls.

"So what would you be doing if you weren't here," came her voice from behind his desk.

"You mean tonight?"

"No silly," she shook her head, "I mean like if you weren't here. You said something before about how you were never supposed to be the one running this place, what were you supposed to be doing?"

He let out a long sigh, "I don't really know. Before the accident," he paused, "Before I was forced into the position I had some teenage fantasy of becoming an artist. It's what I got my degree in, I had just landed an internship under one of the most prestigious painters in Europe when I got the call…" he trailed off. "I'd like to think I would have been successful enough to have my own studio by now, but I don't really know. Honestly I try not to think about it too much, all that stuff almost seems like it was a different lifetime ago now."

She pointed to the drawing she'd noticed the other day on the wall, "Well you sure seem to have the talent," she told him softly. "You know you could still do all that right? I mean sure, maybe that dream you had of having some big studio in some fancy city has passed, but you don't have to give up on what you love just because you have a day job now."

He nodded, "I know," he continued, still perplexed as to how this damn woman held the ability to constantly pull his deepest truths from him. It was almost as if he didn't even have the ability to deny her, and he was still trying to work out just what that meant. "After everything I just lost everything. Myself included, not only was my world turned upside down, but in the blink of an eye I lost nearly every single person I ever cared about. It took me a couple of years to even remember how to breathe, to not feel like the weight of the world wasn't resting on my shoulders. I know my reputation, and despite their whispers I know what most of the people in this building, this city, think of me. I never meant for it to become how it is, but starting out, trying to learn all this from scratch, knowing everyone expected me to fail, knowing just as many of them wanted to see it happen," he shook his head, "I'm doing the best I can."

She practically had to force herself not to go wrap her arms around him and just give him the biggest hug.

"Don't," he started.

Her eyes went wide, "Don't what?"

"Don't feel sorry for me, trust me when I say I don't deserve it."

There were so many questions swirling around inside her mind, so many things she wanted to say. She wanted to know more about the accident about the specifics of what happened to his family, but something told her it wasn't the time, so she refrained, barely. "You have to stop putting yourself last," she whispered, "You keep talking about yourself like you're the worst person in the world, which I happen to know isn't true. Can you be an asshole." She flashed him a grin, "Absolutely, but you can also be a really good person Angel. You can't always be so hard on yourself, believe it or not self love is a real thing."

He rolled his eyes, "Oh God, please don't tell me this conversation is about to lead to a speech about empowerment or meditation or some other new age shit."

At that she couldn't help but laugh, "Noo," she promised. "But like I said I do think it would do you a world of good to get out of this place every once in a while."

"You know I keep telling him the same thing." The sound of someone else's voice had them both nearly jumping out of their skin. They had each been so focused on each other they hadn't even heard anyone approaching.

Angel let out a groan, he could already hear Lindsey now once they were alone. "What are you doing here?"

"Well being the good friend that I am, I figured I'd stop by the office here since I was heading to the pool hall down the street, see if maybe I could drag your grumpy ass out for some socializing," he shot Buffy, who he couldn't help but notice looked awfully comfy behind the big guys desk a wink. "But I see now you've found some company of your own and look to be well already well taken care of over here." He couldn't deny the silent kick he was getting out of the slight blush Buffy's cheeks took on next or with how annoyed Angel seemed to be with his sudden appearance. Truthfully this was probably one of the last things he came waltzing up here expecting to find but it was more than enough to continue sparking his interest in whatever spell this pretty little thing obviously had cast over Angel.

He really couldn't help but wonder about what in the world was brewing between the two of them and why, how and when their paths obviously managed to cross and this weird bond between them must have formed, or how in the world it seemed whenever she was around was the only time in years he seemed to be able to catch an actual glimpse of who Angel once was before this place was dropped in his lap...

It wasn't as though he could say he knew Buffy all too well but he didn't get any vibe off of her that threw up any red flags as far as he was concerned. He had dealt with his fair share of brown nosers and floozy women who would just use the higher ups to try and get ahead in the world, or throw themselves around trying to sleep their way up those ladders but he really didn't pick up anything like that from her. Hell, even seeing her here on her damn day off, barely a step above an intern hanging around with the big boss man, sitting behind his desk like it was the most natural thing in the world... none of that was setting off any sirens inside of him when he was pretty sure something about it should.

Angel opened his mouth to more than likely start spouting off some reason he couldn't join but before even a sound escaped his lips, Buffy piped up. "You should totally go with him."

"I have-" Angel tried before getting cut off again.

"...managed to get more done today than you expected, like you just said not too long ago," she continued and it took all Lindsey had inside of him not to laugh at the face Angel made at her. "So, not only do you deserve the break after all this hard word but you have a bonus reason to go out and celebrate a little hmm?" Tapping at the keyboard, "Just let me finish sending a copy of a couple of things here and I will be happy to get out of your boys' way again."

"Now, I'm gonna to start feeling like I'm wearing some sort of Buffy repellent or something if you keep running off every time I show up," Lindsey joked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Buffy laughed as she finished up at Angel's computer then shook her head. "Please, I have been spending most of my days around you as it is so if you are spritzing some on it's obviously not working out so great." Stretching for a moment, Buffy stood up and walked over to Angel's little sofa to put her shoes back on. "Besides, I am sure I have wore out my welcome for the day and stayed too long as it is."

"You know that's not true," Angel's voice told her softly and again it took far too much effort to try and not grin ear to ear or call them both out on what was playing out right in front of his own face right now that they both seemed damn near oblivious to.

"Well there's nothing to say you can't tag along, Darlin'."

OoOoO

"Would you just..." Angel opened his hands out in front of him, "Out with it already?" he sighed.

Lindsey took a sip and was already shaking his head before pulling the bottle back away from his mouth. "Sorry motherfucker, I have no idea what you're goin' on about." Angel shot him his best drop dead before I kill you look which only made Lindsey laugh and take a few steps around to the other side of the table they had claimed as their own. Lindsey scanned the crowd to see if Buffy was returning from her trip to the bathrooms yet, though given the sight of the line to the damn things if anything he was sure she'd be coming back muttering it wasn't worth the wait anymore, before pointing a finger in Angel's direction. "Trust me when I say this... when you are in fact ready to have that conversation I will be one hundred percent over here waiting."

Angel rolled his eyes and that only made Lindsey more fueled up. As much as he wanted to blurt out all the questions and opinions and bother the ever loving shit out of him right now... this whole situation felt like it was one he really needed to toe the line with. Of course he wondered just how far he could still push some of those buttons in the meantime to try and get Angel to see what was obviously happening right in front of him, or to try and trap him in some big "gotcha" moment down the line didn't sound like a bad time either.

OoOoO

Spotting Wesley who he'd called in for, well, more than anything confirmation that he wasn't crazy, Lindsey strolled to the Brit. "Now will you please tell me what in the world you needed me to come all the way back over this way for?"

Lindsey smirked, starting to turn him around. "Wes, you wouldn't have believed me if I told you."

"What are you-" Wes stalled, his eyes growing wide. "Oh."

"Exactly?"

"Wh-who is that?"

"That would be Buffy Ann Summers," he answered, pausing between each of her names for dramatics. "She's part of the team I have loaned out from Lilah." Wes stared, looking more confused by the second, before taking his glasses off to clean them once, then twice. "Right there with ya, bud," Lindsey laughed, lightly slapping him on the back. "He's pretending like none of this is out of the ordinary so get ready for some fun."

OoOoO

"Do you live in like one of those giant mansions that have dozens of bedrooms, Olympic size pools indoor and outdoors, a full basketball court and all that?"

Angel laughed and shook his head. "Not quite. I mean it's still more of a luxury type place I guess you could say... I have more space than needed but there's nothing really out of the ordinary like that."

Her eyes flicked up to the tv that was on mute but were doing a little exclusive look at various rapper's homes then back to him. "Sorry, that's probably incredibly rude to ask... it's just a bit fascinating at times to see what some people do when they have what seems like no limits. That last guy had his driveway paved in gold and that just seems... excessive in every way imaginable."

"You're fine," he promised with another chuckle in his tone before he noticed the reinforcements that'd been called.

Following his line of vision she glanced to the other side of her to see Lindsey approaching with someone mildly familiar. "Hey," she smiled, "Who's your friend?"

Angel shot Lindsey another one of those looks that told him he was imagining his death all over again.

"Miss Summers is it," Wes asked as he got closer to the small blonde, "I believe we met briefly last week when Lindsey introduced your team during the meeting with," he stammered for a second not sure on the appropriate name to use in regards to Angel outside of the office with such a new employee. "Liam," he finally decided, and didn't miss the way she giggled before stretching out his hand, "Wesley Wyndham Pryce, it's a pleasure I'm sure."

Her eyes cut across to Angel as she shook his hand, then scooting over to the chair closest to him, "Of course, though I have to admit I was a little distracted that day, first meeting with Mr. Angelus and all that."

Again Angel made a face at the formal name, "Can we please stop with all the formalities? Wes," he pulled her chair just a little closer to him, "Buffy, Buffy Wes."

Buffy poked his ribs, "Oh he's just trying to be nice, Liam."

Wesley was sucked in a quick breath at the display while Lindsey couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "You know, I think I just might like you Summers."

OoOoO

Lindsey had insisted on buying everyone shots, after forcing the first round down though she started sneakily trading her full glass for Angel's empty one. So far Lindsey had yet to notice, and she had to admit she didn't exactly dislike Angel under the influence either. He was far from drunk, but you could definitely tell the edge had been taken off, for once he looked like he was actually having fun.

"Okay, who's ready some pool? Wes you're with me, Buffy," his eyebrows rose in question.

Putting her best poker face on she shrugged, "I mean I don't really know how to play but I'll give it a try."

"Don't worry," Lindsey called over his shoulder as he made his way to one of the open tables, "We'll take it easy on you, right Wes?"

"Absolutely."

OoOoO

She had been trying to let Angel take all of her shots but after the third time Lindsey eventually called her out. Grabbing the pool stick she went to line up her shot, but surprising her not for the first time tonight, she felt Angel's large body come up behind. Leaning over her from behind he tried to ignore the look Lindsey was shooting his way as well as the absolute perplexed expression Wes was wearing as he used his own hands to guide hers into position. "Just take your time," he whispered softly next to her ear. "If you can just manage to hit the eight ball over by that corner you'll block his next shot."

Nodding slightly, she waited for him to step back before slightly realigning her aim, then before he could correct she took the shot.

They all watched in amazement as she made not two but three balls in, the third of which had seemed like a near impossibility, then Lindsey all but gasped when the cue ball just clipped the eight to send it right to the spot Angel had gestured towards. "What the hell," came Lindsey's voice, followed closely by Wesley holding up a finger, "I do believe I second that."

Ignoring them she turned back to Angel. "Guess you're not the only one with secrets," she smiled sweetly, then still giggling at his puzzled expression she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek. "Five ball, center pocket," she instructed quietly before pulling back.

"Now just you hold on a damn minute," Lindsey exclaimed. "I've been playing this damn game for basically as long as I could stand, and I only dream of pulling off shots like that, where in the hell did you learn to play Summers."

Shrugging her shoulder she hopped back onto her seat, "It's not really a big deal," she tried to wave him off. "When I was little it was pretty much the only thing me and my delinquent father did together, he was a shark or whatever a couple of lifetimes ago."

"I knew I liked you for a reason," Lindsey teased, "Think you could arrange some private lessons between me and your pops?"

She shook her head, "No can do. He ran off when I was ten."

Angel shot Lindsey yet another look promising threats on his life, "I'm sorry Buffy," he told her softly.

She smiled, "It's no big, really," she promised, "Delinquent remember."

"Here," she climbed back down off the barstool, "Maybe I can show you a thing or two," she smiled, shooting Lindsey a wink of her own.

His hand flew to his chest, "While I appreciate the offer sweetheart, I'm just not sure my pride would allow me to accept pointers from a girl."

OoOoO

Lindsey eventually relented and took some of her advice, but only after her and Angel kicked his ass three times in less than ten minutes. Lindsey was good, but Angel was better. Once he figured out she knew how to play he'd stepped his game up, pulling out a few shots that had impressed even her. Of course that had only seemed to infuriate Lindsey more which resulted in him ordering them yet another round of drinks while calling Angel nothing more than a show off.

It was fun seeing the two of them interact outside of the office, that small bromance she'd caught glimpses of there was definitely shining bright tonight. Lindsey seemed hell bent on annoying Angel every chance he got, and Angel seemed to have no problem smacking the back of his head a time or two when he started to get too out of hand. Wesley seemed quiet, but the more he drank the more he started to loosen up. She wasn't stupid, she could sense that all eyes were on her, more specifically her and Angel, but she didn't mind, not really anyway.

It was nice getting to know his friends as people too. Plus, she'd seen Angel smile more times tonight than all the times she'd been around him combined, and lord knew he needed that.

Back at their table, she tried to stifle another yawn as she leaned her head against Angel's shoulder.

He desperately didn't want this night to end, even though he knew Lindsey and Wes would never let him live tonight down, he wasn't sure there was a single thing he would change. Glancing at his watch he couldn't help but notice how late it was getting though, "It's getting late," he echoed his thoughts quietly to the blonde pressed against him.

"Mmm," she half whined, then grabbed his wrist to look at his watch for herself. Her eyes went wide, "Oh it really is," she sighed.

"You about ready?" he finally forced himself to ask. They had walked from the office down to the hall since it was only a quick trip between the two but it felt much longer at the moment.

Shooting a sleepy smile, she nodded and they started their rounds of goodbyes to the other members of this little get together. Lindsey, to his credit, looked better than any of the rest of them... then again Angel figured he'd probably slept in even later than Buffy had mentioned she had. "Don't do anything stupid while we're gone," he leaned in to tell Linds, getting the same shot back at him with a wink. Looking over to Wes, Angel muttered they'd better call a cab for him but Lindsey waved him off saying he already had one on the way.

"Gotta say it was nice seeing you live a little tonight. Been way too long."

Angel shrugged, yeah, it was nice but he was sure he would be beating himself over it soon enough. That's just how much of a disaster he was.

Then, he was scowling before he knew what was happening as Buffy wrapped her arms around the long haired brunette and whispered something he couldn't make out but sure made the two of them laugh. "I'll see you Monday, Boss."

"Be lookin' forward to it, Beautiful."

OoOoO

"I hope you don't plan on driving home," Buffy said, with another yawn escaping her - it seemed as soon as the fresh, cold air hit her she was doing that every few seconds, "Hell, I'm pretty sure I'm just going to call for a ride my own self. Home seems a little too far away right now."

His head shook, "Nah, I'll probably just crash at the office and call it a night."

She pondered that for a moment. "Where do you sleep? You said there wasn't a bed in there so... just on that sofa in your office?"

"Yeah. It's not ideal or anything but it works. That or on occasion I have woken up just as my desk."

She made a noise at him for that confession. "How about... you go get whatever you need from upstairs and then I'll be super nice and let you share a cab with me... and I'll even let you pay for the whole thing."

"You take big issue with me when I try and spend any money on you," he countered with a smirk on his lips.

"I do, but you seem to enjoy it," she rolled her eyes, "and if it gets you to go home and sleep in your own bed after the day this has been then so be it," she told him with a shrug of her shoulders. "So, what do you say?"

As soon as they got back there he kept trying to keep himself from blurting something ridiculous along the lines of maybe she could stay here as well, that he was sure he could find another love seat or something she could crash out on, just to have a little more time with her so this did seem like one of the less crazy of ideas.

It still meant he didn't have to say goodbye to her or this day just yet...

OoOoO

Buffy was whispering that she had enjoyed meeting his friends when she suddenly stopped mid word, completely passed out, cuddled up against his side in the back of the taxi. Brushing a loose strand of her hair out of her face, he then secured the jacket he'd thrown over her as a makeshift blanket a little better around her and tried to ignore the rush of emotions flying through him.

It wasn't the longest of rides but he let her sleep peacefully until they arrived at her place. Barely stirring, he told her quietly she was home, which she nodded about then seemed to slip under again. Chuckling, he tried again and told their driver he'd help her inside then continue on their way.

Lifting her out of the cab, he carried her up to her door, finding himself amused even more as she grumbled about how she must not be making any great impressions right about now.

She came to life a little bit more as she searched for her keys and he was able to help her inside as promised. Angel placed her bag off on her couch, helped her out of her shoes and the oversized hoodie she had been wearing all day - despite her warning that while she had a tee shirt on underneath it she did not have a bra on and didn't want to make him uncomfortable, and got her off into the bed, tucking her in a little before heading back out, turning the one light they'd turned on to see a bit better back off and locking up before finally leaving.

Not even halfway to his house, Angel pulled his phone out and smirked down at the bright screen as he finally got back to their little texting game.

ButImBroken:

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