The following morning Buffy found herself smiling as she came across the still steaming cup of coffee left for her and feeling more relaxed than yesterday with Lindsey's "Back to normal then?" comment when he came in a few minutes after she had arrived and found her fluttering about the office.

"Yes, sorry," she cringed behind her laptop.

Lindsey just laughed and she stuck her head around the side to watch him start bringing in a bunch of supplies and began hanging up some poster boards outlining more about the next step of the project as some of the others started spilling into the room little by little.

And it certainly didn't hurt her mood any as she quickly checked her phone as they waited for everyone to arrive and confirm some lunch plans with the man upstairs.

OoOoO

"Why are you avoiding me?" Angel read, barely able to contain the urge to roll his eyes. He knew he should probably say at least something back to Darla soon but the whole idea of entertaining her sounded exhausting. Dealing with some sort of fall out when she realized he was currently pretty much over this little arrangement the two of them had going on even more so.

Closing out her string of ignored messages, he turned his attention to much more important matters, a string of questions from the other blonde in his life. As he typed out a couple of quick replies he briefly wondered what it would take to convince Lindsey that Harmony and Buffy should trade positions, realistically he knew it would never work, unfortunately Lindsey already knew how airheaded his sister could be, didn't stop him from wishing though.

Knowing she was just downstairs and not being able to just pop down whenever he felt like it was a whole new kind of torture. Sure he could go down there but the second he stepped off the elevator all eyes were on him, and the last thing he wanted was to draw any sort of that kind of attention her way. Not being able to move about the building freely, or feeling like he needed to come up with some sort of excuse to go down there definitely wasn't something he was used to.

Even though Thanksgiving was a little over a week away he had spent the better part of the pre-dawn hours trying to think of a way to invite her over. Currently he was laying all the blame on his insomnia, but ever since he got this idea in his head about having her over he couldn't seem to get rid of it. Without no family around, he and Lindsey had sort of started a tradition of their own years back, then when Wesley came along he started joining in too.

It usually wasn't anything too special, especially not since the cooking was left to the three of them, but even though half of it usually came out burnt it was by far his favorite holiday these days. The day usually trickled into two or three spent watching football, playing cards, drinking into the wee hours of the morning, and more than once somebody usually ended up falling in the pool. It was pretty much the only time he really unwound and the closest he'd come to a vacation since this place fell into his lap all those years ago.

OoOoO

Angel had surprised her at lunch by telling her that he had plans for the two of them that afternoon. Apparently they were going to duck out of the office a little early to go take a look at the venue she'd had her eye on. She was excited, she figured he would want to see it in person she just didn't think that she would be getting a vote also.

She was worried though, even though he had tried to act like his normal self, Angel seemed a little off. Like he was more tired than normal or starting to come down with something, she had felt to see if he had a fever but he hadn't been warm. She was seriously contemplating teaming up with Lindsey to kidnap him or something and send him kicking and screaming on some sort of vacation.

"So, how was lunch?" Lindsey questioned as he waltzed back into the office a few minutes early.

Her fingers stilled over the keyboard, Lindsey's interest in whatever seemed to be going on between her and Angel had not been lost on her. Nor had the way Angel always seemed to try and dodge his questions, "It was good," she grinned, "We went to that little Greek place down the street."

Lindsey's grin widened as she confirmed what he already knew, "We, huh?"

Fighting the blush she felt bubbling through her, she rolled her eyes, "We're just friends."

His smile only grew, "Uh huh."

Trying her best to ignore the pair of eyes she felt burning into the side of her she forced herself to return her attention back to the screen in front of her. Her fingers began to move only to pause again when she saw him start to walk away out of the corner of her eye. "Hey Lindsey," she called looking around the room once again to make sure no one else was in hearing distance. "Have you seen him today? Angel, I mean."

His back still to her he paused mid step, "Just for a couple minutes this morning, why?"

Turning completely towards him she took a deep breath, not sure why she was feeling this bout of nerves merely asking him about Angel. "I don't know," she sighed again, "He was just off at lunch, I mean not in a bad way or anything, he just seemed like he didn't feel good, or he was tired or something…" she trailed off.

Slowly turning back towards her, he took a second to carefully process the next words that came out of his mouth. It was well known that Angel was one of the most intensely private people to walk the earth, he had never responded well to anyone speaking about him or anything he was going through. "Did you ask him about it?"

She nodded, "I tried, I even checked him for a fever but he felt fine. I don't know, I probably shouldn't have brought it up, I know, and I know we don't know each other very well but the little bits I do know worry me sometimes, like the parts where he seems determined to work himself into an early grave."

"Look Buffy," he started, "Even though you haven't been around for very long, I'm sure you've picked up on the fact that Angel's got more than one demon in his closet, and he's not usually the type to want to share. That being said, whatever it is that's going on between the two of you, be it a friendship or whatever," he waved his hand through the air, "It seems to me like it's good for him, like you've been good for him. I'm sure he's fine, and will be back to himself in a day or two…" he trailed off not sure if he should just stop while he was ahead, she watched as demeanor changed before her eyes, Lindsey her boss was gone and in his place stood Lindsey from the other night at the pool hall. "Sometimes he has problems sleeping okay, he has for a while now and I swear to all those above if you breathe a word of this conversation to him or anyone I'll fire your ass."

Biting her lip she barely managed to suppress the tugging of her mouth into a grin. She kind of found the way those two interacted to be adorable in its own annoying way, even if they acted like they couldn't stand each other most of the time she could definitely sense the friendship there. Her fingers to her lips she zipped her mouth shut then playfully tossed him the imaginary key just as a few of the other girls on their little makeshift team began filtering in.

OoOoO

She really wished that she had her camera ready to capture Lindsey's face when Angel showed up to get her for their little office field trip. She was a little blindsided about it herself having just expected Angel to text her or meet her downstairs, but Lindsey seemed utterly shocked, it had nearly taken everything in her not to burst out in a fit of giggles at the look on his face.

Reaching over she started sliding through all the options on the dash trying to figure out how to work his system, earning a look from Angel. He looked like he was going to say something but instead his eyes closed as yet another yawn took over him and she wondered how she should broach the subject of what was going on with him again... all without seeming too pushy, or letting anything slip about Lindsey and hers little talk earlier either.

"You know, as much as I do appreciate it, you really didn't have to invite me along," she finally said before he could go forward with whatever he had intended. "Or, I mean, if you aren't feeling up to it today I am sure they would understand and be happy to reschedule the viewing and whatever else for another time."

For just a brief moment Angel looked rather annoyed and her stomach did a weird clenching thing inside of her, but almost as soon as it appeared it was gone and he just shrugged and looked off the other way. "I'm fine," he promised as his head turned away from her.

"Okay," she replied softly. "Just know that it's okay if you aren't fine, too, okay? I'm just worried about you. You look-"

"Like shit?" he offered, his tone a bit lighter.

"I'm pretty sure you're not even capable of that," she answered in a voice just above a whisper.

OoOoO

Angel watched as what worry she didn't keep very well hidden started to drift a bit from the forefront of her mind as they walked inside the large lobby, her eyes brightening up as she took in the decorations they'd already started putting up around the hotel. "This place is freaking huge," she whispered over to him.

Angel stood, his eyes scanning until he figured out which way they were supposed to go. He did have to agree with her though, as far as hotels went he was impressed so far. Clearing his throat as they got closer to the man he was here to meet, Buffy rolled her eyes as she watched him slip into "business mode."

"Stop tryin' to be scary," she whispered right before putting a giant, warm smile on her face as she stepped in front of him to greet him first.

OoOoO

It was one thing to look through everything on paper, flip through files, photographs, know all the working details going in and another to actually be standing in the middle of the area they were looking to rent out for the party and just fall in love with it all. As she slowly spun around and took every corner and inch of the place in, it was like her mind could just fill in the images of where everything should go, how it should all be set up, how everything should look.

"So, what do you think so far?" Angel's voice came from behind her after they were left alone to discuss things so far.

Turning to face him, she sat everything in her arms down then got closer and began animating her vision to him the best she could, where they could put their tree, the food, a place for people to dance, the lights... It was the one she went into knowing she liked already and there were still the others she was sure he wanted to check out still so she tried not to get too ahead of herself but Angel was quick to tell her if she knew this was what she wanted then there wasn't any use in checking out every option.

"But do you like it? That's kind of the important part here... this is your party, your company, your money being spent on this whole thing..."

He was just finishing up easing her mind about everything when they were invited to continue on with the small tour. When they got the key card to go look into the suite she tried telling Angel she could just wait downstairs but he insisted she come along, and she was pretty sure the look on her face had to match Lindsey's from earlier as they were shown around the luxury room.

She was pretty sure the fanciest place she happened to have ever stayed in her life was maybe a step or two above a Super 8 and had been quick to tell him just that when he asked her opinion. "I really don't think I'm the person to go to about this portion of the deal. This is all you, my friend."

OoOoO

"You know I was trying to figure out how to get you to cut out early and go rest or something and instead here we are," Buffy grouched as she slid into the booth seat across from him. After finishing up with the hotel, he'd insisted using ideas still fresh in her mind and dragged her to a number of stores, and by the time his trunk was filled to the brim he figured they might as well grab dinner while they were out running around all over the place.

After deciding on what she wanted, Buffy's eyes drifted to one of the little standing flyers and picked it up. "That looks tempting," she told him, flipping it around so he could see the advertisement for a carry out Thanksgiving meal. "About every other year me and a few of my closest friends get together for like one of those Friendsgiving type things and usually just get these premade things and call it a day."

"No long standing family traditions?" he asked.

Buffy shook her head. "Not really, it's such a family oriented holiday in my mind and I never really had much of that. My grandpa passed away before I was old enough to retain memories of him, grandma before I hit double digits, then my mom was their only child and she was a struggling single parent a lot of the time and focused her worries of making the more fun holidays worth something more, ya know? There was always magic around birthdays and Christmas, Easter was always fun and big for me when I was younger but other days just kind of went without being a huge thing. Fireworks happen on the 4th, we always did enjoy turkey in some form or another come Thanksgiving... but it just wasn't a big deal. And my dad wasn't really around at all but certainly didn't come around for holidays. I never really knew anyone in his family either, my mom wasn't ever really sure about his side of the family either so..."

Angel felt a tug inside his chest, he already knew Buffy had lost her mother and didn't really have much in the way in family these days, but while they did match up on a lot there, he had grown up at least with a number of family members always around. Still, they both managed to end up pretty alone.

Putting the flyer back, "Of course this year it's just me with Willow being out on the road and our other friend Xander is apparently braving going to meet his girlfriend's whole extended family and all so that just might be too much food for me," she laughed.

He was more than aware that this was exactly the opportunity he'd been waiting for and yet for some reason unbeknownst to him he felt his heart rate kick up a notch. Mentally he kept trying to tell himself that it wasn't a big deal, he was just a friend inviting her to hang out with other friends, no big deal, and yet even he wasn't convinced by musings. "You can't really expect to be alone on Thanksgiving," he told her softly but she waved him off.

"Eh, no big," she shot him a smile, "Like I said I'm getting pretty used to it these days, I'll probably just veg out and try to find something interesting to watch."

"Or you could come to my place," he told her, reaching out and linking his fingers with hers across the table. "I definitely don't claim to be the best cook but I'm fairly certain my turkey would beat out anything being delivered on a Holiday."

Trying to ignore the light buzz she felt pulsing between them, which she was near positive was imaginary anyway, her eyes fluttered back to his, "I don't know, I mean I wouldn't want to intrude or anything. I'm sure it would be at least a little weird having one of your employees hanging around when you're trying to let loose and enjoy your small break from the office. I'm a big girl, I'll be okay."

He chuckled, "Being around you doesn't remind me of work Buffy, in case you haven't noticed you have the uncanny ability to get my mind off of everything going on back at the office. Also, Lindsey and Wes will be there so really you'd be doing me a favor," he smirked, "After a couple days with the two of them you'll understand why I feel like I have to stay on top of everything myself."

"Couple of days?" she echoed, and watched as he shrugged.

He nodded, "These last few years we've kind of entered some unspoken tradition of making a weekend out of it. It doesn't really consist of much more than football, and a few card games, but it's pretty much the only time of the year that all of us have the time to get away from everything back at the office, at least all at the same time. You wouldn't have to stay, I mean you could," he corrected, "I mean," he corrected again, "I'd like for you to but I'd understand if it were too weird or you didn't feel comfortable."

Biting the inside of her cheek, she tried not to think too much about the part where he'd said he'd wanted her to stay, "I don't know," she grinned, "I was pretty sold until you mentioned football."

Releasing the breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding, he smirked again, "Something tells me you won't think that part's so bad once you see the fit Lindsey throws when I beat him at poker." He paused, "So does that mean you'll come?"

OoOoO

Since the moment she agreed to Thanksgiving he'd been riding some sort of high he couldn't quite explain. He may not have gotten any sleep but knowing she would be joining him for at least part of the long weekend had gone a long ways to improve his mood. After dragging dinner out for as long as he possibly could, he'd finally offered to drive her back to the office to pick her car. Though he still fought with himself the whole way back, wanting more than anything to offer to just drive her home himself and drop by to pick her back up in the morning, but even those thoughts settled when she nonchalantly slipped her palm back inside his once they were back on the road.

The strangest part of it was the fact that it hadn't felt strange, or awkward, or any of the ways you would normally imagine something like that to be. If anything it had made him relax even more, which was probably something that once he did get some sleep would surely cause his head to start spinning all over again. At some point throughout the day he'd finally come to the realization that maybe there was something more than a friendship forming between the two of them, and maybe, just maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

Up until recently, up until she came into his life he hadn't given a relationship with anyone very much thought in a very long time. Darla was the closest he had come to such a thing, and that was most definitely not a relationship, not the kind with any substance anyway. He used Darla, which on some level he should probably feel bad about, but heavens knew that woman was no damn Saint herself. Between all the damn money he'd wasted on lavish shopping trips and all the hours he'd spent bringing her to ecstasy in some effort to cure his insomnia, as far as he was concerned they were beyond even.

There was something about Buffy that was different, that made him want more than to just take her to his bed, though he definitely wasn't opposed to that as well. She made him laugh, which these days was no easy feat, just the sight of her seemed to have the ability to turn his whole day around. He didn't feel that uncontrollable urge to lash out at any and everyone who crossed his path because how dare they not see what all he'd been forced to sacrifice to save that damn company, not understand that just walking those halls everyday, sitting behind that desk was a constant reminder of who all he had lost.

When she was around he wanted to do better, he wanted to be better because with her he actually felt like someone was seeing him for the first fucking time in nearly a decade.

OoOoO

All the way home she kept trying to keep her mind from over analyzing every detail from the last several hours. Part of her wanted to call Willow and just go on and on about how absolutely perfect everything between them seemed to be, but the other part of her didn't even want to say any bit of it out loud because she knew that once she put those thoughts and feelings out in the universe there wouldn't be any going back, and that terrified her.

She had barely had enough time to make it through the door and go pee before she heard the familiar tone of her phone. Picking it up she didn't even bother responding to his latest round of questioning about her favorite Thanksgiving foods before hitting the small green phone icon by his name.

"I thought we made a deal that you were going to go home and try to get some rest and not succumb to the blackhole of technology," she grinned hearing his deep sigh on the other end of the line.

OoOoO

Yawning for the second time, he briefly wondered why his body chose now out of all the sleepless hours he'd spent these last couple of days to finally find a way to relax a little, a warm heaviness slowly making its way throughout his body after crawling into bed. Buffy was already seeming half asleep but still on the other end of the line after they wound up lost in conversation when she called. In some part of his mind he was sure he actually knew the reason but he was far too gone to dive down that rabbit hole right now, he just decided to soak up the feeling as much and as long as he could.

Closing his eyes when the next yawn came, he could make out the very moment Buffy seemed to drift off, which made the corners of his lips turn up just a bit.

As sleep started pulling him deeper under, he happily continued to listen to the sound of her breathing on the other end of the line, drawing up images of what tomorrow might hold as the world faded away.

OoOoO

Buffy was extremely thankful she had at least had the sense to put her phone on the charger beside her bed as soon as she had laid herself out under the comforter but more than a little embarrassed she had obviously passed out without warning during her call with Angel last night. Knowing her luck, she probably snored loudly in his ear while he was trying to tell her something or bid her goodnight already or something along those lines.

Obviously at some point or another the call had ended, though not in any hurry from her phone log, and she'd tried to both text and call him to no avail so was now heading into work worried she had once again caused him to be late getting to the office.

OoOoO

"Do you think we should be concerned at all?"

Lindsey looked over his shoulder for a moment. "Probably," he responded. "But you want to shoot some specifics my way to what exactly we're being concerned with in this moment?"

Wes sighed a little, crossing over to the other side of the room. "About Angel and this Miss Summers girl he's getting all wrapped up in," he clarified. "Not to say I haven't enjoyed her company or anything because obviously she's nothing short of delightful, but..." he trailed off until Lindsey turned full around to face him. "Maybe I'm out of bounds here being worried about-"

"No, no, I get it, Wes. All those thoughts have filtered through my mind too I'm sure. This isn't Angel's norm and obviously a lot of things are changing with him since she stumbled into our lives. I think it's natural to be weary... I just.. I don't know, I really think he just likes her... and she's just... I don't get any vibes from her that make me think we need to worry that she's some big threat to anything. I just don't get the feeling she's out gold digging or trying to exploit shit... Buffy is just a damn good worker and for whatever reason they seem drawn into one another is all I pick up on."

"I agree, but it is a lot you have to admit. He's spending almost all of his time with this girl and he's been rather carefree around her... nice change of pace by all accounts but I just don't want to see him taken advantage of somehow, getting too lost in something. Today was the second day this week he's come into the office late... He's given her complete control of this Christmas party which includes having given her access to one of the company credit cards, and while so far there's not been any inconsistencies that is still something that makes me at least raise an eyebrow. And then just this morning he filled me in that she's apparently coming and staying for Thanksgiving with us and-"

Lindsey nearly choked on the coffee he had just taken a sip of. "He did what now?" He and Wes shared a look before he found himself shaking his head, he wasn't entirely surprised by the news but he wasn't expecting it either. "Look, if it comes down to it and either of us start to think something fishy is going on then we can dive head first but in the meantime," he smiled, "can we just enjoy what's going on from my unique point of view and keep pestering the shit out of the two of them until they get with the program?"

ButImBroken:

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