Angel was starting to feel just a bit nervous as they got closer to the house, he checked his phone again and sent a quick text message to his aunt saying he was about five minutes away now. It seemed as if it had stopped sprinkling outside just long enough for him to dry off before it started right back up again.
It was dark by now but he sighed and looked out the window as they passed by a couple of businesses and a fair number of houses.
The driver of the taxi double checked the address before pulling into the driveway, the tires made a soft crunching sound of the gravel as it turned in. The front door of the small house opened just as they pulled in and he spotted Jenny hovering in the doorway as he thanked the driver and paid for the ride.
"Do you need help with your bags?"
Angel shook his head. "Nah, I'll be alright," he replied. There wasn't much he brought with him. "Thank you though."
He grabbed everything up and wished the man a safe rest of his evening before climbing out into the night air, a few raindrops hitting him in the process. He waved once more to the driver as he passed the front of the car and made the quick walk up to the house, bending into Jenny's tight hug as he reached her. "Hey, Jen," he greeted softly.
Jenny squeezed him tighter for a brief moment before backing up. "Alright, let's get you inside," she offered. Angel followed her through the front door and placed his bags down in a corner out of the way before following her toward the kitchen, his eyes taking in the inviting home as he did. "Rupert was just finishing up dinner," she told him as they came around the corner.
Angel nodded as the older man turned around. "Hello again, Rupert," he greeted. He'd only met Rupert Giles in person twice but they did keep in touch in other ways. Angel had found he'd always liked the Brit and thought he was a good match for Jenny.
"Angel, I do hope you are hungry. I didn't know what exactly you might like so I may have gone a little overboard."
Angel put his hands in his pants pockets. "I'm starving," he admitted. "And I am far from picky so it's all fantastic I'm sure. Thank you. And I do mean that for everything," he added softly. Angel cleared his throat. "I am sorry for even asking-"
Jenny quickly shook her head and put her hand gently on his arm. "We are more than happy to have you," she told him. "And we want you here for as long as you need and want to be here."
The two of them shared a long look then Angel just hugged her again quickly before letting that sit for now. Instead, he asked if there was anything he could do to help with the meal and got a few easy jobs from the two with finishing setting the table up. "I like the house," he said as they all sat down and he got a better look of it all.
Jenny smiled, handing his drink to him before sitting herself. "I'll give you a tour later if you want. It's nothing fancy but we've made it quite the home since we moved in."
With that, the conversation came easier. He asked about the house, they asked him about how the flight and cab ride over was, if the house was hard to find... They all avoided the elephant in the room for now.
After dinner, he insisted on helping clean up before Jenny showed him around. After getting the quick tour they all sat around for a bit longer and talked before Jenny asked if he wanted to go see the apartment they'd offered to him so he got his bags and bid Rupert goodnight before following her back through the kitchen and dining room and out the back door.
The mother-in-law style apartment they had was mere feet away from the main house. Jenny unlocked the large red door and they stepped inside as she explained which keys went to where- the apartment, main house, garage...
"I apologize that there's not a lot out here-" she started.
"No, no," he quickly cut her off. "It's perfect. I promise."
"Whenever you are up for it we can go get you whatever you need, okay? A couch, chairs... whatever you want to add. And we can go grocery shopping as well. I did throw a few things into the fridge there but there's not a whole lot right now. There's some bread and coffee and a few things in the cabinets as well so please, please feel free to come over to us anytime that you want. Make yourself at home."
"You didn't have to do any of that, Jen. I cannot possibly thank you and Rupert enough for any of this," he told her, his chest starting to feel a little tight.
"You are my family, Angel. I love you. And I would do anything for you that I can."
Angel let out a shaky breath. "I promise I will pay you and Rupert back. For everything. The plane ticket, letting me rent this, the food..."
Jenny shook her head and took a step closer to hug him once again. "Never," she said softly. "You are our guest, you are our family. We want you here and worrying over any of that is the last thing either of us want. You focus on you, on what you need. And we will help you any way that we can."
Jenny showed him around the small loft, she checked to make sure the heating and cooling unit worked, the warm water turned on for him, she made him climb up the ladder to the bed area to make sure he would fit.
"Is that all you have?" she asked gently when he came back down, looking back at the bags he had placed inside the closet.
Angel looked over at them as well. "Mostly. I shipped a couple of boxes out before I came... just some stuff that I knew I wouldn't need right away. I'm hoping at some point I can get some of my shit back, though. But I guess we will have to see how that all goes."
Jenny was quiet for a moment, then, "H-have you talked to Darla at all since..." she trailed off.
He swallowed hard at the first mention of his estranged wife. "Not directly, no. Everything has been through third parties so far."
"Maybe it's better that way though?" Jenny offered.
Angel nodded slightly. He couldn't imagine any conversation with Darla ever going well again.
His stomach sank a little as some of those not so distant memories started to flood back into his mind. He replayed the memory of him returning from work that evening and how confused he was finding a handful of his things just sitting out on the porch, he remembered trying to get in the house only to find the locks changed and Darla not answering, him trying to call her and anyone he could think of trying to understand what in the hell was happening.
He replayed the shocking phone call between him and the person he thought had been his best friend explaining that Darla had decided their marriage was over, she wanted him gone, how the two of them had apparently decided they would now be in a relationship.
Angel replayed the memories of being served divorce papers and restraining order papers as well after he and Lindsey had their confrontation about it all. He replayed the moment he found out that Darla had cleaned out all of their bank account and the hits one after another he got from her trying to just sink him into the ground.
This had certainly been the lowest of times.
"Is there anything I could do?"
Angel blinked, pushing those thoughts back away and let out a sigh. "Jen, you have done more than enough," he assured her. "And words can not express how much I appreciate all of it. For now, really I just think I want to take a shower, sleep for the longest amount of time as I possibly can, and then... and then I just need to start figuring out what in the hell I'm going to do now."
"I'm just so sorry you're going through this."
"Me, too. It'll be okay... eventually," he said, though not with much conviction.
Jenny gave a sad smile. "Your mom never did like her."
That made Angel snicker. "Isn't that the truth? Hell, she'd be having a field day with this shit. I can hear the 'I told you so's' haunting me already."
Jenny stayed just a few more minutes and then it was just him alone in the apartment. He let out a huge sigh and walked around the small space again. It was nearly empty in here... there was the heating/air unit in the wall near the front door, a coat rack, a ceiling fan and light fixture, and a long space of emptiness to serve as a little living room area. In the far corner of it there was a small built in kitchen area... it was really just a counter with a sink, a few cabinets above it, a shelf with a small microwave. There was a curtain and underneath the counter had a little shelf with a package of paper plates and plastic silverware, a few cups, and a coffee maker.
Angel briefly looked through the three cabinets above to find a few random items inside then closed it back up. On the other side along the other wall was a small refrigerator that he peeked inside as well.
On the other side of the fridge was a decent sized walk in closet. It had a few built in shelves and racks, a few random hangers already in there. The small space between the closet and bathroom had the ladder leading up to the bed and another light fixture hanging down above it. He was sure he'd bump his head on it many times in the near future.
The bedroom area was the smallest space, it had a mattress on the flooring and there wasn't much space around it for anything else. He barely fit but he'd make it work. Jenny had told him they'd bought the mattress and bedding set just for him and he was sure they'd had a hell of a time getting it up there and ready.
Angel climbed halfway up and plugged his phone into the wall to let it charge then climbed back down and headed to the bathroom. It had the only other door in the apartment and was a decent size. He saw his reflection in the mirror and sighed, he looked as drained as he felt.
The bathroom had a large counter where the sink was, Jenny had gotten him a handful of different items with various types of shampoos, soaps and body washes along with some other items lined up on the shelf below it. He made quick work of getting a few things put around the room. There were new towels and washcloths in the corner cabinets and two unopened shower curtains to choose from.
He got that set up on the large bathtub before undressing and getting into the shower.
After changing into some clean clothes, Angel put a few of the things he'd brought with away around the apartment then climbed back up to the bed. He wrote out a quick list of some things he'd like to get on his phone before pushing the extra pillow up against the small window up there to hopefully block out the morning sun until he got a curtain fixture then laid down.
For the first time since this whole mess started, Angel didn't take forever and a day to be able to drift off to sleep...
Angel still wasn't sure if just packing up and coming out here was the right choice to make but he knew he had to do something.
A fresh start right now sounded as good as anything else.
OoOoO
A little over a week had passed and Angel was still doing his best to adjust to the major shifts his life had taken recently.
Between what money he was actually able to get his hands on before Darla got to it and family helping him out he had gotten a lawyer before even coming out here and they were doing their best to deal with the situation... now mostly over the phone but he knew he'd travel back as needed.
He couldn't wait until the shit was over and done with but he already knew it wouldn't be as easy as he hoped. She was out to bleed him dry of everything and make this as messy as she possibly could and it only made him more spiteful.
He knew their marriage hadn't been perfect and a number of times they'd struggled to even stay together but how she pulled this over him? He'd never imagined this coming. And he hated it.
He had wasted so much time replaying the days... the weeks... months leading up to the day he came home and everything went to hell but he could never remember anything out of sorts that should have raised a red flag. Same with her and Lindsey, that shocked the hell out of him just the same. All of it made him feel incredibly stupid right now.
His Aunt Jenny had been a godsend... even before he had moved out, he had no idea how he'd ever be able to repay her and her husband for everything. The money he'd eventually get back to them but how in the world to otherwise make up for it all... he'd just have to figure out as he went. Since his arrival they had made sure he was comfortable, fed, had anything he needed.
They let him use either of their vehicles whenever he needed, gotten him some more clothes and another couple pairs of shoes, he'd added a handful of things to the apartment, Jenny had gotten him a laptop to use... which he mostly used to search for jobs. He'd only gone to one interview so far but he had only started sending out applications so he hoped it wouldn't take long to find something.
The apartment now had a small couch and matching ottoman, an end table beside it, blinds on the three windows. Jenny had gotten him a cube shelf but it was still even in the box in the corner... along with a tool set he'd picked up.
There was more food in the house though he still ate at least once a day next door, he'd gotten a stand alone single burner and a small griddle for the apartment, a single pot and pan, a single set of plates and bowls, a set of silverware... his clothes were hung and he he got some plastic storage bins to use as needed... two laundry hampers and just a few other odds and ends. He'd also gotten his boxes in the mail but there wasn't anything overly interesting in them either.
It was a start.
Jenny wanted him to feel at home and he was trying... decorating the place up wasn't exactly his biggest priority at the time, though. He also didn't want them spending endless amounts on him all the time just to fill the space, he was fine with doing everything little at a time.
Almost all of his time was spent either alone or when that got to be too depressing it'd be spent with Jenny and Rupert.
They had introduced him to a couple of their neighbors and he'd stop and chat if they spotted him but that was about it so far. He ventured out a little... mostly looking for job ideas or shopping but he was pretty good at navigating at least part of the town now. He just hadn't been up to doing anything... there was the lack of money, not used to being as alone as he was out here, not even knowing what he might be interested in any more...
Angel sighed, staring up at the white ceiling that he could barely sit up without hitting. It was too damn early for his thoughts to be this cloudy and this depressing.
Climbing down, Angel used the bathroom and then threw a shirt on and headed next door for breakfast and distraction.
OoOoO
The backdoor had already been left open and no one seemed to hear the screen door open or close when he stepped inside the dining room so he just quietly watched for a moment. His lips twisted up just a little as he listened to Rupert and the blonde, he had no idea what they were arguing about but she was animated as she playfully mocked him about whatever it was.
Rupert was rolling his eyes when he did finally spot Angel, he smiled and sat his cup of tea down before addressing him. "Oh, Angel, hello. Good morning," Rupert greeted.
"Mornin'," Angel replied, his voice still a little scratchy from sleep.
The blonde looked over at him as well now and she shot him a welcoming smile. "Hi!"
"Hi," he replied with a little nod her way.
"Food is almost done," she told him and looked back down at the stove for a moment. "Hope you like omelets."
"That I do," he told her and she smiled at him again.
"Coffee is already done if you want some."
Rupert took the small break in conversation to introduce the two of them. "I believe you met briefly at the wedding," he started, "but Buffy this is Jenny's nephew, Angel, who I mentioned would be staying with us. Angel, this is my daughter Buffy."
Angel nodded at her again. He remembered her but only just... they'd exchanged hellos and shaken hands and that was about it.
He sort of remembered her giving a speech that night as well. Jenny had reminded him last night that Rupert's step-daughter from his previous marriage had a large breakfast with them nearly every Saturday morning and spent part at least of the weekends with them.
She had apparently been sick the past two weeks which is why she hadn't been around before now.
Jenny came to join them just as he was finishing grabbing a cup of coffee and it was just a few minutes before they all sat down to eat the large breakfast Buffy and Rupert had made for them all. Angel stayed more quiet than even usual for him with the additional person but Buffy didn't seem to falter at all, she carried on the conversation easily and would even include him several times.
OoOoO
"So, how do you like it out here so far?"
"I guess it's alright," Angel answered. "I haven't exactly ventured around so I can't say much either way. It's nice being here at Jen's though."
"So you haven't explored around or anything?"
Angel shook his head. "Not really."
Buffy was silent for a moment. "Well, what do you like to do? What do you miss doing?"
Angel took a sip of his coffee before answering. "I don't know... I didn't do too much outside of work and just spending time with friends and family. We had pretty regular nights out getting drinks or going out to eat, I played basketball or hit a gym, I'd go to hockey games every now and then..."
Buffy seemed to think again real quick before speaking. "How do you feel about skating?" At his raised eyebrow she clarified, "Roller skating. Like at a rink?"
"I... well, I don't think I've done that in over a decade..."
"About the same for me," Buffy said with a little laugh. "I'm meeting some of my friends around noon to go, though. You're welcome to join if you want."
Angel smiled and thanked her for the offer but kindly turned it down.
"No problem," she answered with a smile. "Maybe another time. Or if you ever want someone to tag along somewhere I'm not too far away."
OoOoO
Angel helped clean up after everyone had finished their breakfast then headed back to the apartment to take a shower and get changed. He sat down on his new couch and made a few phone calls, sent out some more job applications then sat there browsing random things online for awhile but he felt restless.
He kind of regretted not taking Buffy up on her offer just so he'd have something else to be doing right now. And, since she was kind of family it didn't have to be as awkward as trying to make a whole new group of friends.
Angel had a quick mental debate with himself when he happened to hear a car start up in the driveway before rushing out and just catching her. "Offer still stand?" he asked when she rolled the window down.
"Absolutely. Come on!"
He asked for two minutes and went back to the apartment to lock up and tell the others where he was going then returned outside. He slid into the passenger seat of Buffy's car and they were soon backing up out of the drive and into the street.
"I grew up about an hour and a half from here," Buffy said as they reached the end of the street, breaking the ice again. "I wound up in LA for awhile but I got out of a little bit of a hairy relationship and Giles had already relocated here so... I came along. Their apartment was nice but I like the house. And Sunnydale isn't so bad."
"They tell you why I'm here?" he asked, his hands rubbing against each other in his lap.
Buffy glanced his way. "Not really... they said you were getting divorced and needed to get away for awhile. They didn't go into any details or anything."
Angel nodded, looking out the window. "My mom passed away a couple of years ago and my dad was never in the picture so... Jen's just about all the family I had and I didn't know where else to go," he admitted. "It was all very... sudden."
The two sat in silence for awhile as they drove along. "How long were you married?" Buffy finally asked as they reached a red light.
"Eight years," he answered. "Together ten... well, just under ten."
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "It's none of my business and by all means if you don't want to answer anything don't or tell me to pick another subject or something."
"It's fine," he said, looking back out the window. He sure didn't mind her easily changing the subject though.
OoOoO
Buffy introduced Angel to her group of friends once they reached the skating rink and joined up with them.
Besides Buffy, her friends Willow and Oz went out of their way to make him feel comfortable which was nice... he otherwise felt a little out of place but it wasn't a bad time. He was sure the lower half of his body would be a little sore come tomorrow after the three hours nearly straight of being out on the floor with the lot of them.
"They open back up this evening if you wanna come back," Buffy told him as they returned the rented skates.
"I think I'm good for now."
Buffy laughed. "I'm gonna agree with you on that. It was fun but man... my feet are killing me now," she told him. "Are you hungry? I could grab something from the snack bar real quick if you want."
"I don't want to be a bother..."
She rolled her eyes. "You like hot dogs? Hamburgers? Let's go figure it out," she said and he just followed her through the crowd trying to turn their skates in and into the food court area. "Do you, like, hit your head every morning in the bed?" she asked suddenly while they waited. "I've been in that apartment and you seem too tall for it."
He gave her an amused look. He found he liked how she'd just start in on random things at random times. "If I am too far off the right I will since it angles down but otherwise I just barely make it," he answered.
Buffy ordered and paid before they stepped off to the side to fill drinks and wait for the food to be done. Xander and his girlfriend, Anya, stopped to say goodbyes as did their friend Jesse. Willow decided she'd grab some more candy and a drink as well before leaving while Oz pulled their car around. And soon it was just them again. The two ate their hot dogs and fries standing out in the parking lot beside her car.
"I wanna go there."
Angel turned back around and raised an eyebrow. "Where's there?"
Buffy used her straw to point across the street to a little shopping outlet. "The arcade. It's like Chuck E Cheese... but... not as fancy."
His face scrunched up. "Fancy?" he questioned, remembering his last experience at such a place.
Buffy shrugged. "It's Sunnydale!"
"Well, I mean... if you want to go..."
She laughed. "I don't necessarily mean right now. Just... some time. I have a list of silly places around here that I want to go to as soon as I can and just have a little joy back in my life with it all."
He shrugged. "Nothing wrong with that. It's right there though if you want to go now."
"You're not tired of me yet?"
"Not in the least. This is honestly been the best time I've had in a good, long while now."
"Alright," she drawled out. "Well, let's go check it out then."
OoOoO
"Sorry I kind of hijacked your whole day there," Buffy told him as they stood in the small walkway between Jenny and Rupert's house and the apartment.
"Nah, thanks for letting me tag along. I didn't really have anything else to do today anyway."
She smiled a little. "You looked like you needed to have a little fun and maybe get out of your head. At least for a little while. I know I did."
Angel thanked her again and said a quick goodbye as they went in opposite directions. He unlocked the door to the loft and plopped down onto the sofa, setting the prizes he'd used his tickets back at the arcade beside him.
He'd already eaten the candy, had no idea what he'd need a giant ass whistle for, but the dart board could be hung up on the wall later to try and help with the endless boredom he supposed.
He had to admit it'd be more fun than he'd thought. His legs and feet were still going to hurt tomorrow from the skating he hadn't been used to but he'd had a good time, he hadn't been locked up in his head, just enjoyed what was instead of stressing about a million things for a few hours.
Then the arcade... well, it was designed for young kids, sure, but it was still fun. He and Buffy had just acted silly and started competing with each other with the games... It wasn't a bad time.
ButImBroken:
"The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight, maybe it can't stop tomorrow from stealing all my time. And I am here still waiting though I still have my doubts, I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out."