"I am sore as shit," Buffy grumbled in a slightly amused tone as she emerged from the guest bedroom just off of the dining area.
Angel chuckled a little at her as she walked past him toward Jenny and Rupert who were working on breakfast together. He was far from out of shape but he hadn't been used to skating so his calves sure had some burning sensation in them, too.
"Are you sure you can't stay the day?"
Buffy finished a large gulp of the orange juice she'd gotten and nodded at Jenny. "As much as I'd love to because I've missed you all... picking up some extra weekend hours sounded good. I already missed so much work already and the last thing I need is to start falling behind on bills. Again."
Jenny frowned a little but said she understood. "I'm just glad you are feeling better. And I know how you hate the weekend shifts."
Buffy groaned a little. "I don't know what it is but Sunday's just seem to drag on. I do not look forward to that," she said with a yawn. Stealing a few apple slices, Buffy came back to the table and sat down. "How is your job searching going?"
"It's going," he replied with a hint of a sigh. "I had a promising phone call first thing this morning though so we will see how the interview goes this afternoon." It was currently the top of the list of positions he was actually interested in so he was hopeful he'd make a good impression.
"I'm sure you'll do great," she told him reassuringly before getting up to help set the counter bar so everyone could grab breakfast.
OoOoO
After breakfast was over, Angel insisted on cleaning up since he hadn't helped with anything else so far this morning and Buffy returned to the guest room to change. Gone were the unicorn pajamas and messy bedhead the next time she came back out. Angel shook his head as he thought about Darla for a moment, about how she could never get ready to do anything in less than two hours.
Buffy felt around for a moment until she found her office tag and clipped it into place before she started saying goodbye to everyone.
Rupert hugged her tight and told her again how he had missed her. "Don't work too hard now."
"I won't. It's just an extra shift and I haven't done anything in weeks so it'll be fine."
"Do drive safe, too. It's showing rain again in the forecast."
"Always," she replied, rolling her eyes at him.
"It was nice seeing you, sweetheart," Jenny told her next. "I'll see you next week or if you want.. you know you're welcome to drop by at anytime."
"I know," Buffy whispered as she hugged his aunt. "Maybe we can get together one evening this week to make up for the past couple weekends."
"That'd be nice, Buffy."
Angel was a little surprised when Buffy came over to him and hugged him as well. "It was nice seeing you again, Angel. Thanks for the fun," she told him and wished him luck on the interview again. "I guess I will be seeing you next weekend but in the event you're ever bored or whatever..." she trailed off before handing him a small notebook page.
He opened it to find her name and phone number on it as well as a list of places she thought he might enjoy checking out in his free time. On the back it also had the names and numbers of some of the friends of hers he'd met yesterday.
"Don't be a stranger," she whispered and smiled his way one more time before giving everyone one last collective goodbye.
OoOoO
The next several days had been a bit of a blur... A phone call with his lawyer had put him in one hell of a bad mood for nearly two days, he'd also had a fight with another one of his friends from back home when he tried reaching out to them but clearly they believed everything Darla was spinning out of her mouth, and then finally the better side of things had been him starting to work again.
It was nice to be distracted. It was nice to be making money of his own. It was also nice to be able to take his anger and frustration out with hammers and other tools also to be quite honest.
He'd texted Buffy just twice, once to tell her he'd been offered the job and she sent him congratulations, the second was her asking how his first day had gone and he'd told her it'd been good.
He'd also sent his number and a quick hello to Willow, Oz and Jesse and then finally Xander. He didn't think Xander liked him much but each one of them had sent him words of encouragement for the new job as well during the week.
He'd tried out a bar one evening after his shift ended but he still felt out of place there and being alone. A few women had tried their best to make him feel less lonely but he just wasn't ready to even be thinking about that right now. He and Darla were one hundred percent done with one another as far as he concerned, it was paperwork being their only hangup, but his mind wasn't in a good place by far.
Ten years with Darla then this shit she pulled had messed him beyond belief. He wondered sometimes if he'd ever be able to really trust in someone or trust in a relationship again.
And some random one night stand type of a situation didn't appeal to him right now either.
OoOoO
"What in the hell is that?"
Buffy nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. "Jesus Christ!" she gasped, a hand flying to her chest. "Don't sneak up on people in the middle of the night."
"I thought you would have heard me."
"Well, I didn't!" she added with a light laugh. "And what are you even talking about? My movie?"
Angel's eyes glanced at the screen then back at her, he nodded toward the bowl propped up on the arm rest of the sofa. "That."
She looked over at it. "Oh. Banana cereal. Or, well, that's what my mom used to call it." At the look on his face she asked if he'd never had such before which had him shaking his head. "My mom was a wonderful lady, a wonderful mother... could not cook anything to save her life. She ordered food, did not make it, ever. The most effort she put into anything was this... she'd slice up bananas, throw them into a bowl with milk and pour sugar all over it. When I miss her I make a bowl... plus it's an easy snack."
He looked at the bowl again. "Why do I have a feeling you have more sugar in there than bananas?"
"It's an important ingredient."
Angel chuckled then did ask her what she was watching.
"It may not have been smart to start watching a horror show after Giles and Jenny just left, though," she told him after telling him the name and gist of it.
"It's still light outside," he told her.
"That matters not!"
Angel chuckled again.
"But... you're here now. I'll rewind it back to the start of the episode and you can keep me safe from the monsters and the demons."
"How about you keep me safe from them instead?" he asked with a smirk, then told her he'd be back and went to the kitchen to fix him a bowl of this "banana cereal" stuff as well.
While they watched, the two caught up here and there about the week... how his job had been going, how her's was, she gossiped about a few of her coworkers a couple of times... Buffy had reminded him that the other two had an after hours event back at the school tonight when he asked where they'd gone.
"I forgot about it until I was literally pulling in the driveway," she told him. "And here I was trying to surprise everyone with an early visit."
"You had better intentions at least. I just got home, took a shower and was starving. I was coming over in hopes there was food being made."
Buffy laughed at that. "Wanna order some pizzas?"
OoOoO
"You gonna walk me home? You're supposed to be my big protector and all."
Buffy raised an eyebrow at him. "You are out of your damn mind if you think I am stepping outside of this house any time soon."
Angel chuckled, just finishing putting the last plate away they'd washed up together.
"Do you work tomorrow?"
"No, I have weekends off. Usually anyway."
"Well, I guess I will see you for breakfast then. You know, if the creatures all lurking outside don't grab you between here and your door."
"Think I might have to make a mad dash for it. Good thing I didn't lock it before coming over, that'd only slow me down."
"Smart thinkin'. Also, I was going to mention Oz... you remember Oz... his band got slotted for a gig tomorrow night at The Bronze if you wanna go."
"Uhh... I don't know. I swung by the other day and didn't think too highly of it."
"You went to The Bronze?"
"Yeah."
"And you didn't have a good time?" she questioned.
"No, not really. I felt like I was too old to be there almost."
Buffy laughed again. "Well, I can't help you get any younger but you haven't gone with everyone as a group so it could have a different vibe. But it's up to you. Invitation stands. It's fun watching The Dingoes if nothing else. You may even get a second show if Cordelia and Devon get into it over something… as usual."
OoOoO
Once more, Angel found most of his Saturday spent alongside Buffy. Everyone ate breakfast together then everyone decided to go shopping at a mall about an hour away. Buffy had somehow managed to convince all of them for a round of mini golf and riding a teeny tiny train around the top floor. He'd almost wound up stuck in forever and she'd nearly died laughing at the situation.
He spent the afternoon back in Sunnydale running several errands then when he got back he was back off with her to the club.
Using the back entrance, Buffy made her way easily through the building. The guard at the back gate knew her by name and the large man had even hugged her before letting her in and gave a nod his way. She waved at several people along the way and he just did his best to keep up with her. He hadn't ventured this far back into the club the last time he was here and tried taking it in as they walked.
"Buffy!" Willow greeted happily as they got closer to the group. "And Angel! Hi again!"
Angel got a hug from the redhead as he stepped around Buffy and the group introduced him to a number of new people who'd gathered at the large table. Buffy told him to get comfortable and took his drink order before disappearing back out toward the crowds. Willow tapped his arm and started a conversation with him to keep him company.
He found Willow almost as easy to just fall in line with as Buffy so that was nice.
He met Xander's girlfriend Anya and didn't think her flirting with him earned him any points with the brunette. Amy seemed nice, as did Gunn and Fred that he met tonight as well. He'd been introduced to this infamous Cordelia he'd heard a lot about but she'd just looked him up and down, winked, then continued back with the phone call she was on and then just seemed to run around barking orders at anyone in sight.
Buffy returned to the table not long before Oz's band took the stage. The table all hollered the loudest and the dance floor filled up pretty fast as the band started their first song. Buffy leaned over and whispered who the members of the band were.
"They're not bad." And he had to admit The Bronze wasn't so bad tonight. He was in a different area of the bar, he liked live music though it'd been some time since he'd actually had the chance to catch any, and being around other people was a plus.
He also hadn't had women hitting on him nearly as much, he had gotten some looks throughout the night but he figured being with the crowd was a little off putting for relentless flirtation. Buffy'd had two males come ask her to dance despite the group however and she had seemed to enjoy herself.
"I vote we leave before karaoke starts," Fred said hours later. It was already being set up on the stage.
Buffy laughed. "Yes, please. The last thing we need is Xander thinking that's a good idea again."
"Or you."
"That was one time! And yes, let's not repeat that!"
The group all danced together one more time while Angel watched then started saying their goodbyes and splitting off in different directions. Buffy made sure everyone would have a safe way home and soon it was just the two of them again.
Buffy drove them home, telling stories about her friends most of the drive, then before parting ways themselves she asked if he was up for skating again for the next day.
OoOoO
"Who taught you to cook since you said your mom's most famous meal was that banana concoction from the other night?" Angel asked.
"Giles," Buffy said with a large smile as she flipped the bacon over. Angel was at the burner next to her frying up some eggs. "I thought he was made of magic... I was still young when he and my mom met and the first time I met him he came to the house and made us dinner. I don't think I'd ever had a real, like, home cooked meal from anyone before that. God knows how many times I had played with the buttons and knobs on that stove either and nothing had ever happened... but he came along and made fire! And food! It blew my mind."
Angel smiled. "Sounds like a good memory."
"It is. Of course my mom had never even bothered to plug anything up like the stove or oven so it hadn't worked. At some point when he was at the house he realized it and had got things going but I didn't put that together at the time. I did have to learn not to play with things in the kitchen though after that."
"I would imagine so."
"But it was nice... I loved when he'd read me books or just tell me stories and I just loved watching him cook. One day I asked if I could help and the magic just kind of continued... he'd let me help every time, teach me little by little. I would start making lists of things I'd want to learn how to make or even foods I just wanted to try in the first place when I got a little older and together we'd make it happen. It was a good way for us to bond I guess."
"Your mom never tried to learn?"
"I don't think she was interested. Or maybe she was but didn't want to take it away from us maybe. Not one hundred percent sure on that but she always loved us in the kitchen together."
"Sounds like she was a good woman."
Buffy smiled again. "She was. Not to say she wasn't without flaws but who isn't?" Buffy finished up with the bacon and began mixing ingredients together to make some pancakes for everyone before she started to ask him questions about his own mother.
By the time the food was all done they had both decided the two ladies who'd passed away probably would have made good friends had they ever had the chance to meet.
OoOoO
Buffy had been most excited when Jenny and Giles had agreed to come along to the skating rink that afternoon. She wasn't surprised when Giles took to a booth in the food court with a drink and a book but Jenny dared to put some skates on and come out on the floor with them.
"This should totally be a new group hobby," Buffy said.
"If I don't break a hip or a leg or something by the end of this I will be surprised enough," Jenny said.
Buffy laughed. "It just takes a little time and practice to get used to it again."
"Speak for yourself," Jenny told her, reaching for the wall again before she almost fell.
Angel found it a little easier for him today as opposed to last week. It was also less crowded today than it'd been last Saturday and he was sure that helped some.
The group skated for about an hour before taking a break and eating a few quick snacks. Jenny said she was done but Buffy and Angel had gone for almost another hour afterward while the others watched.
Buffy also joined in on the dance party sock hop that they did at the end after putting the skates up, Angel stood at the edge watching her and the others and just shook his head in amusement.
She didn't stop singing and dancing the entire way home either.
OoOoO
The first holiday that Angel had spent with Jenny and Giles had been Halloween back when he first arrived in Sunnydale and Buffy had been out sick but it hadn't been anything but a regular ol' day for him at the time. So the first one that really mattered was Thanksgiving.
Part of him dreaded it though because it was his first Thanksgiving alone and it seemed to loom over him as the day got closer and closer.
It didn't help that just days beforehand he learned he would be needing to make a trip back East to deal with that whole mess next month before Christmas. It was putting a damper on his holidays.
The past couple of weeks had been pretty consistent otherwise though. He worked, spent time with Jenny and Giles in the evening, on weekends Buffy would take him along with her to some adventure or another... It was a good routine.
A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts and he groaned. He'd been taking his sweet time getting ready.
He opened the door to find a smiling, dressed up Buffy. "Hi, Happy Thanksgiving," she greeted.
"Hi," he answered. "You look nice."
She smiled bigger at his compliment. "Why thank you. I'd love to say the same but you look like you're incomplete there."
He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, which he knew was getting too long and needed a trim soon. "I was debating whether to actually come or not."
"You are mere feet from turkey, you can get it together long enough to be surrounded by loads of lovely people and then stuff your face with all the food on the planet."
"Yeah?"
"Mmhmm," she hummed.
"Alright," he drawled. "Wanna come in while I finish getting ready?"
"Oooh sure," she replied, clapping her hands together. "I've not been in here since you took up residence."
"I doubt it looks that different," he told her, stepping out of the way so she could come in. He told her she could have a seat if she wanted then walked toward the closet so he could fetch the rest of his outfit. "I haven't done much with the place."
"It looks nice," she said. "Maybe just lacking a few homey touches."
"You sound like Jen."
"It's hard starting over. Especially when it's basically from scratch. But it is nice in here."
"Thank you," he told her. He stepped inside the bathroom for a moment and fixed his hair and straightened his jacket out before returning to the small main area.
"Well, now. You look much better."
"Thank you," he repeated, rolling his eyes a little. "I guess let's get this over with..."
"Just remember: Turkey. Pie. All the food."
The whole ordeal didn't turn out so bad... Angel barely even had time to think about how different this years' events were with how busy the day wound up being. Neither Jenny or Rupert had much family around so it was more a gathering of friends, coworkers, neighbors and a few family members but it was nice.
There were plenty of people, games to play, stories being shared, food to eat. It made him feel a lot less out of place here.
His last thought before he fell asleep that night was still of Darla though, of Lindsey, of his old family and friends. Thanksgiving had been Darla's big show of the year and had always been a huge deal to her. He wondered if everyone just accepted that he wasn't there and never would be again.
OoOoO
Buffy stayed Thanksgiving night through Sunday evening since none of them had work to return to until Monday. At the stroke of midnight that Friday she'd found a giant heap of Christmas spirit and had happily been helping decorate the two houses. "Don't tell me you're just a giant ol' Grinch," she grumbled at him as he'd just sat there watching.
Angel shrugged. He was back in a mood.
"It's the happiest time of year," she told him then pointed to the tv. "Hear him singing it?"
He chuckled lightly. "It's a little hard to be excited about your first Christmas in a decade being alone and single."
"You're not alone," she argued. "And you don't have to be single."
Just then Jenny walked in. "That is true, Angel. There's plenty of lovely ladies in Sunnydale... whenever you are ready."
He really didn't feel like having this discussion.
"Anyway..." Buffy continued. "That is no excuse to not try and enjoy all things that are Christmas. So. Get over it because I have plans and lots of them."
And... she had not been joking about that. He quickly learned Christmas was a big deal to the tiny blonde and she planned to make the most of the season. She'd helped decorate, she'd even gotten him a tree and decorations for it and the inside of the apartment one day when out shopping... he had been surprised she didn't just come put it all together herself after they'd gotten home.
He still hadn't done anything with it, everything sat in a corner of the closet. Not that he was telling her that. When she was there, which was more frequent than ever, music played, movies were watched, she baked many, many holiday treats.
Outside of the house there was so so much shopping. Buffy had temporarily switched out their standing rollerskating time for ice skating, the large group of friends all had a day where they took photos with Santa, they did little workshops where you would paint a picture at one or make some little snowman craft at another.
She'd invited him to a Christmas party at the small clinic she was one of the receptionists at as the last big hoorah before he'd have to fly back home. It was the third party he'd been to in recent times given the one at The Bronze and another at Xander and Anya's place. He'd bailed out early and she'd followed, despite him trying to tell her to stay and enjoy it. "Sorry, my head just couldn't be there."
Buffy shrugged, taking the light up headband off of her head. "Don't be sorry, Angel. I know you have to have a lot on your mind. I'm glad you came though."
"It was nice to put some faces to names if nothing else. You know, from endless stories about your co-workers."
Buffy chuckled and they fell into silence for awhile. "Do you have to see her?"
He nodded. "Apparently. Not sure for how long but apparently we all have to be in the same room to go over shit."
"I'm sorry."
"Me, too. It's one step closer to putting it all behind me though so I'm trying to just keep that in mind."
"Do you need anything? Here? Tonight? Need anything for the trip?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm already packed... so it's mostly just stress with waiting for it to be time to go. I got my plane tickets, extra money, I have a hotel room, car rented, and all that. Just gonna get it over with and then come back."
She was quiet again for several minutes, then, "Promise me something."
"Mm?"
"Promise me you will do something fun."
"Fun?"
"Yep. Anything. Go to see a new movie, go... to lunch with an old friend who is still on your side, go... go to Chuck E Cheese, go find a trampoline park... go on a date.. jump on the bed like you're a kid again at the hotel, go skinny dipping in the pool... do a road trip... something, anything. Do something fun. And then call me and tell me about it."
In the end, he agreed. He has no idea how he would follow through with such a promise but it was made.
They bid each other goodnight and Angel did his best to try and get an early night's rest in. When that didn't work he had paced the apartment countless times, tried to watch an episode of a show on Netflix but he couldn't concentrate to know what happened, and in the end he wound up somehow deciding to put the Christmas tree Buffy had insisted he have up.
Once it was finished he finally felt tired enough to lay down.