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Angel leaned back, his back against the tree, Buffy beside him, wrapped in his arms. They sat on a blue checked blanket, a picnic basket beside them. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, however they sat in the shade. Angel knew it would take awhile for him to get used to the sun.
He smiled to himself as he thought of how secretive she had been this morning, not letting him know what she had been up to. She had insisted that it was a surprise. Following her out the front door, (he had unconsciously started toward the basement before she reminded him that he didn't need to use the sewers anymore), she had finally told him where they were going.
He wouldn't have minded staying in bed for the rest of the afternoon, but he had indulged her. It was what Buffy wanted, and what she wanted, he was more than willing to give her, just to see that smile on her face. That smile that actually reached her eyes and lit up her face. That smile that he hadn't seen since she was 16 years old.
Buffy sat, content in Angel's arms. She knew that their problems hadn't magically disappeared just because Angel was human. They still had a long hard road ahead of them, but for now, she wanted to do the normal stuff, stuff that two people in love did. To enjoy the next few days, before the next fight came. To enjoy the sunshine. She spoke, breaking the silence. "This feels like a dream."
He smiled, leaning down and planting a kiss in her hair. "It's real. I'm real, and I'm not going anywhere."
She sighed and snuggled closer to him. "Willow and Dawn think it's great. Even Xander seems happy for us."
"Now that's definitely a surprise." He paused a moment before continuing. "I'm sure Spike's not happy, though, seeing that the prophecy actually was about me and not him."
She turned in his arms. "What do you mean? Of course it was about you!" She looked at him questioningly. "Why would Spike think the prophecy was about him?"
"The prophecy didn't actually give a name, it just mentioned the vampire with a soul."
Buffy sat up suddenly. "Oh, God!" She looked at Angel. "And he thought it was about him?"
Angel shook his head. "I don't really know what he thought, Buffy." He paused for a moment, then sat up beside her. "He mostly just spent his time throwing his relationship with you in my face."
She saw the hurt in his eyes, and it almost broke her heart. "Angel." She reached out and took his hand. "Spike was…a distraction. Something I needed in that point in my life."
He tried to pull away, but she held on to him. "Buffy, you don't have to…"
"Yes I do." She sighed. "I care about him, Angel, and he has a place in my heart, but I never really loved him." She leaned down and kissed him lightly. "I've never really loved anyone but you. Not Riley, not Spike. Only you." He started to say something, but she put her finger over his lips to silence him. "I gave you my heart when I was 16 years old, Angel, and I've never gotten it back."
He smiled at her, and gently removed her finger, kissing it softly. "That's only fair, since you took mine in return." He pulled her into his arms.
They were silent for a few minutes, listening to the sounds around them. Children laughing, dogs barking. All the normal sounds others take for granted. Buffy listened but her thoughts were on Spike, on what Angel had told her. She suddenly sat up again. "I have an idea."
Angel sighed. He wondered what it would take for her to stay in his arms. "About what?"
"About Spike." She paused, waiting for his reaction, but he just looked at her. "Well, I mean, a way for him to become human. Before I found out about the prophecy, I had Willow checking on Mohra demons, to see if we could find them. I think she might know where we could look."
"And you want to take Spike?" She nodded. He looked at her for a moment, then shrugged. "Why not." He smiled. "He had to copy me by getting a soul, I guess he might as well go all the way."
She laughed. "I guess we should ask him, see what he says." She gave him a look. "Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No!"
She laughed again. "Jealous?"
He shook his head. "No, of course not! I just…think it would be better if I talked to him, that's all."
"Uh huh. Sure."
He chose to ignore the sarcasm. "Maybe you could talk to Faith, though."
"Faith? Why Faith?"
It was his turn to smile at the jealousy in her voice. "Because she's a good fighter, and we could probably use her."
Her response was instantaneous. "She'd be better off staying here, training the slayers. I mean, with Eve gone, and not knowing what she's up to…"
"Gunn and Ilyria can handle that." She just gave him a look, and he smiled, repeating her question. "Jealous?"
"Of her?! No way!"
It was his turn to laugh. "Besides, I think she might have a personal interest in Spike being cured."
"What do you mean?" He just looked at her, and her eyes widened as she realized what he meant. "Faith and Spike?! That's just….crazy!"
He shrugged. "Crazy or not…"
"How do you know, anyway? I mean…"
"You know how I knew about you and Spike?"
She shuddered. Vampires and their damn sense of smell. "I, well… You're wrong. And even if you're not, I'm sure it doesn't mean anything! Faith is…well, she doesn't have relationships. She has sex."
"Maybe she just hadn't met the right person."
She shook her head. "I don't think…" Her voice trailed off. "Well, I guess I'll ask her to go along, anyway." She lay back down, laying her head on his shoulder. "Faith and Spike.." she muttered, and he smiled.
BBBBBB
Eve walked through the doorway of the apartment she had shared with Lindsey. She had hoped never to come back here, there were too many memories, but Lindsey had told her to come.
He had come to her in a dream. At least, she thought it was a dream. He had sat on the edge of her bed and talked to her, but when she had tried to touch him, she couldn't. He had smiled at her, told her he loved her, then told her to come here and wait. So here she was.
She walked through the rooms, making her way to the bedroom. She lay down on the bed and drew the covers up over her. Curling herself up into a ball, she closed her eyes, wishing for sleep. Maybe in sleep she could find peace. Maybe she would find Lindsey again.
Okay, I think I've got one more chapter left. Don't worry, though. I have a sequel all lined up, just have to think up a name. If anyone's got any ideas, please let me know, cuz I suck at naming my stories, hence the lame title here!