oooooooooooooooo Here's the third chapter. Review and enjoy!
"Mmm, this is good, Angel. You can actually cook," Buffy complimented.
"Thanks," Angel laughed.
They were both sitting at Willow's kitchen table, eating. They had already talked about
Angel's son and crew dying and about Dawn and Xander. They were both caught up on each
other's lives... Now they were just enjoying some good food.
"Thanks for staying," Buffy said quietly.
"Thanks for saving me," Angel said back.
She gave him a small smile and shrugged.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I've got this feeling that you're not sticking around.
When are you leaving?"
"Another day or two. I'm gonna hang out here with you for a bit and then I'm gonna go,"
Angel said.
"Where?" Buffy asked.
"Not sure yet. I'll send you a postcard from wherever I end up. How about that?"
"Alright then, I'll be expecting a postcard. I mean it, Angel. I'll be wanting to know what
you're up to, want to know that you're okay. You're not leaving completely this time."
"You'll hear from me," he told her.
"Good," she answered. "You'll give me something other than training all those new Slayers
to think about once in awhile."
"I actually saw some of them," Angel said.
"Yeah?" Buffy asked.
"When you were in the shower last night I took a quick walk. I caught a glimpse of Giles
and your girls in that fortress of yours."
"And... What do you think of them? I haven't met these girls yet. Giles has been training
them like crazy though."
"No offence to them, they seem to be tough enough. But these new Slayers have nothing
on you."
Buffy grinned. "Is it bad that that makes me just a little bit happy?" Buffy asked.
Angel just laughed at her.
This was the first time in a long time, that Buffy and Angel felt truly at ease and comfortable
in each other's presence. It was nice, and it was greatly missed.
"Sun's down. You wanna take a walk with me?" Buffy asked.
"That would be nice," Angel replied.
Buffy grabbed a sweater. "Let's go," she said. "There's a place I want to show you."
They walked for about 20 minutes, before Buffy finally stopped.
"I guess it's kind of creepy when you think about it. But I think it's kind of beautiful. Really
peaceful too, when I'm not staking things that lurk in the area."
Essentially Buffy had brought Angel to a small cemetery. What set it apart from every other
one that either of them had ever seen, was the gigantic tree that formed sort of a roof over
the headstones and the two swings that hung from that tree.
"I haven't brought anyone else here, haven't even told them about it, but I wanted you to
see it, to share it with me," Buffy said, grabbing his hand, pulling him to the swings.
"It is actually pretty beautiful," Angel admitted. "And quite fitting, too."
Buffy knew what he meant. The swing in the cemetery. In a sense it was like playing with
death. Her calling. Her life.
"Get on the swing, Angel," Buffy laughed. "Come swing with me. I won't tell," she smiled.
Angel looked at her and felt a great happiness. She was smiling, a real smile. She was
happy, and honestly, at this point, just looking at her face, he would do anything she
wanted.
Angel joined Buffy on the swing next to hers.
The swing in the cemetery. Playing with death. This was how she lived and this was how she
loved.
"I'm really glad that you're here with me right now. I've missed you, Angel... I heard
you and Willow talking, I think... I was kind of drifting in and out of sleep, but I'm sure I
heard you. Thank you for saying what you said... To re-use my stupid quote from last year,
'I'm not cookies yet.' I don't know when I'll be ready. But what I do know, and what I want
you to know is that whatever does or doesn't happen with us in the future, I will always love
you. I really will."
Angel gave her a smile. "Ditto."
"This is weird," Buffy blurted out.
"I was feeling pretty comfortable, actually," Angel answered.
"No, that's what I mean. It's weird that this isn't weird... It's nice," she laughed.
Angel nodded his head. "It is," he agreed.