Title: Gealach Gorm

Author: Sk8erGurl24

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Joss Whedon. I own nothing. Well, maybe the Matratzas. I made them up.

Summary: Just my way of fixing things in Buffy season 4 and Angel season 1. I wanted to get Buffy and Angel back together and Willow and Oz to stay together. Goes up to Buffy episode 'The Initiative' (somewhere before, like after 'Wild at Heart' but before 'The Initiative') and the Angel episode 'Sense & Sensitivity' (Again, somewhere after 'Rm w/a Vu' but before 'Sense & Sensitivity'). I didn't want to deal with the angsty-post-I Will Remember You stuff.

Note: This may become a series, which I want to do because I've never written a series before. Title means 'Blue Moon' in Gealic. Oh, and Oz never left, because in this, Veruca never came! Yay. I wish I could thank someone for their help on this story, but I can't, because I have no Buffy loving friends. They're all obsessed with the Fluffy-Bunny Vamps we know as the Twilight vampires. No, no, wait. Not true. I can thank my friend Piper (27RosalieHale27) because even though she's never seen the show, she still listens to me babble on and on about my ideas. Thanks, Piper! Anyway, enough talk. On with the story!

* * * * * *

Over the next couple of days, the Matratzas never attacked, but they were there, watching and waiting. Just like Buffy and Angel. Waiting for something, anything, to happen. They also began working on a battle strategy, but it wasn't coming along very far because every time they were alone, most of their time was taken up by kissing and holding each other. In fact, that's what they were doing today, seated alone in Buffy's house.

"Angel?" Buffy said, pulling back a little. "Shouldn't we--" Kiss. "Be working on--" Kiss. "Our plan--" Kiss. "Thingie?"

"We should," he told her. "But I don't want to. We're meeting with everyone tonight. We can work on it then." He leaned in to kiss her again.

"You're not getting too happy are you?" She asked. "Because that wouldn't be good. I just got you back."

"I'm not getting too happy, Buffy."

"Good. But just in case, you killed a lot of people way back when."

"I know." His eyes grew sad, and so did Buffy. She hated having to do that, but whenever Angel looked like he was getting too happy, she was forced to remind him of his past. Angel understood what she was doing, but neither of them liked it. If only there was some way to bind his soul...

* * * * * *

"There's a way to bind his soul!" Willow called, rushing into Cordelia's spacious motel room.

"There is? You really actually found it? Seriously?" Cordelia asked.

"Yes, seriously! We can do it tonight at the meeting. That is, if Buffy and Angel agree to it."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Of course they're going to agree to it. You've seen the way those two look at each other."

"True."

"So what do we need?"

"Um." Willow pulled a piece of yellow paper out of her pocket. "Wolfs bane, I have that, a lavender candle--"

"I've got one of those."

"Good. The incantation, of course, and a few other witchy items that I have."

"Cool. So I'll see you tonight?"

"Tonight," Willow agreed and left. Next stop, Buffy's house.

Buffy and Angel were still locked at the lips when Willow knocked on the door.

"I'll get it," Buffy told him and jumped up.

"Hey, Buff!"

"Willow, hi, come in." Buffy stepped away from the door to allow the red head to come in.

"What'd you need?" She asked nicely.

"Um, I think you might want to sit down."

"Okay," Buffy said and sat down on the couch beside Angel as Willow paced in front of them. "Will? What is it? You're scaring me."

"I've found a way to bind Angel's soul so the happiness clause is no longer valid!" She blurted.

"You...what?"

"Found a way to bind Angel's soul. You know, so he can be as happy as he wants and there won't be any 'grrr'." Willow mimed fangs.

"Wow," was all Buffy could manage, but she soon snapped out of her daze. "You mean, he can do whatever he wants without risking Angelus? And there's no strings attached? None?"

"Nope, his soul will be his without any strings."

"When can we do this?" Buffy asked, excited.

"Cordy and I were thinking tonight at the meeting. All we need is your consent."

"You have my consent. I'm totally consented! More than consented, I'm...consent-y!" Buffy had a huge smile plastered on her face. "What about you, Angel? Are you consented?"

Angel continued to stare forward. "Angel?"

"Hmmm?" He asked, coming back to reality.

"Do you give your consent for Willow to bind your soul?"

"Do I...?" The two girls words finally sunk in."Yes! Yes, yes I do!"

"Great, so I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah," Buffy told her.

"Bye!" And Willow was gone.

Buffy's smile was so big, Angel could swear she was glowing.

"You're beautiful," he said, without thinking.

Buffy blushed and ducked her head. "Thanks."

"Did Willow really say what I thought she said?"

"Yes!"

"Wow," Angel murmured and leaned in to kiss her. She allowed him the first one, but when he went in for a second, she pulled away.

"What's wrong?"

"This! This is wrong! We've got ten Matratasis--"

"Matratzas."

"Matratzas. Whatever. We've got ten of them roaming around and all I can think about is how happy I am because you're getting your soul bound. What kind of person does that make me? I should be leaning over blueprints, trying to figure out how to kill these thing, not, not, not...making out with you on the couch!"

Angel half smiled at her ramblings. "It makes you human, Buffy. We are going to figure out how to stop the demons, and there will be time for us. We just have to figure out when. If it makes you feel any better, the sun's going down in three and a half hours, and then we can go to Giles' and discuss demons."

"A little better," she grumbled, then sighed. "I guess I just got used to not having a boyfriend around when all this crazy stuff's happening."

"I understand."

Buffy smiled. "Okay, happy's coming back. This soul-binding thing? Really great idea."

* * * * * *

"Bad idea! Bad plan!" Xander said. Everyone was gathered in Giles' living room waiting for Buffy and Angel to arrive from patrolling.

"Why? You don't think Buffy and Angel deserve happiness after all this time?" Willow asked him.

"No, I-I do. I mean, Buff's my best friend, and I want her to be happy, but do you think this is the time? You secure Dead Boy's soul, and those two won't be out of the bedroom for a week."

"Xander!"

"Just saying. We've got those...those...whatevers running around, and you want to give Angel a happy? Shouldn't you be using that Wicca mojo on getting rid of the demons at hand?"

"Xander," Giles said. "I agree, this may not be the proper time, but it's Willow's decision, as it is Buffy's and Angel's."

He huffed and sat back in his chair. "Okay, but if they ignore their demon-y duties, I'm not holding back on the I-Told-You-So's."

About that time, Buffy and Angel strode in, hand in hand.

"Ah, Buffy, Angel, hello," Giles greeted them.

"Hey, Giles."

"So," Willow said. "You ready to get this binding spell show on the road?"

Angel and Buffy exchanged a glance and he squeezed her hand. "Definitely."

Willow smiled and she and Cordelia led everyone outside. Willow pulled blessed salt out of her bag and made a circle. Then she told Angel to sit in it. He did. Next, she sprinkled wolfs bane around the circle and lit it on fire. Angel became nervous, but said nothing. Then Willow lit the lavender candle and handed it to Cordelia, who in turn passed it to Angel.

"Ready?" she asked him. All he could do was nod.

"Okay. Here goes nothing." Willow pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and read, "Of universitas recedentia, quod of universitas near, addo nos pacis ut nos have vereor, a animus quondam donatus est a animus quondam took, is creatura could intereo per alter vultus, vires or orbis, escence of vicis, iunctum dignus per suus pectus pectoris, gaudium quod vereor exsisto universitas seorsum. Acum, acum!"

The wolfs bane's flames danced high and became purple. The flame from the candle Angel was holding also became high and purple. Angel's eyes glowed yellow, like they had the night at the mansion when he regained his soul, and he screamed. Buffy bit her lip and balled her hands into fists to keep from doing anything she might regret. As soon as it began, it was over. The flames died down and returned to red and Angel's eyes returned to brown. Willow stomped out the flames around the circle and Angel blew out the candle.

"How do we know if it worked?" Buffy asked.

"It did," Angel told her.

"How do you know?"

"I-I can feel it, the soul. It feels real now, like it's mine, and will always be mine."

Buffy smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm glad."

Her voice was kind of watery, and when Angel looked down, there were tears evident in her eyes and on her cheeks.

"Don't cry. What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"Happy tears, silly," she said.

He smiled and then leaned down to kiss her. Xander cleared his throat, and the couple turned to look at him.

"We've got work to do," He reminded them, and the group began to head back inside.

"Later," Angel whispered in her ear.

"Okay, Giles. You've been research man. What do you have?"

"Well, it turns out there isn't anything special about the Matratza, except it's size and cat like reflexes. But it appears to have no, uh, powers, if you will. It can be killed with you're standard, um, slice-and-dice," he said, thinking of her words from earlier in the week.

"So we just get axes and start chopping," Cordelia suggested.

"Easier said than done. Matratzas are huge, as you already know, and killing them would take great strength. I-I'm not sure if most of you would be able to handle it."

A chorus of grumbles went up through the room.

"I've got it! I could do a-a protection spell. Or a temporary strength spell. Something that would allow everybody who doesn't have 'superpowers', Cordelia, Oz, Anya and Xander for example, to be able to fight really well," Willow told them.

"Fine idea, Willow."

"Yeah, then the normals'll be able ta come along and not get themselves killed," Doyle said.

"Exactly."

"See what you can find, Will," Buffy said and glanced at the clock. Almost midnight. "Why don't we all go home and get some rest. We'll regroup tomorrow. Come up with some more plans."

"Good idea," Oz said.

As they all got up to leave, Xander was talking to Doyle. "What'd I tell you earlier? She probably isn't even tired. Just wants to be alone with her honey."

"Aw, man. They deserve a little happiness. Let 'em be."

Just outside Giles' door, Buffy pulled Willow into a hug. "Thank you so much. This means a lot to me. To us," she amended.

"No problem." Then to Angel she said, "You take care of her. I hear one word about a broken heart, and I'll...I'll...I'll...do something darn scary."

"You won't have to Willow," he promised. "Thank you."

The blond then turned to Cordelia and gave her a hug, too, and thanked her.

"Now, you kids go have fun."

* * * * * *

Buffy and Angel decided to go back to her house. Her mother was still out of town, and it was Friday so Buffy didn't have classes the next morning. She had taken a shower while he went to the motel he, Cordelia, and Doyle were sharing to pick up some clothes. By this point, he was sitting on her bed in grey sweats and a white tee-shirt, looking around her room and waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. When she did, he was stunned. All her makeup had been washed off, so she looked totally natural, and her hair fell loosely around her face, parts of it still damp. She was wearing shorts and a tank top, and he swore he'd never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

"What?" she asked, obviously noticing his staring.

"Nothing. Come here."

She did as she was asked and sat down on the bed beside him.

"I have something for you," he told her.

"You do?"

"Yeah." He got up and walked across the room to where his black duster was thrown over a chair. He pulled something out of the pocket and strode back.

"I-I never thought I'd ever get the chance to give this to you, but I figure tonight was probably the best night to do so. Buffy, I love you with all there is in me, with all my newly-bound soul." They both chuckled softly at that. "And I know that now more than ever. So that's why I want to give you this."

He opened his palm to reveal a tiny silver ring. "The hands represent friendship," He began quoting words from long ago. "The crown represents loyalty, and the heart...well, you know."

Buffy looked up at him, tears in her eyes as she remembered the night at the docks he had given this ring to her for the very first time.

"I found it at the mansion after I...came back. I just figured you didn't want it anymore, but I kept it anyway. I couldn't get rid of it, because I hoped that someday, we'd be here."

"And we are," she said.

"And we are," he agreed. "Will you wear it?"

He was so uncertain, Buffy noted. "Yes, I'll wear it."

He smiled and slipped it on her finger, heart pointed in. It was then she noticed her ring's mate on his finger. She touched it gently.

"I thought you lost it when I..." Killed you, she finished silently.

"It was the only thing that made it through hell with me. I've never stopped wearing it. Never."

She couldn't speak, she was too overcome by emotions. She just kissed him, long and slow. When she finally pulled back to breathe, Angel leaned down and kissed her neck.

"I love you," he murmured in her ear.

"I love you, too," She told him, and then promised, "Forever."

"Forever," he said right before his lips claimed hers.

He pulled away gently but swiftly. "How would you like to go away with me?"

"Go away with you? Angel, we--"

"I mean after the demons are taken care of. Just for a couple of days, a long weekend, if you will. Just the two of us. No interruptions, no demons or vampires or Hellmouthes to worry about."

Buffy smiled brightly. "I'd love that."

"Good." He leaned in and kissed her once more.

* * * * * *

"Okay, so we know axes work. We know swords'll probably do the trick. That's good. We've got ways to hurt it." They were all gathered at Buffy's house the next evening and she was pacing in front of them. "We also know that Willow may have a spell to let us work faster and better. Willow?"

"Yeah. I think I found something last night."

"Good."

"Uh, Buffy?" Cordelia spoke up from the other side of the room.

"What is it, Cordy?"

"They're getting closer." Buffy walked over to Cordelia and peered over her shoulder at the computer screen.

"We've got 'til nightfall, and then they're on us. Willow, I hate to do this to you, but there's no time to test the spell. We need to move, and we need to move fast."

The redhead nodded. "Okay. I'll, uh, swing by the dorm and pick everything up. We can do it here, okay?"

"Okay. Oz, go with her. I don't want anyone out there alone. Just because Cordy's computer shows we have till nightfall, doesn't mean we necisarilly do. Giles, Doyle, you two think you can see what you can find in the next few hours about it?"

Giles nodded. "Of course, Buffy."

"Yeah, I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"Xander, you and Anya, uh, you and Anya help Cordelia track this thing. Angel, you and I'll do weapons check. Everybody know what they're doing?" They all nodded. "Okay. Go!"

The crowd dispersed into their stations; Buffy and Angel checking their weapons in the living room, Doyle and Giles researching in the dining room, and Xander, Anya, and Cordelia tracking in the kitchen.

"How many swords do we have?" Angel asked.

"Five."

"Who's the best sword-wielders we have?"

"I know Anya's pretty good."

"So is Cordelia."

"I am, too."

"I know," He said, thinking of the sword fight they had before he regained his soul.

"Giles is pretty handy with swords, too. And so is Oz, surprisingly."

"Okay, so you, Anya, Giles, Oz, and Cordelia can take swords."

Buffy nodded. "We've also got enough of these mini-axe thingies for everyone."

She was holding up a three-pronged star with a handle.

"Good."

"Can Doyle handle a crossbow?"

"I think. You sure you want to let him have your crossbow?" He knew it was her favorite weapon.

"You're right. I'll take crossbow. Doyle can take sword?"

"Sure."

"We've got four battle axes."

"One's mine."

"I know that."

"I'm pretty sure Will and Xander could handle one of these."

"Okay. Willow, Xander, and I can take axes then."

"I guess we have enough for everyone."

"I guess we do. What now?"

"Cleaning," she told him, and handed him a rag.

"Why don't you clean them after every use?"

"When I break out my good weapons," Buffy said. "That means there's something big. And something big means lots of goo, usually. I'm too concerned with cleaning myself than I am my weapons."

"Good point."

In the dining area, Giles made a breakthrough.

"Doyle, look at this. A Matratza's heart is located in it's left hand."

"So all you have ta do is stab the nasty in it's left hand and, boom, dead?"

"Um, yes."

"Nice to know."

"They're getting closer!" Xander called from the kitchen.

"How much time do we have?" Angel called back.

"About three hours," Cordelia answered.

"Okay, guys!" Buffy yelled to everyone. "Hustle! Xander, call Willow and Oz and tell them to hurry back."

"On it!" He told her.

"Willow?" he said when she picked up. "It's Xander. You guys need to hurry it up. The demons are moving faster than scheduled...Okay. See you soon. Bye, Will."

Ten minutes later, Willow and Oz arrived.

"Okay, so the thing about this spell? It's just for protection. It's like a suit of armor, you can still get hurt, but it won't be as bad. I'm sorry, I couldn't find anything to make anyone stronger, but at least we've got this."

"That's okay," Buffy told her.

"Okay. Guys, stand in a circle." Everyone did, and Willow stood in the center.

She passed each person a different colored candle and a match. After the candles were lit, she lit herself one. Then, she handed each person two sprigs of a smelly herb.

"When I tell you to, drop the herbs into the flame, say 'Lux lucis of Vires', or 'Light of Strength' in English, and blow out your candle."

Willow chanted something under her breath and then said, "Now!"

They all dropped the herbs and a chorus of 'Lux lucis of Vires's went up, then they all blew out their candles. A yellow haze surrounded them, and then it was gone.

"Okay, it's done."

"Good, because guys, the Matratzas are setting up shop in the abandoned warehouse between Fifth and Elm," Cordelia told them, glancing at the computer screen.

"Time to move," Angel said. Then assigned everyone their weapon, with the help of Buffy.

"One thing you all may want to know," Giles said. "Is that the Matratza's heart is located in it's left hand. Aim for that spot."

"Thanks, Giles," Anya said.

"Oz, your van. Can we take it?" Buffy asked.

"Sure."

"Great. Everyone, let's go."

They all piled into the van, with Oz driving, and sped towards the warehouse. Buffy was nervously fidgeting with the string on her crossbow.

"It's going to be fine," Angel assured her.

"I know, it's just pre-battle anxiety, you know?"

"I know." He kissed the top of her head. "But it'll be over before you know it. Then, we can have that long weekend we discussed."

Buffy smiled at the thought of that.

"Where are we going any--" she was cut off by Oz saying, "We're here."

Buffy exhaled sharply and then got out of the fan.

"Ready?" She asked them and was answered by everyone nodding their head. "Good. Let's do this."

They approached the warehouse, axes and swords and crossbows held high. Angel and Xander kicked open the doors, and nobody was ready for what they found inside. Ten Matratzas, all full grown and eight feet tall. The entire warehouse was coated in slime.

"Ew," Buffy said. "Two words; personal hygiene."

One demon let out a nasty roar and charged for them.

"Ready or not, here they come," Xander said.

Buffy didn't answer, but instead let a crossbow bolt fly forward. It hit the charging Matratza straight in the eye.

"Demon's eye," She quipped.

That made him, and the rest of his pack, mad. The next thing anyone knew, they were engaged in fiery combat. Angel slashed one demon in the lower stomach, and recognized a scar. This was the demon he'd fought back in LA. Apparently the Matratza recognized him, too, for he gnashed his teeth and let out a roar so loud, it shook the building. Angel managed to dodge it's claws by jumping backwards. He landed in a puddle of slime.

"That's it," he said, and morphed into game face. "You're dead."

He charged at the beast and slit it's throat. Orange blood gushed down it's body and onto the floor. Angel took this advantage to stab it's left hand and he watched as the creature gasped and fell to the ground. He then rushed to help Oz, who was struggling with his own Matratza.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the warehouse, Buffy and Willow fought together. Buffy in the front, and Willow in the back. The Matratza turned and hit Willow, knocking her across the building and into a wall.

"You are so going to pay for that!" Buffy shouted as she charged at the beast. She whipped out her tiny axe and managed to chop off it's left arm, from it's hand to about halfway to it's elbow. The demon fell to the ground and Buffy raced to Willow.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, fine. I'll just have a major bruise tomorrow."

"Good thing you did that spell, or you'd be chop suey right about now."

"Yeah."

"Look out!" Came Xander's strangled cry as a Matratza charged towards Cordelia. She launched herself out of the way, and two charging Matratzas banged into eachother.

She giggled softly at the sight, then stabbed each beast through the hand.

* * * * * *

Three hours later, the gang lay exhausted in Buffy's living room. Each had showered, thankfully, and now they had nothing better to do than to lie around. Angel came in from the kitchen with a tray of popcorn and sodas. The cut across his stomach was already healing, and he'd be fine in no time. He sat the tray down on the coffee table, then took his spot beside his girlfriend.

"Buffy and I are going on a short vacation," Angel told them.

"Lucky," Willow said.

"I suppose you do deserve it after everything you've been through. We all deserve it," Giles said.

Please don't say you're coming with us, Buffy pleaded silently.

"But our vacation will have to be taken in Sunnydale, assuming you won't want company on your, um, get away."

Buffy smiled and mouthed 'Thank You' to Giles, who answered simply with a smile.

"We're going to leave you an emergency number, just in case, but other than that, I'm not telling you where we're going. I promised Buffy a no-interuptions vacation, and that's what she's going to get."

"Understood," Oz said.

"Completely. If I was going away with Xander, I wouldn't want anyone to know where we were going. It would ruin the romance," said Anya.

Everyone smiled.

"When are you leaving?" Willow asked.

Buffy shrugged and looked at Angel. "Two days," he told them. "We'll start packing tomorrow."

"How do I know what to pack if you won't tell me where we're going?" Buffy demanded.

"Pack for warm weather."

"That tells me a lot," She grumbled.

Angel laughed quietly.

"Just trust me on this one. I'll help you out."

"Okay," she said and laid her head against his shoulder when he wrapped his arm around her.

She closed her eyes and let sleep claim her. Her dreams were fun, filled with vacations and Angel.

To Be Continued...

A/N:The incantation Willow used to bind Angel's soul was just something I cooked up on a English to Latin online translator. Here's it in English:

Of worlds far, and of worlds near,

Bring us peace when we have fear,

A soul once given is a soul once took,

This creature could die with a second look,

The strength of the circle,

The essence of time,

Unite the worthy with his heart,

Happiness and fear be worlds apart

Acum, Acum

I had to add the 'Acums' because they were in the restoration spell in Becoming Part 2.