Chapter- 003. Rejected

Title- Money Doesn't Buy Love

Characters- Buffy, Angel

Prompt- 079. Rejected

Word Count- 1212

Rating- PG-13

Warning/Spoilers- Strong language, BtVS season 4, before 'Pangs' and 'I Will Remember You'.

Summary- Buffy runs into Angel when in Los Angeles after being forgotten by her dad.

Buffy's POV

I should have known this would happen. It always does. It's usually my fault; either I don't call or I just call him while I'm on the road. But this time, I called him a week in advance, and then two days before I drove up. I rang his doorbell and he answered expecting his girlfriend. I almost cried when he gave me money and to go out and shop. I am not twelve! I couldn't bring myself to say anything, and I couldn't bring myself to cry. He kissed me on the forehead and closed the door, expecting me to just walk away.

I did.

I called him! I told him I needed my daddy! But, he doesn't care anymore. Or maybe it's me. Am I such a failure, a disgrace in his eyes that he can't even stand me visiting him? Or even being near him? I better stop thinking like this because I can feel my heart breaking and I'm having a really, really hard time dealing with this. First my daddy, then Angel, then Parker...is it me? Do I drive out all the men in my life? Well, all the men except for Giles and Xander.

I hear myself sigh and I sit on a nearby bench. Instead of going shopping like my dad wanted me to, I took a walk through the park near our old house. Dusk will be falling soon, and I want nothing more then to kill something. I can feel my stomach rumble. I knew I should have gotten something to eat before I rushed out of the house. I haven't been eating right; I'll admit it. Between college and slaying and moping over Parker...there's no time to eat.

I can't help but mope slightly. My dad has always been distant, but did I really deserve to be pushed away, even when he knew I needed him? It must be me. There is no other explanation. I stand, finally realizing I have been throwing my little pity party for so long that it had already gotten dark, the children with their mothers were long gone, and the monsters that only exist in storybooks would be out, roaming, looking for trouble. In turn, looking for me. Where trouble and heartache lurk, Buffy is sure to be there.

"Hey, stranger," my heart lurched and I tried not to show any emotion as I turned to face him.

Oh, god, he's still as gorgeous as ever. Black slacks, black shirt, usual knee length duster, and big black boots. How did he ever sneak up on anyone wearing those things? Finally, my eyes reach his and he's staring at me, as if he can see right through me. Right through to the pain.

"Hi," I manage to respond without my voice cracking. What a miracle.

I see his eyes change color instantly in front of me, from light chocolate to dark pools of anger. Is he angry I'm here? Did I overstep boundaries? Oh, god, I should have just went home after dad brushed me off. I can't deal with anymore heartbreak today. I don't have the strength to fight with him.

"Are you alright?"

I jerk my head up to look at him, then realizing that the darkness in his gaze wasn't anger, it was sorrow. Sorrow because that was what I was feeling. Soulmates and all.

"Ah, well, you know," I gestured mindlessly to the night, trying to cover up my pain with a cheerful tone. I hadn't planned on my dads rejection taking such a toll on me. "The same old story that is my life."

At his look, I knew he wanted me to continue. He'd sit with me all night and listen to me bitch about my problems if he could. He was the only one I could really open up to. Nobody else understood me. Only Angel.

"My dad. He...he forgot about me again. Of course Buffy isn't on the top of his list."

I plopped back down on the bench again, knowing that we'd just be talking now. If need be, we'll patrol, but right now, it's just us. I feel him coming up to the bench, and I don't even have to look at him to know he's sitting down beside me now.

"That's why you're in L.A."

"Yeah. I didn't mean to step on your toes or anything."

I feel him grab my hand and the dam suddenly breaks. The walls I spent months building are breaking just from his touch. I can't stand to look up at him. I can't.

"Anytime you need me, Buffy. Anytime you need to run away, I want you to come here. At least...I'll know you're safe."

I let out a sharp cry, and I think I startled him. I finally look up at him, and he's sitting closer to me then he was before. When did he get so close?

"Is it me, Angel? Did I do something?"

I can only imagine how childlike I sound to him. I must sound so stupid. But, before I know it, I'm in his lap an he's stroking my hair. I think he's speaking Gaelic underneath his breath, but I can't tell. All I know is, he's calming and comforting me. I miss this. I miss him.

"No, Buffy. It's not you. You're a beautiful, loving girl and don't deserve to be treated the way you have been. You don't deserve the harsh life you've been given. I don't know why your dad would do this to you, but I know this for sure, love."

He strokes my hair back from my face and I look up at him. His eyes are so warm, I could get lost in them.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You're the most loving, sweet person I've ever met, and believe me, I've been around."

I chuckle softly, brushing the tears hastily off of my cheeks. L.A. has certainly changed him.

"Did you just make a joke?," I whisper, a teasing smile replacing my, almost, permanent frown.

"I've been practicing."

I stretch slightly a place a chaste kiss to his chin, hoping I'm not overstepping even more boundaries. But, to my surprise, he bends his head down and catches my lips with his, kissing me sweetly. I could die right now and feel absolutely and utterly complete; here in his arms, his lips to mine. Bliss. I break away, in need of air, and raise a hand to caress his beautifully sculpted cheek. He is the vision of perfection.

"Thank you," I whisper to him, and he knows what I mean.

"Promise that you'll call if you need anything," we both know that this is the end of our meeting. I have to go back to Sunnydale and he has to do whatever he does here in L.A.

"I will."

I get up from his lap and grab his hand, dragging him from the bench along with me. We walk in comfortable silence back towards my dad's house where I parked my mom's Jeep. Not everything in my life is mended, but now that I still have a little part of Angel in it, I think I'll be okay.