Buffy laughed happily as Angel got ready to throw the football back to her.
She, Angel, Willow, Tara, Xander, and Anya were all at the beach. She and
Angel had decided that sitting down was not a fun time at the beach and
they opted for football. No one had wanted to come. Buffy caught the ball
and danced around a little.
"Ha! Touchdown! Oh yeah. Go team me." Buffy said.
Angel laughed and caught the ball as she tosses it back. "Anybody ever tell team you the quarterback throws like a girl?" He threw it back.
Buffy caught the ball. "I do?" Angel shrugged. She frowned, took a grip on the ball, and threw it. It hit Angel in the face and he fell down. "Ooh, sorry!" Angel got up and ran at Buffy. "No, don't, no!" She shrieked as Angel tackled her.
Buffy giggled as he pinned her to the sand and started to tickle her a little. She was having the time of her life. Ever since Angel had proposed to her in front of her mom, dad, Lindsey, Giles, and her friends, Buffy's life had been nothing but a whirlwind of happiness and love. Her mom and Angel were spending more time together. He had even taught her mom how to cook an Irish dish his mom had taught him to cook when he was younger. Buffy had also spent more time at home with her mom. Angel stayed at the Summers' house every night Buffy did. She couldn't ask for a better life. Angel helped Buffy up off the sand and he picked up the dead football. Buffy shrugged and took his hand as they made their way back to the group.
"Game over?" Willow asked as they came up and sat down, Buffy between his legs.
"Uh, Buffy slayed the evil football." Angel said, tossing the thing away.
"Where's my burger?" Buffy asked.
"The, uh, fire's not cooperating. It's comforting to know that I lack the culinary finesse of a caveman." Xander said, still trying to light the fire.
"Ignis incende." Willow said, tossing her hand at the wood. The logs burst into flame. Xander fell backward onto his butt in the sand.
"Willow, check you out! Witch-fu." Buffy said.
"It's no big. You just have to balance the elements so when you affect one, you don't wind up causing.." A huge clap of thunder interrupted Willow as dark clouds appeared out of nowhere and it started to rain. Everyone jumped up shrieking and started frantically gathering up their stuff. "I didn't do it! I didn't do it!"
Buffy and Angel waved at Xander as he drove off in his car. He had dropped them off at the mansion and they were running up the steps to get out of the rain. Buffy was still in her bathing suit and Angel was in, of all things apocalyptic, shorts. They were soaked from the long run from the beach to Xander's car. Buffy grabbed the hair tie in her hair and yanked it out, letting the wet hair cascade down her back, shaking it out.
Angel watched her mess with her hair and he was enticed. She obviously noticed because she started to make her movements slow and showy. He groaned and she walked off into the bedroom. When Angel walked in, the bathroom door was just closing. Sighing, he got out of his beach clothes and changed into his usual pants and black sweater. Angel walked back out into the living room and sat down. While he waited for Buffy, he remembered their almost uneventful summer.
The day after Buffy's father had called, they had left for LA. After getting settled in there in Buffy's old room, Hank had taken them out for dinner. It had been Italian. Angel had politely declined and said that he would eat later because he was allergic to garlic. The whole week had been like that. On Friday, Buffy and Lesley had gone out on a big day of shopping. It had been planned. Angel had talked to Hank earlier in the week and asked for a large dinner party for Angel, Lesley, Hank, Buffy, Joyce, and Buffy's three best friends from Sunnydale. Hank had obviously asked why, but Angel had been very discreet. That night when Buffy and Lesley had returned, they had walked into a house filled with friends. At dinner, Angel had stood up and asked for everyone's attention.
"Um, excuse me." Angel said. He waited until everyone's attention was on him before continuing. "I've never actually done this kind of thing before because no one has ever made me feel the way I feel about Buffy. She's been my light at the end of the tunnel. She pulled me out of some hard times. I owe everything and more to her. This shouldn't be so hard to say, but I'm not used to having friends that care and actually listen to what I have to say. Buffy's given me this and much, much more. I really do wish there was more I could so for her."
"Angel," Buffy said. "You've done plenty by just being with me."
"I know, but that's not really what I'm trying to say."
"Then what?"
Angel walked over to her and dug around a little in his pocket and pulled out a little velvet box that he hid in his hand. Buffy stared at him, wondering what was wrong with him. She found out a couple seconds later when Angel dropped to one knee and took her hand.
"Mr. Summers, with your permission, I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage." Angel said.
Buffy started to cry, a huge smile spreading across her brilliant face. She looked over at Hank, waiting for him to answer. He smiled back at her and nodded.
"Buffy, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?" Angel asked.
She couldn't speak. Her throat had a huge knot in it. Instead, Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's neck and hugged him fiercely, kissing his neck and shoulder. When she pulled away, Angel pulled out a small engagement ring with a pretty, sparkling diamond. When he slipped it on her finger, they both stood up and shared a passionate kiss in front of everyone.
"Thanks, Mom. Everything was yummy." Buffy said. They were at her mother's house finishing dinner.
"It was delicious Joyce." Angel said.
"Hey, you two up for dessert? We could, uh, take a drive, get some ice cream." Joyce said.
"You know, we would, but we kinda have to get out on patrol." Buffy said.
"Now? It's 8:30."
"Well, vamps don't really care what time it is. You know, dark equals dinner bell."
"Right, of course. You know, I'm gonna have to get used to this place without you again. It gets so quiet."
"You know, maybe we should make a regular date of this, when school starts."
"Mmm."
"I'm sorry." Buffy kissed Joyce on the cheek. "Duty calls. It's a total drag."
"Night Joyce." Angel said.
"Goodnight you two." Joyce called after them.
Twenty minutes later, Buffy and Angel split up to cover more ground when they had found nothing in a couple of the cemeteries. As soon as Angel was out of sight, a vamp attacked Buffy. She punched him, a smile playing on her lips. She was having plenty of fun. She punched him several times and then grabbed his shoulders and kneed him. He got up and she was on his back. He threw her down. Buffy got up and charged, ducked a punch, punched, and then kicked him. She tried to kick again but he grabbed her and lifted her over his head, then threw her down. She got up again and jumped on him with her legs around his neck. He threw her down, she flipped him over, and then staked him.
Buffy stood up, looking satisfied, and began to stride away to find Angel. She walked between the gravestones and suddenly stopped. A presence made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Buffy whirled around.
"Very impressive hunt." A man said. "Much power." He was tall, pale, and thin and had long hair. His voice held an accent from some faraway country.
"That was no hunt. That was just another day on the job." Buffy said. "Care to step up for some overtime?"
"We're not going to fight."
"Do you know what a Slayer is?"
"Do you?"
"Who are you?"
"I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula."
Buffy stared at him for a minute then her eyes widened and she got a feeling of pure delight. "Get out! So lemme get this straight. You're 'Dracula.' The guy, the count."
"I am."
"And you're sure this isn't just some fan boy thing? Cause.. I've fought more than a couple of pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat."
"You know who I am. As I would know without question that you are Buffy Summers."
"You've heard of me?"
"Naturally. You're known throughout the world."
"Naw. Really?"
"Why else would I come here? For the sun? I came to meet the renowned.. killer."
"Yeah, I prefer the term slayer. You know, killer just sounds so.."
"Naked?"
"Like I.. paint clowns or something. I'm the good guy, remember?"
"Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it."
"No. You know what I feel? Bored." She lunged at him with her stake. He dissolved into smoke. As she straightened up looking confused, he reappeared behind her. She turned, lunged again. He dissolved into smoke again. Buffy looked around. "Ok, that's cheating."
"Hey Buff, what's up?" Xander called. He and Willow walked up with drinks in their hands.
"You look like you just.." Willow started
"Get out of here. Now." Buffy said.
"Fine, but I was gonna give you a sip of my double-mint mocha, but.."
Buffy saw Dracula appear behind Willow and Xander. "Behind you."
They turned and Willow said, "Hi."
"Nice. Look who's got a bad case of dark prince envy." Xander said.
"I have no interest in you. Leave us." Dracula said.
"No, we're not going to 'leave you.' And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street? Vun, two, three.. three victims. Mwa ha ha!"
"Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula." Buffy said.
"Wow, really?" He hurried to stand behind Buffy. "Hey, sorry, Man, I was.. just jokin' around."
"This is not the time. I will see you soon." Dracula said. He spread his cape out and moved toward them, turning into a bat and flew over their heads as they all ducked and yelled. The bat flew away, squeaking.
Buffy, Xander, and Willow straightened up and looked around. The bat came back and flew around Buffy's head. She covered her head with her hands.
"Bat! Ohh, bat!" Buffy said.
The bat flew away and they all straightened up again. After a few seconds, the three walked off excitedly. Half way to Giles', they ran into Angel. Buffy told him excitedly about what had just happened in the graveyard. When they reached Giles' apartment, they burst through the door, Buffy, Willow, and Xander talking at the same time about their encounter with Dracula. Anya and Tara were already there and they stared at them all like they were crazy. Buffy removed her sweater and tossed it on a chair.
"And then Buffy's all, 'Look out!'" Xander said. "And then frigging Dracula's standing right behind us."
"And then, he lunges at us, like whoosh!" Willow said.
"He totally looked shorter in person."
"I told you he'd heard of me, right? I mean, can you believe that? Count Famous heard of me." Buffy said.
"I couldn't believe it the first twenty times you told us, but it's starting to sink in now." Angel said.
"I'm sorry. Am I repeat-o-girl? I was just blown away."
"It's not that surprising that he's heard of you, Buffy. You are the slayer."
"I guess. Just.. the way he said it, you know, I mean, he made it sound so.."
"Sexy? I bet he made it sound sexy." Willow said.
"Kinda. He of the dark penetrating eyes and lilty accent."
"I wonder if he knows Frankenstein." Xander said.
"You thought Dracula was sexy?" Tara asked Willow.
"Oh! No. He, he was yuck." Willow said.
"Right, except for the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing? Yucko." Anya said.
"How would you know?" Xander asked.
"Well, we hung out a few times. Back in my demon days, you know, once or twice. He's pretty cool. You know, from, from a whole.. evil thing perspective."
"Please. He was no big whoop."
"No big whoop!? What about that thing where he turned himself into a bat? That was awesome!" Willow said.
"It must have been, yes." Giles said. "I must admit, I'm sorry I missed that."
"Me too! The whole time I was thinking, 'Gosh, I wish Giles were here, he'd know what to do!' Didn't you guys think that?"
"Actually, I was more thinking, 'Bat!'" Buffy said.
"How come he can do that?" Xander asked.
"I-I have no idea. There's a great deal of myth about Dracula. I imagine the trick to defeating him lies in separating the fact from the fiction." Giles said.
"Great point! That is so Giles, to think of something like that, you know? That-that we would have never..." Willow trailed off.
"So we should take things slow with Dracula. I mean, he said that we would meet again, but I would like to avoid that until we do some serious homework." Buffy said.
"I don't know. I mean, he may have a bunch of swell party tricks, but he's still just a vampire. I say we load up with stakes and crossbows and go after him now." Xander said.
"No, Buffy's right. Dracula's too slick to fall for the usual stuff." Angel said.
"So we hold off. No killing until we know exactly what we're dealing with." Buffy said.
"You're not just saying that because of those dark penetrating eyes of his, are you?"
"Noooo, his eyes were.. They were.. there was no penetration. Cross my heart."
"All right. Willow, you and Tara find out everything you can about the actual legend of Vlad the Impaler on the Internet, and, uh, I'll check the library." Giles said.
"You guys, we'll reconvene here in the morning."
They all left, Anya and Xander headed their own direction, Tara and Willow headed back to campus, and Buffy and Angel walked back to her mother's house. Buffy was silent most of the way. She kept replaying the whole thing with Dracula in her head. Angel watched her as they walked, amused by how awed she was by this.
"So, Buffy, you, uh, you really thought Dracula was sexy?" Angel asked.
"Not as sexy as you. Besides, you're way more famous than he is. Even though you've never made movies about the old days with Darla. You're still famous." Buffy babbled. Angel leaned down and kissed her gently. "See? A little sugar and I'm all yours. Dracula schmacula."
Angel laughed and opened the door for her. She waited at the foot of the steps for him as he closed the door. Her mother was in bed, but she had left a couple of lights on upstairs. While Angel went into Buffy's room, Buffy turned off all the lights. They got dressed for bed and curled up together.
"Angel?" Buffy asked.
"Hmm?"
"Did you ever meet Dracula? I mean, you're both pretty old."
"I met him. He owes me and Spike money."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So, how should we go about getting rid of Sunnydale's latest, yet famous, pest?"
"Well, he has to have his luxury estate and his bug-eaters and his special dirt."
"Does he really need all that stuff?"
"No. At least I don't think he does. I think it's all for show."
"Oh."
"Listen, why don't I do a couple of sweeps around town and go see if Willy is harboring any bug eaters of the human kind?"
"You'd do that?"
"Of course I would. Will you be ok by yourself?" Angel stood and started to get dressed.
"I'll be fine. He can't get in. I didn't invite him, you didn't invite him, and I'm pretty sure mom didn't either."
"Ok." Angel leaned down and kissed her. "Get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up in the morning."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart, hope it starts to beat." Angel said, shutting the door behind him and leaving the house.
Buffy giggled and laid back in the bed. She got comfortable and drifted off to sleep.
"Ha! Touchdown! Oh yeah. Go team me." Buffy said.
Angel laughed and caught the ball as she tosses it back. "Anybody ever tell team you the quarterback throws like a girl?" He threw it back.
Buffy caught the ball. "I do?" Angel shrugged. She frowned, took a grip on the ball, and threw it. It hit Angel in the face and he fell down. "Ooh, sorry!" Angel got up and ran at Buffy. "No, don't, no!" She shrieked as Angel tackled her.
Buffy giggled as he pinned her to the sand and started to tickle her a little. She was having the time of her life. Ever since Angel had proposed to her in front of her mom, dad, Lindsey, Giles, and her friends, Buffy's life had been nothing but a whirlwind of happiness and love. Her mom and Angel were spending more time together. He had even taught her mom how to cook an Irish dish his mom had taught him to cook when he was younger. Buffy had also spent more time at home with her mom. Angel stayed at the Summers' house every night Buffy did. She couldn't ask for a better life. Angel helped Buffy up off the sand and he picked up the dead football. Buffy shrugged and took his hand as they made their way back to the group.
"Game over?" Willow asked as they came up and sat down, Buffy between his legs.
"Uh, Buffy slayed the evil football." Angel said, tossing the thing away.
"Where's my burger?" Buffy asked.
"The, uh, fire's not cooperating. It's comforting to know that I lack the culinary finesse of a caveman." Xander said, still trying to light the fire.
"Ignis incende." Willow said, tossing her hand at the wood. The logs burst into flame. Xander fell backward onto his butt in the sand.
"Willow, check you out! Witch-fu." Buffy said.
"It's no big. You just have to balance the elements so when you affect one, you don't wind up causing.." A huge clap of thunder interrupted Willow as dark clouds appeared out of nowhere and it started to rain. Everyone jumped up shrieking and started frantically gathering up their stuff. "I didn't do it! I didn't do it!"
Buffy and Angel waved at Xander as he drove off in his car. He had dropped them off at the mansion and they were running up the steps to get out of the rain. Buffy was still in her bathing suit and Angel was in, of all things apocalyptic, shorts. They were soaked from the long run from the beach to Xander's car. Buffy grabbed the hair tie in her hair and yanked it out, letting the wet hair cascade down her back, shaking it out.
Angel watched her mess with her hair and he was enticed. She obviously noticed because she started to make her movements slow and showy. He groaned and she walked off into the bedroom. When Angel walked in, the bathroom door was just closing. Sighing, he got out of his beach clothes and changed into his usual pants and black sweater. Angel walked back out into the living room and sat down. While he waited for Buffy, he remembered their almost uneventful summer.
The day after Buffy's father had called, they had left for LA. After getting settled in there in Buffy's old room, Hank had taken them out for dinner. It had been Italian. Angel had politely declined and said that he would eat later because he was allergic to garlic. The whole week had been like that. On Friday, Buffy and Lesley had gone out on a big day of shopping. It had been planned. Angel had talked to Hank earlier in the week and asked for a large dinner party for Angel, Lesley, Hank, Buffy, Joyce, and Buffy's three best friends from Sunnydale. Hank had obviously asked why, but Angel had been very discreet. That night when Buffy and Lesley had returned, they had walked into a house filled with friends. At dinner, Angel had stood up and asked for everyone's attention.
"Um, excuse me." Angel said. He waited until everyone's attention was on him before continuing. "I've never actually done this kind of thing before because no one has ever made me feel the way I feel about Buffy. She's been my light at the end of the tunnel. She pulled me out of some hard times. I owe everything and more to her. This shouldn't be so hard to say, but I'm not used to having friends that care and actually listen to what I have to say. Buffy's given me this and much, much more. I really do wish there was more I could so for her."
"Angel," Buffy said. "You've done plenty by just being with me."
"I know, but that's not really what I'm trying to say."
"Then what?"
Angel walked over to her and dug around a little in his pocket and pulled out a little velvet box that he hid in his hand. Buffy stared at him, wondering what was wrong with him. She found out a couple seconds later when Angel dropped to one knee and took her hand.
"Mr. Summers, with your permission, I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage." Angel said.
Buffy started to cry, a huge smile spreading across her brilliant face. She looked over at Hank, waiting for him to answer. He smiled back at her and nodded.
"Buffy, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?" Angel asked.
She couldn't speak. Her throat had a huge knot in it. Instead, Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's neck and hugged him fiercely, kissing his neck and shoulder. When she pulled away, Angel pulled out a small engagement ring with a pretty, sparkling diamond. When he slipped it on her finger, they both stood up and shared a passionate kiss in front of everyone.
"Thanks, Mom. Everything was yummy." Buffy said. They were at her mother's house finishing dinner.
"It was delicious Joyce." Angel said.
"Hey, you two up for dessert? We could, uh, take a drive, get some ice cream." Joyce said.
"You know, we would, but we kinda have to get out on patrol." Buffy said.
"Now? It's 8:30."
"Well, vamps don't really care what time it is. You know, dark equals dinner bell."
"Right, of course. You know, I'm gonna have to get used to this place without you again. It gets so quiet."
"You know, maybe we should make a regular date of this, when school starts."
"Mmm."
"I'm sorry." Buffy kissed Joyce on the cheek. "Duty calls. It's a total drag."
"Night Joyce." Angel said.
"Goodnight you two." Joyce called after them.
Twenty minutes later, Buffy and Angel split up to cover more ground when they had found nothing in a couple of the cemeteries. As soon as Angel was out of sight, a vamp attacked Buffy. She punched him, a smile playing on her lips. She was having plenty of fun. She punched him several times and then grabbed his shoulders and kneed him. He got up and she was on his back. He threw her down. Buffy got up and charged, ducked a punch, punched, and then kicked him. She tried to kick again but he grabbed her and lifted her over his head, then threw her down. She got up again and jumped on him with her legs around his neck. He threw her down, she flipped him over, and then staked him.
Buffy stood up, looking satisfied, and began to stride away to find Angel. She walked between the gravestones and suddenly stopped. A presence made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Buffy whirled around.
"Very impressive hunt." A man said. "Much power." He was tall, pale, and thin and had long hair. His voice held an accent from some faraway country.
"That was no hunt. That was just another day on the job." Buffy said. "Care to step up for some overtime?"
"We're not going to fight."
"Do you know what a Slayer is?"
"Do you?"
"Who are you?"
"I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula."
Buffy stared at him for a minute then her eyes widened and she got a feeling of pure delight. "Get out! So lemme get this straight. You're 'Dracula.' The guy, the count."
"I am."
"And you're sure this isn't just some fan boy thing? Cause.. I've fought more than a couple of pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat."
"You know who I am. As I would know without question that you are Buffy Summers."
"You've heard of me?"
"Naturally. You're known throughout the world."
"Naw. Really?"
"Why else would I come here? For the sun? I came to meet the renowned.. killer."
"Yeah, I prefer the term slayer. You know, killer just sounds so.."
"Naked?"
"Like I.. paint clowns or something. I'm the good guy, remember?"
"Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it."
"No. You know what I feel? Bored." She lunged at him with her stake. He dissolved into smoke. As she straightened up looking confused, he reappeared behind her. She turned, lunged again. He dissolved into smoke again. Buffy looked around. "Ok, that's cheating."
"Hey Buff, what's up?" Xander called. He and Willow walked up with drinks in their hands.
"You look like you just.." Willow started
"Get out of here. Now." Buffy said.
"Fine, but I was gonna give you a sip of my double-mint mocha, but.."
Buffy saw Dracula appear behind Willow and Xander. "Behind you."
They turned and Willow said, "Hi."
"Nice. Look who's got a bad case of dark prince envy." Xander said.
"I have no interest in you. Leave us." Dracula said.
"No, we're not going to 'leave you.' And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street? Vun, two, three.. three victims. Mwa ha ha!"
"Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula." Buffy said.
"Wow, really?" He hurried to stand behind Buffy. "Hey, sorry, Man, I was.. just jokin' around."
"This is not the time. I will see you soon." Dracula said. He spread his cape out and moved toward them, turning into a bat and flew over their heads as they all ducked and yelled. The bat flew away, squeaking.
Buffy, Xander, and Willow straightened up and looked around. The bat came back and flew around Buffy's head. She covered her head with her hands.
"Bat! Ohh, bat!" Buffy said.
The bat flew away and they all straightened up again. After a few seconds, the three walked off excitedly. Half way to Giles', they ran into Angel. Buffy told him excitedly about what had just happened in the graveyard. When they reached Giles' apartment, they burst through the door, Buffy, Willow, and Xander talking at the same time about their encounter with Dracula. Anya and Tara were already there and they stared at them all like they were crazy. Buffy removed her sweater and tossed it on a chair.
"And then Buffy's all, 'Look out!'" Xander said. "And then frigging Dracula's standing right behind us."
"And then, he lunges at us, like whoosh!" Willow said.
"He totally looked shorter in person."
"I told you he'd heard of me, right? I mean, can you believe that? Count Famous heard of me." Buffy said.
"I couldn't believe it the first twenty times you told us, but it's starting to sink in now." Angel said.
"I'm sorry. Am I repeat-o-girl? I was just blown away."
"It's not that surprising that he's heard of you, Buffy. You are the slayer."
"I guess. Just.. the way he said it, you know, I mean, he made it sound so.."
"Sexy? I bet he made it sound sexy." Willow said.
"Kinda. He of the dark penetrating eyes and lilty accent."
"I wonder if he knows Frankenstein." Xander said.
"You thought Dracula was sexy?" Tara asked Willow.
"Oh! No. He, he was yuck." Willow said.
"Right, except for the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing? Yucko." Anya said.
"How would you know?" Xander asked.
"Well, we hung out a few times. Back in my demon days, you know, once or twice. He's pretty cool. You know, from, from a whole.. evil thing perspective."
"Please. He was no big whoop."
"No big whoop!? What about that thing where he turned himself into a bat? That was awesome!" Willow said.
"It must have been, yes." Giles said. "I must admit, I'm sorry I missed that."
"Me too! The whole time I was thinking, 'Gosh, I wish Giles were here, he'd know what to do!' Didn't you guys think that?"
"Actually, I was more thinking, 'Bat!'" Buffy said.
"How come he can do that?" Xander asked.
"I-I have no idea. There's a great deal of myth about Dracula. I imagine the trick to defeating him lies in separating the fact from the fiction." Giles said.
"Great point! That is so Giles, to think of something like that, you know? That-that we would have never..." Willow trailed off.
"So we should take things slow with Dracula. I mean, he said that we would meet again, but I would like to avoid that until we do some serious homework." Buffy said.
"I don't know. I mean, he may have a bunch of swell party tricks, but he's still just a vampire. I say we load up with stakes and crossbows and go after him now." Xander said.
"No, Buffy's right. Dracula's too slick to fall for the usual stuff." Angel said.
"So we hold off. No killing until we know exactly what we're dealing with." Buffy said.
"You're not just saying that because of those dark penetrating eyes of his, are you?"
"Noooo, his eyes were.. They were.. there was no penetration. Cross my heart."
"All right. Willow, you and Tara find out everything you can about the actual legend of Vlad the Impaler on the Internet, and, uh, I'll check the library." Giles said.
"You guys, we'll reconvene here in the morning."
They all left, Anya and Xander headed their own direction, Tara and Willow headed back to campus, and Buffy and Angel walked back to her mother's house. Buffy was silent most of the way. She kept replaying the whole thing with Dracula in her head. Angel watched her as they walked, amused by how awed she was by this.
"So, Buffy, you, uh, you really thought Dracula was sexy?" Angel asked.
"Not as sexy as you. Besides, you're way more famous than he is. Even though you've never made movies about the old days with Darla. You're still famous." Buffy babbled. Angel leaned down and kissed her gently. "See? A little sugar and I'm all yours. Dracula schmacula."
Angel laughed and opened the door for her. She waited at the foot of the steps for him as he closed the door. Her mother was in bed, but she had left a couple of lights on upstairs. While Angel went into Buffy's room, Buffy turned off all the lights. They got dressed for bed and curled up together.
"Angel?" Buffy asked.
"Hmm?"
"Did you ever meet Dracula? I mean, you're both pretty old."
"I met him. He owes me and Spike money."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So, how should we go about getting rid of Sunnydale's latest, yet famous, pest?"
"Well, he has to have his luxury estate and his bug-eaters and his special dirt."
"Does he really need all that stuff?"
"No. At least I don't think he does. I think it's all for show."
"Oh."
"Listen, why don't I do a couple of sweeps around town and go see if Willy is harboring any bug eaters of the human kind?"
"You'd do that?"
"Of course I would. Will you be ok by yourself?" Angel stood and started to get dressed.
"I'll be fine. He can't get in. I didn't invite him, you didn't invite him, and I'm pretty sure mom didn't either."
"Ok." Angel leaned down and kissed her. "Get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up in the morning."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart, hope it starts to beat." Angel said, shutting the door behind him and leaving the house.
Buffy giggled and laid back in the bed. She got comfortable and drifted off to sleep.