Okay... so hello again... I gotta say that this story surprised me big time. It had started with a one shot and soon... you wonderful readers wanted more and I can only hope I haven't disappointed. I think this story has reached an almost peak... perhaps a chapter or two, or a chapter and an epilogue... who knows, but I think it's reached its limit. Anyways... enough with the sadness...
I hope you enjoy the chapter and PLEASE review :) I have enjoyed each and everyone of your reviews...
Chapter 15
Buffy and Angel sat on a table at a restaurant as they were supposed to be celebrating that they had now moved in together and the next step of their lives was just around the corner. Except something had been off since he'd shown up to Hampton Hall with the movers to take her stuff to his place… he'd tried to ask her what was wrong, but she kept on denying anything was…
They had just finished dinner, had ordered a dessert that he knew was her favorite and tended to practically do a happy dance but there had been nothing… there she sat staring into nowhere, her fork cutting pieces of the chocolate cake that she wasn't actually eating…
He brought back her attention to him by gently pulling her chin to him as he said, "Okay… you really need to tell me what's wrong…"
She smiled weakly but still said nothing…
"I'm serious Buffy…" he sighed, "Is this really how you want our relationship to be? Something happens and you don't want to talk about it?"
She let out a breath and said, "I just don't know what I should tell you if I haven't made a decision yet…"
This was progress he thought, "A decision on what…?"
She set the fork down then to fiddle with her napkin and said, "To what I want to do for life…"
Angel looked at her confused, "for life? You mean with us?"
"NO, No…" she said, "Fred called today and… and…"
"Just spill…" he encouraged.
"She needs my answer on what dance company I will join so the paper work for my contract can be drawn up, and I hadn't even thought about it, because I've been all about us and getting married, and I know there are certain expectations that come with your family and…"
"Woah…" Angel said now understanding her mood; "Hey…" he grabbed her hand squeezing it.
Buffy looked up with watery eyes, "I just don't think I can be both… a dancer and your wife, and I really want to dance… I've worked hard for this my whole life, but I love you… and I do want to be your wife but…"
"Buffy…" he interrupted, "Do you love me…?"
She looked at him like was he really serious? She'd just said that… "Of course I love you, I just said, hmmm…"
He pulled her to him and kissed her cutting her off, "then whatever you decide will work… dance, don't dance, whatever you decide I will make it work…"
"Bu-but your family…" she reasoned.
"Will just have to deal with it…" he smiled, "it's going to be just you and me now, you're my family… no one else matters…"
"B-But your dad…"
"You and me sweet love… I mean, if you still… want to… marry me…"
She tipped her head to the side while saying, "You know I do…"
"Good…" he said, "now can we do away with the cute pout and get on to the celebrating my future wife just moved in with me?"
He waived the waiter over for more champagne as she smiled eating her dessert humming… "Mmmm… this cake is good…" she said and got some to feed some to him.
Angel wasn't a dessert person but her change of mood had him soaring, he opened his mouth allowing her to feed him then yummed, "You're right… it's delicious…"
Buffy giggled happily as she completely finished it… his reassurance that he'd support her regardless, really had taken a load off her shoulders and as soon as they were out of there, she'd head to the Association's Office to sign her contract… she was going to dance and be Mrs. Angel O'Donnell.
/
Spike and Drusilla had had it out the day Angel had showed up with his gorillas, because she had assumed that they were abandoning the plan and now… because he took it upon himself to go through with it without telling her… they were being banished like criminals from the only place she'd called home.
After some arguing and angry sex he'd apologized for not telling her, but told her he would have done it anyways. They had spoken about where they were to settle but without a definite conclusion, she offered for them to stay at her vacation home in Hawaii. They'd been completely packed up and almost out the door when they heard a knock…
They glanced at each other oddly, then Spike peaked through the peep hole…
Rather than have them kick the door down, he opened it to see the same guys from the day before…
"We're already leaving mates… what does his majesty now want?" he questioned annoyed.
One of the men spoke, "We're here to escort you to the airport… make sure you leave…"
"Unbelievable…" Dru said.
The other man stepped forward and said, "We're also here to make sure that there is no trace and copies of said information…" he looked around, "did you hire a PI?"
"No…" Spike said, "I followed her myself…"
"Are there copies, disks, hard drives, paper trail that you might still posses?"
Spike looked behind him a moment, to gaze at his computer… there were files that lay under a camera. One of the men called some technicians that apparently had been waiting outside… and they rushed in yanking the computer, taking the tower, the camera, a laptop, all the files, and before one of them left, he whispered something to one of the men calling the shots.
He nodded and looked to the couple… "Cell phones…" he demanded.
"Why…" Dru said bothered.
"There's nothing in the…" Spike began but he got cut off by the click of a gun being pointed at him. Drusilla gasped and pulled out her phone from her purse while walking to Spike and grabbing his from his pocket. She handed them to the guy without the gun.
The man put his gun away and said, "Mr. O'Donnell sends his regards and asked you'd be reminded the threat stands still…"
Drusilla nodded with watery eyes as Spike disgustedly grabbed their luggage. The men waited till they stepped out before walking into the kitchen's condo and letting the stoves' gas open for a couple of minutes, lit a candle in the living room, and flicked a match into the kitchen. Soon there was a loud pop as they stepped out and the room… quickly caught fire.
The men were making sure the couple got in the car, when the windows exploded with a loud crash… Spike and Dru stared in awe… Angel had not been joking, they'd mess with the wrong people and they hadn't even known it. One of the men looked at his phone and the other asked…
"Is that it?"
"Yup…" the other said scanning messages, "Their hotel room was swept, their electronics retrieved, the condo destroyed, and his story checks out… he hired no one… he worked alone aside from the girl."
The man nodded.
"He does want to be notified when they've left though…"
"Will do" the man said, "Let's move it…"
/
At the Dance Association… Angel sat in Wesley's office chatting away, as the women were in the conference room dealing with the legalities.
"Sign here…" Fred pointed, "and here… here, and the last one…" she flipped the page, "Here…"
Buffy signed the last of the forms and when she did… Fred stood up and gave her, her hand… "Well congratulations and welcome to the association…"
They shook hands.
"The England Dance Company will be happy to have you…"
"Thank you…" Buffy said in a grin. She wasn't sure how being Mrs. O'Donnell and Prima Ballerina of a dance company was going to work out, but Angel had promised it would...
"Okay…" Fred said, "So you'll have about four to five months to relax then it's training camp, then touring and performance season won't be till the beginning of the year…"
"Great… can't wait…"
"Good…" she said, "Well let's see the men in the office and you're done…"
The girls walked to Wesley's office; the men both perked up the moment they walked in…
"All done…" Wes asked.
"Yes…" Fred answered.
"You seem happy…" Angel pointed out of Buffy.
"I am…" she said walking towards him and hugging him.
Wes office phone then beeped and he answered, "Yes Melanie…"
"You're request is here sir…" she said.
"Bring it in…" he said smiling at Fred, as she look at him like 'what the hell are you up to.'
The secretary brought in champagne and a small cake that said happy engagement…
"Oh my god…" Fred cheered, "Angel are you…?"
"We…" he gestured of Buffy, "are…"
Fred walked to the couple with arms open, "Congratulations… you have SO much to celebrate…" she hugged them, "I heard about the properties you bought, now her contract, and now a wedding…?"
Wes had followed his wife, hugged his friend and shook the soon to be wife's hand…
"Thank you…" Buffy said.
They all grabbed a glass as Wes popped the cork off of it pouring, as he said, "May you continue to find happiness in each other… or so I hear…" he joked and then toasted.
"So…" Fred inquired, "When's the big day…?"
"Up to her…" Angel pointed to Buffy.
"I…" she thought, "I don't know… might be a long engagement if I'm expected to be in London in 5 months…"
"5 months?" Angel said taken.
"Well…" Wes began.
"It's bad luck to be engaged for more than a year, I mean, I don't know if you're superstitious but…" Fred filled in.
"I'm not…" Buffy said, but then saw Angel's face go serious, "but you are, aren't you?" she figured.
Angel gave her a small smile.
"Ooh… that reminds me…" Fred said pulling out a folder and giving it to Buffy, "this is all the schedules and performances of where you'll be and itinerary for the year…"
Buffy took it, and as if something all of sudden clicked… she looked for the calendar. They always got a break in between, so maybe…
"Aha…" she said triumphant, "Here…" she pointed to the schedule showing Angel, "We get two weeks for a break while in Italy… I know it's not ideal, but we can have a small destination wedding…"
She thought for a bit…
"I mean you can say no, I know LA is probably expecting like a huge event in which important people will be invited and…"
Angel pulled her to him while saying, "A small wedding in Italy sounds perfect…"
"Are you sure…?" she questioned, doubt in her eyes.
"Positive…" he said, "I'm sure those who want to be there…" he looked up at Wes and Fred, "will be there…"
"We'd love to…" Fred said excitedly.
"We'll be honored…" Wes said, both practically at the same time.
Ooh… Buffy thought, that would be a dream wedding… maybe get married in Tuscany… it'd be a dream come true.