Chapter 39: Claddagh Ring

Buffy woke up the next morning, stretching. She smiled as she felt Angel next to her, she opened her eyes and looked at her left hand. She laid there looking at the Claddagh Ring Angel had given her, she didn't even notice that he had woke up. She was to busy thinking about last night and how amazing it was. It was okay for the driving and then it got bad when she almost had a mental break down but then once she told Angel she would actually marry him things just kept getting better. They had made love all night, she was sure she had only gotten about 3 hours of sleep.

"Its just a promise ring, sort of." He smiled at her.

Buffy looked up at Angel. "Why? It cant be an engagement ring?"

Angel shook his head. "It wasn't meant as an engagement ring. I will get you a real one."

"But I like it." Buffy smiled.

"It is actually a wedding ring, to the Irish people… I just didn't want to tell you that when I gave it to you." He told her.

Buffy looked at the ring. "A wedding ring? Why didn't you want to tell me?"

"Didn't want to scare you away." He shrugged.

She looked at him with a smile. "So not going to happen."

"Buffy, you freaked out when I tried to give you the ring." He said looking up at the ceiling. "I knew a ring wasn't a good idea…"

"But you couldn't find a necklace that just screamed ME!" Buffy joked.

Angel nodded. "Exactly."

"You said it came in the mail yesterday… come from where?" She asked him.

"Ireland." He replied.

Buffy sat up and looked down at him. "Are you mad about something?"

"No." Angel told her propping himself up on his elbows. "I'm just thinking about how much I don't want to go to work and say in bed with you all day."

"Oh. Yeah, why couldn't you spontaneously propose on the weekend?" She joked.

Angel smiled. "I will try to remember that for next time."

On the way to work they stopped off at a bagel shop to pick up breakfast. They had to be fast though because Angel had a big day ahead of him. He had to prep his unit for a new training, wash and move some hummers and ask his superior officer for some time off. 'This is going to be a great day.' He thought sarcastically.

"It's a good thing I am friends with Sherwood." Angel said picking up a bag of bagels from the counter.

"Sherwood?" Buffy asked taking the bag from Angel to get her bagel with strawberry cream cheese. "That guy that pissed off Doyle and was making me feel very uncomfortable when he was at the house that night?"

"He made you feel uncomfortable?" He asked.

Buffy nodded. "Way to into me."

"I think that's all for show." Angel opened the car door for Buffy. "He is a really good guy and wants people to think he is big and bad but actually he is a big softy. I feel bad for him, he was with this girl and he was pretty much in love with her and she died."

Buffy gasped. "What happened?"

"To close to a suicide bomber." He told her closing the door.

Buffy watched Angel get in the car. "Oh my god! I feel so bad for him now! And her family! How old was she?"

"19. From what I have heard." He said starting the car pulling out to drive Buffy to Mars Investigations.

Buffy looked sad. "That's horrible!"

Angel glanced at Buffy, the sound in her voice he thought she might cry. "Don't cry baby, I know it's horrible but Jeremy has moved past it."

"It's a hard thing to move past. A death." She whispered.

"Speaking from experience?" He wondered.

Buffy nodded. "Not of a boyfriend or anything but a few friends of mine have died… and my cousin."

"Your cousin?" He glanced at her again.

Buffy nodded. "When I was little, Dawn was still a baby. She- Celia got sick. It wasn't anything serious, I mean kids get the flu all the time… right? She was even getting better but then one day I went to visit her with my parents and I went into Celia's room, she was just laying there. I tried talking to her but she didn't say anything back to me." Buffy looked down in her lap a tear escaping her eye. "She had already died earlier that morning sometime between when her mom left her room and when I walked in."

"I'm sorry, Baby. That must have been really hard." He whispered.

Buffy nodded again. "She was one of my best friends. We used to play super heroes together. I was always the superhero saving her." Buffy smiled a little at the memory. "I guess she is part of the reason I became so into the whole Private Investigator stuff. I wanted to save people, because I couldn't save her. Sadly most of the stuff I do is husbands and wives cheating though. Celia's death kind of ruined our family… my mom was so close with my Aunt Arlene and then after Celia dead, my Aunt up and left. Moved to Illinois."

"Do your mom and Aunt still talk?" He asked her.

Buffy looked at Angel. "Once in a while. Not as much as they used to. They used to talk everyday, see each other everyday. Now they are lucky if they talk once a month."

"Sorry to hear that." He replied sadly.

"Anyway, why are you lucky you are friends with Sherwood?" She asked him. It seemed like they often got distracted and start a whole different conversations.

Angel turned down the street that Mars Investigations was on. "His dad is my superior and I have to ask him for the time off."

"Should I wish you luck or will it be easy?" She wanted to know.

Angel pulled up to the side walk. "Luck would be good, I don't know if they will need me. So when we get married will be up to my bosses."

Buffy smiled when he mentioned getting married. She couldn't believe she was engaged now, it was almost surreal.

"Well then, Good Luck. I love you." She kissed him quickly putting her hand on the door handle but Angel stopped her. He pulled her to him and kissed her longer.

"I love you too, Baby." He smiled after he broke the kiss.

Angel wanted to get the hardest part of his day out of the way first so before he needed to report he went in search of Lieutenant Colonel Sherwood. He was a little nervous to ask for some time off but he didn't want to admit it. He didn't like having negative feelings when it came to work, in this line of work you couldn't afford it. Angel hadn't taken any days off unless he was forced to though so he hoped this would go his way.

Angel found his Lieutenant walking out of the building where the General's office was. He had a feeling he would be there, the General was the Lieutenants best friend.

"Lieutenant Colonel Sherwood, Sir!" Angel saluted.

"Sergeant Angelus." The blonde Lieutenant saluted back. "What can I do for you today?"

"Sir, I was wondering if I could have a word." Angel said and the Lieutenant stopped walking.

Lieutenant Sherwood nodded. "Of course, Sergeant."

"Thank you, Sir." Angel said standing at attention.

"At ease Soldier." His superior told him.

Angel spread his legs and placed his hands clasped behind his back. "I would like to ask for a little time off, Sir."

"Reason." Lieutenant Sherwood ordered.

"I'm getting married, Sir." Angel answered.

A small smile appeared on the Lieutenants face. "I wasn't aware you were seeing anyone, son."

"Yes, Sir." Angel nodded courtly.

"Congratulations. When is the big day?" The blonde man asked.

"We are leaving that up to you, Sir. We wanted to get the Okay for leave before we made any real plans." Angel explained.

Lieutenant Sherwood nodded. "How much time do you need to plan the wedding?"

"I don't know, Sir. I have never planned a wedding." Angel told him looking straight forward at him.

"How good is this girl at planning?" His Lieutenant asked.

Angel let a small smile slip. "Not at all, Sir."

Lieutenant Sherwood laughed. "I need you in a few weeks. How about in two weeks. I will give you 7 days off and you need to report to me August 1st. 0600 hours. Are we clear Sergeant?"

"Yes, Sir!" Angel shouted.

"You are relieved, Soldier." Lieutenant Sherwood saluted.

Angel saluted back and began to walk away.

"Sergeant!" The Lieutenant yelled in a stern voice. Angel turned around and stood at attention once again. "Welcome to married life." He smiled at Angel.

"Thank you, Sir." Angel smiled.

As Angel drove home that night he was to tired to even think. Luckily Buffy had text him and said she didn't need a ride home that night. Angel was happy he could just go straight home. A beer and relaxing while watching Baseball was all he wanted to do.

He pulled up to the Condo and got out of his car, he slammed his car door and walked slowly towards the house.

Buffy had seen him out the window and opened the door hurriedly. "Well?"

Angel got a burst of energy when he saw her, the love of his life. She didn't look happy but she didn't look upset either. More like her life rested on his answer. "We are a go!" He smiled.

Buffy screamed happily and ran to Angel, jumping into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waste kissing him. "It went well?"

"Very." He said kissing her again. "Can we plan a wedding in two weeks?"

"Two? Two weeks? Your kidding right?" She asked a little worried jumping back down to the ground.

Angel shook his head.

"I cant even decide what I want to eat, I cant plan a wedding in two weeks!" Buffy exclaimed. "I don't even know if I can plan a wedding! I'm going to need my mom!"

"I will be there too." Angel smiled softly running his thump across her cheek.

"Right." Buffy let out a breath.