Previously: Angelina found her pyjamas and changed into them, leaving her clothes on the hook on the back of the bathroom door, the only place where there were no clothes. She then began to leave the room, so she could sleep amongst the clothes and cushions.

As she turned though, she could help but notice the beautiful sparkly silver dress lying on the bed.

Chapter 26

We arrived not a moment too soon. Dawn and Buffy were still talking about Candice and Carly and how Dawn shouldn't be such good buddies with them. I didn't really care. As long as she was happy and unharmed, what did it matter? I had a slayer as a lover for god's sake!

Dawn returned to the apartment claiming to have to do 'something'. Buffy and I were still in the hallway but I could hear Dawn pick up the phone and dial, a few moments later she was talking to Candice, who was chained to… a bed? Weird girl.

'Nice show today. Sure surprised Giles' Buffy laughed. Her laugh was musical and wonderful and I never grew tired of hearing it. It was something I wanted to hear more often, but being a slayer meant less laughter.

'For you maybe. I'll have bruises no doubt'

'Well at least you didn't get a bruise from you seventeen year old sister'

'Good point'

There was a slightly awkward moment in the hallway but it was soon broken with, 'Wanna come inside or you gonna stay here all night?'

'Thought I don't live in my apartment enough pet?'

'Well I don't mind having another person in the apartment tonight. And you always seem to be there when I wake up so, yeah'

It was true. I was always there when she woke up. Odd really.

'Sure pet'

We both walked inside. Dawn quickly said goodbye to the Candice girl and hung up the phone.

'How is she?' Buffy asked.

'Better. She'll be at school on Monday'

'Are you going to visit her tomorrow?'

'Carly says we'll see how she feels tomorrow' Dawn explained.

It made good sense. Why would you want to see a girl chained to a bed if she wasn't feeling well?

Dawn was tired and so, claiming that she wasn't hungry, excused herself from the rest of the nights activities. Not that they would be any fun for her anyway. Buffy and I would normally talk, fight or sleep. Which ever sounded best that night.

Buffy however, was starving and so pulled out whatever she could find from the fridge, while I microwaved a mug of blood. There was nothing like fresh blood from the neck, but I had been getting used to the pig blood. It wasn't as good, but it kept me strong and alive-ish. It would do.

We sat and ate while having light conversation about how Anya had been snooty today and how Dawn was so much more independent, etc. Basic stuff really. Buffy was eating salad and chicken of some sort. It looked good, if I was human I would have eaten it.

Later, Buffy showered and walked out in a towel, saying I could use the shower. I was dead and didn't sweat as a alive person, but I thought it a good idea to have a shower. While I showered, Buffy changed into pyjamas. I knocked her razor off the small shelf and it fell, leaving me with a shallow cut on my foot. 'Bloody Hell!' I had shouted. When I got out and found a towel, I walked into the bedroom. Buffy grabbed a band aid, making the excuse she didn't want blood on the sheets. It healed quickly and so wasn't a big drama.

We rolled into bed and Buffy curled into my side almost instantly. It was nice to have a body there. It was always nice to have a warm body next to you. I lay my arm across her middle and sighed. Her hair smelt so bloody good. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes.

Dawn sneezed form her room, though I paid no attention to it. I was very much at home with Buffy in my arms and her hair under my nose. I buried my face into that hair and within moments was asleep.

Looked like we were sleeping tonight instead of fighting or talking.

Sleep was good. I could do sleep. As long as I had Buffy there, I could do almost anything.

Angelina was the first awake in the apartment. She had slept on the ground on pillows and blankets, seeing as how Lorne had taken the couch, probably not knowing it folded out into a bed. Her sleep hadn't been as comfortable as a bed, but it was better than nothing.

Groaning, Angelina slowly stood. Her back was stiff. It could have been worse though. She looked over to the couch where Lorne had thrown off most of the pile of clothes, and was still fast asleep.

Wondering what would happen if he was woken up, Angelina crept over to the couch. She didn't know if he had some defence thing when he slept. Guess she'd find out.

She looked at the peaceful demon. It was strange to see something so different so at ease in her house. She knew for a fact if it were any other demon, it would either be dead or trying to find a way out. Lorne wasn't any demon though. He had asked if he could stay.

She kneeled at the base of the couch, ready to duck if needed, and slowly began to tickle his nose. Her touch was as light as a feather and he didn't seem to feel it until a few moments later. Lorne stirred in his sleep, determined not to wake. Angelina kept tickling, then uttered the words 'Wakey Wakey Green Boy'.

Lorne stirred again and moaned 'Five more minutes'

Angelina laughed and got up off the floor. She needed to pee. She left Lorne to his five minutes peace as she set off for the bathroom.

She had just walked into the bathroom, when she noticed the silver dress again. She was going to ask him about it when he was awake enough, she figured.

Lorne heard the bathroom door close and slowly opened his eyes. Had she called him 'Green Boy'? It was nice to have a nickname, but she was going to have to come up with something better than that he decided. He looked around and saw items of clothing, both his and Angelina's littering the floor. He mentally kicked himself. He hadn't finished packing up. He must have fallen asleep while folding stuff.

He sat there for a minute trying to come up with some excuse for Angelina. He had nothing, which was a surprise because normally he was such a sweet talker.

Angelina came back out of the bedroom holding something shiny. Lorne had to cover his eyes. The morning sun reflected off of it like it was some giant disco ball.

'Morning Sunshine. You look like you had fun last night.' She gestured to the clothing everywhere. 'Were you trying to sell mine or something?'

Lorne looked like a child who had just been caught doing something he shouldn't have. 'Umm… Draw space?'

Angelina laughed. 'You know if you wanted draw space you could have used the empty draws in the dressing table'

Lorne breathed a sigh of relief. At least this girl had a sense of humour. That would get her places, just like her smile could.

'Well you see Pumpkin; I figured that this was my something. I'd sort your clothes, you know, get rid of the tacky ones, keep the good ones, and occasionally surprise you with something to wear. Just as a token of my appreciation' He flashed her a 'not quite awake' smile.

'Oh so that's what this is about' Angelina moved the dress out of the sunlight so Lorne could see it. He'd meant to hide that.

'Not quite Angel Hair. That was for a night on the town'

'Which town? I have clothes for a night on the town' she teased. Angelina knew she didn't have his taste, and to his standards, wouldn't have the right clothes.

'You hungry Lorne?'

It was odd to have a person other than Fred care for him, but Fred was dead now. Lorne had accepted that fact and the other one; no one would be like Fred. But Angelina was in many ways. It was amazing; to have found someone else who cared about him. Even if that someone hadn't known him for all that long.

'Famished… It's ok, I'll get…' he was cut off.

'Don't be silly. I was about to make something for myself. As long as you don't drink blood or something like that, I'll make something for you too'

Angelina walked to the kitchen and called 'I have fruit, cereal, eggs, bit of bacon, toast, what do you want?'

'Whatever's going is good with me honey'

Lorne still wasn't awake yet. He headed to the bathroom to splash water on his face, in hope it might wake him a little. He saw all of the clothes on the bed as he stumbled into the room, but ignored them. First priority, water splashing. Second priority; food.

He walked into the bathroom and noticed that Angelina had placed another towel next to hers. It was a purple one. She really did want to make him feel at home.

Lorne smiled to himself, splashed water on his face, used his new towel and then headed towards the kitchen with a spring in his step.

Angelina had made a fruit platter and had placed it on the kitchen table. It was one of the few places there were no clothes. She sat there with a bowl of muesli and was eating by the time Lorne entered and took a seat. He picked up some pieces of apple and began munching away. She wasn't normally a morning person; actually she was never a morning person. But having someone else in the apartment could change all that; which wasn't all that bad to her. She would then have more of the day to do things.

'So after we clean up this mess…' she gestured to the clothes with her spoon, 'what do you plan on doing today?'

Lorne was surprised. She was actually offering to help him with the clothes. Wow.

'Well… I wasn't planning on doing much' he admitted. 'Probably lazing around for a while, before hitting the town'

'There we go with hitting the town again. What town?'

'The one where everyone sparkles Sugar Pie'

'Which is?'

Lorne's eyes twinkled. 'I'll take you there one day'

'One day? If your hitting this town tonight, why not take me too?'

He took this into consideration 'Ok then Angel Babe. But on one condition'

Angelina knew she was probably going to regret this. It wasn't going to be another 'talk about you' session was it?

'And what is that one condition?'

'I get to play dress up'

Angelina nearly choked on her muesli. Dress up? As in, he was going to go through her wardrobe and pick out something for her to wear tonight?

Thinking back to the other day, it hadn't been that bad; he had actually picked out something she had worn the whole day.

Angelina swallowed her muesli and looked Lorne straight in the eye. 'Nothing trashy ok? I don't mind being a Barbie as long as I don't look like a hooker alright?'

Lorne laughed 'By the time I'm through with you sugar pie, Barbie will have wished she was never made'

I hadn't done much that Sunday morning. Had woken up to a half awake Buffy, who was snuggling into my side; refusing to wake. After a few moments though, she sighed and opened her eyes.

We'd lay there taking about nothing in particular' what colour Buffy looked best in; how Dawn was fitting into school and had two friends, etc. We had snuggled and refused to move for a while, til Buffy needed the bathroom. Then there was no point in staying in the bed.

Buffy went to the bathroom, and I got up in search of breakfast.

I found blood; there was never a shortage in this place. I think Buffy made sure of that. I also found a tub of yoghurt, an apple and a spoon for Buffy.

Dawn had already made herself breakfast and was quietly eating it while watching some Sunday morning cartoons. The wonders of cable huh?

Buffy returned from the bathroom and found the food. I got a kiss on the forehead, which in my head counted as points for effort.

Buffy joined me at the table and we ate together.

We were almost finished when the phone rang. Dawn answered it.

'Hello?' she said

'Hi. Is this Dawn?' asked the voice.

'Yeah'

'Oh Good! Dawn this is Angelina.'

Dawn's face lit up. 'Hey Angelina! What's up?'

'Oh. Umm, I was wondering if Buffy was around?'

Dawn's face dropped. Then she smiled. 'No sorry she's asleep. I can take a message for you though'

'Ok then. Could you please tell her that I won't be around today? A friend has asked me to tag along with them.'

'Sure thing Ange'

'Thanks Dawn. I'll see you soon ok? Maybe we can hang out sometime?'

'I'll hold you to that'

Angelina laughed. 'You do that. Thanks Dawn. Gotta go, cya!'

'Bye!' Dawn hung up the phone.

'Who was that pet?'

'Angelina'

Buffy became aware of the fact that Dawn had lied to the girl. 'I am too here! Dawn you should know better than to…'

'I just wanted to be able to talk to her. She always seems to talk to you guys' Dawn looked upset.

Buffy softened a little 'What did she want Dawn?'

'She rang to say she won't be round today. She has plans with a friend'

'Oh'

Now it was Buffy's turn to look upset. She must really like the other slayer's company.

We resumed our breakfast and afterwards, Dawn disappeared with Carly to see Candice, Buffy left to go to the shop and talk to the gang, and that left me all alone. Again.