Previously: Lorne still wouldn't say what was so funny. Angelina thought it was something about Willow; something she'd said, or done. She wasn't sure.

Lorne still wouldn't let her look at the shirt either.

'What the hell is up with him?' Angelina thought.

Guess she'd find out later… whenever 'later' was.

Chapter 36

Angelina let them both into the apartment. She had given Lorne a key to the place, but he refused to use it when they were together. She didn't know why. Some Pylean thing?

She crossed the room and plonked herself on a couch, where she proceeded to take off her shoes. She could walk in heels, but not for a long time. She had worn these ones all day and her feet were killing her. Slowly she slipped the red shoes off her feet and when finally done, relaxed on the couch with a sigh of contentment.

Lorne had gone into the bedroom and hidden the dress in one of his numerous draws. He figured he had more draws in this place than Angelina did. He took out the blue shirt and walked into the lounge room with it.

'Here you go. You said you wanted to see it, here it is' he held up the shirt for her to look at.

Angelina had tipped her head back and now she tipped it back to look.

'It looks familiar' she admitted.

'I know Angel Cakes. It's pretty close to the colour of your ever present blue aura' Lorne admitted.

Was this what he found so funny? She doubted it. 'It's pretty' she tipped her head back to rest on the head of the couch.

Lorne guessed that Angelina had clearly forgotten about lunch and so thought about not bringing it up. It was after all, much more fun for him to see into her mind.

Lorne hung the shirt over the back of the other couch and sat down next to Angelina.

'Aren't you mean to be patrolling tonight Sugar?'

Angelina had her eyes closed as she answered him. 'Buffy wants to be head slayer in town. As far as I'm concerned, she's welcome to it. I'll help out if I'm needed, but otherwise I would like to try and lead a somewhat normal life' she explained.

'You mean a life without slaying or demons?' Lorne's face fell.

Angelina faced Lorne and opened her eyes 'I didn't say that. The slaying and the demons I love. I just don't want to do that all the time, you know?'

Lorne nodded, still looking a little upset.

'Oh Lorne I didn't mean it like that!' she leant forward and pulled him into a hug. 'You're special. Actually come to think of it, I don't know what I'd do without you'

Lorne hugged her back 'You're just saying that'

'No I mean it! I have no clue what my life would be like without you! I'd probably be more like Buffy, which to me isn't a great thing, though I have nothing against her… I – I don't wanna know what my life would be like!' she was getting really worked up.

'Ssshh… I was only joking Angel Face' Lorne comforted the near hysterical girl.

Angelina drew back shocked 'What? You were joking?'

'I was. Didn't know I'd get that reaction, but it's good to know you care about ol' Lorne' he smiled.

Angelina slapped his arm, though not hard. She knew how strong she was. 'Well you are special. So you're perfectly fine?'

'Fine as a golden thread'

'Hmpf' Angelina sat and stared at the floor.

'But I can see you're not' Lorne sat and searched her face. It was hard to see, so he turned her face towards him.

'Gotcha!' she cried as he tried to look at her. She rolled off the couch and landed on the floor, somersaulting onto her feet. Lorne sat and watched from the couch.

'Impressive… But can you do this?' he asked.

She looked confused when she asked 'What?'

'Well Pumpkin…' Lorne started as he got off the couch and sauntered towards her. 'Can you do…' he was at least two feet from her. She could feel his warm breath on her face. 'This!' he swooped her up in his arms and hoisted her over his shoulder.

'Hey!' Angelina dissolved into laughter. She knew if she fought him, she was going to hurt him, so let herself be carried away.

'A slayer can defeat vampires and other nasties…' Lorne stated.

'But when it comes to singing empath demons who wear bright colours, I stand no hope' Angelina laughed.

Lorne had carried her into the bedroom, where he threw her off his shoulder and onto the bed. She lay there laughing. It wasn't often she was carried anywhere, especially by a demon, to a bedroom. What was up with him?

Lorne lay down beside her and they spent the next few hours laughing and talking about nothing and everything.

It wasn't until Angelina's stomach rumbled did they move for food.

They sat in the kitchen eating pasta, which Lorne had whipped up himself. He took great pride in the fact that he could cook pasta. He sucked at nearly everything else, which he admitted. Angelina was going to have to teach him to cook at least a few more dishes.

She'd teased and mocked him over how he made it, saying his face when he concentrated was quite amusing. He came back with something along the lines of 'At least I can open a can without squashing it'. She'd shut up after that.

It was true, that at the worst of times, Angelina was known for squashing cans of food, etc in her frustration. They often had pasta or take out those nights.

'Hey do you wanna know what was so funny today?' Lorne asked from the table. Angelina was washing the dishes.

'Oh yeah! What was so funny it had to wait until now?' she queried. It had really bothered her; so much so, she had pushed it out of her mind completely.

'You have to come over here though sweetie' he motioned to his lap.

Angelina quirked an eyebrow 'You serious?'

'As ever' was the reply.

Angelina finished washing the dishes, dried her hands and then went and sat on his lap.

'Ok, you've got me. What was so funny?' She really was curious.

'I'll give you a clue' Lorne gave one of his charming grins.

'That smile must knock the socks off every girl' thought Angelina. Worked on her.

Lorne gently placed each of his hands on either side of her face. She quirked an eyebrow again.

'Wait, I'm not done' He stated, as she fidgeted, though did try to sit as patiently as possible.

Angelina didn't have to wait too much longer though. She was going to open her mouth to ask for another clue when suddenly her request was cut short. Lorne's lips brushed hers lightly, and then came back with a little more force. Angelina's head swam. 'Why is he doing this again? There's no vampire here. Wh-' she thought, then remembered the conversation Willow and her had had at lunch while Lorne had been absent. He had overheard it!

Angelina gasped, both for air and because of her realisation, and Lorne drew back with a smile on his face.

'Guessed yet?'

'I –I hummed at lunch. Willow and I had been talking about that night at the club.'

'And?…'

'You – you kissed me… Willow thought, actually, Willow squealed about it. And then you turned up' she looked at him. 'You heard it all didn't you?'

Lorne shrugged 'I was behind the wall. Once I heard what was being said, I wanted to know what you thought of the night.' He smiled 'Willow's pushing for more information was just an added bonus'

Angelina couldn't believe her ears. He had been hiding there.

'You could have asked me you know… I'm pretty sure me singing would have told you I enjoyed myself' she told him.

'Yes that is true, but it wouldn't be like your girly gossip with Willow, Sugar.' Lorne explained 'Singing only gives a demon so much. Gossip gives a lot more'

Angelina still sat on his lap. She was tired and if given the choice, would sleep where she was. If Lorne could stay still, but she doubted that. She tired to get up, but a pair of green arms held her prisoner.

'Want to get away that quickly?'

Angelina sighed and lent against his chest 'I'm tired, and I have to patrol tomorrow apparently. So sleep is a must have tonight'

Lorne understood. She needed to be well rested if she was to patrol. God knows he didn't want her to die because of him.

'Well that ruins the night of poker and shots I had planned' he joked as he released her from his grasp.

Angelina stood and stretched. Sleep was needed urgently, she didn't want to risk collapsing on the floor, and so she began to head off to bed.

'What? No goodnight?' Lorne called after her.

Her footsteps halted from the bedroom door and she turned around and headed back to the demon. She stood at the doorway, as though debating with herself. Once coming to a conclusion, she shuffled over to the chair.

'Goodnight Lorne. See you in the morning' she bent over and hugged him.

This was normal, they almost always hugged before one of them vanished for the night. But what happened next, Lorne hadn't anticipated.

Angelina withdrew from the hug and placed both of her hands on either side of Lorne's face and kissed him.

It was full of something, though Lorne couldn't place what. Angelina drew away, smiled and then left for bed, leaving Lorne looking like a stunned mullet.

'What just happened?' he wondered aloud.

'I said goodnight!' Angelina called.