Two years had passed since Angel achieved his redemption and the Powers That Be had given him his just reward.

Two years during which the only woman he had ever truly loved had borne him a son, with whom he shared his love.

Two years that had brought him more happiness than over two centuries had brought before.

Angel wanted it to last forever......

"Wow" breathed Buffy "Are you sure we can afford this?"

Angel put their suitcases down and sat on the edge of the bed. The look on Buffy's face was worth every cent it had cost him for the room.

To celebrate the second anniversary of Angel becoming human again, he had booked them a suite for the night in one of the classiest hotels LA could offer.

Sarah had been more than happy to look after Davy , and although Buffy knew she would miss him terribly, the thought of spending a romantic night alone with Angel was too hard to resist.

She looked around the room in amazement, marvelling at all the little touches Angel had thought of.

A bottle of champagne was chilling nicely in an ice bucket, and on the table, a huge box of chocolates was already tempting her.

On the bed lay two roses, one deep red and the other white. Darkness and light thought Buffy, and smiled to herself.

"Oh my God!" she squealed when she looked into the bathroom "It has a jacuzzi"

Angel smiled to himself as he started unpacking their things. He hung up the tuxedo that he had secretly rented for the night, then he unpacked the dress for Buffy that Cordelia had picked up for him the day before.

Buffy had tried it on in a store a few days previous when she and Cordelia had been out shopping.

When Angel told Cordelia his plans she had mentioned to him how much Buffy adored the dress but thought it was too expensive.

Angel looked at the price tag and whistled.

Buffy was still in the bathroom and he could hear water running.

He tried to concentrate on opening the champagne, but his imagination was getting the better of him at the thought of Buffy and bubbles, and when the cork finally popped it gave him visions of something else entirely. 'Down boy' he thought as he poured the fizzy liquid into two glasses, and passed one to Buffy as she emerged from the bathroom.

"Thank you" she said taking it from him "Thank you so much for doing this"

"You're welcome" he said, his breathing slightly uneven as he gently kissed her.

"So, how much time have we got before dinner?" asked Buffy as she sipped her champagne.

"Enough" smiled Angel as he felt his heartrate quicken.  

Buffy put her glass down on the table "Wanna try out the jacuzzi?" she grinned as she slowly unbuttoned her top.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" he asked raising an eyebrow at her "Because I hate to inform you, but I'm not that easy"

Buffy took his hand and pulled him towards the bathroom. "I love it when you play hard to get" she laughed dragging him in with her.

Some time later, as they lay quietly together in each others arms, Angel glanced at his watch.

"Buffy we'd better get dressed, otherwise we'll miss dinner" he said.

She stretched lazily beside him "Do we have to?" she pouted "There are better things to do than eat"  

She tried to grab him but Angel leapt off the bed and retrieved his boxers, then tossed her a bathrobe.

"C'mon Buffy I'm starving" he said "And it would be a pity to waste that little outfit hung up in there" he added.

"What?" she cried wrapping the robe around her and following his gaze . Jumping off the bed, she threw open the wardrobe door "You bought me a dress" she murmured taking it from the rail and admiring it "How did you know.....?" she asked as she laid it out .

"I know everything about you Buffy Summers" he smiled.

"Ok, tell me what I'm thinking right now" she whispered tracing her fingers down his chest.

"Nothing I could repeat I'm guessing" he answered kissing the tip of her nose "And you're trying to side track me again" he groaned as she replaced her fingers with her lips. His stomach growled with hunger  which made Buffy giggle.

"I'm taking my gear in the bathroom " said Angel "And I want to see you in that when I come out" he gestured towards the dress.

"Or you'll do what?" teased Buffy flashing her eyes at him.

"Go to dinner without you" he laughed and closed the bathroom door behind him.

When Angel came back into the bedroom he stood and stared, the dress fitted perfectly and she looked stunning.

Her hair was piled up loosely, little tendrils of it spilling down to frame her face, and the merest hint of make-up enhanced her natural beauty even further.

She was struggling to fasten the clasp on the necklace Angel had given her when Davy was born.

He went across and did it for her resisting the temptation to kiss his way down her neck.

When Buffy stood up, she was slightly taller than usual because of the strappy high heeled sandals she was wearing.

"Do you like it?" she asked twirling round and standing in front of him waiting for his approval.

"I like it" murmured Angel as his eyes swept over her "I like all of it"

Buffy smiled at the sight of him, he looked so gorgeous she thought she might melt at any moment.

"I remember the last time you wore a tux" she whispered.

Memories of that night at the prom so many years ago flooded her mind. She could hear the music, remember how it had felt to be dancing so close to him, knowing that soon he would be gone.

Buffy took a deep breath, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes at any moment.

Angel took her in his arms and held her tight.

"Its ok" he said "This time I'm not going anywhere".

The past hour had been spent relaxing over dinner during which they had fed each other lobster dipped in a rich buttery sauce, and ordered different desserts so that they could taste each others. They sipped Margueritas and held hands across the table, oblivious to the other guests and the waiters fussing around them. They talked about anything and everything and sometimes just sat quietly, listening to the band playing slow jazz songs, most of which were new to Buffy but brought back many memories for Angel.

Would this ever end? he thought. Would the feelings he had for this beautiful young woman sitting across the table from him ever fade or lessen with time?

She smiled at him then, and he knew the answer would always be no.

He stood up and held out his hand to her "Dance with me?" he asked.There were other couples on the dancefloor, but Buffy and Angel didn't notice or care.

Buffy lay her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

He held her close, breathing in the smell of her freshly washed hair and the vanilla perfume she always wore.

They moved together to the slow rhythm, neither of them ever wanting this evening to end.

Some time later, Buffy lifted up her head slightly and looked into his eyes.

"Do you know how much I love you?" she whispered.

"Show me" he said.

Buffy took his hand and led him back to the room.

There are moments in everyones life that stand out above all the rest.

The bad ones come back to haunt us when we least expect it. Unbidden, they rise up from the very depths of our souls, and no matter how deep we bury them, a chance remark, a certain smell or taste can bring them to the fore.

Buffy and Angel had more than their fair share of bad memories. Moments filled with such pain and despair that it was hard to ever bury them deep enough.

But, over time the balance was being redressed.

Bad memories were gradually being replaced by good ones, despair had turned to hope, sadness to joy, and the pain was eased by the love they shared with one another.

These were the memories to cherish, to savour, to set free.

Never buried, never truly hidden, coming to mind during quiet moments over the years to come.

The memories of this night would happily be re-lived over and over again.

Angelus had once been the Scourge of Europe.

Hard to believe seeing Angel now, pinned up against the bedroom door by a beautiful woman, helpless as a kitten and loving every minute.

Angelus had brought pleasure and pain to countless women.

The pain only belonged to the past, that was something Angel would never give Buffy.

But the pleasure  he was more than willing to share with her, and she with him.

The Slayer and her Warrior.

The expert lover and the willing pupil.

A match made in Heaven.

Which is were Angel believed he was headed that very moment.......

Buffy opened her eyes the next morning to find Angel leant on one elbow watching her.

At first she wasn't sure were they were, but then she remembered.

She smiled at him and touched his wet hair.

"That's not playing fair" she complained "You already hit the shower and I've got bed hair."

"You still look beautiful to me" he murmured reaching for her.

"I need the bathroom " she laughed "And I'm starving, can we order some breakfast?"

"Its already taken care of" he smiled.  

When Buffy emerged from the bathroom wearing one of the hotel bath robes, breakfast had arrived and Angel was already pouring out coffee and eating a croissant at the same time.

"Wow this looks delicious" she said as he passed her some orange juice.

They spent the next few minutes sat on the bed, greedily devouring everything in sight.

"I can't believe you asked for chocolate and peanut butter" laughed Buffy as she fed him some.

"For some strange reason they're my favourites" he grinned pulling her into his arms  "Are you happy?" he asked in a quiet voice.

"Very" she said as they shared a long slow kiss.

When they finally broke apart she smiled at him "I have something for you" she said getting up and going over to her vanity case.

Buffy produced two small velvet boxes, she passed one to Angel and opened the other herself.

Inside each box was a silver claddagh ring, and when Angel saw them he felt as if he had been transported back in time.

They had once exchanged rings just like these, on a day which now seemed like a lifetime ago.

A day which held such bitter-sweet memories for them both.

Those rings could never be worn again, they were tarnished with agony, guilt and despair.

So much pain encompassed in one small silver circle.

These rings were shiny and new, untainted by the past and symbolising the future.

The only thing that could tarnish them would be the passage of time.

Angel put the ring he was holding onto Buffy's right hand, but it did not fit "Try here" she said holding out her wedding finger.

He couldn't speak as he pushed the ring into place, she did the same to him and gently kissed his hand.

"Tell me the story again Angel" she whispered "Just like you did the first time"

He took a breath and tried to stop himself shaking.

"My people....Before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty and the heart, well you know. Wear it with the heart pointing towards you, it means you belong to somebody. Like this" Angel said and he held up his hand.

"We belong to each other" said Buffy reaching up to kiss him.

"Forever" he murmured "That's the whole point"

On to In Safe Hands