Dreams of Loneliness
Part Six
You held your voice well
There were tears, I could tell
But where were you now?
Was you gonna tell me in time?
Just give me a town and I'll be straight down
I got so much to tell you About where I have been
- Take That, "Babe"
He saw her leave. His eyes followed her as her small figure immerged outside the door, stake in hand, all senses alerted for any upcoming attacks. His Slayer. His Buffy. His love.
He watched as her flexible body moved quickly in the silence of the night, her motions verify years of practice and facility. There were times when he had been there, by her side, keeping her safe, while they both were fighting the various evils of the night. These days were long gone now.
But there was something different about her tonight, something that made her not entirely concentrated on the slaying. He could feel it. He always could feel it. There wasn't a single time when something disturbed her, and he couldn't feel it, and most of the times, he was the reason for it. Most of the times…like now. Now, he once again was the reason. The reason for her perplexity, the reason for her heartbreak, the reason for her anguish…
He knew what she was trying to do. He knew her so well. He knew she was trying to cope again. It was always her way to cope. Whenever there was something throwing, or something torturous on her soul that she couldn't handle, she would go out slaying. Taking the frustration out on the vampires and the demons had always made it easier for her. *She must have been doing it very often when I wasn't there to hold her when she needed my embrace…* He had no idea how truly right he was. In the past six years, instead of being the center of attraction for demons and vampires, the Hellmouth was literally scaring them off. She was getting better the last three or two years, but at the beginning especially, the Slayer was known as the deadliest killing machine.
He slowly dissevered from the shadows he was lurking in, and stalked after her. He chuckled bitterly. Always the shadows. He was always slinking in the shadows, always following her around, seeing yet unseen, her deathless guardian. But she knew. He knew she knew. She had always known.
The moment Buffy walked out of the house, she sensed something in the air, something out of place, something she had almost forgotten how it felt. But she had to shake these thoughts off. It wasn't rational. It wasn't possible. It made no sense…and she felt it nonetheless.
She felt HIM. She hadn't felt HIM…in over six years, and yet, she felt him now. And this feeling was too strong to be classified as a mere imagination. Her mind was reeling. *No, it can't be. It's not possible,* she kept reminding herself, but another voice, her obstinacy, prompted the opposite. *You have lived on the Hellmouth for ten years. You should know by now that impossible DOESN'T EXIST!*
Buffy surveyed the sphere around her. Nothing. Nothing, but the everlasting shadows of the night. *But that's where he had always belonged to. The shadows of the night,* she cogitated with a bitter smile, and kept walking.
He watched her. He watched as she hunted down two vampires, and staked them without even a minimum effort. His eyes glittered proudly. She was the oldest and the best Slayer to ever live. He was so proud of her. But maybe it wasn't only pride sparkling in his eyes. Maybe, these were the tears of the loss of something that deep inside he knew he could never regain, something more dear to him than life.
The feeling became stronger. And she revolved again, and then again, and a few more times, but every time found nothing. Nothing, but the so familiar darkness. The purity of her woe came rushing full force. Buffy felt her legs becoming too weak to hold under her body. The grief, the loss, the pain, the loneliness, all the feelings she had had to live with for years, seemed to have abruptly confederated against her, driving her to the point of lunacy. She could feel him, THAT what was crushing her now, that she could sense him, feel him so close to her, and yet so unattainable. She started running. She didn't know where she was heading. She wasn't aware of someone following her, she never turned around. She tried for all she's worth to escape the claws of those feelings, and whatever was initiating them in her. And it was running after her.
She dashed into the mansion. She had no idea what had brought her here, no idea why. She halted abruptly in the main hall, gazing about her in mad confusion. The odor of dust and mold in the wintry room swept over her and subdued her senses. She toppled to her knees before the great fracturing fireplace, closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands, but even that couldn't hinder the memories this old place held within it from materializing over and again before her eyes.
// "I love you."
"I love you."
"Close your eyes." //
// "I haven't…told Giles and the others that…you're back."
"Giles?"
"And I'm not going to. They wouldn't understand that you're…better." //
// "It's late. How'd you get away?"
"Oh, that was easy! Started a fire in the prison laundry room, rode out in a garbage truck."
"Ah?"
"I'm joking. No garbage. Smell me." //
// "I'll better hurry before somebody figures out what we're doing."
"What are we doing?"
"Training. And almost kissing." //
// "What are you doing? What are we doing?!"
"I don't know."
"Shame on you! Oh, God…" //
// "Once you put it on, the glove can never be removed."
"So…no touching. Kinda like us." //
// "What do you think I should do?"
"As a friend, I think that you should leave."
"Yeah, it's not like there's any great thing keeping me here." //
// "There's gotta be some way that we can still see each other."
"There is. Tell me that you don't love me." //
// "Gotcha!"
"Ah! Right in the heart!"
"Satisfied?"
"I'm not sure that's the word…" //
// "I watched you. I saw you called. It was a bright afternoon out in front of your school. You walked down the steps, and....and I loved you."
"Why?"
"Because I could see your heart. You held it before you for everyone to see, and I worried that it would be bruised, or torn. More than anything in my life I wanted to keep it safe. To warm it with my own." //
// "I can't watch you die again!"
"Hey…I love you."
"I love you."
"Nothing can change that. Not even death."
"Don't talk to me like that! You're maybe ready to go, but I am NOT ready to lose you!" //
// "You're still my girl?"
"Always." //
// "In two-hundred-and-forty-three years, I've loved exactly one person."
"Who? It is…me, right?"
"Next time, just ask."
"Okay." //
// "Oh, you know, this place really isn't 'girl's friendly'. No mirrors, no natural light."
"I think you look perfect."
"Oh, yeah. I really look…okay." //
// "Buffy…it's you?"
"It's me."
"I didn’t wanna go…without seeing you."
"Angel, I can cure you."
"It's okay. I'm ready."
"Angel, listen to me. Sit up. You're gonna live. You have to live."
"What do I?…"
"Drink. Drink me."
"No."
"It's the only way…"
"Get away!" //
"Stop!!!" Buffy screamed, and collapsed to the floor, embracing herself and blubbering hysterically, the stone icy cold against her face.
Abruptly, someone gathered her trembling body in their arms, and lovingly pressed her against a wide manly chest.
*Oh, my God…I'm going insane…oh, my God…* having it the first thought coming up to her that moment, she violently shoved the person off of her, and fled from the mansion as fast as her legs could carry her.
He remained on the floor, tears cascading down his cheeks in unstoppable waterfalls of salt, as his eyes aimlessly stared down at the stony ground. *I shouldn't have come. I shouldn't have reached out. I shouldn't have touched her. I no longer have the right.*
He raised his gaze from the floor, to the feeling of somebody watching him, and his tearful eyes slowly locked with hers.
She was standing in the entryway for only another split second, before her quivering lips gently uttered his name.
He bit his lip, and his face grimaced with another flow of tears. Nothing was more precious to his ears than the deep love with which she was saying his name. Before he was able to rise to his feet, she was in his arms.
His body fell back to the floor due to the force of her body toppling on it, but he still held her tightly in his arms, clinching her to him tighter than it seemed to be possible.
Buffy wrapped her arms around him, trying to catch all of him in the circle of her firm embrace. She clung to him, to her lifeline, burying her face in his chest, inhaling the never forgotten scent of his body, while her tears moistened his shirt.
They held each other like this, until they both cried themselves into a dreamless sleep.
Buffy's eyes opened slowly, and the first thing she became aware of, were the beloved chest on which her head lay, and his arms, wrapped securely and possessively around her body. She could feel how his chest rose and fell with even breathing underneath her, how his heart was beating in a sound rhythm, how his warm embrace protected her against the coldness of the room…
"God, please, make it real," she prayed in a silent whisper, "please, make it real..."
The same moment, he opened his eyes, and gazed at the woman in his arms. He inhaled a deep breath of relief, clearly because of finding out he wasn't dreaming.
He sat upright on the floor, still hugging her tightly, but even if he weren't, she was clinging to his body in a manner indicating she wasn't ever letting go of him again.
Finally, their eyes met. They stared at each other in disbelief and scared hilarity. They were afraid that if they spoke, or moved, or did anything, one of them would disappear.
Buffy was the first to muster enough courage to raise her palm shakily, and repose it on his cheek, and he leaned into it, covering it with his own, closing his eyes for a moment, as silent tears trickled from underneath his long lashes.
"Angel?" she felt she needed to ask, if only just to hear his voice answer, if only just to be sure.
His eyes answered her as he opened them. There was no way to misinterpret the love radiating from them. She wrapped her arms around his neck, covering his face with burning kisses, mixed with her salty tears, intermitted with happy giggles and sniffles at the same time.
Angel cradled her to him, mildly stroking her back, and her face finally relaxedly lay in the hollow of his neck.
"How?" she asked finally, not moving in his arms.
He moved her head from his shoulder so that she would face him. "I think I owe you a story," he chuckled bitterly.
Buffy smiled, stroking his cheek. "I think you do."
She sat down on the floor in front of him, and their eyes met, as he started to tell, taking both of her hands into his.
"You've been to that village, haven't you? And you've met Julie?" he inquired.
"How do you?…"
His finger gently touched the Claddagh dangling from the silver chain around her neck.
She smiled and took it off, handing him the ring.
Without any unnecessary words, Angel slid it on his ring finger, and Buffy took his hands in hers. Like he, she needed to keep contact with him all the time. If she didn't touch him, it would be as if he were another dream.
"You heard about the fire," he continued.
She nodded.
He took a deep breath, indicating THIS was where the real story began. "I got wounded in that fight. I don't know what happened. I recall seeing the demon. He was dead, I'm certain of it. I tried to stand up, but my injuries hurt too much and I couldn't move. The last thing I remember is a burning spar falling down on me."
Buffy's eyes widened and she shuddered.
Angel smiled reassuringly, squeezing her hands.
"I gotta admit it was…unforeseen, in a nutshell, to find myself in Heaven instead of in Hell. The first thought that arose in my mind was that I didn't belong there. After something that seemed like an hour to me, I turned out to be right. But not because I didn't belong there. Because apparently, I didn't belong there YET. It wasn't my time yet. So, next, I found myself before the Oracles, and they explained everything to me. They said I wasn't supposed to die in that battle. They told me that that battle was supposed to be my last battle, before I received my redemption. My Shanshu, as they called it. Apparently, there was a prophecy, in which I was to be rewarded with my humanity, AND my demonic strength and healing abilities. It was due to happen after that fight, but wasn't to, because I became human that Thanksgiving. I asked them why didn't they turn back time that day like I asked them to, so that the prophecy could come to pass as planned, and all they said was that they didn't fulfill requests with the repercussions of which, people couldn't live afterwards."
Buffy beamed at him. She still couldn't believe she was truly listening to him speak...HEARING him speak...the mellow sound of his voice...
Angel smiled and continued. "So, they did it. They granted me the remaining part of the prophecy, which was my strength, and healing powers, and told me I could go back," he sighed. "There was only one thing they couldn't take care of. It appears that, just like time in Hell moves faster than on earth, time in Heaven moves slower. While it seemed to me I wasn't there for more than an hour…well, before they sent me back, they told me that HERE it'd been over six years."
Buffy gazed at him lovingly, stroking the upside of his palms with her thumbs.
"It took me eternity to find you. I didn't know where to look, because your old house is now empty, all of your friends moved out of theirs, and I had no idea where to start. I even feared you had died. Luckily though, I found you in the phone book, listed under my name."
They both smiled at each other.
"I came to your house, but I couldn't…I just froze," he admitted, taking a deep breath. "When I finally came up with the nerve I needed to merely knock, I received no answer, because apparently no one was there. So, I waited. In the afternoon, I saw Liam arriving from school with Willow," Angel smiled. "You've done such a great job with him, Buffy. He's perfect."
Buffy smiled too, her thumbs still abstractly caressing his hands, as she listened to him speak.
"But I didn't see you. I waited until they went to sleep, and I didn't see you. I just…I didn't feel I had the right to come back, without seeing you first, so I…I didn't. The next morning, I was sauntering through the park, and I saw a bunch of people crowding something. I went to check what it was, and…and I saw…there was a large carton box, with five puppies inside. This memory…of us planning a dog…" he grinned sadly, "it struck me all of a sudden, so I took the only white puppy there was, and…and next thing I know, I'm waiting for Liam to come out of school, and later giving him the puppy, telling him to give him to you."
Buffy beamed. "He knew it was you," she said.
Angel shook his head. "I…I didn't tell him, I swear..."
"You didn't have to. He knew. I didn't believe him…and he was right all along," she looked down, then, unable to keep distance anymore, moved to sit in his arms, nestling closer to his chest as he embraced her somewhat hesitantly, yet possessively.
"He…he knows who I am?" for some reason, he found it hard to believe.
She looked up at him and smiled. "You actually thought I'd let our son grow up without knowing who his father was? Of course, he knows you. He knows who his dad is. He knows how you look like, he knows your name, and he knows everything else about you…everything I managed to tell him without crying, though I have a feeling Spike filled the blank."
"He really knows…he really knows I'm his father?"
"You're surprised," she observed, with a slight tint of confusion in her voice.
Angel faltered. "I…I thought…I thought he'd be calling Riley 'dad'."
Buffy frowned. "Why would he ever be doing that? He hates Riley."
Angel looked away. "Because…because he's your husband."
Buffy's eyes opened wide. "My WHAT?!"
He gazed back at her. "Your husband," he whispered.
"Angel, I'm not married. Hell, I'm not even dating. I haven't since…" she quieted. "What on earth has given the impression Riley was my husband?"
Angel breathed with relief. "I…I well…I saw him bringing Liam home from school."
"Which was just another one of his pointless attempts to make me notice how wonderful he is," she uttered the word 'wonderful' with a certain disgust.
"And then he kissed you..."
"On the cheek. And he surprised me, I didn't even know where that came from."
"And then at dinner…"
"Which he INVITED HIMSELF for."
"You smiled at him, and laughed from his jokes," he shook his head slightly, loosening his arms around her as he whispered, "you were like a real family..."
She secured her arms around his waist. "Angel, HE'S the joke, he and Xander, actually. It's a long story that's been going on for years now, of them bickering like two-year-olds. This time, Xander broke his nose," she clarified. There was no smile in her candid orbs now, only the wish he'd believe her.
Angel beheld her carefully with his soft dark eyes. "You're not married," the entire revelation had finally sank in.
Buffy smiled and lifted her right hand up, to show him her still worn Claddagh. "That's my only ring, Angel." Then, she looked down sadly. "I stopped wearing your engagement ring, because..." she sighed. It's not like he didn't know why.
He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the ring tenderly. "You waited for me," he whispered.
"Like I promised," she smiled, "forever is never too long when it's for you."
Angel pulled her into his arms, gently caressing her blond locks. "I love you," he whispered, pressing her against his chest, and placing a gentle kiss on her crown.
Buffy wrapped her arms around him again, stroking his back mildly. "I love you," she whispered in return. These three words...even she herself didn't know how long they had been locked inside of her... She reposed her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes, brushing her lips over his neck. Abruptly, she looked up at him. "Angel," she began softly, pleadingly somewhat, "kiss me. Please, kiss me."
He swallowed, looking her straight in the eye. His own eyes slowly began to close as he drew his mouth closer to hers, his lips burning for the feel of hers...the feel he hadn't felt in such a long eternity. "I love you," he whispered again, softly, before his lips were stopped by the softness of hers, the tears from before were still sensible on them both, but Angel didn't feel the tears. He only felt love, her love, that was filling his empty heart through the power of their kiss.
For the first time in almost seven years, Buffy's life felt right. It felt perfect.
Part Seven
"And yesterday, he showed up in Angel Investigations, out of the blue, with the second Gem of Amara. I thought he wasn't ever coming back. Could you believe I was happy SPIKE had returned? Spike of all people?"
Angel smiled, fastening his grip around her waist as they were pacing slowly down the street to now THEIR house, taking their time. The sun was already shining high in the sky when Buffy was finishing telling everything that had transpired pending these years. And Angel was listening mindfully, savoring every word.
Buffy encircled her arms around his waist. "But seriously, he's great. You have no idea how glad I am he's here. He's been such a help right after Liam was born, and has been there for me more times than I can count. Turns out he's a great guy once you get to know him, and a great friend when he doesn't wanna kill you," she chuckled.
"Spike?" Angel asked with disbelief. She'd been talking about Spike for nearly half an hour now, but he still had troubles adjusting it. "Wow…"
"A bigger wow than you think," she acknowledged, "but true. And Liam loves him so much. He's really been his big brother."
Angel kissed her head, and she leaned into his side. "So, he's living in the house, ha?"
"Yeah. You…you don't mind, do you?" she asked worriedly.
"No. If you're okay with it, why wouldn't I be? Besides, I might like that Spike you've told me about. He's all BUT the Spike I used to know. As long as he doesn't steal my wife, that is," he commented playfully, but from the way in which he held her, NO ONE would be able to steal her anytime ever.
Buffy smiled. She loved it when he called her 'wife'. And to think that as soon as possible, she really would be his wife. "Your wife will never go for it," she kissed his cheek, "and besides, he won't try, he never has, it would just be beneath him. Let's just say there are several lines Spike would never cross, and I'm one of them. He admires you."
"Spike? Admires me?" he queried with astonishment.
She grinned in return. "Okay, I don't know if that was the word, but Liam asked him to tell him about you last night, and you should have heard the way he spoke of you. I didn't hear it all, just some, but…you're his hero."
"Wow," Angel admitted, "Spike...who would have thought?"
Buffy chuckled. "Who really?"
"So…what about my best friend Riley?" Angel emitted a small laughter, saying the name. "You think he'd mind if I broke some more parts in his body for being a pain in my family's butt for years?"
Buffy laughed. "I think he would."
"So, are we inviting Riley for dinner tomorrow night? I feel like presenting myself properly. Actually, make it tonight."
"You're mean!" Buffy hit his chest playfully, laughing. Laughing. She had laughed more in the past several hours than she had in over six years. "But it'd be nice," she said with a devilish grin on her face Angel knew so well. "Oh, God, look at what you're making me do," she chuckled.
"You're serious," he read it in her eyes.
"Weren't you?"
He chuckled. "Dinner it is."
They continued walking on, embraced in each other's arms.
"Are you sure you don't want to come in with me?" Buffy asked again, as they both stopped before the house.
Angel smiled and kissed her forehead. "You go. Soften the blow," he chuckled, "then I'll come in."
She beamed, stroking his cheek. "I love you," she said softly.
"I love you too, sweetie," he placed a tender kiss on her lips, "go, now."
Buffy hugged him, just holding him close to her for a moment, as he also wrapped his arms around her.
When they drew apart, she reached her hand into her pocket, in search for her key. Then she unlocked the door and disappeared behind it, sending one last smile towards Angel.
"Mom!" Liam sprung from his place on Spike's lap and ran into her arms, hugging her. "Where have you been?!"
"Is that your excuse for skipping school today?" she asked with a grin.
"Mom!" unlike her, Liam was serious. "We were worried about you," he jerked his head towards the people in the living room. Willow, Xander, Anya, and Spike. "I called aunt Cordelia and uncle Doyle, and they didn't know where you were either."
"He's right, Buffy," Willow confirmed, "we were all worried sick. Where was the last time you looked at your watch? Do you even know it's almost three in the afternoon?"
"I knew I shouldn't have sent you out alone. Where have you been, pet?"
She beamed. No, she wasn't going to soften blows. She was way too happy to keep it inside for a second longer.
"What?" they all asked at once.
"Let's just say…I went to find something long lost."
They all gazed at her with various shades of misunderstanding in their eyes.
Buffy just smiled. She paced towards the door and opened it, pulling someone inside.
Everyone's faces turned dumbfounded once that person came into view.
Buffy enclosed her arms around his waist, and he hugged her, both awaiting for everybody's response.
The first reaction wasn't really human. Yapping, a small white puppy burst out of the next room, and started tugging on Angel's slacks with his little toothless mouth, and after that didn't satisfy him, springing around the familiar newcomer.
Then came the human reaction.
Liam stirred first, cautiously approaching the man that he knew for certain to be his father. He stopped in front of him, and two exactly identical brown orbs gazed into one another for a short spell.
"D...dad?" the boy asked in a small, disbelieving voice, his eyes threatening with tears.
Angel released Buffy from his embrace, and she, smiling, gently pushed him in the direction of their son, just when Liam abruptly jumped into his arms, tightly wrapping his limbs around Angel. Tears trailed down Angel's face, as he held his son, pressing him closer, and he closed his eyes for a moment. Buffy wrapped both of them in her embrace, and Angel loosened one arm around Liam and enfolded it around her, briefly kissing her hair, burying his face in it, as more tears fell from his eyes, albeit his bright smile.
"Welcome back," Spike grinned, "dying is becoming a habit, isn't it, mate?"
"He'd better lose that habit," Buffy told Angel in a hoarse voice.
"Yeah, man," Xander spoke. He was the only one to maintain his sense of humor at a time such as this, but then again, he'd always been expected to do exactly that. "You're the only person I know who have died…how many times have you died, anyway?"
Buffy and Angel both giggled at that, both sniffling tears. "Enough," they said in unison.
"No, really," Xander went on, "it's like a vocation thing, you know. 'Hey, honey, know what? I think I'm gonna be dead for the next couple of months, so don't look me up, okay? But I'll be back after that, so don't worry'."
Everyone shot him strange glares.
"What?" he raised his hands defensively. "Just trying to make out a point here!"
"Don't," Buffy said sharply.
Anya glanced at her boyfriend and rolled her eyes, then turned back to Angel. "I guess I should say it's nice to..." she struggled with the words, "well, you know what I mean. It'd just make it so much easier if I actually got to know you before you...well, you...you know...that thing that..." she sighed, "oh, Hell, you know what I mean. Hi, nice to have you back, and...meet you. I'm Anya."
Both Angel and Buffy beamed at her attempt for a greeting. None of them had ever imagined Anya could go shy.
Willow just smiled. She had to choke back the tears that threatened to come out any minute, at the sight of her best friend's finally whole and happy family. She had to admit it now, she had no other choice. There was only one Angel. "Welcome back, Angel," was all she said.
"You're not ever leaving us again, are you?" Liam asked Angel. "You're back forever now, right?"
Angel smiled, and gently brushed his son's tears away. "Forever," he confirmed.
Liam smiled and reposed his head on his father's shoulder, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck, as Angel intensified his embrace around his son. "You're not really mad at me for missing school today, are you, mom?" he asked his mother hopefully.
She beamed. "Let's just say you caught me in a good day."
Suddenly, the phone rang.
No one picked it up, because neither Buffy, nor Angel, nor Liam were willing to break their threesome hug.
Spike sighed in playful irritation, and answered the phone. "Hello?... Oh, sure... Yeah, wait a sec," he turned to Buffy, "for you, pet," he offered her the receiver, "it's Cordelia."
She sighed and reluctantly let go of her love and their son to take it.
"Hello?… Oh, hi, Cord… No, I'm cool... Really… No, I wasn't about to do something stupid… With all the respect, Cord, but don't you think if I really were ready to pull it of, I would do it sometime during the past six years?"
She whispered the last part, but Angel's sensitive ears caught it nonetheless. He glanced at her ruefully. *Thank God it's over.*
"No, Cordy, I'm great… No, I'm not on drugs. Can't I be happy just because?… Well, so I'm starting now… Cordelia, I'm glad that you worry about me... Okay, that didn't come out right, I mean I appreciate your concern, but honestly, I swear, everything's okay… Yeah, I'm coming to work. I'm leaving now… Okay, Cord. I'll see you there... Okay, bye."
Buffy hanged up the phone. "Honey?"
Two pairs of soft brown eyes gazed up at her.
Everyone in the room chuckled.
"Angel," Buffy clarified smiling. "What do you think about bringing Cordy and Doyle some happiness? I don't think I'll be able to do much work today, but we gotta go there anyway, to take all of your stuff from the apartment, and move them here, so…"
Angel peeped at Liam, who looked very disappointed that his father had to leave, even if it were only for a short lapse.
"I promise to bring your dad home safely, honey," Buffy told him softly, putting her hand on his cheek. "You're a big boy, don't you? So, don't you think it'd only be fair to make your aunt Cordelia and uncle Doyle as happy as you are? They've been missing your dad too, you know."
Liam nodded. "Okay," he agreed reluctantly.
Angel put him down on the floor and kneeled before him. "I'll be back," he promised, "I will. I give you my word."
Liam smiled at him, and then reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around his neck. "I love you, dad," he told him.
Angel hugged him back. "I love you too," he replied.
When Liam let go of him, Angel stood up, and wrapped one arm around Buffy's waist.
"We'll try to be back in a few hours, not later, but that depends on whether or not Cordy is gonna drag us all around the city to celebrate," Buffy told them, "Spike, watch over Liam, would you? If you don't have plans, that is."
"Don't worry, Slayer," Spike smiled, and unexpectedly heaved Liam over his shoulder, carrying the laughing boy up to his room. "We'll have fun. You do to," he winked at them.
Buffy encircled her arms around Angel's neck, and he pulled her close. "We will," she whispered, before he sealed her mouth with a gentle kiss.
"Oh, and one more thing," Buffy broke the kiss and looked at Xander, "I know you're already dying to do that, but leave the 'telling Riley' part to us."
Xander appeared to be disappointed at first, but then his face abruptly lit. "Can I be there?"
Buffy and Angel gazed at each other.
"We'll see," Angel grinned slyly.
"I have a surprise for you," Buffy announced cheerfully as she sauntered into the agency.
Cordelia scrutinized her beam. "What are you on?" Sshe asked.
"Very funny," Buffy smirked.
"What's the surprise?" Doyle inquired.
"Well, for once…that you can stop feeling guilty about getting all pelvic in the office."
Cordelia faced Doyle. "Oh, God, she IS using something. Doyle, she's dating again."
Buffy giggled. "ALMOST right."
"Almost?" Cordelia asked. "You're not on drugs, or you're not dating? Which?"
"I'm not on drugs, and as far as dating goes…well, I just wouldn't call it that way."
Cordelia waved her hand. "Call it however you wanna. When do we get to meet your beau, by the way? And what's Liam's reaction to it all?"
"Liam? Well, he's thrilled, to say the least. And about meeting my beau…what do you think of now?" she smiled.
"Now's cool. Is he cute? Do I know him?" Cordelia grilled.
"Absolutely cute, and you know him." Suddenly, the smile vanished from her face, and it turned solemn. "Cord…you'd better sit down. Actually, you too, Doyle."
Cordelia sat down in her chair. "Sitting. Why am I sitting?"
Buffy took a deep breath. "Sweetheart?" she called softly. "You can come in now."
Angel's appearance in the room took Cordelia and Doyle's breath away. They stared at him in stupefaction.
"Oh, my God," Cordelia uttered, as tears started falling from her eyes.
Doyle just gaped.
"Guys," Angel started quietly, when Cordelia suddenly jumped from her seat and ran into his arms. She cried as he held her gently.
After a moment she suddenly pulled away. "You bastard!" she hit him. "Why the Hell did you have to pretend you were dead for six years?! Do you know what you put us through? What you put HER through?!" she gestured towards Buffy.
"Cordelia, I WAS dead, technically," he explained softly with a smile.
"Oh," she whispered in slight confusion. Then she hugged him again. "I missed you so much."
"I know," he said, "I'm sorry, Cord. I missed you too."
"You're not gonna die again any time soon, are you?" she asked honestly.
He chuckled. "No, I think I had enough."
"You and me both, man," Doyle pointed.
Angel smiled at him, and released Cordelia to hug his best friend.
"Your Slayer is a heck of a fighter, mate, but she's not doing too well alone," Doyle whispered in his ear, before he let go of him, and gently pushed him towards Buffy.
Angel grinned thankfully at him, and wrapped his arms around his love. Buffy hugged him back, reclining her head against his chest, as he stroked her hair.
"I think we're gonna call it a day!" Cordelia announced. "We need to celebrate."
"We do," Angel whispered, and a split second later, he and Buffy were engaged in a passionate kiss, not being aware of anything but themselves.
"Great! Where to?" Cordelia turned to go.
"Princess," Doyle put a hand on her shoulder to halt her, "I think they'd rather be celebrating alone," he gestured with his head towards the kissing couple.
"Oh," Cordelia turned to her boyfriend, and her a bit hurt expression changed into a captivating one, as she took his hand, pulling him out of the agency. "Then we'll go celebrating alone too. You didn't hear that!" The last sentence was addressed to the still kissing couple.
She didn't need to worry, however. They REALLY didn't hear her.
On to Dreams of Eternity