Dreams of Eternity

By Mariah

Part Five

Angel entered the dark bedroom, one of his arms wrapped around Buffy, who clung to him like he was to be gone any minute and if she let him go only for a second, he would. His other arm was holding his little boy, whose limbs were encircling him in a firm grip like his mother's.

Buffy left his side, and made Liam's bed. Angel lay him there and covered him. 

He sat down in a chair next to the bed, and opened his arms invitingly for Buffy to sit in his lap. She did so at once, and they wrapped their arms around each other, as she reposed her face on his shoulder, kissing his neck briefly. 

"I just froze, Angel." She whispered abruptly, her voice cracked and half muffled by his neck.

He merely angled down his head and placed a tender kiss in her hair, tightening his arms around her.

"I mean, when he said.oh, God, he said he wanted to.to spit on your grave." She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice from completely braking, and her tears from falling until she would have no longer control over herself. "I just.your.grave, Angel. I.all these years, I think that this hidden part of me, that part of my soul that kept me alive.it kept me alive because you didn't have a grave. It's as if my subconscious.it just knew that.that as long as you don't have a grave, it means it's not final. It means there's still a chance that.that it's not final. But the image of your grave.Angel, what he said made me picture.oh, God, I can't." She clung to him tighter than she ever had. Tighter than when he came back to her. The image of the cold and lifeless stone with the name 'Angel' engraved on it made her body tremble and her sobs increase until they were practically choking her. She needed him to hold her. Now, more than ever, she needed that loving embrace.

And he, as always, was there to give her that, and to give her more. To give her his heart and soul, and to reassure her with the promise she'd always have them to count on. Always. Forever. That was the point, after all. "Shh." He whispered softly, caressing her hair and kissing it. "Forget it, my love. Forget everything he said. It will never come true. Never. I promise you, you will never see my grave." 

They both knew that pledge was fallacious. After all, everyone dies eventually. But even if only by the power the sound of his voice possessed on her, this vow could comfort her nonetheless. 

"I can't lose you. I just can't lose you, Angel. Not again. I won't make it through a third time. I just know I won't."

Angel kissed her head tenderly, and just sat there, holding her tightly in his arms. Buffy buried her head in his chest, wiping her tears away, her entire body itching with delight every time he gently ran his fingers through her hair. She knew there wouldn't be a second in her life when she wouldn't thank to whoever's responsible for the miracle that brought her together with her Angel. 

Soon, her tears had dried, and her eyelids started feeling heavier and eventually closed. Before she knew it, she was far away in the magical land of dreams, in the loving and safe embrace of an Angel. His steady heartbeat was lolling her into sleep, like it had done so many times before, while chasing away every possible pain she could be feeling at the moment.

He smiled at them, his two angels. One curled in bed, and the other in his arms. They were the two beings in this entire world he was living for, and the two he would die for. Die again and again, as long as it would secure their life and happiness. He rose from his seat slowly, gingerly holding her as if she were the most priceless and fragile treasure in the world. Well, in a way it was right. In his world, she was. With her still in his arms, he pushed the door open with his leg, instantly becoming aware of the hissing downstairs. He didn't try to catch the topic of conversation, however.

Angel entered his and Buffy's bedroom, and after quietly closing the door, proceeded in the direction of the bed, where he gingerly lay her down. Then, he removed her shoes, jeans, shirt and bra, leaving her only in her panties, and gently tucked her in. Then he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and left her to her sleep.

"Liam?" Angel shook his shoulder gently. 

The boy opened his eyes, and smiled faintly, once he recognized his father as the one sitting next to him on the bed. 

Angel smiled back, and turned on the little night-lamp by the bed. 

"How did you know I wasn't sleeping?" Liam finally asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"I just did." Angel grinned simply. "It's the same as asking why I notice things in your mom others will never see."

Liam smiled knowingly and climbed into Angel's lap, as his father encompassed him in his strong arms. Just as his mother only a short while ago, the boy inclined his head on his father's chest, relishing the safety of his embrace, which was still new to him. 

"He lied, didn't he? About all the things he said you've done?"

Angel sighed. How was he going to explain this to his son? "No. No, Liam, he didn't. What he said was the truth. I'm sorry." The last thing he wanted was for his son to hate him or to think badly of him, but he also refused to lie to him. He didn't deserve to be lied to. Not his son. 

"What did you do?" Liam queried. He didn't show any signs of repulsion, hatred or displeasure. His question reflected pure curiosity. He simply wanted to know. The tranquility of his tone had definitely lifted a huge burden from Angel's heart. 

"Many things, Liam." He said sadly, his voice seemed to be far away, even though his entire attention was with the child in his arms. "I did many things I shouldn't have done.mustn't have done. Many bad and unconscionable things. Evil things. I hurt a lot of people in my many years. Nothing I'm proud of."

"But he was still wrong.in saying you didn't deserve all you have." He was practically grasping at straws. Angel could clearly detect it. His son couldn't bring himself to see anything vile in him. He wanted only the good things about his father to be true. 

"I don't know. Honestly, I don't know. I suppose many people would say I don't deserve it at all. Many of the people I hurt.and killed, if they were alive today, they would surely say I don't deserve it. But there are other people too. People like your aunt Cordelia, and uncle Doyle, who always thought I deserved it, and your mom, who thought I deserved it even before I had it, and besides, The Powers themselves granted it to me, so if they think I deserve it, it must mean something." He chuckled.

"I think you deserve it." The boy said quietly.

Angel smiled, reinforcing his embrace.

"Why don't you ever talk about it?"

"About what?" Angel looked him straight in the eye.

"About your past. I mean, I've always known what you were, but.but you're my dad. I don't care what you've done. Spike was bad too, but he's good now. For as long as I've known him, he's been good, especially to mom and me. I love Spike. He's my brother. He was.he was our only family while." He swallowed.

Angel sighed, tightened his arms around him, and rested his chin on his head for a long moment of silence. 

Liam felt safe. He could never get used to the feeling of safety that swathed him each time his father was around him. There was something in his presence, and in his strong, and simultaneously gentle embrace. It assured the boy nothing could ever harm him. Not when this man was around, anyway. It was a strange feeling for him. In real life, Liam hadn't known him at all, up until a week ago, but inside.inside he felt that this man was with him all through his entire life. And in a way, at least in a spiritual way, he was. Liam felt like he'd known him for ages. Every feature of his face, every typical gesture or mien, or look in his eyes.he knew them all. He had dreamt about him so many times. He could seldom almost hear him laughing, or speaking. He imagined so many times his father was alive and with them. He wasn't sure who he wanted it to be true for more. Was it for himself, who lived his entire life with an empty space in his heart that could be filled only by this special person? Or perhaps it was for his mother, who seemed to be falling apart by the second without him? 

Liam had considered crying to be a girly thing, and not a thing someone as strong as him would ever do. He wasn't really sure when it began, or why. It most likely was because of seeing his mother cry as much as she used to, and the inability to do anything about it. He built a wall around himself. Because of the need to be the strong one and to protect his mom, he taught himself how NOT to cry, instead of letting his feelings out, like every other six-year-old would normally do, especially one who grew up fatherless. And there were so many times when he wanted to. Times, when other kids were laughing at him because he didn't have a dad. Or when their dads would take them camping, or anything else, or when one of his friends would tell him how he did this and that with his dad, and Liam knew he'd never get to do that. He never let Xander, nor Doyle, take him out to camping, or do any of the so many various things other kids did with their dads. He never sought for a surrogate. He wanted only his dad, and altogether with that, he knew he'd never have what he wanted.

But that morning, the morning when his life turned upside down, when his dad, his real dad, held him in his arms for the first time in his six years, then, he allowed himself to cry. And it felt so good, crying into those arms. It didn't seem girly anymore, it just felt so good to let it all out. He felt so safe and loved when he held him. He suddenly understood his mother so much more that moment. He understood exactly why she missed that embrace so much all these years. Unlike him, who only knew how to regain it, she also knew how to lose it. He knew he wouldn't be able to lose his dad. Not after he had finally regained him. Not again. Not even for a short while. 

Liam could see how inseparable his parents had been ever since his father' had come back. His mother would barely leave his side, and when he held him like that, Liam knew why. He himself tried to spend with his father as much time as he could. He was miraculously given back to them, and they didn't want a wasted second to go by. They would never let time fly just like that again. Time was precious. They were right, whoever said life was one's best teacher. Six years had taught them enough. 

"But you won't die, will you?" Liam inquired quietly, hopefully in a way, breaking the silence.

"No." Angel promised him softly. "I won't die. I give you my word." He locked eyes with him. "Riley can say whatever he wants. For all I care, it enters through one ear and comes out through the other. I'm never leaving again. I'm back for you, and for your mom, and I'm not back to leave. I'm back to stay. I'm not leaving. Never. I promise."

Liam smiled. "I love you, dad." He said honestly.

Angel beamed too. He had tears shimmering in his eyes. There were decades upon decades he thought a moment like this was permanently out of reach for him. He never thought he'd hear his child saying these words. "I love you too, son." He replied. Then, Angel stood up, taking Liam with him, and reposed him down on his bed. He tucked him in dotingly, and kissed his forehead. 

Angel turned off the night lamp, and patted Liam's shoulder. "Good night." He whispered.

But the boy was already sound asleep. Angel granted his son one last smile, and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Angel." Joyce was the first to descry him approaching the assembly in the living room.

The chatter instantly stopped, and all faces turned to him. 

"Are you alright?" Cordelia asked, walking up to him, and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He smiled. "Yeah. It was just an intense day.evening.whatever." He mumbled.

"How are they?" Willow inquired.

"I put them to sleep."

"They took it pretty hard." Xander observed. "Someone has to put a lock on Fish Boy's mouth."

Angel grinned with acknowledgement. He had never conjectured the day would come when he and Xander Harris would share a thought, and even agree on it.

"I couldn't agree more." Doyle spoke. "What was the nil doing here anyway?"

Angel grimaced. "Would you believe me if I told you it all started as a joke? Buffy invited him here to witness our engagement announcement. It was her idea of getting back at him for being a pain." He chuckled, but his face rapidly recaptured its serious countenance. "If we had known this would be how it would end." He trailed off.

"I owe you an apology, Angel." Joyce said abruptly. "I have done wrongs to you in the past, then I wasn't here for Buffy while you were gone, and I wasn't supportive when she needed support. I'm sorry. I know it's late, but I am. Riley was expecting me to be on his side tonight. The moment I understood it to the core, the moment I understood that I have brought things to a situation when someone like him would see me as a promising ally, I realized what a truly horrible person, and mother, I was. I just want to say again, how ashamed I am. I'm truly sorry. I never even bothered to take the time to get to know you, but found it so much easier to hate you instead. I couldn't be more wrong. I didn't have the right to act this way, and to judge you. This, and not being there for my daughter, and refusing to see how her heart was breaking over and over again while she was morning over you, were the biggest mistakes of my life. I hope you both can forgive me with time, but most of all, I hope you can forgive me, because I hurt you the most."

Angel went numb. He had never, in his wildest dreams, expected to receive such a sincere apology from Joyce Summers. He only became aware of that he was standing there speechless, when everyone around him, Joyce included, started to laugh at his dumbfounded expression. 

"Hey, lad, are you still in there?" Doyle inquired. 

"I umm.what?" Angel stuttered. "Yeah, I." He faced Joyce. "I.I accept your apology, Joyce." She beamed, and he smiled back. "Thank you. And I'm.I'm glad you feel that way. The...the wanting to get to know me part, I mean."

It was rare to catch Angel like that. They all laughed at his awkwardness again, only this time, he joined them, to ease his tension. 

"Thank you, Joyce. Really." He repeated after a while.

"Thank YOU." She replied. "You brought peace and happiness into this place. Something that was greatly needed, but gone for years. You made my daughter smile again. Thank YOU."

Angel almost blushed this time. It was now a proven fact; both of the Summers women could bring him into this state. He looked down briefly, and then looked back up. "Would you mind if I left you? I mean, I know I'm supposed to be the host, but."

"Don't worry." Cordelia smiled. "We promise to survive."

"I would stay, I just.I really don't wanna leave her alone. Not now. She was really upset after the.you know what."

"So we saw." Xander mumbled. He felt a sudden urge to hit a certain pitiful excuse for a man. 

"Go." Cordelia assured. "We'll be fine."

"Okay." He grinned. "Good night."

Angel stripped off his clothes, and carefully climbed under the covers next to Buffy. She opened her eyes momentarily and closed them right back, cuddling against his chest, as he gathered her into his embrace.

"Where did you go?" She inquired quietly.

"I put Liam to sleep." He answered. "Then I checked on the others. They're still downstairs."

"We shouldn't have left them."

Angel kissed her hair. "Don't worry. They understand. And besides, there'll be other dinners."

"Is Liam okay?"

"He is, honey. He's just fine. I talked to him before he went to sleep. I promised him I wouldn't leave. I think that's all he really needed to hear."

A moment of serenity came upon them, and they were simply lying in each other's arms, breathing in one another's scent.

"Angel, what about spike?" The question came out of nowhere.

"We'll deal with him. Probably even tonight, because I doubt he'd wait past that." He replied.

Buffy sighed, nestling closer to him. "Don't go anywhere, Angel." She whispered.

Somehow, he knew she wasn't referring to now in particular. "I won't, my love. I promise." He kissed her silky hair, while his hands gently caressed her smooth back. "Good night." He whispered softly.

"Good night." She replied. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Part Six

Spike gazed silently at the sleeping child. He cradled the book he was holding to his chest. It was 'Treasure Island' by Robert Luis Stivenson. He was reading it to Liam every night ever since he came back. Each time, after Angel would finish reading a chapter of the book to him before bedtime, Spike would come in, and they both read the next one. It was like habitual, and Liam loved it. What he loved most was cheating his father into thinking he didn't know what was going to happen. When he read it with Angel, it was different than from reading it with Spike. Then, the entire experience of reading the book, for both him and Angel, was in spending time together, and not concentrating on the reading itself. Liam loved it when his father put him to bed, even though it had been going on for no longer than a week. 

Spike smiled. There were no words to describe how much he loved him. He loved him almost as if he were his own. The one he knew he could never have. He never thought he could love someone like that. Especially a human. He would give his life for this boy without thinking twice, if he were asked. Just as he'd give his life for either of his parents. 

Spike sighed. He reminisced how hard it was for him to adapt to the idea of having a chip in his head. It was more of a tribulation than he would ever be willing to admit. For him, it was the same as waking up one night and discovering he's incapacitated. And it really was like that. Spike was slowly and painfully learning that he was no longer a whole. It was like a part of him dissolved. He was compelled to find a new method to feed himself, a new method to survive, and even more significantly, he needed to rely on the people he considered his worst enemies. And the Slayer. He had to depend on the Slayer. Somehow, it always came back to the Slayer. What was about this girl, now woman, that everyone who knew her seemed to be drawn to her like a magnet? He wished he knew.

Spike had to admit it. After a very short spell, he started developing romantic interest in the girl who was chosen to kill him. But who would see her and wouldn't love her? 

She had something about her. Something fascinating, that made men fall for her. Spike had been with her for a very long time. He witnessed varied guys coming, and then going - always empty-handed. But Spike knew none of them had really loved her. Only one person had ever truly loved her, and he was also the only one who left willingly. The case with Spike was the prevalent scenario, yet he was no fool. He quickly acknowledged it was a mere infatuation, and not true love, even though his feelings seemed to be stronger than a transitory fling. The first thing that he perceived, was that the Slayer's heart belonged to another for all eternity. No one but her Angel was ever allowed in. Seldom it pissed him off, but only at the very beginning. Spike knew that whether Angel was there, or away, HE owned her heart. And whether they were together or not, they were in love. So in love, no one else existed for them. Spike witnessed how her pitiable 'boyfriend-wannabe' made a permanent fool of himself, trying to supplant Angel in her life, and he thanked whatever God there was he was smarter than that. There was no chance for anyone against Angel, even if there technically was no competition, because he wasn't there. 

After Angel had left, Spike never tried even once to hit on Buffy. His past crush on her was long gone. He had the utmost respect for his Sire, and he would NEVER take advantage on his absence. Of course, he'd been there for her. Always. Both her and her son. And he swore he would be. Always. But as nothing other than a friend. A very close friend, someone who they could trust and rely on. Never even cogitating about becoming something more.

But then he left. Spike had never once stopped to think about the real reason behind his departure. He never tried to analyze it. He acted recklessly and just took off. And later, despised himself for it, because he took off at the exact time when he should have stayed. He hated himself for leaving behind the two people he considered family when they needed him the most. 

He was aimlessly wandering about Europe, with no particular purpose in mind. Just hanging. He had been hanging for over three years, and what had he accomplished? What had these wasted years resulted in? To sum it up - a pure nothing. 

He came across a warlock. He wanted Spike to turn him. He wanted to live forever, as he said, terrorizing the world with his almighty power. And now he had a chance to be a child of William the Bloody himself. What more could he have asked for?

Spike had to titter at that memory. He had never met anyone more daft and pitiful in both his life and unlife. In all his years, Spike had never thought he would think low of a person just for wanting to become a vampire. The old Spike would feel nothing but conceit and smugness due to making such a powerful warlock his child, but this Spike.he felt nothing but disgust. Disgust and pity. 

And nonetheless, he agreed. He promised the man he would turn him, IF.he found a way to get the chip out of his head. Otherwise, Spike told him, he couldn't bite. That wizard turned out to be much stupider than Spike had presumed. He should have never been that credulous. He did it. It was a child's play for him to perform a spell, and rid Spike off that chip within seconds. The only gratitude he received from the vampire was a broken neck. Spike was never planning on turning him. He should have known better than to think the vampire would keep his word.

When Spike removed the ring from the dead warlock's finger, sliding it on his own, he shivered. He recalled how once he tortured the man he admired most to reacquire this very ring. Spike had never felt more contrite. He almost left the ring with the carcass. 

That moment, he took a brief glimpse on his life. He seemed to have everything. He possessed the ultimate power. He was the most powerful vampire on earth, having the Gem of Amara, and he also regained his freedom, and was now allowed to be as vicious as he only desired. He had it all, and together with that, it was as if he had nothing. It was all the power Spike could only dream about. He could rule the world if he knew how to exploit it appropriately, and it abruptly meant nothing to him. He realized that the only thing that meant SOMETHING, he left in a small town in California, with the only people he could ever call 'family'. His happiness. His peace. That's what was missing. All the power in the world could never replace that. Not in the new Spike's heart, anyway. 

So, after years of straying, he had finally found his way. And it surprisingly felt so good, because for the first time in his life, he felt he was going to a place where he's wanted. A place where he belonged. 

Spike stood up from his bed, and stalked over to Liam's. Careful not to awake him, he covered the slumbering boy. "Goodbye, kid." He whispered softly, sorrowfully.

Then he took one last look around the room, to see if he'd forgotten to pack something, or maybe just to see for the last time the place he was so proud calling 'home', and lifted his traveling bag. 

He stepped outside, and quietly closed the door on the unsuspecting sleeping boy.

"Spike." A voice called his name just as his hand lay on the hilt of the front door.

He stiffened and rotated towards the voice's owner.

Angel slowly made the rest of the way down the stairs and in the direction of the vampire. "Where are you going?" He inquired, glancing at the large bag hanged on the vampire's shoulder.

Spike looked down. "I'm leaving."

Angel leaned with one side against the wall and peered carefully at Spike. "Why?"

Spike groaned. "Because I have to, because I can't stay, just because."

"You know that Liam will be very disappointed when he'll find out you're gone."

"He'll get over it." Spike tried to sound casual, but his voice was tight with dejection.

"Perhaps." Angel reflected. "You're not running late, are you?"

Spike beheld him with misapprehension. "Why?"

"Good." Angel said, as if he weren't truly expecting for Spike to actually supply him an answer. He smiled. "I'm gonna make some coffee, while you can wait for me in the living room. I'll be right there. Oh, you want some?"

Spike could only open his mouth in stupefaction, even though only someone who didn't know Angel might find the fact that the calmest and most casual tone of his voice could make anyone fulfill his exact wishes surprising. It was, for the best or the worst, one of the things he had preserved from his time as a vampire. Therefore, one fact was obvious to Spike. He WASN'T going anywhere anytime soon.

Angel sat down in an armchair, holding his cup of coffee in both hands, and motioned with his head for Spike to take the couch opposite to him. He then handed the vampire his mug, and he took it. "Well, first of all." Angel began to speak. "Don't you think it's kinda late for a trip? It was 2am last time I checked." He pointed out.

Spike only shrugged, staring into his cup. "I assumed you'd be all sleeping by now, so I could leave quietly."

"Aha. Okay, well.where were you planning to go, if it's not a secret, that is?"

"I don't know. I'm pretty much used to traveling without a goal. I'll manage. I'll wind up somewhere eventually."

"Somewhere." Angel echoed, sipping at his hot drink. "It's such a large concept. If you don't mind me asking, why did you want to leave in the first place? Was it something we've done?"

"No. I just felt it was my time to go. I've been here long enough."

"Long enough? If I'm not wrong, and I honestly don't think I am, you have come back only a week ago. Something must have happened."

Spike sighed and drank from his coffee. "You won't give up until you'll make me say this out loud, will you?"

Angel peered at him innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah, right. You USED to be such a very good liar. Must be the Slayer's influence. She has that effect on people. Changing them entirely."

Angel smiled knowingly. "Yes, she does."

Spike looked away from Angel's inquisitional gaze. "Fine." He gave in. "I didn't think any of you would want me here, now that you know I don't have the chip. I didn't think you and Buffy would want me in the house, let alone in your son's room. There. Happy?"

Angel nodded in acquiescence. "And what made you reach that decision?" He took another insouciant sip from his coffee. 

Spike chuckled. "How about the simple fact that no SANE people would welcome me into their home? ESPECIALLY after I lied to them."

"Oh, yeah, as long as we're on it, why DID you lie to us to begin with? Why didn't you just tell us you got rid of the chip?"

"You wanna hear the truth? I was never planning on telling you. That's the truth. I lo.liked it here. I wanted to stay. You know what? Look who's talking, anyway. I think it was YOU who was too much of a scared bastard to tell the Slayer who you truly were, and therefore hid it from her, until she found out by mistake. YOU of all people, should NOT judge me."

"I wasn't even trying to. Do you wanna know why I did it? I wanted to shelter her, because I loved her so much. And then I kissed her for the first time, and my emotions just got out of control, and my demon face emerged. And I will never forget how she screamed when she first saw this face. It wasn't a scream of fear, I could tell. It was frustration, and anger. Anger for that I concealed it from her, for that I didn't think her worthy of knowing, for that I didn't think she was important enough to be told of the truth. I should have told her before. God only knows she had the right to be told, but I couldn't. All I could think about was how much I wanted to protect her. Protect her innocence. Love has those kind of repercussions occasionally, you know." 

Spike nodded. "That's why I did it. Look, I swear I don't have any romantic interest in the Slayer."

"I know."

Spike took one gulp from his coffee. "Good. She's yours. She always has been, and she always will be. But I do care for her. Bloody Hell, I care for all of you. You're the only family I've ever had. The last thing I wanted was you to stop trusting me. I couldn't have you looking at me with misgiving and mistrust." 

Angel grinned. "Come on, Spike, you should know better than that. In case you forgot, I'm an ex-vampire myself, and Buffy is a Vampire Slayer. Our son, is a combination of the two of us. Yet, there are no freaks in this family! Oh, and should I also remind you that my best friend is a half demon who receives head-splitting visions from the Powers That Be, Buffy's best friend is a witch and her ex-boyfriend is a werewolf, and Xander's girlfriend if an ex-vengeance demon. You're a vampire...wow, Spike you're absolutely right, it DOES make you so different from the rest of us. You poor thing." He mocked him intentionally, knowing exactly which buttons to press to get the vampire's full attention.

"They aren't evil. You had a soul. That's different."

"Different how, exactly? So what if I had a soul? And what about the time when I lost my soul? Do you think she loved me any less then? Do you think I loved her any less?"

"That was different." Spike protested. "She has always seen you as a person, mate. Never as a vampire. Only when she needed to protect you from a stake being driven through your heart, she remembered you were a vampire. Whenever she looked at your demonic features, it's your soul that she saw."

Angel smiled. "And what do you think she sees in you?"

"After tonight? A vampire."

"A friend. She sees a friend. She sees family. We all do."

"Yeah, right, a family with fangs who can eat you all for a dinner snack if he gets too hungry in the middle of the night."

"Do you want to?"

Spike's eyes widened. "No!" He exclaimed.

"So, what seems to be the problem?" Angel smiled at him.

Spike sighed. "I knew that. You wouldn't understand."

"No, on the contrary. I understand more than you think. You shouldn't run away from the people who love you, thinking you're doing it for their own good, and I don't think we need to bring my personal experience into this discussion."

Spike shook his head. "We're talking about two completely different cases. There is no comparison between you and I." 

Angel leaned back on the cushions and beheld Spike sincerely. "Leaving only looks easy."

Spike cast down his eyes sadly. "Sometimes, it's inevitable."

"Only if you want it to be."

"Are you asking me to stay?"

Angel crossed his arms on his chest. "What do you think?" He questioned, not a single allusion in his dark abysmal orbs.

"Buffy will never go for it. She won't be stupid enough to keep me in the house without the chip to hinder me."

Angel beamed. "Don't underestimate her." He stood up and headed upstairs. "Good night, Spike."

Spike sighed, but also beamed, picking up his bag. He had some major unpacking to do.

Angel climbed into the bed and enveloped his sleeping Slayer in his arms, pulling the comforter to cover them both.

She moaned quietly and opened her eyes, smiling at him. "You talked him out of it?"

Angel nodded and kissed her crown. "Uhmm. You know, I got to admit, in a point I didn't think he'd listen to me." He cuddled her on his chest, mildly caressing her long blond locks. "Thanks for letting me do that. I know you wanted to talk to him yourself." 

She grinned, snuggling deeper into his embrace, and wrapping her arms around him. "I think you're the best man for the job. I figured, if Spike were gonna listen to anyone, it'd be to you. You have this....bond-thingie going on."

Angel chuckled and kissed her head again. "Well, the important thing is that he's staying."

"It is." She yawned and closed her eyes. "Good night, sweetheart."

"Good night, love."

Spike smiled to himself, backing away from their bedroom's door and entering his and Liam's. It was a good feeling.to have the people he loved loving him back.

Part Seven

Buffy gazed at the sleeping Angel next to her, while her knuckles blandly stroked his face. Her hand was scarcely coming upon his skin, and the only reason for her gentle caress being so feathery was that she didn't want to wake him up. Buffy smiled at the contrast between her tanned skin and his marble complexion. No matter how long he spent outside in the sun, it just didn't tan. It remained, as it always had been, flawless and fair. Timeless. Just like her Angel. She wished to savor this picture for all eternity. The peaceful expression of his handsome features as he slept, the way the rays of the morning sun danced across his face, just like her hand, barely touching it, as if afraid to blemish its gracefulness and perfection. He was the apotheosis of faultlessness for her, and it wasn't the outer aspect alone. He was as perfect on the outside as he was in. His eyes, that were the windows to the most beautiful soul she had ever encountered, and that were now closed as he serenely slumbered, opened the world and beyond before her as soon as she merely glimpsed into their bottomless depth. They revealed a pure, kind, and loving soul, letting all the most remarkable qualities in a man out into the open, for everyone to look, yet unfortunately, only for her to see. If only people could see his soul like she. If only they bothered to try.no one but her ever had though. 

She loved watching him sleeping. She would do it many times. Most of these times were early mornings, because then he was the most beautiful to her. He always looked beautiful to her, but the mild glisten of the dawn beams was always adding something to his features. Buffy couldn't really put her finger on it, but it was there, and it made him absolutely dazzling in her eyes. 

And when you rise in the morning sun
I feel you touch my hand in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I wanna feel you in my arms again

Buffy knew he was looking at her as well. She knew he, too, held a habit of watching her sleep. She had caught him doing it recurrently before, when she woke up due to the feel of his eyes on her. She would never open hers though. She would always fool him into thinking she was still asleep. One of the reasons for that unusual ritual was that she simply loved the way his eyes regarded her. He beheld her like she were the only thing in the world for him. Like she were the utmost beauty and perfection, something to be cherished. His eyes had always cherished her. Each time he peered at her, she felt special, and she knew that in his eyes, she also was.

An abrupt cognizance arose in her mind, and she grinned inwardly at it. If she could delude him into that she was sleeping, what made her think he couldn't? There was no way for her to know he was doing it at this very moment.

Buffy didn't care, however. She only loved watching him sleep. 

Her hand rested hesitantly on his cheek and she mildly stroked it with her thumb. He beamed faintly, and that smile only grew wider, once said hand roamed upwards his face and disappeared in the light brown of his spiny hair, gently caressing his scalp. She drew a little bit closer, and placed a tender kiss on his temple, and then a similar one on his lips.

He still hadn't opened his eyes. Only sighed contently and softly, and Buffy grinned. He had most likely woken up by now. Actually, she was sure he had been aware of her long before now. If she truly cared though, she'd just let him be. And together with that, she knew that part of her that subsisted only on watching him sleep, would never let her do that. 

And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave
And it's me you need to show, how deep is your love?

Memories floated through her head. Memories she had been suppressing for years, because they had become too agonizing to recollect. Memories that were the dearest treasures of her heart, memories of her and her Angel.

In her mind, she reviewed again how the sixteen-year-old Slayer first lay eyes on the handsome mysterious cryptic guy with the angelic face and the foreboding warnings. That moment, she was his. Already then, she was his girl. She didn't know it then, but she was. Always his girl.

What happened to that alley now? Had it even existed anymore? Was it still there? Can an alley not be there anymore? Buffy didn't know. She did know that the building in which was Angel's former apartment was wrecked. A new one was built instead. She also knew the old skating rink had suffered from a similar fate. The Bronze was closed down for good a couple of years ago, due to an increasing lack of profits, after a new nightclub in town drew all the teenagers there. It stood empty and abandoned now. No one danced there in the arms of a loved one anymore, no one kissed there goodbye. 

The old mansion had been standing empty for years. It was now merely crumbling walls, dust and gossamers, but still holding within its ancient and silent walls smiles, tears, and words, guarding with its eternal and timeless stillness the memories and secrets of the greatest love the world had never gotten to see, because they had refused to accept it. 

And her house.well, what was there to say about her house nobody knew? It was, too, standing empty now. As blind as the Sunnydale citizens professed to be, it was extremely hard to sell a house to someone in this town. Most people were trying to find their ways out of the Hellmouth, not reside in it. 

The Summers' house had been standing vacant for nearly three years. No one lived there. It was another temple, another shrine to the memories of that same great love. A prudish compliment before sleep, a gentle one-of-a-kind feel of his lips, followed by the everlasting sensation of the first of many kisses, that lead to her most astonishing discovery. A wavering 'I missed you' whispered to someone already gone, the one freaky thing in her freaky world that still made sense to her, with a pink stuffed pig embraced tightly in his arms. A soft kiss through the bedroom open window.the window through which he came in and out more times than she could remember. Another ghost of their past that wasn't there anymore. 

Buffy wanted this house. Even if only for that window, but she wanted this house. She was mad at her mother for wanting to sell it. She was mad, and Joyce didn't, or refused to, understand why. Eventually, she told Buffy that if she wanted to, she could have it. And Buffy tried. She even moved in there, making her old room, the one with the memories, hers again. But it wasn't to last. She couldn't bear it for more than two or three weeks. Too many memories. The exact same thing that initially pushed her in, was now pushing her out. She couldn't stay living there. Not while he was dead. 

At least she still had the pig though. The always loyal Mr. Gordo followed her everywhere she went, and now had his own special place on her nightstand. 

How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really need to learn Cuz we're living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
We belong to you and me

What was it all a sign for? What did it mean, that nearly all the places that had anything to do with them were now buried deep in the past? Perhaps it meant it was the end of the past and the beginning of the future. And if it did, now the new question that would rise would be whether they're prepared for it? Were they ready to leave the past behind? They were getting married soon. A wedding. It's the embodiment of new beginnings. The beginning of their new life, of their future. Finally together, and finally the term 'forever' stood for them, too. In their past, they were more apart than they were together, and most of it wasn't even their fault. Could it truly be over? Buffy didn't even dare to hope, or as so many others, this one would blow right in her face. 

But she didn't want to utterly let go of their past. She never did. She wanted something in the middle, between the past and the future. The memories of the past were something she wasn't ever ready to release. It's the pain and the heartbreak she wanted to leave behind. 

*Maybe we can move into that house now.* She pondered to herself. *Maybe if Angel doesn't, mind we can live in my old house.* And she knew for certain he wouldn't mind. These memories were as dear to him as they were to her. Buffy couldn't help but beam at that thought. To make it THEIR house. It would be her dream came true.

I believe in you You know you're the door to my very soul
You're the light in my deepest darkest hour
You're my savior when I fall 

Angel smiled. He didn't REALLY smile, because after all, he was supposed to pretend to be still asleep, but inside, he smiled.

He speculated, whether there would ever come the day when her touch, her simplest touch, wouldn't affect him like that, and moreover, he speculated whether he wanted this day to come.

Her touch possessed the power to awake his undead and unbeating heart from its eternal sleep, when he was still a vampire. Her touch possessed the power to make that same heart nearly stop whenever he saw her, after he became human. It was all about her. Always about her. His Buffy. His lover, his friend, his girl. Always his girl. He reminisced of the talk he had had with Spike weeks ago. "She has always seen you as a person, mate. Never as a vampire. Only when she needed to protect you from a stake being driven through your heart, she remembered you were a vampire. Whenever she looked at your demonic features, it's your soul that she saw."

Angel knew he was right. Buffy had never once made him feel beneath her. Never once he saw anything but love in her eyes when she looked at him, the entire time knowing full well what he was. 

He fell in love with her the moment he first saw her. That little girl, pacing naturally down the steps of her high school, chattering with her friends, not even beginning to conceive what the future had held within it for her. She was so innocent, so pure, and the fate never let her keep those qualities. It robbed her off them in the cruelest of ways, putting the responsibility on the entire world into her small hands instead, and she was only fifteen-year-old. 

And you may not think that I care for you
When you know down inside that I really do
And it's me you need to show, how deep is your love?

Angel had wondered many times, was he really the only one who could see her true light? Her true power? He could clearly recall how he watched her first Watcher, Merric, ask her: "You see it? You see your power?"

But did HE see her power? No, and so didn't Giles, her second Watcher, although he did see so much more. So didn't her friends, and definitely not her mother. They were oblivious to most of the things she could do. She was never fully appreciated by any of them, not even by herself. But he.HE knew her power. He knew her power, because he knew her. He remembered how he taunted her when he first met her face to face in that alley. "I thought you'd be taller. Bigger muscles, and all that." And the same time those words left his lips, he could already feel her power. He knew it was a false statement to make, and the fact he didn't even mean it slipped his mind that moment. All he knew was that it was wrong. She was strong. She was the strongest person he'd ever known and would ever get to know. Perhaps, even stronger than himself. And the years proved it again and again, as they went by. His Buffy, his little Buffy, faced more adversities than a normal person would be able to bear, and each of those times, could find a way to pick up the pieces of her broken heart, even when those pieces shattered into smaller ones, and then shattered again, and again, until the pieces could be barely visible to the eye. She had stumbled and fallen so much in her so young life, and still, somehow always found the way to stand up and keep walking. She knew how to hold herself strong even when no one else could. Even when no one else was there to hold her up, she was still standing. Most of the times, he was there to hold her, but when he wasn't, or when he was the reason for her fall, she had to do it alone. Her true power wasn't in her muscles. It was in her heart. Her spirit, her vitality and self-reliance, were the things to which she owned her currently twenty-six years. He could always see just how special and different she was. Not only from other Slayers, but from other people too. He could see it in her even before she was called. She told him once she was different then, before, but he knew better. He saw her 'before', and that same light that swathed him every time he was near her 'after', swathed him then. 

Angel pondered, was she his when she first saw him? Was she caught by him just like he was caught by her? What was going through her mind when she knocked him flat in that alley? Was she his girl even then? If she felt anything, something, she had indubitably done a great job covering that up. But then again, it's not like he had made such a great first impression himself. 

No, their first real meeting didn't go too well. Angel inwardly giggled at the memory of it.

But that was still something in him that prompted him she was. Even then, she was his girl. He wanted to hear her say it, but in some way, he also knew it for a fact. Just like she was his girl when she missed him with the arrow, or when she whispered 'I missed you' and thought he was no longer there to hear her. Or when her soft warm lips pressed against his cold ones, and her little pink tongue caressed his fangs as if they weren't there. Or when she told him he was the one freaky thing in her freaky world that made sense to her, and though these words might sound silly to someone other than him, HE could hear in them the very depth of her feelings, and just how real they were. 

And there were many other moments. Moments in which she needlessly proved just how much she loved him. If there was one thing Angel knew he never had to doubt, that was it. 

*Maybe, if she agrees, we can move into her mother's old house.*

How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really need to learn Cuz we're living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
We belong to you and me

Buffy beamed when Angel opened his eyes and met hers. She removed her hand from his face and let him take it in his own, entwining their fingers together.

"When did you wake up?" She asked quietly. 

"Pretty much now." He grinned.

She smiled. "Liar."

"True." Angel smiled back and moved closer to kiss her gently, then he pulled her into his arms. "I want to ask you something." He told Buffy, his eyes never leaving hers, his fingers gently stroking her back and arms. "But you have to promise you won't laugh. Just answer me straightforwardly, okay?"

Buffy grinned. "Okay." She rose her palm in a pledge.

"Right." Angel took a deep breath, as if preparing for something major. "It's a kinda stupid question, but it's just popped up in my mind and now I really gotta know. When you first met me, in that alley, I mean, did you.did you even like me back then, or did you.you know, well, didn't like me?"

Buffy chuckled.

Angel gave her a look. "Okay, now, you promised you wouldn't do that." He reminded her, a little hurt.

She beamed, and stroked his cheek. Then, she folded her arms on his chest and propped her chin on them, gazing at him with her large frank eyes. 

Angel put his palm on her nape, caressing it gently.

"You know what I told Giles when I later reported to him about it?" She questioned.

"No."

"I told him about this gorgeous dark stranger I met in an alley, who gave me cryptic warning and who I really didn't like."

"You didn't, then." He whispered quietly, disappointedly, more for his own acknowledgement than for her to hear. 

Buffy cupped his face in her hand. "You know, that gorgeous guy I didn't like? Well, it happened that I hated him so much, that besides filling two whole pages in my diary that night only about him, and then dreaming about him pretty much every following night, I also couldn't have a single conversation with Willow without mentioning him at least once. "

Angel smiled. "So, it means you did like me?" He inquired hopefully, but confidently.

She beamed. "Yes, sweetie, I liked you. In fact, I really really liked you. Do you know that you look absolutely adorable when you're all anxious?"

"Oh, am I?" He grinned mischievously, and before she could answer, Buffy found herself beneath Angel, with him hovering over her, his eyes burning into hers with passion and desire. "And how about now?" He whispered throatily. 

She grinned, wrapping her arms around his naked waist. "Now too."

Angel smiled, and lowered his head to meet her in a rapidly heating kiss.

The phone interrupted them just as Angel was taking off her panties. 

"That's evil." He hissed, while kissing her lower abdomen.

"Ignore them, and they'll go away." Buffy replied quickly, eager for whoever the Hell it was to have never called.

"It could be Riley." Angel joked. "He could be needing something urgent."

Buffy grimaced, and playfully pushed him off her. "Just for that, mister, I'm answering the phone." She pulled from under him, reaching for the receiver, but Angel had already managed to leave her half nude.

"Hello?" She answered it, her lips still burning from the kiss, craving for his again. "Oh, Will, it's you! Hey, what's up?" 

Angel sat up behind her and reposed his chin on her shoulder, wrapping one arm around her waist, while waving her panties in front of her face with the other. To her impish irritation, he swiftly pulled them out of her reach every time she attempted to grab them, not really being able to concentrate because of listening to Willow. Eventually, she gave up, while he continued dangling the panties before her.

"I'm still not talking to you." She told him. 

Angel smiled and tossed the panties on the bed, slowly rolling her tiny silky teddy upwards, kissing her back the entire time, and after she refused to lift up her hands, tickling her until she began laughing and gave in willingly. 

"Oh, no, Will, it's not you." Buffy tried to explain, while calming down from Angel's tickles. "No, I meant Angel. I AM talking to you. I'm still mad at you." The last line was referred to Angel, as a reply to him wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her down on top of him on the bed. Buffy's back flapped on his chest when they both hit the bed, and he enveloped his arms around her waist, gently kissing her neck, and then, what seemed to be impossible in their position, reaching her swell breasts. 

She began finding focusing on Willow more and more difficult. "Umm.what? I didn't hear." She groaned, as his tongue gently toyed with one of her now firm nipples. Buffy felt his erection against her thigh, and her juices started to flow. "Umm.Will." She stuttered. "You know, I.I really can't talk right now. Yeah, sure. Meet you w...where?. Okay. I.I'll be there. I don't know, soon!. Okay, bye." She hanged up the phone, and with a heavy breath rotated to face her grinning lover. "I thought I told you I wasn't talking to you." 

Angel only pressed her naked body hard against his. "I honestly don't think we need words, my love." He whispered into her ear. "And I assure you that by the time I will finish with you, you'll be ready to forgive me for everything I've ever done." He added in a barely perceptible husky voice.

Buffy beamed knowingly. "Oh, really? In that case, I'm fuming." She turned on her stomach, meeting his lips in a sweet passionate kiss.

Part Eight

"Hey, Will!" Buffy waved to her friend, quickly advancing in the direction of the table she was sitting at.

Willow looked up from her soft drink and smiled at her, but her face flushed a little once Buffy approached, taking the seat in front of her. "You don't REALLY hate me, do you?" She inquired with bashfully pleading eyes.

Buffy grinned. "What did you do?"

"Duh!" Willow hissed. "What, you think I don't know what you and Angel were doing when I.called?! Buffy, I'm so really really sorry, I had no idea you were."

"Will, and how could you have known?"

"I know." Willow shrugged. "But it still is THE most embarrassing thing I have ever done!"

Buffy beamed. "Consider yourself forgiven."

A waiter neared them, and Buffy ordered herself coffee, while Willow ordered a salad.

"Oh, you're not on call!" Willow exclaimed disappointedly, seeing Buffy retrieving a cell-phone out of her purse and putting it on the table before her.

Buffy gave her a repentant gaze. "Sorry, Will, but Angel and I have taken the day off, so if anything urgent happens, we gotta keep our mobiles on for Cordy to call us ASAP."

"Great." Willow wiggled the straw in her almost empty glass. "I really wanted to talk to you. We haven't gotten a chance to really talk in like.ages. And besides, I REALLY need to talk to you."

"It's not like I'm leaving right now, Will." Buffy smiled.

"Yeah, but.you're just unreachable lately. I know it's selfish to say, but ever since Angel came back, you."

"Have been spending almost all of my time with him." She finished the sentence for her.

"Yeah." Willow looked down into her glass.

"It's still kinda hard to get used to. It's been almost two months, and I still find it difficult to adjust to him kissing me goodnight, and seeing him next to me every morning." 

Willow smiled. "I know. But it's great, isn't it?"

"In a nutshell, Will. I finally feel that my life is complete again, like I'm a whole person again. You know.there really aren't any words to describe how I feel. I actually.I wake up sometimes in the middle of the night, or in the morning, just to stare at him sleeping, it's like to make sure he's really there, that it's not some dream or something, cuz I've had my share of them already. I just stare at his face, and I memorize every feature, without even intending to. I can look at him for hours like that, because sometimes it seems if I close my eyes for only a second, the next time I open them, he'd be gone. I really can't believe it's real occasionally."

"But it is." Willow smiled. "You have no idea how much you've changed since his return. Before." She sighed. "Before, there were times I was dreading from a phone call telling me you were found somewhere with a bullet in your head. And now.well, you're the happiest person I've ever known. You're that sixteen-year-old I've missed so much, whose eyes were shining with incredible light every time I asked a question about her vampire boyfriend. And then..." Willow sighted. "Then...it was like it wasn't really you. Like a part of you was missing."

"It was." Buffy nodded. "I think.I think that if I had to go through all that again, I wouldn't be able to stand it. On second thought, I'm sure of it. Having him die twice in my lifetime was way more than enough." 

The waiter came back and placed their orders before them on the table.

"Anything else?" He asked.

Willow shook her head, smiling.

"No, thank you." Buffy smiled too, and he nodded and left.

Willow tasted her salad. "I'm glad he's back, Buffy. I really am. You two deserve to finally be happy together. After all you've been through, I'd say it's only fair."

"Yeah." Buffy beamed, sipping at her coffee. "It's like a dream, Willow. I know it's weird, but I really DO feel I can't get away from him for a second. When I am.it's like something is torn inside. Like you said, something is missing. I guess it'll probably go away after a while, after I'll get used to him being here all the time, but for now.that's how it is. It's like I don't want to miss a single moment with him."

Willow grinned, impishly hurt. "Okay, now, you make me feel like a bitch for calling you out." 

Buffy laughed. "No, you're always in my schedule.well, unless there's a demon I'm fighting at the moment, cuz then I'm really unavailable, sorry, Will."

"I forgive you." She giggled. "So, what are you two doing all the time.beside bouncing like bunnies on top of each other." She grinned knowingly.

Buffy's mouth opened wide. "Willow!" She exclaimed with frisky shock, then she shrugged and beamed. "We're making up for lost time." She told her.

Willow nodded, still grinning. "Buffy, if you ask me, I think you've already finished making up for your next lifetime."

Buffy beamed, leaning backwards on her chair. "So?"

"You have a six-year-old in the house." Willow reminded with a grin.

"Oh, it's okay. Spike told him never to come into our room without knocking first." She laughed.

Willow quirked an eyebrow in blunt misapprehension. 

Buffy waved her hand, dismissing it. "I promise to tell you the entire story sometime. It's kinda funny, actually. But in any rate, it's not like Liam actually knows what we're doing. So." She took a deep breath, indicating on changing the subject. "What was it that you wanted to tell me about?"

Willow also took a deep breath, to prepare. "I need a best friend's advice." She said gravely.

"Okay, you got me all edgy now. Spill."

"Okay." Willow took another deep breath. "Ozcalled." She uttered speedily. 

"Oz.WHAT?"

Willow nodded, and this time spoke more slowly. "Oz called. He called yesterday."

"What did he want?" Buffy inquired carefully.

"To meet." Willow cast down her eyes. "He said he missed me, that he's sorry it took him so long to realize it, but that he wants to build a life with me. You know.to make it work."

"Wow." Buffy frowned, after a while of shocked silence. 

"Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction. To exclude the tears, that is."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Well, that's where you come into the picture." Willow gesticulated towards her. "I told you, I need a best friend's advice."

"God, Willow, I wish I knew. I have no idea." Buffy said honestly. "Don't you think it's something you gotta solve by yourself? You can't really rely on anyone else. It's kinda one of those things when you really know best."

"You're not helping." Willow pointed out.

"But that's what I'm saying. I don't think I'm supposed to. It's something between you and Oz. I can't tell you whether or not to take him back. I'm not you."

"I don't want you to solve it for me." Willow explained. "I just want you to give me another perspective to look at. And you can do that, right?"

"The only perspective I can supply is if it were I and Angel."

"So, supply."

"Alright." Buffy sighed. "I'd take him back. I would definitely take him back. We'd need some time to work on that, but as long as it is up to me, we're gonna make it. But." She said in an unambiguous voice, indicating there was a serious 'but'. "But I'm saying it because I'm SURE about my feelings towards Angel. Now, the question is, what about your feelings towards Oz? Are you THAT sure about them? You have been apart for five years, Will. Now, he comes back. I'd be more than a little happy to see you happy and with Oz, but never if you aren't sure. You gotta be certain, Willow. Are you ready to accept the package he's offering you now? This relationship has failed once. How do you know it's not gonna happen again? You know, a relationship is built on ups and downs, and believe me, after my experience with Angel, I should know best. Trying to rebuilt a serious relationship like you had with Oz is a difficult gig to begin with, and I should know that too. I hope I haven't hurt you with what I said, but it really needed to be pointed out." Buffy told her.

Willow sighed. "You haven't hurt me. I need to hear a voice of reason, because mine is obviously on some sort of vocation whenever it comes to Oz."

"I know the feeling." Buffy smiled. "So, what's the decree?"

"I want to meet him. I want to talk. Have a LONG talk about everything. Go over everything that had ruined our relationship in the past and try to find some way around it this time, or better just to see if there are solutions to these problems. If we can really try and make it work, if the feelings are still there, and if we really want it." Her voice slowly died out.

"I think it's the best resolution." Buffy smiled. "The final decision whether it's worth working on, is always yours. But you always gotta give him a shot. It might pay off. I mean, the least you can do is try, right? So, when and where?"

"He's staying in his old house. He told me to come whenever I'm ready, if I want to. He said he'd be waiting for me."

Buffy put her hand encouragingly on Willow's arm. "Good luck."

Willow beamed. "Thanks. I'm gonna need it. I think it's really gonna be a LONG talk. Oh, oh! News!" She exclaimed out of nowhere.

"What?"

"Xander called me in the middle of the night. You'll never guess what for."

"So, tell me!" Buffy demanded.

"To consult. Wanna know what about?"

Buffy nodded her head ecstatically.

"First of all, if he doesn't chicken out, you, Angel, Liam and Spike should make room on your calendar for a dinner party this weekend, which is actually, the day after tomorrow. Xander is taking us all to a restaurant. IF he doesn't chicken out."

"From doing what?"

"You have three guesses." Willow grinned.

"WILLOW!"

She giggled. "He's going to propose."

Buffy gasped. "Our Xander? Proposing?! Wow, that's gonna be memorable."

"Oh, yeah. Anya's gonna lose it. It's definitely gonna be the surprise of her eleven hundred years. But you gotta admit it was expected. I mean, they've been together for seven years. I'd say it's about time."

"Yeah, you're right. She's gonna say 'yes'."

"I know. That's why I convinced him to just go for it."

"You mean, he wasn't sure?"

"Oh, he was sure, alright, but he was also scared to death. I mean, you had to hear his 'But what if she doesn't like the ring and curse me or something?'. I'm telling you, I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from laughing."

Buffy chuckled. "I can imagine."

Willow giggled, shaking her head. "No, you can't."

"Oh, speaking of which. Cancel all plans for tomorrow's launch."

The redhead shrugged. "Already done. Why, what's the occasion?"

"You, Cordy, Anya and I are going to pick up my dress."

Willow beamed excitedly. "I can't wait to see it."

"You saw it. Remember? When I tried it on like a million times before setting my mind on it?" Buffy reminded.

"Oh, yeah. How could I forget?" Willow beamed. "So, is it only us gals?'

"Yep. Spike wanted to tag along, but Angel, who has a severe trauma since the last time he accompanied us shopping, managed to thwart him." She laughed.

Willow giggled too. "Yeah, I remember that. The poor guy looked so helpless standing there alone while we were trying on everything in the mall."

A mischievous glimpse flashed in Buffy's eyes. "Well, that poor guy didn't look that helpless when later that night he practically ripped that new teddy I bought off of me."

"Oh, you mean the deep red with the laces crossed in the back?"

"The very one. Only he didn't really bother to undo them, if you know what I mean."

"Spare. Please." Willow implored jokingly, rising the upside of her palm in front of Buffy's face. 

"Don't worry, I'm going to." Buffy laughed.

"I think you're leaving." Willow said.

Buffy looked at her oddly. "Excuse me?"

Willow gestured over to something behind her back and Buffy revolved. A bright smile decorated her face the moment she perceived Angel walking up to them.

"Hey, Angel." Willow greeted him, and of course couldn't help her blush.

He smiled. "Hey, Willow. How're you?"

She grinned. "Great. Are you already stealing my friend?"

"Yeah, sorry. Emergency case." He smiled apologetically.

"No, it's okay, actually. I got a certain werewolf to talk to."

Angel beheld her questioningly, but quickly dismissed it. *Buffy will fill me in me later.* He turned to his love. "We have to go, honey. Cordelia has just called me. They got trouble there."

"Why do trouble always come on our day off?" Buffy moaned. "Hey, why didn't she call me too?" She asked him.

Angel frowned. "I don't know. I think she said she couldn't reach you, or something." They both looked down at her cell-phone.

"Oops?" Buffy attempted, giving Angel her sweetest pleading look.

He rolled his eyes, but giggled nonetheless. "Sweetheart, you forgot to turn it on." Smiling, he held his hand out for her, and pulled her up to her feet. 

Buffy unwillingly rose from her chair, and Angel wrapped one arm around her waist. "See you tomorrow, Will?" She asked her friend.

The redhead nodded smiling. "Bet on it. Have fun with your demons, you two."

"Bye, Willow." Angel waved his hand and both he and Buffy headed towards his convertible.

On to Part Nine