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Disclaimer: ::sigh:: No, I don't own them. The Spawn of Satan does. And Fox, and the WB, and Mutant Enemy... All of them. None of the characters are mine. If they were, I'd be having a lot of fun right now torturing Kate and Riley to death... But alas, I am a lowly fan who must receive her therapy by writing fic. The song isn't mine either. It belongs to Bush. And I have no money, so if you sued all you'd get is a weird cat...
Author's Note: This is the answer to a challenge someone posted a while ago, I don't remember who's it was... It took me really long to get it out because I had to write it on looseleaf first...whoever issued the challenge, please tell me! I forgot who it was... *G*
FEEDBACK: Feedback gives me a happy. Don't you want me to have a happy? Well, it's kinda impossible 'cause I'm a girl, but it's a metaphorical happy...
DEDICATION: This is for Felicity, happy birthday sweetie!!!! Also Shannon and Genevieve and Mina for getting me the lyrics, thank you!
The Challenge--
~Must contain both Riley and Kate
~Riley must be dating Buffy at first and vice versa with Kate
~Angel and Buffy must get together at the end!!!
~Riley must receive a leg waxing let your imagination go with that one!
~The song, Shake Your Bon Bon, by Ricky Martin must show up somewhere
~Purple gloves must be involved somehow
~There must be an unconventional ship...like Willow/Spike or something
~Principal Snyder MUST come back in some way to torture Buffy once more
~Kate must be involved in a "freak" accident, but she doesn't necessarily have to die.
~Buffy must do another sexy dance with Xander.
"Great," Buffy said as she slammed the phone down in its cradle. "This is just perfect. So typical of the Hellmouth." She sighed and spun around to face her friends. "Phone's dead."
"So the phone's dead, the cable's out, yet somehow we still have power? Oh, that makes so much sense," Xander said sarcastically. Anya patted his arm in reassurance and laid her head on his shoulder.
"What do you mean, 'this is so typical of the Hellmouth'?" Kate asked. Buffy sighed and resisted the urge to smack the woman, she had chattered on and on for about an hour before and now it looked as if she was gearing up to start again. Angel just HAD to bring her, didn't he...
It had seemed simple enough. Angel had found a prophecy warning of the Slayer's demise and had immediately driven down to Sunnydale with Cordelia to stop it. Kate had sort of invited herself, being Angel's girlfriend allowed her to get away with it. The prophecy had turned out to be a bust, an ancient piece of work translated wrong. When Giles had looked at it closely, he realized it had been the weather report for a few centuries ago. Angel had wanted to leave as soon as they had figured it out, but Sunnydale was presently experiencing a huge storm. All the roads were closed due to flooding and they were all stuck at Xander's house, sitting in his kitchen trying to figure out what to do.
To make matters even worse, the tension between Buffy and Angel was palpable and Kate and Riley were none too pleased about it. They knew that Buffy and Angel had been close and that they had broken up but still had intense feelings for one another. Riley was presently holding Buffy firmly on his lap, dragging her down there after she tried the phone. Kate was holding onto Angel's hand for dear life, as though it would keep him with her.
Buffy and Angel avoided eye contact, knowing if they made it everything would be forgotten...
"The Hellmouth likes to be way evil at times and it would make all this happen when we were all here, forcing us to all be here longer than we want to be," Willow said.
"Well, I've got some ideas for what we can do," Xander said happily. "I've got a bunch of white shirts, I say the girls go outside in them and we have a wet T-shirt contest." Anya looked at him, horrified, before narrowing her eyes and smacking his arm. "Ow! I was kidding!
"I say we all go downstairs and try to make the best of this," Cordelia said with a sigh.
"I've got Twister!" Xander cried enthusiastically, standing up and dragging Anya with him. The others followed suit, filing downstairs into Xander and Spike's room. Spike looked up from his bed, where he sat flipping through the newspaper, and glowered at the humans and vampire with a soul. Immediately taking seats, they sat quietly and listened to the patter of the rain on the house.
Buffy was catapulted back in time to her birthday, something that always happened when it rained. She chanced a glance at Angel, shooting Kate a dirty look in the process. He looked happy enough, although she knew there would be no soul lossage going on anytime soon. He was obviously uncomfortable, something Buffy knew all too well. It was so hard and extremely awkward to be so close and barely speak to one another... As soon as she had seen him, all the old feelings and pain had come rushing back. She had forgotten how strong they were...
"Now I remember why I left," Cordelia said from her place on Spike's bed. "You guys just have too much fun, I can't keep up."
"Well, it could be fun," Spike said with a sly grin. "I say we play strip poker."
The response came in the form of a slap from Cordelia.
"Charades?" Willow suggested. The looks she received persuaded her to not give anymore ideas.
"Brutal truth," Xander said with a gleam in his eyes, glancing at Angel. Buffy could picture him rubbing his hands together in glee at the thought of torturing the vampire even more, something he probably would have done had his arm not been around his ex-demonic girlfriend...
"How about no," she said quickly.
"Truth or Dare, then," he said.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "How old are we again?" she asked in a bored voice. Xander shot her a look.
"Oh, come on. It'll be fun! And what else are we gonna do? Sit here and count the tiles on the floor?" Xander retorted.
"Actually, that could be fun..." Buffy said weakly. Riley laughed and pulled her closer to him.
"Aww, c'mon Buffy, it'll be fun."
"Yeah, Buff, listen to Fish Boy," Xander said. Riley glowered at Xander and Buffy sighed, feeling a headache coming on. Shortly after Buffy and Riley had officially become a couple, Xander had given Riley the nickname 'Fish Boy' because his last name was Finn. Riley hated it, which was why Xander called him it so much.
"Fine, let's pretend to be in junior high again," she grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. "Can we at least try to be a little more creative than 'I dare you to kiss so-and-so for ten seconds!' That gets boring fast."
"Okay, everyone get in a circle," Willow said, sliding off the folding chair she was sitting on and onto the floor. Cordelia raised her eyebrow.
"What, you wanna do another spell? With any luck you'll have *me* marrying Spike this time," Cordelia said snottily. Willow rolled her eyes.
"It's easier to play if we're in a circle," Willow said defensively. Grumbling, the others got down onto the floor as well, circling around. Everyone except Angel and Spike, that was. Angel looked at them skeptically and Kate giggled, pulling on his hand.
"C'mon, Angel, it'll be fun!" she squealed. Angel shot her a dubious look.
"Why do I think it won't be?"
"Oh, just join in, mate," Spike said. "I don't want to hear your little friend bitch and moan all night." Angel sighed and got down on the floor as well, knowing Spike had a point. If he didn't, he'd never hear the end of it from Kate... He sat cross-legged, situating himself between Kate and Buffy. Buffy looked at him nervously, as if it wasn't hard enough...all she had to do was reach out and touch him.
"Okay, since it was my idea, I get to go first," Xander said. He looked around the room thoughtfully before staring at Spike, who still sat on his bed doing the crossword. "Spike..."
"I'm not playing that bloody game," the vampire said.
"Aww, come on, Spike! It'll be more fun than trying to figure out the scientific name for a fruit fly," Xander argued.
"No, thanks, mate."
"Truth or dare?" Xander asked.
"Do you even know how to play?" Cordelia asked, her gaze sweeping appreciatively over the blond vampire's body. She had never noticed how hot he was...
Spike snorted. "'Course I do. Angelus and I used to play..." Spike grinned at Angel. "You remember that one time, in London, with Dru and Darla? When we--"
"Yeah, I remember, Spike. We swore we would never bring that up again," Angel said quickly, ignoring Spike's smirk.
"Yeah, I know, mate. Are you sure you don't want me to fill them all in, though?" he asked with a wicked grin. "Maybe your little girlfriend would like to know...nah, it would mightily piss the Slayer in her off." Buffy looked at Spike pointedly. "Oh, that's right," he said. "We're playing the 'friends' thing again. Children, how many times have been over this?" Spike asked in a fatherly voice, smirking at Buffy and Angel and wagging his finger at them. Buffy jumped in.
"We're not friends, we'll never be friends, yet somehow we are right now. Sorry to rain on that nighttime parade you have going on, Spike, but we're doing just fine, thanks," Buffy snapped. Riley brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it gently, causing Buffy to shift her weight to her other hand so she wouldn't topple over. In the process, her hand brushed Angel's.
She quickly snatched it away as Angel, startled by it, turned his gaze to her. He looked down at her hand, and then his own, and then up into her beautiful hazel eyes. There was so much confusion in them...
Spike laughed, watching their exchange. Riley and Kate also noticed and immediately set to work to avert their attention. Buffy and Angel shared a final guilty look before looking back at Spike.
"Right," he drawled. "Just friends."
"So, Spike, you gonna play?" Willow asked, shooting a worried glance at Buffy.
Spike snapped his paper shut. "Sure, Red, I'll play. Gimme your bet shot, Townie," Spike said. Xander smiled.
"Truth or dare?"
"Dare," Spike said. "Always dare."
"Okay," Xander said, getting up from the floor and going over to the CD player. "I dare you to pretend to be Ricky Martin and sing Shake Your Bon Bon." He pulled the CD out of the pile next to the stereo and held it up triumphantly.
"I...uh...I don't know it!" Spike sputtered. Anya laughed.
"Oh, please. It's YOUR CD, Spike, you play it all the time when I'm here," she said smugly.
"And even more when you aren't," Xander muttered. Spike shrank back slightly at everyone's stares.
"It was Harm's! I just...borrowed it."
"Oh, please," Buffy snorted. "You probably think he's hot or something."
"I...well...you... Okay, so I do," Spike said defensively. "He's a very attractive man, I'm sure you've dreamed about shagging him, Slayer." Buffy's lips tightened.
"Oh, just get up there and sing then!" Cordelia cried. "Angel, you should have brought your leather pants..."
Spike shot her a dark look and then walked over to Xander, grumbling the entire time. He shooed his roommate away and pressed play, filling the room with the annoying song as he danced around to it and made a fool of himself.
After he was done, amid the hoots from the girls and teases from the guys, he plopped back down on his bed. Angel opened his mouth to speak, but Spike beat him to it.
"Don't say a word, Angelus. Not ONE word," he growled. Angel laughed and shook his head, but obliged. "You'll get what's coming to you," Spike promised. Angel brushed him off.
Spike rubbed his hands together, looking over the people in front of him. His gaze settled on Riley and Buffy shot him a warning look.
"Riley...truth or dare?"
Riley smiled at Spike. "Dare."
Spike grinned back at him evilly before standing and going into the bathroom. He returned with a jar and some strips of something. Tossing them at Riley, Spike said, "I dare you to wax your legs."
Riley looked up at Spike incredulously. "Wax? My legs? That's all you can come up with, blondie?" Spike glowered at him.
"What's the matter? Too chicken? Or are you just too manly, Fish Boy?" Spike teased. Riley held the jar at eyelevel, looking at it nervously.
"Hey!" Anya cried. "That's my wax! There is no way you're wasting it!"
"Shut your hole, demon girl. I'll buy you a new one," Spike reassured her. Anya sighed and went to speak when Xander silenced her with a kiss.
"How do I do this?" Riley asked, looking helplessly at Buffy. Kate snatched the jar out of his hand and sighed before Buffy could say anything.
"Roll your pant leg up," she told him. Turning to Spike, she asked, "Whole leg?"
"Just the calves, I don't think Nancy Boy Junior can handle anything else," Spike smirked. Kate nodded and began smearing the warm wax on Riley's leg.
"Ooh...that feels kinda nice," he said. Riley grinned at Buffy, who was looking at Kate with a strange expression on her face.
"That's the way it feels before it hurts like hell," Cordelia muttered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Spike caught the brown tresses and began playing with them.
Riley's scream pierced the quiet of the room as Kate ripped the wax away. "Oh my God! Son of a--that hurts!"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Guys have such a low tolerance for pain." Riley gripped her hand tightly as Kate repeated the process. Spike smiled wickedly the entire time, loving watching the annoying T.A. in pain. Angel, growing bored, picked up the Entertainment Weekly that lay on Spike's dresser and began leafing through it. He was enjoying Riley's screams of pain, though...
"Buffy, take over," Kate said as she handed the Slayer the wax. "I'm gonna go try the phone again." Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed, but took Kate's place anyway.
"Angel," Cordelia began once Kate was safely out of earshot. "I know you have this thing against eating humans, but just this once can't you make an exception? If I have to spend one more minute with her I'm gonna sic Spike on her..."
"Won't do any good, luv," Spike replied with a pointed look at Riley. "I can't bite anyone."
Cordy sighed. "Well, then Buffy can go Slayer on her ass. Please?"
Angel's look was all the answer she needed.
Steps on the stairs ended their conversation. Riley screamed for the last time as Buffy began cleaning up, shaking her head in disgust at the grossness of it. Oh, no, her life wasn't TOO odd...
Kate suddenly slipped on something that was laying on the stairs. She fell hard, arms flailing as she tried to keep herself upright. She slid down the rest of the stairs and landed in a heap on the floor. Angel was up in an instant, calling her name as he rushed to her side, as Buffy walked cautiously over to the staircase to inspect the area. She picked up a purple glove that was laying there and threw it at Willow.
"Oh, I didn't even know I dropped it," Willow said distantly, her mind obviously on other things. Buffy shrugged and turned to survey the room. Xander and Anya were making out on his bed. Cordelia and Spike were making out on Spike's bed. Buffy did a double take, her eyes wide in disbelief watching the two of them before she turned away. Whatever floated their boats...although she didn't want to know...
"You okay, Kate?" she asked, her voice tight. Kate nodded and stood slowly, leaning on Angel as she brought a hand up to caress her head.
"Yeah, nothing broken. I'm pretty tough," she said with a slight grin.
"Yeah, men usually are," Buffy muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing," she chirped. Angel had heard her, though, and he was trying desperately to contain his laughter.
"This is stupid," Buffy sighed, gesturing around. "No one's even--"
A knock on the door caught everyone's attention. Looking at it, Buffy went over to answer it.
"What kind of idiot is out in this weather?" Spike grumbled before Cordelia pulled his head back down. Buffy threw the door open and gaped.
"Principal Snyder?!" she cried. The short, balding man grinned back at her. "Bu-but...you got eaten! At graduation!"
"Yeah, I did," he agreed before chuckling. "I knew you kids would never get anywhere in life...living off your parents, you little parasites. Anyway, I escaped from hell and thought I should come back and see you. To kill you properly, of course.
"You're a demon?" Willow called from her seat on the floor. Snyder nodded, his eyes glowing red. "Wow, that explains a lot."
"Oh, *now* I know who you are!" Anya cried. "Snyndide!"
"Anyanka, it's been so long since we've seen each other," he said. "We should get together sometime and talk..."
"You've known he was a demon and you didn't say anything?" Buffy demanded. Anya shrugged.
"I only suspected."
"I'm sorry, but I think you're mistaken," Buffy said sweetly. She saw Angel moving to the table where an array of tools were spread out from the corner of her eye.
"About?" he asked, his face morphing into a hideous purple visage.
"You won't kill me. I'll be killing *you* in a matter of moments."
"Buffy, catch!" Angel called, tossing her a screwdriver. She caught it with precision and grinned at the principal.
"Have fun in hell. And this time," she said as she rammed it into his heart, "stay there."
Snyder screamed and disappeared in a flash of light. Buffy closed the door to prevent any more rain from spilling in and smiled at Angel in thanks.
"That was weird," she commented as she made her way back to the center of the room.
"Totally," Willow agreed. Everyone else was still staring at the door with open mouths.
"Okay, my turn," Riley said happily, turning everyone's attention back to the game. "Kate...truth or dare?"
Kate looked at him, surprised. "Truth," she said after a moment.
"How do you feel about Angel?" Riley asked. Buffy looked up from her nails in horror, her gaze holding fury as she stared hard at her boyfriend. He ignored her, focused on the cop and her answer.
Kate smiled. "Well," she said, glancing shyly at Angel. "I think he's wonderful. He's kind and a good person and knows how to treat a woman. The whole vampire thing is weird, but it's easy to overlook. Plus he's extremely sexy..." Kate giggled, sounding like a love-sick school girl.
Buffy had the overwhelming urge to take one of those screw drivers and stab her to death with it...
Clenching and unclenching her fists caught Angel's attention, and he turned to look at his ex-girlfriend. God, she was beautiful when she was angry, deadly and dangerous and focused. Who had he been kidding when he thought he could ever get over her? He felt himself fall in love with her all over again...
Riley saw the way Angel was gazing at Buffy and felt a wave of jealousy hit. Didn't the jerk get that she was his now? Without thinking, he spoke again.
"Do you trust him?"
"What?" Kate asked, brushing a strand of blond hair from her eyes. "Of course!"
"Do you trust him around Buffy?" Riley asked. Buffy looked at him, shocked into silence, before throwing her hands up in defeat.
"My God, will you two get over it already?" she cried. "Angel and I are of the past!"
"Oh really?" Kate challenged, raising a sculpted brow. "Prove it."
Buffy felt her blood run cold. Oh, God, she couldn't mean...
"What?" Angel asked, glancing at Buffy.
"Angel, I dare you to kiss Buffy," Kate said seriously. Buffy laughed.
"Are you serious? How old are you again, Kate?"
"Do it, Buffy, it's a dare," she retorted. Buffy looked around desperately, her distress evident in her poise. She blatantly ignored Spike and Cordelia's grins, Anya and Xander's whispers and Willow's sly smile.
She instead focused on Angel, silently pleading with him. She knew one kiss would be too much of a temptation and would surely damn them both...but they were already damned. What did they have to lose?
Angel was quiet, his eyes betraying him. He was thinking the exact same thing...
"C'mon, Buffy, what're you waiting for?" Riley asked mockingly. Buffy gritted her teeth. When this was over, he *so* was history...
Buffy stood and stalked over to where Angel sat. She stared at him hard before kneeling down and taking his face in her hands.
"I'm sorry," she mouthed. He nodded and drew her down to him. Their lips touched and Buffy fought back tears. She had missed him so much, and he tasted so wonderful... The kiss was soft and filled with love, and although their eyes fell shut they didn't deepen it.
Instead, they pulled away a hairsbreadth. Slowly, Buffy opened her eyes to find Angel gazing back at her with undying devotion. She smiled sadly at him and swallowed back her tears.
"Happy now?" she whispered.
"Yes," Kate answered, although the question hadn't been directed at her. Buffy and Angel paid no attention to her, too wrapped up in the other to notice. Their eyes met and held and Buffy felt all the old pain surface once more, all the sadness and longing...the loneliness. Angel was motionless as well, caught in a sea of memories from the one incredible day they had shared and the knowledge of what they could have had came crashing down on his broad shoulders.
Without thinking, he grabbed her and kissed her at the exact instant she launched herself at him, sending them toppling over. Their lips met desperately and hungrily as their hands roamed, touching, feeling. There was nothing anymore, nothing but their love. Riley's and Kate's cries of outrage fell on deaf ears.
Angel brought a hand up to brush back her golden hair, his fingertips tracing the scar he had inflicted on her neck in the process. They lingered there for a moment longer, a sense of male satisfaction rising in his chest at it. He had claimed her, marked her as his. He growled and rolled over, pinning her small body under his as they continued to kiss.
Buffy pulled away, gasping for breath, only to cup Angel's cheeks in her small hands and pull his head back down. She raised her knees, clutching him to her and cradling his body in her soft haven. They kissed with fire and a force that could bruise, grasping at clothing and caressing skin.
Suddenly Angel rolled over, taking Buffy with him. She sat astride him, her hands desperately pulling him closer still. They upsetted a bowl of pretzels that had been in their way, but neither noticed.
"I knew this would happen," Cordelia said, shaking her head and watching the couple on the floor.
Spike smirked at Kate and Riley, who sat in stunned silence, watching Buffy and Angel as well.
"It was only a matter of time," Spike agreed. "Although I never thought the wanker would have had the control to stay away from her this long. Ah, well," he said, reaching for Cordelia and pulling her to him once more. "Where were we?" She covered his lips with hers, promptly silencing him.
Willow sat, grinning like a fool as she watched the two reunite. She only wished Oz could be there too...
Buffy whimpered and suddenly stopped, detaching herself from Angel's lips and opening her eyes to look at him. The vampire was staring up at her hungrily, his face showing a thousand other emotions. Buffy braced her hands on his chest and sat up, still straddling him.
She looked around as though she was in slow-motion, seeing Xander, Anya, and Willow grinning like they had just won the lottery, Spike and Cordelia shoving their tongues down each other's throats on his bed, and Riley and Kate's horrified faces.
Lastly, she glanced back down at Angel, trying to hide the smile that grew on her lips. No matter who she had hurt and was hurting in the process, the important thing was that she had just kissed Angel. God, this felt so right and perfect and wonderful...
And then suddenly she jumped up as though she had been struck by lightning. She blushed bright red and smoothed her hair out. Angel lay where he had been, watching Buffy intently.
"Anyone for hot chocolate?" she squeaked before turning and bolting up the stairs. Angel watched her go, then did the only sensible thing.
He ran after her.
I want you to remember
A love so full it could send us all ways
I want you to surrender
All my feelings rose today...
And I want you to remain
The power of children can amaze
I'll try not to complain
I know that's a pisser baby
By the time Angel made it upstairs, Buffy had set water on the stove to boil and was busily pouring mix into mugs. He gently took the cocoa package from her and laid it on the counter, taking her hands in one of his and raising the other to her chin.
Angel gently tilted her face up so she was looking at him, and he was surprised to find tears gathering in her hazel eyes. A single one slipped when she blinked, tracing the natural curve of her cheek before coming to a rest at the corner of her mouth. Angel gently wiped it away with his thumb, a smile flickering over his features. Buffy smiled back at him sadly before stepping out of his careful embrace and backing up, turning to face away from him.
A sob shook her small frame, chilling Angel to the core of his soul...there wasn't a sadder sound in the world to him. Stepping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her back to his chest, cradling her against him in comfort as she wept.
Cordelia let out a laugh as she watched Angel chase after his Slayer, glancing down cruelly at Kate and Riley. She had never liked Kate, the woman threw herself at Angel and didn't seem to get that he really wasn't interested. Riley she had only met a few days ago, but already she wanted to beat him over the head with a hard object... They turned to look at her.
"You two don't get it, do you?" she asked with a shake of her head. Spike tried to kiss her neck but she pushed him away, running a hand through her hair. "You'll never come between those two, and I think somewhere beneath all that denial you realize that."
"No," Kate said with a shake of her head. "It's over between them. Angel said so."
"Hello?! Did you *not* just see what happened? My God, you really are blond, aren't you?" Cordy said. "Well, you're not, 'cause your roots are showing, but I think all that peroxide is going to your brain..."
"They've moved on," Riley announced. He gave Kate's shoulder a squeeze. "We have nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about?" Spike cried. "Is your brain the size of a fish's too?? Those two are probably shagging each other to death on the table..."
"But they can't, because of the curse," Kate said smugly. Willow roused herself out of her depression at that.
"Actually, the clause was taken out. I finally figured out the spell I did, in class the other day, and there is no more happiness clause. I *knew* there was something I had forgotten to tell Buffy..." she said. Everyone turned to stare at her.
Riley couldn't let it die. "Well, just because they can have sex doesn't mean he can go out in the daylight or give her tons of little Rileys like I can," he said smugly.
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure she'd want to have *your* kids, Riley," Anya snorted. "I think she would decide not to, she wouldn't want to pass on your gene pool to anyone..."
"Buffy and Angel are through," Kate said firmly. "Angel's with me. Angel loves me."
"Honey, I hate to break it to you--actually, I don't--but Angel has not nor will he ever love you. You're just not his type," Cordelia said.
"And some little college freshman who likes to whine is?"
"Hey, that's my girlfriend you're talking about!" Riley cried.
Xander grinned at Anya. "This is better than cable!"
"She's not your girlfriend anymore, mate," Spike said casually. He pointed to the ceiling. "They're making up right now."
"How the hell do you know?" the commando asked.
"Please," Spike snorted. "I lived with the guy for a hundred years. You pick up these things."
The chemicals between us
The walls that lie between us
Lying in this bed
The chemicals displaced
There is no lonelier place
Than lying in this bed
After a time, Buffy's sobs quieted to occasional sniffles. Angel nuzzled her neck in comfort, all the while holding her close to him as she cried out all her grief. When she was completely silent--save for a few hiccups, he turned her around and cradled her cheeks in his hands.
"Better now?" he asked softly. She shook her head.
"Nothing will ever be better after that," she told him truthfully. He knew exactly what she meant. They were officially screwed...
"I'm sorry about that," he whispered. She looked up at him with huge eyes.
"I'm not," she replied, her hands coming up to hold his face. "And I'm not sorry for this."
She kissed him then, a gentle, soft, feather-light kiss. Angel ran his hand softly over the smooth skin of her face.
"What was that for?" he asked. She shrugged.
"I figured you deserved it..." The water began to boil, interrupting them. Buffy slowly went to the stove and turned it off, pulling the kettle away from the hot surface. She poured the water into several of the cups before grabbing two, handing one to Angel and keeping one for herself.
Nervously, they sat at the kitchen table. Buffy held the hot mug in her hands, sipping it occasionally.
"They'll be worried about us," Angel said after a time. Buffy looked up at him.
"Who cares? We need to talk," she replied.
"About...?" Angel asked, genuinely surprised. Buffy sighed and looked away again.
"It's...nothing."
"It's obviously something, Buffy. You know you can tell me anything."
"I don't know if you want to know this," Buffy whispered, staring down at the marshmallows in her hot cocoa. Angel felt a fear grip his heart but swallowed his nervousness down.
"I do. Please tell me," Angel said softly. Buffy looked at him for a moment with her big eyes before looking away.
"I remember."
Angel promptly slid out of his chair.
At the bang upstairs, everyone jumped. Spike burst out laughing at it, looking straight at Kate and Riley.
"There goes the kitchen table..."
"No," Riley said with the shake of his head. Jumping up, he began to pace. "Buffy wouldn't do that, she'd be faithful to me."
"No," Willow said. "She'd be faithful to Angel. She cheated on him once, I don't think she'd do it again."
"What in the world are you talking about?" Riley asked.
"Well, Buffy and Angel are technically married. But they don't like people to know about it," Cordelia said with a bored look on her face. Riley sat down quickly.
"Married?" he croaked. Kate looked shocked.
"Old Irish custom. That chain Buffy wears around her neck? It holds her wedding ring," Willow told him matter-of-factly.
"She's never showed it to me..."
"Duh!" Cordelia cried. "I *told* you she doesn't tell people. Brings back bad memories."
Kate spoke up. "Now, when you say married...do you *really* mean married?"
I want you to remember
Everything you said
Every driven word
Like a hammer, hell, to my head...
The chemicals between us
There is no lonelier place
Then lying in this bed
The chemicals displaced
There is no lonelier place
Than lying in this bed
Angel looked up at Buffy in shock. "You remember what?" he whispered.
"Chocolate and peanut butter," she replied, not meeting his gaze. Angel swiftly got off the floor and righted his chair, taking a long sip of his hot chocolate.
"How did you...I mean, the Oracles said no one would remember but me," he said. Buffy shrugged.
"I just...did. Told you I'd never forget. I didn't let you know, but I remembered right after it happened. In the office...I knew," she said with a slight smile. Slowly she looked up at him from under her dark lashes and Angel felt guilt swell in his soul. It was only supposed to be his burden to carry...
"Oh God, Buffy, I'm sorry," he said, reaching across the small table to take on of her hands. She smiled at him.
"Don't be. I'm glad I remember. It helps me get through all this," she told him.
"You're not mad?" Angel asked. She shook her head and he felt extreme relief. He always hated when she was mad at him...
"Angel, it's been five months. I've come to terms with it. And hey, it made for a great psych paper."
"You wrote about it?" he asked. She nodded.
"I wrote about you a lot. That's how Riley found out about you," she said. "He asked me who I was talking about and I told him."
"Riley. Right. Don't you think we should--"
"No, Angel. I DON'T think we should go back downstairs yet. God, you always do this!" she cried. Angel looked at her.
"Do what?"
"Skirt around the issue! For once, can we have an equal conversation about what happened?" she asked. Angel sighed and ran a tired hand over his eyes. He owed her this much...
"All right. What's there to say?" he asked. Buffy was silent for a moment. How could she tell him? How could she explain all her feelings to him?
"How can you be with Kate if you left me for the same things you can't give her?" Buffy whispered. Angel was struck by the truth of her statement and he reached a hand across the table to take hers, his skin tingling when they touched. "Buffy, I'm not really 'with' Kate. We've only gone out a few times and she thinks we're getting married or something," he told her. She looked up from their joined hands at his revelation.
"But Angel...the fact that you could even go on a few dates totally contradicts all that you told me," she said with a sigh. "You said you could never give me all the things I deserve. You said you could never give me the perfect life. You said you didn't want to be with me..." she whispered. "How can you be with anyone else, then?"
Angel gently rubbed her hand with his. "I *can't* give you all the things you deserve, Buffy," he told her. "Riley can."
"Do you think I WANT them if they aren't from you?" she cried. "God, Angel...you're the only one I've ever wanted. And you don't want to be with me..."
"That's not true," Angel said with the shake of his head. He gripped her hand tightly and leaned over to her. "I never said I didn't want to be with you. I said I didn't want *your* life to be with *me*."
Buffy was speechless. Suddenly everything he had said before the Prom made complete sense. He hadn't wanted *her* life to be wasted on him. Tears filled her eyes and she began to cry again, causing Angel to reach over and somehow pull her onto his lap. She wanted to resist him, she wanted so badly to be able to stay away from him...but she couldn't. She was too weak.
"But I did," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. He held her strongly, his hands running up and down her back in comfort. She lifted her head to stare up at him. "I still do...I always will. Don't you see, Angel? I love you enough to let this chance I have at that normal life with Riley slip away. When I used to say I wanted a normal life...I meant I wanted it with you. If I can't have you, then I don't want it."
"Buffy...you know that's not true. No matter how much we love each other... Fate just doesn't want us together. We have to accept that," he said. Buffy shook her head firmly.
"No!" she cried. "We DON'T have to accept it! God, Angel...how many times have we defied destiny and fate and all that other bull? The fact that we fell in love is proof enough. Screw fate, screw destiny. I love you and nothing will ever change that."
Angel ran a hand through her hair. "I love you too. Always," he whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"I think we should try again," she said suddenly.
"What?"
"I think we should start over," Buffy told him, pressing her forehead to his. "Slowly at first. But we can make this work, Angel, I know we can."
"Buffy...you're not thinking rationally," Angel argued.
"Wrong," she said. "*You're* not thinking rationally."
"But nothing's changed--"
"*Everything* has changed. We've changed. We don't depend on each other anymore, because we've had to live apart for so long," Buffy said. She brought a hand up to cradle his cheek. "We're different people now then we were last June. We've grown as individuals. It's time we grew as a couple."
"I still can't give you anything," he whispered. She looked him straight in the eye.
"You can give me you. That's all I need," she told him softly. Before he had a chance to argue, she silenced him with a sweet kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her chest to his. "Please, Angel...let me make my own decisions for once."
"How long does it take to make hot chocolate?" Riley asked, looking up from his pacing. Anya, Cordelia, and Willow were all sitting on Xander's bed talking and Xander and Spike were playing poker for pretzels. Kate was entertaining herself with a magazine.
"Shut up Riley!" they all cried. He had been asking the same question every other minute and everyone wanted to smack him. With a sigh, he plopped down next to Kate.
"So how long have you known Angel?" he asked. She looked up from her magazine with a smile.
"Since October. We met at a single's bar," she said. Riley nodded.
"And what was a beautiful woman like yourself doing at a single's bar?" he asked. Kate blushed.
"Working on a case."
And so started their boring conversation.
The chemicals between us
The chemicals between us
Lying in this bed
We're of the hollow men
We are the naked ones
We never meant you harm
Never meant you wrong
I'd like to thank
All of my lovers, lovers, lovers
"Buffy...I don't want to ruin your life," Angel said pleadingly. "What happens if in a few years you decide you don't want me anymore and leave?"
"You know that will never happen, Angel. I love you too much to leave you," she replied, running a finger over his lips.
"I can't come back here. I have my business...and we have to do this slowly..."
"Already thought of that," Buffy said happily, her soul singing. "We stay where we are and do the long-distance thing. It's only an hour's drive to L.A., so we can see each other on the weekends. And then there's e-mail, and the phone..."
Angel laughed and pulled her closer. "You've really thought a lot about this, haven't you?" he asked. She nodded.
"It's what got me through everything. I'd just think about you..." Angel's heart warmed and he kissed her softly, reveling in the sharp intake of breath that she took. He had thought he would never hear it again...
"What do we do about them?" Angel asked suddenly, jerking his thumb downstairs. Buffy frowned.
"You just *had* to go and ruin that, didn't you," she teased, her eyes sparkling. Angel had never seen her so happy...no, he had. When he had been human... Her face turning serious, she said, "I think we should wait a few days before telling them."
Angel nodded. "So do I. Kate sure won't be happy."
"Neither will Riley." She waited a beat. "Oh well."
Angel grinned at her and kissed her nose. "You're so cute when you're heartless."
"I've been wanting to break up with him for weeks. Now I have an excuse," she shrugged. Buffy grinned devilishly at Angel. "The boy is just too boring. I like my men...exciting."
"Mysterious," Angel added with a slight grin.
Buffy nodded. "Capable of making amazing love to me on a kitchen table..." It was Angel's turn to grin.
"That was pretty amazing, wasn't it?" he agreed, staring deep into her eyes. "We should try it again sometime."
"Oh yeah..." Buffy smirked, pressing her lips against her lover's with fire.
"Making love on a kitchen table? Wow, I really have missed a lot..." a voice called from the doorway. Buffy and Angel broke apart and looked over, surprised to see Oz standing there. He was drenched and was carrying a duffel bag that was equally soaked. Buffy jumped up and ran to him, hugging him to her.
"Oz! Oh my God, when did you get back?!" she cried as she stepped away, her shirt wet.
"Just now. Angel," he nodded in the direction of the vampire. Angel stood as well and went over to shake the werewolf's hand.
"Are you here to stay? Have you found yourself or whatever?" Buffy asked as Angel wrapped his arms around her waist. He couldn't get enough of her.
"I'm back. For good this time."
Buffy grinned, he was a many of few words... "What's in the bag?"
"Presents," he said, holding it up. "I did a lot of traveling and I found stuff for you guys. Is Willow here?" His voice was laced with anticipation and love as he looked around, his eyes betraying his cool demeanor. Buffy nodded and pointed to the basement.
"Thanks," he said, dropping his bag in the puddle it had created.
"Oz, you're pretty wet. What did you do, walk here?" Buffy asked.
"Had to get here somehow," he shrugged. Buffy exchanged a look with Angel.
"Is it still pouring outside?" Angel asked. Oz nodded.
"Well...shall we go back downstairs?" Buffy said after a moment of silence. Angel kissed her long and hard before they broke apart, wanting to feel her lips on his one more time before they went back down into the basement.
"Okay, I obviously missed a lot," Oz remarked as Buffy led him and Angel to the stairs. She grabbed the cocoa mugs, which were somewhat cool, and handed them to Oz and Angel before grabbing hers and Angel's. As they ventured down the stairs, Oz said, "Someday you'll have to tell me about that kitchen thing."
The chemicals between us
The army of achievers
Lying in this bed
The chemicals displaced
There is no lonelier face
Than lying in this bed
The footsteps on the stairs alerted everyone to their return. Buffy walked down first, followed by Angel and then Oz. Everyone was shocked to see the werewolf and turned to see Willow's reaction.
"Look what the cat dragged in," Buffy said softly, setting the cups down and taking Oz's from him.
The witch went pale in the face, her hands shaking as she stared up at her boyfriend. He took a cautious step forward and she suddenly launched herself off the bed and into his arms, crushing him to her. He held onto her for dear life, his hand becoming tangled in her red hair as she cried.
Without a word, he led her back upstairs so they could be alone to talk.
"Okay, someone wanna explain to me what that was?" Xander asked. "Because it looked like Oz...although he resembled a drowned rat."
"It was Oz, he just got back," Buffy told him. She quickly looked at Riley and saw him staring at her neck. Self-consciously, she raised a hand to it, her fingers coming in contact with cool metal. It was the long silver chain she had gotten to hold the ring Angel had given her...why was Riley so fixated on it now? He had seen it before, she never took it off...
"This cocoa is cold, Buffy," Kate remarked as she took a sip. Buffy looked at Angel quickly before gazing at the older woman.
"Sorry, I had to use the bathroom before we came back down," she lied, shifting uncomfortably.
"You could have used Xander's," Riley said, gesturing at it.
"What, so now you're telling me where I can and can't go to the bathroom?" Buffy asked with a roll of her eyes. "God, please get over yourself."
Riley stood and walked over to her, taking her hand in his. "I'm sorry, baby, I was just a little worried. But I see who you've chosen, so--"
"Chosen?" Buffy asked. "What are you talking about, Riley?"
"Well, you and Angel were obviously talking, and I guess I'm your choice, seeing as how you didn't run off with your little vampire into the night," Riley said smugly. Buffy ripped her hand away from his.
"You know what? I'm sick of this!" Buffy erupted. "We were gonna wait a few days before telling you this, but I can't wait any longer. Riley, I want to break up."
Riley was speechless as he stared at the Slayer. "What?" he hissed.
"Do you need a hearing aid? I said I want to break up."
"Why? So you can go back to him?"
"As a matter of fact," Buffy said, linking her arm in Angel's, "yes. That was the plan."
"Why, Buffy? He can't give you anything and I can give you everything! Why are you so blind when it comes to him? I've tried SO hard to be what you wanted so that maybe, just maybe you could love me like you obviously love him. Do you know how unfair that was to me?" Riley cried. Buffy sighed and stepped toward him.
"Riley, I know. And I'm so sorry...but I couldn't do it. I can't do it anymore. I can't pretend that you're what I want because you're not. You never were. You were only a distraction," Buffy said, flinching at the hurt look he gave her.
"Is this true, Angel?" Kate asked. The vampire looked away from her and nodded. "How can you do this to me?!"
"I'm sorry, Kate. But I love Buffy and I finally realized that we're meant for each other," Angel apologized, looking at Buffy with love in his eyes. "I wish I could have told you before..."
"Yeah, so do I," she snapped, grabbing her jacket and purse off the chair where they had sat. "I'm leaving, I'll find a hotel to stay in overnight. Can you please bring my things back to L.A. and leave them at the station?" Angel nodded, letting her leave.
Kate was almost at the door when Riley called after her. "Kate, wait up!" he too grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "You can stay with me tonight and I can drive you back tomorrow."
"Thanks, Riley," she said as she opened the door. Thunder cracked in the distance, but neither noticed.
Xander jumped off his bed. "Hey, do you guys want--" The door slammed shut. "An umbrella?"
"Oh, look. They left to go cry. How sad," Cordelia said mockingly. Buffy and Angel looked at each other and smiled. It had been easier this way... They moved together and shared a soft kiss before grabbing pillows and blankets from Xander's bed and settling on the floor.
"So I'm guessing I'm out of a job, huh?" Cordelia asked. Angel shook his head.
"You're still employed. Buffy and I are trying a long-distance relationship for a while."
"Why?" Anya asked. "Because of the curse?" Angel shook his head.
"No, we just thought it was best--"
"Because that's so nonexistent anymore," she finished. Buffy tore her gaze from Angel's and sat up straight, staring at Anya.
"What?" she demanded.
"Willow told us before. The curse is gone, she said she just figured it out the other day."
"He's had his soul for almost two years and she just figured it out *now*?" Buffy repeated. Anya nodded.
"She said she was waiting for a book to come and it took a really, really long time." Buffy turned to gaze at Angel with happiness in her eyes. Angel appeared to be in shock and Buffy leaned down to kiss him passionately.
"Do you have any idea what this means?" she whispered to him in wonderment. He nodded.
"I'm gonna need a new kitchen table..."
Oz and Willow returned shortly afterwards, holding hands. Oz told them all about his adventures driving cross-country and handed out all the presents he had gotten them.
"Hey, weren't we playing truth or dare?" Xander asked suddenly.
"Yeah, like two hours ago," Cordelia replied from Spike's bed.
"I say we keep going. Now that Fish Boy and Kate aren't here, it'll be like old times. Only with new people."
"Well, it *is* my turn," Angel said with a grin. "And I've got the perfect one for my lovely little girlfriend..." Buffy looked at him.
"Hit me with your best shot, old man," she joked.
"I dare you to do that sexy little dance that you did with Xander again," he smirked. She raised her eyebrows.
"You hated when I did that," she protested. Angel shrugged.
"I just think it's rather funny," Angel replied. Buffy sighed and stood up, reaching her hand out to Xander.
"Shall we dance?" she asked with a grin.
"Just what are you planning on doing with my boyfriend?" Anya demanded.
Buffy grinned wickedly. "Don't worry, I'll return him in one piece."
"That's not exactly comforting," Anya growled. Spike looked at Buffy in interest.
"This should be funny, I've always wondered what you meant by that. Now I get to see it...is it like porn?" the blond vampire asked. Cordelia smacked him on the arm.
Buffy turned on the stereo and selected a CD, popping it in the changer. 'Sugar Water' filled the air as Xander turned off the lights and turned on the strobe light he had. "What the hell do you have a strobe light for?" Buffy asked as he sidled up to her. Xander grinned in Anya's direction and Buffy covered her eyes with her hands. "Nevermind! I don't want to know..."
They started dancing, Buffy gazing at Angel teasingly the entire time. About halfway through, she sent Xander over to Anya with a friendly push and pulled Angel up to her.
"Now this is what it should have been like," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. "However can I make it up to you?"
Angel grinned suggestively. "I can think of a few things...this'll certainly start," he said, leaning down and kissing her, nibbling on her lower lips.
They promptly became lost in each other's arms.
The chemicals between us
The chemicals between us
The chemicals...
The chemicals between us