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Part 1
Cordelia looked up from the latest issue of Cosmo as Giles and Katrina entered from the cockpit. The others had been trying to figure out how to work the VCR and were looking for some good movies.
“We must talk about what we’re going to do with Angelus,” Giles said as they sat down in two of the plush chairs.
“Why don’t you let me go so I can kill you all?” he growled from his corner. Everyone ignored him.
“I think we outta stake him. Ya know, so this doesn’t happen again,” Xander suggested. Buffy gave him a dirty look.
“Try it and you’ll be jumping out of this plane without a parachute,” she said sweetly. Xander shut his mouth, deciding it would be better for him if he didn’t give any more ‘suggestions.’
“What I meant i-is that we can either let the gypsies perform the spell or do-do it ourselves,” he said.
“Ooh, bad idea,” Buffy said. “First one anyway. They kinda hate him, remember? Old vengeance kick that they got going on. They could try and turn him into a toad.”
“Or just put a stake in his heart and end it there,” Cordelia said sweetly. Everyone just looked at her. Shrugging, she turned back to her magazine.
“So I get to do the spell again? Cool!” Willow exclaimed as she stood and retrieved one of her bags.
“Do you require any assistance, Willow?” Katrina asked in her soft voice. She had been an instant favorite with the group, particularly Giles. The teens had all exchanged glances when they saw him look at her.
“Not really. I just have to set up and I need someone to read the Latin for me. And another to do the stinky herbs thing. But thanks,” she smiled. Katrina nodded faintly.
“Ah ha!” Oz said. Everyone looked at him and he grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, just got the VCR working. Which movie, guys?”
“Here,” Xander said, handing him one.
“Austin Powers Hey, this movie rocks. Did you bring it?” he asked as he popped it in. Xander shook his head.
“It was here. Who’da thought the stuffy Watchers would have a thing for Mike Myers?” he chuckled. The others laughed as Katrina and Giles exchanged glances, small smiles on their lips.
Xander stood and walked over to Cordelia doing his best Mike Myers impersonation. “Shall we shag now or shall we shag later?” he said to her. “Yeah baby, yeah! Do I make you horny, baby?” Cordelia just sighed and gave Xander a look before pulling her magazine up to cover her face.
“I must be mental,” she muttered as the others laughed.
“Okay. I’m ready when you guys are,” Willow announced. She handed an old leather-bound book to Giles and lit what looked like a bundle of incense, which she handed to Oz. Katrina went back to flying the plane and Xander sat down quietly, picking up one of Cordelia’s magazines and leafing through it.
“Give me a sec,” Buffy said as she stood and walked over to where Angelus sat. “Well, hun, it’s been real. I’ll look you up if I’m ever in hell,” she smirked.
“You’re still bad in bed, Buff. Soul Boy is too nice to say that to you, so I thought I’d let you know. Have a nice death,” he sneered. She just leered at him then turned and marched back to where Willow sat.
“Okay, I’m ready. Better do it before I do something I’ll regret later,” she complained, flopping into one of the chairs. Willow smiled at her before nodding to Giles, who began to read from his book. Buffy, wanting to be there when her boyfriend awoke again, stood and waited outside the curtain until Willow was almost done. She heard Angelus’ scream and stepped behind the curtain just in time to see the green fade from his eyes. He groaned and his head dropped. Buffy slowly approached him, slightly wary of him. Her heart ached to hold Angel once again, but she couldn’t get too close yet. The world stopped spinning as she waited for him to wake up.
“Angel?” she whispered uncertainly She took another step closer, waiting for him to respond. When he didn’t she got worried. She stood before him and gently took his chin in her hand, pushing it up lightly to gaze at his face. “You’re so beautiful...” she said softly, barely audible, as she traced her other hand across his cheek. He leaned into the caress gently and she smiled.
He opened his eyes groggily and blinked before fixing his gaze on Buffy. “Hey honey, I’m home,” he joked. She laughed and leaned down, catching his lips in a tender kiss as she reached around him and undid the handcuffs that held him in place. Angel wrapped his arms around Buffy, drawing her down to sit on his lap as they continued to kiss softly. They broke it off when both needed to breathe. Buffy gazed into Angel’s eyes.
“This is getting really old, you know. I missed you,” she said to him. He smiled slightly and kissed her again before hugging her close to his chest.
“I missed you too, baby. I was only gone for a couple of hours, though. I’m sorry,” he replied and kissed her hair. She looked at him in surprise.
“What for? It wasn’t your fault. We just didn’t know that Spike wanted you back that badly,” she smiled. He chuckled softly and she laid her head against his chest again, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He ran his hands up and down her back and arm, stroking her skin softly. “You didn’t do anything with that Leonna chick besides kiss her, did you?” she asked suddenly, jealousy surging through her.
“Yes, I got her pregnant and then proposed to her,” he replied, laughing. He felt her smile. “No, sweetie, of course not. I missed you too much. She did offer, though...” he trailed off. She playfully hit him on the arm, then lifted her head for another kiss.
“Buff? Is Dead Boy attacking you or something?” Xander called over to the curtain. He heard her giggle, but she didn’t reply. “I’ll take that as a no...”
Angel brought one hand down to caress her leg and she closed her eyes, smiling. He leaned back and lightly tickled her jean-clad thigh before she swatted his hand away with a promise for later.
“C’mon. I want you to meet Katrina. She’s really cool. Plus I hear the Austin Powers music playing,” she said as she stood and offered him her hand, which he took, standing up as he did so. She pulled the curtain back and sunlight flooded him, causing him to blink again. He smiled slightly, he had missed it.
“Austin Powers?” he asked suddenly. She giggled.
“It’s a movie, it’s really funny. You have to watch it,” she said as she pulled him over to where the others sat around the TV. They glanced up as he entered, smiling, then turned back to the movie. He led Buffy over to an empty chair and sat down, pulling her onto his lap once more. She leaned into his embrace, nuzzling his neck before she turned her attention to the movie.
They watched the movie in comfortable silence until Scott Evil came on screen.
“You know, Oz, that Seth Green guy looks a lot like you,” Xander remarked. Buffy looked closely at the screen, then at Oz and nodded her head.
“He’s right. That’s pretty cool,” she said. Willow smiled.
“And while we’re on the subject, Buff, you look like that chick from I Know What You Did Last Summer. You know, the one in the bathing suit? She was really hot...” Xander stopped talking as he saw Angel and Cordelia glaring at him. He raised his hands in defense. “What?”
Cordelia sighed, shifting slightly in her seat. “Is there any food on this plane, Giles?” she yelled in the direction of the cockpit. After a beat Giles stuck his head out.
“Yes, there should be some in the little metal box that looks like a refrigerator,” he said sarcastically, getting surprised looks from everyone. He blushed slightly. “Sorry, didn’t mean to snap. I-I’ve just been reading the little material I could find on Leonna, and I must say, I’m a little worried.”
“It’ll be no sweat, Giles. Really. Now stop worrying about it. We’re on vacation!! For *two* weeks. I’m determined to make you have a good time, even though I know it’s against your religion or something. So enjoy it!” she scolded. Giles just gave her a disapproving look before turning around and walking back into the cockpit. She just shrugged. “Well, it’s true. I mean, come on, guys, how cool is this? We have no school, we’re all with our significant others, we’re on our way to a whole new hemisphere...”
“And we have a gypsy vampire who kinda wants to kill us all. Real great, Buffy. And there aren’t even any places to shop in Romania!” Cordelia whined, rising from her chair and heading in the direction of the food.
“She’s just mad because she’s missing that big sale at the mall this week,” Xander muttered.
Cordelia didn’t turn around from her search in the fridge, only replying, “I heard that, Xander. Oh, wow, how thoughtful! They stocked up on Diet Pepsi for me. You guys want anything?”
“Ooh, do they have any of those little peanuts? I love those things!” Buffy squealed, jumping off Angel’s lap and joining Cordelia by the food cabinets. The girls rooted around and brought back chips and sodas that they had brought on the trip with them for everyone. Everyone munched on their snacks as they finished the movie.
Buffy gazed around at her friends, thankful for their support. She was putting on a brave face, showing no fear. But on the inside, she was terrified of Leonna and of the coming days. She had no idea if this would be her final battle, if her time as the Slayer was ending. She silently prayed to whatever God would listen that she and her friends would live through this.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Angel said quietly, shaking Buffy out of her thoughts. She smiled slightly at him, knowing she could keep nothing from him but deciding to try anyway.
“Nothing. I’m just so happy,” she said cheerfully. He just raised his eyebrows at her, not believing her for a second. He was awed at how strong she was, he always had been and always would be. He cupped her cheeks in his hands lightly and brushed his palms across the smooth skin. He brought her mouth to meet his in a soft kiss, telling her without words that it was okay to be scared, but that he would be there for her and he would keep her safe from harm. She responded, thanking him. She marveled at how they could communicate without words, without making any conscious thoughts. Her whole being soared with the knowledge that she was being allowed to love him, that they had been given an opportunity to be together and she pulled him closer to her. She had been so terrified when she had realized he had been turned again, she felt the feeling of dread creeping up on her again as she remembered the wave of emotions that had hit her.
He sensed her tense up and held her tightly, anchoring her firmly and running his fingers through her hair as they continued to kiss. He felt a familiar wetness creeping on his cheek and wasn’t sure if they were her tears or his. A mixture of both, perhaps. For eternity they stayed together like that, the outside world melting away long ago, leaving the two soul mates to bask in the light of their love. They were the only two who mattered, two halves of one soul.
After a time they pulled apart, brown and hazel eyes quickly becoming lost in the depths of the other’s soul. Buffy brought her hands up to slowly draw away the tears that wetted Angel’s face and he did the same with hers. She smiled slightly and began to giggle, kissing his forehead and snuggling back up to him.
“Are you two done?” Cordelia asked, sounding slightly annoyed. They looked up to see Willow smiling at them, Xander tossing cheese balls in the air and catching them in his mouth, Oz playing his guitar, and Cordelia staring intently at them. Buffy and Angel nodded. “Okay, good, you two were making me nauseous. Who wants what for lunch?”
The six friends got up and began looking for the sandwiches they had
brought, for the moment their minds off the confrontation ahead.