|
|
Disclaimer: Let's think about this logically for a moment...if I was Joss Whedon, WHY would I be writing this? What purpose would it serve? I'd be too busy writing B/R sex scenes <gag> to bother... I also don't own the members of 'N SYNC--although I wouldn't mind it if I did.
Author's Note: It's amazing how watching those 5 guys on HBO tonight turned me into a puddle of drooling hormones. Add in a few of Justin's crotch rolls and--you know what? Nevermind. This story is a product of that concert, and is really pointless and silly. I hope. Oh, and sorry if the lyrics are inaccurate, it's late and I'm not thinking straight. I'm also too lazy to go look them up, so just bare with.
SPOILERS: Nothing really...only that Riley's in Iowa for the summer. Took care of that problem. ;)
FEEDBACK: It's like sex! It doesn't matter until you aren't getting any... Flames will be edited for grammar and mocked, because it's fun.
DEDICATION: To Janice, for helping me these last few days--or should I say nights. ;-> Get some sleep, girl! And to my boys, who are just too adorable...
"Isn't this great?!" Willow grinned, screaming over the din so that Buffy could hear her. She gestured out at the huge crowd and laughed. Buffy raised an eyebrow as she surveyed the thousands of teenage girls who were pretty much slobbering all over the place while they grooved along with their favorite boy band.
"I think I've lost my hearing," she replied, turning her attention back to the stage where the members of 'N SYNC were performing an elaborate dance that made her wonder how they could move so fast.
"It would be a lot better without all these annoying children," Anya said, wrinkling her nose in distaste as a young girl sobbed joyfully and shrieked in delight along with everyone else in the stadium. "What's with the whole crying thing? I mean, yeah, they're really ****able, but that's just pathetic."
Buffy smiled and nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. They had managed to get pretty good seats at the sold-out show in L.A. and had a great view of the stage and their favorite band. Cordelia, who had met them there, had gone off to check her hair--convinced that Justin would see her and fall madly in love, insisting that she had to look good for when it happened.
The band struck up the next number as the stage blacked out. Buffy screamed, her voice blending in with everyone else's to create an incredibly loud noise that shook her eardrums.
Fireworks erupted from the stage, causing the shouts to double in volume. Buffy grinned happily and let herself forget everything, concentrating on the energy that flowed from the thousands of screaming fans instead. It felt so good to just let it all go...
Justin Timberlake appeared onstage, alone, his head held high as he absorbed the cheers of the crowd. He grinned and looked around the stadium at the lighters and glow sticks that were held up by the adoring fans.
"We've got a special guest tonight--well, he's special to us. He's an old friend, and we promised him a chance to come up here and apologize to the girl he loves. And hey, he can even sing! What better way to showcase how sorry he is *and* his amazing voice than to say...you're all I ever wanted," he said amid the screams from the crowd. The lights came up, revealing the other four members of the group and a mysterious figure who stood in the center of the stage covered in a robe.
"Since when do they let Tibetan monks sing?" Anya demanded, staring at the man onstage.
"Tibetan monks don't have girlfriends," Willow shouted, rolling her eyes at the ex-demon. Buffy ignored the two of them, trying to pinpoint the source of her sudden anxiety. It almost felt like...no, it couldn't be.
"Buffy," the man said, his head down to shield his face from everyone. She looked around, startled, until she realized that the booming voice had come from onstage. She began shaking her head weakly to deny what she knew was the truth when he continued. "I just want to say...I'm sorry for hurting you, and I love you more than anything."
With that he dropped the cloak, revealing the tall form of Angel. The crowd screamed their approval as the others came up to form a line beside him and Buffy could do nothing but stare in disbelief at the vampire onstage.
"Wow, you never told me Angel looked so good in leather pants!" Anya yelled, screaming too. Buffy's jaw dropped as she took in his tight leather pants and the black tank top he wore. His hair spiked was in that way that she loved and he looked as though he belonged up there.
"It's hard to say I'm sorry, it's hard to make the things I did undone, a lesson I've learned too well for sure," he crooned as the music started and he took center stage, Justin, Lance, Joey, Chris, and J.C. falling back to harmonize with him. Buffy was frozen in place as he seemed to find her in the crowd, his gaze catching hers and holding it as he continued. "But don't hang up the phone now, I'm tryin' to figure out just what to do. I'm going crazy without you..."
Willow stood gaping at Angel onstage too, rubbing at her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. If Buffy had been paying attention to her, she would ahve thought it comical. An array of emotions flitted across her face as the group joined in for the chorus, but the noise fell away as she lost herself in Angel's eyes, fighting a losing battle with her heart.
Drawn in by his gaze, she didn't hear Willow's cry of disbelief or Anya's questions. She saw his lips moving as he continued the song--one of her favorites--and he held his hand out beseechingly.
Without thinking she began fighting her way past the other concert-goers to the aisle, and then ran up to the stage. Angel tracked her with his eyes as he sang to her, ignoring the crowd.
"You're all I ever wanted...you're all I ever needed...so tell me what to do now, when I want you back."
The members of 'N SYNC had taken the backseat on this one, doing their choreography behind Angel so that they didn't upstage him. They sang backup as well, their voices blending seamlessly in with his.
Buffy's lips formed his name, but she was too choked up to risk speaking it. She continued forward blindly, seeing only him on the huge stage, looking as though he belonged there. She reached the edge of it, sailing over the protective barrier and looking up at him in awe as he continued to sing to her, his hand still calling out to her. She looked around for a place where she could get up on the stage and was surprised when Angel reached down to grab her. A strong pair of hands encircled her waist as a security guard helped to lift her up onto the stage, and she stumbled and fell into Angel's arms.
The music was so loud that she didn't think she'd be able to hear anything, and the outraged cries of all the hormonal teenaged girls drowned out the singing. She ignored it all, only concentrating on Angel and the smile he had on his lips.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she blurted out. His smile widened.
"I was going for dramatic. How'd I do?"
"Angel..." There was so much to say, she didn't even know where to begin. He made it easy for her by drawing her against his hard chest and leaning his head down to capture her lips with him, making her see stars.
When he pulled away she was breathless. The world had long since melted away and she stood before him, squinting in the harsh stage lights. "It's true, all of it. I want you back, I can't live without you anymore."
She was speechless, her mind trying very hard to process everything that was happening. She felt sluggish and at the same time invigorated at being in Angel's arms again. She looked up at him, her eyes burning into his with a thousand questions in her eyes.
"How do I know you won't leave again?"
"Because I'm not strong enough," he replied, not realizing that his microphone was still on and that their conversation was being broadcast through the arena.
"You...I--oh God," she moaned, a dull ache beginning in her head as it all came crashing down on her. "I think I'm gonna faint."
"I'll catch you if you fall," he reassured her, pulling her closer to him. She sighed against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist, giving up the internal fight that her head and heart were having. If he had gone through all this trouble, he was serious.
"Buffy, I--"
"Shh," she whispered, leaning up to brush her lips against his. "You had me as soon as I saw the leather."
His lips curled up in a smile as she pushed the microphone out of the way to gain better access to his lips. He ran his hands through her silky hair as her lips devoured his.
"The clause?" she mumbled against his lips.
"Gone. Riley?"
"Who?" she asked playfully. Slowly the loud screams trickled back into her brain, and with a start she pulled away from Angel to stare out at the crowd. Thousands of loyal 'N SYNC fans cheered as they finished up the song and watched as the couple reunited onstage. They kissed again, as the music played and the guys sang and the crowd screamed.
Buffy pulled back to look at him with disbelief evident on her face. "How in the world did you pull this off?" Angel chuckled, his eyes twinkling.
"They owed me," he said with a shrug, trying to be nonchalant about it.
"And where in the world did you get that voice?!"
"My mom," Angel replied, unable to contain his joy.
"You do realize that every record producer in the country will be coming after you now, right?" she asked as he seized her lips again.
"I think I'll leave the performing to the guys and concentrate on making everything that I ever did wrong up to you," he said. She giggled happily as her favorite band launched into 'Drive Myself Crazy' and she nuzzled Angel's nose with her own.
"Solid plan. Can we start now?" Buffy nibbled at his lips suggestively. He growled playfully at her.
"Hell yeah."
And as the audience watched, the lovers reunited again, silently making notes to thank the guys later for helping make it possible.