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"No!" Buffy protested the moment Angel finished relating his plan. "Forget it! There's no way!"
Angel leaned forward. "Buffy, it's perfectly safe. And it will only last five minutes at the most," he began.
She cut him off abruptly. "I said no! I don't care how temporary it is! I can't even believe you of all people are bringing this up!"
Angel sighed, burying his face in his palms a moment, then looked up at her again. He did know how much it frightened her to become like him, as it had happened to her twice already. Once as the result of a nightmare turned real and the other when a poison introduced into her system had brought about an interesting side effect.
But this was different, and Angel was determined to make her see that. He reached forward, catching her arm and causing her to glare at him.
"I wouldn't have suggested this if it wasn't necessary, Buffy," he said. "This is the only way to see if Stefanie's for real. We have to know."
Buffy paused a moment, an apprehensive look in her eyes, because she knew there was some truth to what he was saying. "And what if she is lying? I'd be putting myself and the baby at risk if we do this... Angel, I'm scared."
He stood, embracing her in a way so that her cross necklace didn't touch him. "So am I," he admitted.
From their seats across the room, Xander and Willow watched this scene with a mixture of feelings, dread among them. However, neither of them interceded, knowing that Buffy alone had to make this decision.
Buffy pulled back, giving Angel's suggestion a lot of thought for a minute or two. Finally, she reached up and undid the clasp on her necklace, setting it on the nearby table. "Let's do it," she said, looking at Willow and Xander. "Would you two give us some privacy?"
Her friends promptly left the room, and Angel had her lie down on her back on the floor. Buffy then watched in fear as he cut one of his fingers with a small pushpin. She knew it didn't hurt him, as he barely even flinched, but it did get her heart beating a little faster.
Angel moved to prop her head up, but Buffy had other ideas, hoping to make it easier for herself. She took his hand and gently but firmly brought it to her lips, sucking on his wound as if she meant to heal it.
The few drops of blood she swallowed had an instant affect, but certainly weren't enough to change her permanently. One had to ingest a pint or two for that to happen. Yet, Buffy was close to tears as she reached up to feel the rugged crest-like swells over her yellow-tinted eyes; it took everything she had not to be sick. And although she could easily have regressed to her normal features, she didn't bother doing so.
Angel helped her sit up, cradling her face in his hands. It was a first for him, seeing her as a vampire. "Don't worry," he couldn't help but assure her. "I love you no matter what you look like."
Buffy laughed. "That's comforting," she said languidly, gazing at him. "I never asked before, but how do you deal with having to live like this?"
He shrugged. "Beats being a pile of dust," he joked. "In the meantime, how do you feel?"
She sighed, aware that her newfound power was receding quickly, and with it, her unnatural appearance. But other than that, she still felt the same. "Well, I don't have any demon trying to possess me, if that's what you mean," she said. "But, does that prove that Stefanie was telling the truth? She's been a vampire for thirty-some years. I'm only one for a few minutes."
Angel nodded. "She was," he said confidently. "Slayers can preserve their souls as vampires. Few minutes or no, you're now living proof of that."
Buffy smiled, glad there was something positive coming out of this whole ordeal. "Lucky me," she said in a half-cheerful tone. "How much longer until this wears off though?"
Angel smiled, reaching for her hand. "I think I have the perfect solution to get your mind off it," he said, leaning forward to give her a passionate kiss...
In the kitchen, while they waited, Xander and Willow did their best to strike up a conversation. Actually, it was more of a silent chat to begin with, as they kept throwing meaningful glances at each other.
She was the first to tire of it. "How does it feel knowing that Buffy's not going to leave Angel anytime soon?" Willow asked, curious as to what Xander was thinking. "Her being pregnant changes everything, you know?"
Xander sighed, burying his face in his hands a moment. "That's true," he admitted. "To be honest, I don't know how I feel. I spent so long pining away for her that..."
Willow nodded, knowing she could relate very well to what he was saying. "That it's hard giving up the fight," she finished softly. "But face it, Xander. It's time for you to cut your losses and move on."
He gave a brief laugh, looking up at her. "It's funny though, that the one girl I love couldn't care less about me."
Willow shook her head, knowing that wasn't right. "Buffy does care about you, but only as a friend," she said, wanting more than anything for him to agree with her; only then could she gain enough courage to tell him how she felt.
Xander, however, had a fierce habit of never making anything easy for her. "You're right, Willow... Once again, I'm too biased to be thinking clearly."
"Oh, finally, you're admitting it!" Willow said buoyantly.
Xander gave her a goofy look, thinking he could do without her making fun of him. "Oh, you think you're so witty? Let's see who laughs more when I apply the tickle torture!"
That got Willow laughing before Xander even touched her. The two of them were in hysterics, all problems forgotten, when Buffy and Angel entered moments later.
"Okay," Buffy said, taking in the scene before her. "What did I miss? What's so funny?"
Willow took a few more minutes to calm down, wiping tears from her eyes. "Nothing," she said as seriously as she possibly could. "Xander and I were just goofing off... So, how'd it go? Positive, I hope."
Buffy nodded absently, glancing at the clock hanging on the far wall. She noted that the sun was going to rise soon, which sent Angel heading for the basement stairs. To her two friends, she added, "Do you guys want to spend the rest of the night here?"
Xander nodded enthusiastically. "Where do we sleep?"
Buffy thought a moment. "Well, Willow can have my mom's old room, and Xander, you can sleep in my room... And I'll be in the cellar with you-know-who..."