Despite the dull roar around her, Buffy found herself sliding into unconsciousness. The sounds and voices around her began to blur together, and despite her best efforts, she just could not remain awake any longer. Suddenly, a large hand clamped down onto her shoulder, and she felt hot breath next to her ear.
"Look's like I caught you off guard" came a low raspy voice. The fog in her head quickly cleared as she spun to face the much larger man.
"Angel, are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" Buffy shrieked, hitting her boyfriend playfully on the arm.
"Nope. Not at all." He grinned. "But we are about to get onto a plane for the next 7 hours, and, seeing as its a redeye, most of the other passengers will be asleep within an hour or two." Buffy just looked at the handsome football player, confusion marring her face. "Oh come on Buff, ever heard of the mile-high club?"
"Pervert! Do you have any idea how gross that those bathrooms are? Thats a big hell-no" Buffy wrinkled her nose distastefully at the suggestion, causing her boyfriend to burst out laughing once again.
"Where's your sense of adventure, Summers?" He teased, pulling her onto his lap.
"I am all about the adventure thing, just not so much the dirty, nasty thing." She began to squirm as he tickled her, trying to pull away.
"I'm just playin baby, I wouldnt make you do that. Once we get to the hotel though..." he trailed off suggestively, cocking an eyebrow in a semi-leer.
"Then I'll show you adventure" She completed his sentence, smiling right back at him. "Now let me go, you big dumb jock." She placed her hand on his broad chest and tried to push off of him, but only half-heartedly.
"Hey, you happen to be dating this big dumb jock!" Angel retorted, trying to fake a pout.
"Yea, I dont remember why..." Buffy trailed off, then slid her hand from his chest up to the back of his head. "Perhaps you should remind me?" She whispered, pulling his face down to hers. She kissed him softly, and Angel was only too willing to comply. Their kiss deepened, and Buffy wrapped her slender arms tighter around his neck, while Angel cradled her in his lap.
"Attention all passengers: British Airways flight 1379 to London-Heathrow will begin pre-boarding in just a few minutes. Please have both your tickets and identification ready in order to expedite the process. Thank you"
"Whoa, this is, like, totally wierd, we are actually going to England!" Willow flounced back into her seat, sending magazines flying. "God, you two! Makeout-fest much?!" Still lying across Angel's lap, Buffy merely tilted her head backwards, and looked at her friend up-side down.
"Jealous Wills?" Buffy grinned as the pert little redhead glared at her.
"Nope. Oz is plenty enough boyfriend for me" She said, a smile lighting up her face briefly, before she frowned slightly. "Speaking of which, they should be here by now." Oz, along with Faith, Cordelia, Mike, and and Dave, was on the other van driven by Ms. Calendar. Thanks to a last minute make-up check by Cordelia, the second group had started for the airport a few minutes behind the first.
"I would worry there Willow, this airport is huge. They probably just stopped to get some food or something." Angel offered his input, as Buffy moved back into her own seat, straightening her blonde ponytail.
"Yeah, I think Giles just went to find them" Buffy pointed in the direction the older man in the tweed jacket approaching the check-in counter. Willow leaned over and shook Xander awake, and the four friends began rifling through their carry-ons to find their boarding passes. Once Buffy had her passport and ticket in hand, she glanced back over at the check-in counter and frowned when she saw Giles frantically cleaning his glasses. "Hey guys," she turned to her friends. "Something's up." Sure enough, Rupert Giles hurried back to their little group.
"I'm afraid there's been an problem. Ms. Calendar called the airport to say that they had a flat tire, and wouldn't arrive for another hour."
"So what do we do?" Willow looked extremely concerned with this new information.
"Well, the airline can fit them on the next flight, but there isnt enough room for us all to stay behind. We will be taking this flight, and they will be along in the morning. We will simply catch the bus from Heathrow and settle into the a hotel somewhere outside of Oxford, along the M40. When the other group arrives, we can meet up in Oxford, and from there make our way to Buckingham. Or perhaps we can visit Stratford-Upon-Avon tomorrow, and then have a day in Oxford at the end of the trip. Then again, I do have friends in Banbury whom I haven't spoken with in ages..."
"Giles?" Buffy piped up, catching the librarian's attention.
"Yes Buffy?" He said, distractedly.
"I think your glasses are clean." She pointed out, causing him to look down at his hands for the first time in their conversation. He coughed, and replaced his now very shiny glasses back on his face.
"Erm, yes, now--"
"We are now boarding British Airways flight 1379, sevice to Heathrow International Airport." The loudspeaker crackled to life, startling the students. "Rows 35 and higher may begin boarding at this time."
"Oh, thats me!" Willow chirped, holding out her tickets.
"Actually, I think that's all of us" Angel explained, helping Buffy pick up her bag.
"And they will be on the next flight?" Willow looked at Giles for confirmation, excitement at their upcoming departure winning over her concern for her boyfriend.
Giles nodded in reply, and picked up his briefcase and novels.
The group made their way to the boarding attendants, and started down the long ramp leading to the plane that would soon be carrying them over the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles from home.
As Buffy was stepping onto the plane, she shivered when a chill ran up her spine. She paused, and looked down at her feet, down the inch-wide separation between the ramp and the plane. She bent down, and placed her hand just above the opening, but could only feel the heat rising from the tarmac.
"You ok there Buff?" Angel asked, trying to figure out why Buffy had halted just before getting on the plane.
"Yeah, it just got really cold for a second." She replied, still a little unnerved by the strange sensation. Angel only looked confused though, only feeling the warmth from the LA weather, and the warm air blowing out of the plane door.
"Probably just the nerves" he suggested, as she stepped onto the plane.
"Probably" She answered absentmindedly, shrugged off the unsettled feeling, and made her way to the back of the plane.
"Hey there, you sure you're ok? You still look a little pale." Angel said, as he sat down beside her.
"Thanks, I'm ok. I guess I am just a nervous flyer." She smiled weakly as Angel buckled her seatbelt for her.
"Don't worry about it. Here," he reached down into his bag, and pulled out a small packet.
"Dramamine?" Buffy said, reading the front of the packet. "But this stuff totally knocks me out. I'll sleep the whole trip." Buffy said, looking up at Angel's concerned face.
"Thats fine. I don't mind, we both need the sleep." He said, handing her a bottle of water. Buffy smiled gratefully, and quickly swallowed the pills. When she sat back, Angel had already placed her pillow on his shoulder, and pulled her up against him.
"You are too good to me," Buffy whispered, tilting her head up for a kiss, with which he happily complied. "Wake me up when we get there?" She smiled up at him one last time before settling down against him and closing her eyes.
"Of course. See you in England, Buffy" He whispered back, placing one more gentle kiss on her forehead before closing his own eyes in preparation for the long flight.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!