Summary: A response to Laure's fun (and silly) challenge. For more of a
summary, read the title.
Spoilers: Through GD2. Takes place about six months from now, in S4 Buffy
and S1 Angel.
Disclaimer: Joss created the characters. I like to think he did it so that I
could mess with them on occasion.
Rating: PG13
Distribution: Just ask. I'll say yes. :)
Feedback: Yum.
For Laure's birthday, this little fic.

"Is it all set up?" Buffy looked at Willow and Willow smiled.

"Yup."

Buffy touched her shoulder. "Will, thanks so much for helping me with this."
Willow shrugged modestly, and Buffy went on. "Okay, so what about music?"

"Sheryl Crow CD's and a few other ones. But you know Angel, with that broody
thing working for him."

Buffy nodded knowingly. "I think it's perfect. I never doubted for a
moment."

They both turned their heads to see Xander, kicking the door open, his arms
stuffed with books. "What about the food? You did say there would be food,
didn't you? I mean, just because Angel doesn't have to eat doesn't mean that
the rest of us need to wither away."

Willow smirked at him. "You'll wither away in the three hours it'll take?"

"I'm a growing boy," he shot back quickly.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "There'll be food. Too many human guests to ignore
that. But, we're keeping it simple. Crackers with cheese whiz, cookies,
drinks, and cake later."

"What did you get him?" Willow asked. Buffy turned to her, confused, and
Willow elaborated. "As a gift."

"Oh." Buffy's eyes got large and shining and a soft blush melted over her
face. "Something special. I'll show you later," she said, with a discreet
glance to Xander. Willow nodded, understanding.

Xander looked up in outrage. "What does that mean? I saw that look!"

Buffy grinned. "It meant that I would show her later, when you were gone."

"Geez," he muttered, "What does a guy have to do to be acknowledged as one of
the girls?"

"For one thing, Xand," Willow laughed, "I'd shave off that goatee."
* * * * * *

The house was dark as Angel led Cordelia up to the front step. It was only
four thirty in the morning, but they were both tired after the vampiric gang
that had almost managed to open a new Hellmouth. Cordelia's mind worked
wearily. "Angel, could you come in for a second? I... uh, found a strange
note on my car the other day and wanted to show it to you." She took out her
key and began unlocking the various locks on her door.

"Can you show me tomorrow?" he asked tiredly, "Or is it really important?"

"I think it could be really important," she pressed.

Angel nodded briefly as she opened the door, and they both stepped inside. A
clap was heard, and the lights came on, blinding Cordelia momentarily.

Angel looked around at the sea of faces, confused. Buffy and the core group
beamed at him, waiting for some sort of reaction. All he could manage was,
"Uh...?"

"Happy Birthday!" Everyone shouted, and the dull thought whipped through
Angel's mind that it was, in fact, his birthday. He'd forgotten about it.
Buffy bounced up to his side with a grin and pulled him into a hug. He
hugged her back, still confused.

"What is this?" he murmured into her ear as she gave him a soft kiss on the
cheek.

"A party," she informed him playfully. "You've never had a real birthday
party before?"

She released him to look around. "Not... lately. Not like this. I usually
just celebrate my birthdays with.."

"Nothing," she broke in. "You never celebrate. We're celebrating."

Angel nodded, glancing at the banner in the middle of Cordelia's living room
that said "Happy 245!" The two had apparently been written in marker, and he
turned to Buffy with a bewildered smile.

"They didn't really have any banners that went up through the hundreds," she
explained regretfully. "I'm sorry."

Angel spun around, facing her fully. He caught her arms, a smile spreading
over his face. "This is... You are... I have no idea what to say," he
muttered in a low voice.

Buffy blushed, snuggling comfortably in his embrace as someone started up the
music and began passing around the hors d'oeuvres. "You don't need to say
anything," she mumbled happily. "Just like it, enjoy it, and I'll be good."

"I enjoy you," he murmured, tracing his finger down the line of her jaw.
"And the things you do for me." His eyes met hers. "She fills my life like
air, laden with the smell of honeysuckle. And my insatiable soul she fills
with longing for eternity," he whispered.

A touch of pride entered her voice. "Baudelaire." At his surprised look,
she explained, "I haven't gone to college for nearly a year and not learned
anything. And besides, I have Giles. He's always trying to teach me the
finer things in life." She focused her eyes on his lips; leaned up and gave
him a light kiss. "It's lovely."

He nodded, touching her mouth lingeringly and then turned to the group of
faces. People were mingling with each other, talking over the din, listening
to music. Willow walked up to them, wearing a bright pink party hat and
clutching Oz's arm.

She grinned. "Happy Birthday, Angel!" she bubbled. "Your presents are over
there. Ours is the one in the dark blue paper." She leaned up and gave him
a quick hug.

"Thanks, Willow, but that really wasn't..."

Willow cut him off. "It was entirely necessary. I mean, you're only
two-hundred and forty-five once, right? Anyway, look."

He followed the direction she was pointing to the table, piled with
elaborately wrapped gifts. The table was so full that some of the gifts had
been places on the floor next to it. He searched the table, his eyes
curious. "Those are all...?"

"For you, yes," Buffy grinned. "And mine is the one in the silver wrapping.
Right there," she pointed. Angel slung his arm around her shoulders with a
large smile.

He kissed the top of her hair. "Thank you."

"Anytime," she smiled.

Giles drifted passed them, stopping before Angel and taking his glasses off
to peer at the vampire. "Bloody good party, Angel." He held up his drink.
"Wonderful Pina Coladas. I'm having a swell time."

'Swell?' Buffy mouthed to Angel, who just shook his head, amused.

"I'm glad you're... having a good time, Giles," Angel said, hiding a smile.

Giles nodded emphatically. "Yes, yes. You too. I do hope your pirthday
barty is a smash." He paused, then began laughing, taking another gulp from
his glass. "Birthday. Party," he enunciated carefully. "Am sorry about
that, dear chap."

"Think nothing of it," Angel assured him with a grin.

Giles stumbled off, and Angel raised his eyebrows. "Those drinks are
alcoholic, I'm guessing."

Buffy blushed. "Yeah. I thought he knew they were."

"Maybe he does," Angel grinned.

The doorbell rang and someone opened the door to find Spike and Drusilla
standing on the stoop. "Could someone invite us in? We *were* invited to
the party," Spike muttered, annoyed. Drusilla patted his chest.

"Don't worry, kitten. The smell will come off your shoe soon, Mummy
promises."

Angel, hearing their voices, led Buffy over to the door in outrage. "What
are they doing here?!"

Buffy rubbed his arm soothingly. "I thought it'd be nice." Angel threw her
a startled glance. "Willow did a spell," she explained. "Makes them sort of
docile for the night, kind of mellow. And she did another spell revoking
murders in this apartment, or something like that. So they'll be a good boy
and girl, won't they?" She glanced and Spike meaningfully, and the irritated
vampire rolled his eyes as he nodded.

"Then come in," Angel said gruffly.

Spike and Drusilla stepped into the light, and the crowd went silent. Spike
thrust a present into Angel's hands, growling quietly and ignoring the stares
that were pointed at him. After a moment he looked around. "It's just
bloody peroxide, for Satan's sake! And I'm fixing it as soon as I get home!"
He shrugged uncomfortably, wishing that Drusilla hadn't cared so much about
being fashionably late, but not too much so. He should have just gotten the
bright orange out of his hair before he'd left the house.

Giles wandered by, stopping for a moment to look at Spike. Nodding slowly,
as if he understood, he continued his journey to the stereo.

Drusilla smiled at Angel, handing him a gift wrapped in lace. "For my Angel,
to protect you," she said, lowering her eyelashes coyly.

Angel sighed, and Buffy glared at the brunette. "I'm glad you came, Dru,"
Angel murmured heavily.

Static began coming over the radio and Buffy's head whipped around to see her
drunken Watcher playing with the buttons. Finally, a quick and playful music
station came on, something that made Buffy think of the twenties. Giles
started swaying halfheartedly, a soft smile on his face. Buffy frowned
worriedly.

"Come on," Giles encouraged, becoming more boisterous by the second, "Come on
and dance! It's not often that one hears this kind of music, is it?" He
fumbled with his tie for a moment before tearing it off. Tugging someone at
random next to him, he ordered, "Dance."

Doyle's eyebrows shot up, and he glanced at Angel. Angel slowly nodded,
barely holding in his laughter, and Doyle complied, annoyed. He was stilted,
but he mapped out the first few steps of the Charleston before shooting Angel
another look and walking backward, away from the apparently insane man who
had finally gone over the edge by attending his former nemesis's birthday
party.

Giles huffed, seeing Doyle leave. He started after the nervous demon, but
stumbled over a strategically positioned bean bag and flew to the floor.
Beans spilled out of the tear he had created and Giles looked up with angry
eyes. "You made me break my watch, you bloody pillock! Come back here and
face me or I'll..."

Xander spun the dial on the stereo quickly, drowning out what Giles was
saying next. His eyes widened as he read the Watcher's lips, and he turned
up the volume in case others were listening to the older man rant and rave.

Buffy looked at her Watcher in alarm and then glanced up at Angel, who nodded
down at her. She swiftly walked over to Giles and dragged him by the arm
into one of the bedrooms. Her voice rose through the door, but Angel
couldn't make out what she was saying. After a few moments had passed, she
came out and smoothed down her skirt calmly. She made her way back over to
Angel. "He's decided to sleep it off," she said casually.

"I bet," Doyle muttered, breezing past her.

Her eyes flew to her boyfriend. "Is he always like that?"

Angel smirked. "You caught him on a good night."

She grew quiet for a moment and then looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.
"Time for presents, I think!"

Angel shook his head in protest, but it was pointless; She had dragged far
worse vampires to their doom for less than a birthday party.

Shoving him down in a chair, she smiled innocently, and then glanced at the
clock. Her smile dipped a little. "You guys were running late, and we don't
have time to do all the presents. So, a few?"

Angel nodded in relief. "Only a few," he agreed.

Buffy handed him one. He checked the card, and then raised his eyebrows at
Xander. "Thank you."

Xander shook his head wryly. "Buffy would have had way too much fun kicking
my butt if I hadn't gotten you something. And, anyway, it's not that much."

"It's..." Angel opened the box; raised his eyebrows. "Mints."

"For when your breath smells so much like blood that people start making
embarrassing comments about it," Xander explained with a grin. "And not just
any mints. Frango mints, from Chicago. I liked them when I tried them this
summer, so I thought why not you? I ordered you some."

"Thanks, Xander. I'm... touched. I think." He stared down at the little
box of mints for a moment before he opened them, unwrapping one and popping
the bit of chocolate in his mouth. A pleased smile melted onto his
expression. "These are good," he said, surprised.

"Of course they're good. Do you think I'm going to get you something that
Buffy doesn't like tasting when you," he cringed, "Kiss her?"

Angel shrugged. "They're kissing mints?"

"Yeah, I guess. Whatever. It's your birthday."

Buffy's eyes started to gleam and Angel looked at her cautiously. She
swiftly leaned forward and whispered something in his ear as everyone watched
curiously. After a moment, Angel threw back his head and laughed, nodding.
He stood quickly, setting the box he was holding aside and approached Xander.

Xander looked at him suspiciously, and Angel tried to smile comfortingly. "I
just don't know how to thank you properly, Xander. Really."

"That's... really okay, man," Xander said slowly.

Angel shook his head, grabbing Xander's shoulders. "I really appreciate it,"
he muttered before planting his lips on Xander's own. Xander struggled and
pushed, but Angel only held him closer, insisting the kiss go on for as long
as possible. Finally Xander sagged in his arms, his yells of outrage dying
down to soft whimpers.

Angel released him with a cocky smile. "It's a really good gift," he
reiterated, smoothly walking back through the crowd, who were laughing.
Xander held himself up against a wall, staring at the vampire's back.

Angel sat down and looked at Buffy, who was wiping at her eyes. She kissed
his forehead. "That was so funny, Angel!"

He shook his head. "It was the least he deserved after three years of
calling me Deadboy."

"Want to do it again then?" she tempted, still giggling. Angel considered it
briefly, throwing a glance to Xander, who was still out of breath and dazed,
and then shook his head.

"Maybe later," he laughed.

Buffy nodded, handing him another present. "Spike's," she muttered dryly as
he unwrapped the paper. He opened the box and looked inside.

Then he shut it. Very quickly.

"What is it?" Buffy asked curiously, trying to sneak a peek.

Angel glared at his childe. "A Ken doll."

"So?" Spike countered.

Buffy's eyes slid from one vampire to the other. "Yeah, so?"

Angel sighed deeply, glancing up at his girlfriend. "An anatomically
correct, and very undressed Ken doll," he explained softly, so that only she
could hear.

A delicate blush covered her cheeks. "Oh."

Spike shrugged. "I thought it might be an interesting companion to Dru's
gift. In fact, she insisted that I got it for you. It's specially made," he
smirked.

"No doubt," Angel said sarcastically.

Buffy handed him Drusilla's gift. She placed her head on his shoulder, and
made a negative sound when he looked at her. "I'm not moving. Nope, I'm
going to see what she got you, at least."

Angel smiled; kissed her mouth lightly as his hands worked at the lace.
Knowing that tearing the lace would probably mark a full fledged temper
tantrum from Dru, he unknotted it carefully and finally rolled it away from
the box. He lifted the lid, raising his eyebrows.

And he pulled out a headless rag doll.

Drusilla beamed.

Buffy smirked.

Angel smiled. "Thanks, Dru. It's a great present."

Drusilla made little crooning noises, and Spike spoke up. "Anyway, I thought
that you might want to pair them up. You know," he added snidely, "Since you
can't do that with you and your girlfriend."

Buffy and Angel flinched simultaneously, trying not to look at each other.
Spike grinned, pleased with himself.

Doyle cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. "Look, Angel, I was
gonna wait until we were alone to give this to you, but considering... I
think it'd be okay to give it to you now." He threw something and Angel
caught it deftly, looking down at it in confusion.

"A book of baby names?" he asked.

Doyle nodded, waiting for everyone to fall silent and when they did, started.


"It was never supposed to be like this. You were supposed to have a human
life, They'd decided. And then, when that got changed, They changed the
course of your immortality to include the curse. And then *that* got taken
away. Stupid gypsies," he muttered, "They never listen fully to their
dreams, always have to be 'rebellious.' "

"So anyway," he continued, "There was never supposed to be a clause. They
don't like interfering personally, but They do it on occasion. One of the
occasions was going to be five years from now. On your two-hundred and
fiftieth. They were going to grant you humanity. I thought you might want
to get a head start on names for your kids." He paused; listened to the dead
silence. "Uh, Surprise."

Spike groaned in annoyance and Drusilla howled angrily, clutching at him.
After a moment, Buffy shrieked, launching herself into Angel's waiting arms,
and the group erupted in happy shouts and congratulations.

Buffy and Angel kissed quickly, soundly, their mouths melting together as the
world melted away. After a minute they pulled away, looking into each
other's eyes. "I guess this kind of makes my gift useless," Buffy murmured.

"What was it?" Angel asked, his voice rough and warm.

Buffy plucked it off the table, and Angel quickly tore off the silver
wrapping paper. His eyes widened, and so did his smile, as he stared down at
the picture of Buffy, bathed in sunlight.

Bathed in... bath water.

Buffy laughed when he dropped his mouth open melodramatically, pawing at the
glass that covered the picture. "Stop it," she giggled, swatting his arm.

He looked up, his expression softening. "I like the bubbles."

"I thought you would." She hesitated, then decided to go on. "I sort of
figured that... You know, since we couldn't *be* together, we couldn't *not*
think about each other... like that, so..." She trailed off, reddening.
"It's stupid. And now you don't need it."

"Not now," he corrected, "In five years. Until then..."

They shared a warm smile, and Buffy spoke up.

"Is the night all you had hoped it would be?"

Angel nodded, looking around at the group of friends he didn't know how he'd
acquired. "Everything I'd hoped and more." His eyes met hers and he
grinned, whispering before he caught her lips in another kiss.

"You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think I like surprises."

The End

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