Rating: PG
Summary: Late night telephone conversation.
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They are property of Joss Whedon, the WB, and Fox. I am merely borrowing them while I mess with their lives.

Hello

by Aramat

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! It was after the sixth jarring sound that Buffy picked up the phone. Sneaking a look at the clock, she groaned as she noted how early it was. After mentally cursing whoever was calling her, she spoke.

"Demon, vampire, or giant bug?," she asked groggily.

There was a chuckle, a very familiar one, Buffy noted through a sleepy haze.

"Vampire," Angel answered his amusement clear. "But he's not dangerous."

Buffy sat up when she finally registered the voice. Running a hand through her hair she sighed. "Maybe not to you," she replied her voice husky. "But he's risky for me. Bored?"

Another chuckle. "More like lonely," he answered. "I figured you'd be up. Seems I was wrong."

Buffy smiled. "Don't worry about it," she told him reassuringly. "I'm always awake for you."

"That's good to know."

Buffy laid back down in bed, situating herself comfortably on a pillow. "So, you're lonely. Why?"

Buffy heard movement and imagined he was lying back like she was. "Why am I lonely?" he repeated the question. "I guess I do it well."

Buffy chuckled. "I'm sure there are plenty of things you do well," she said to him. "Try some of those."

"Okay," he agreed. "There's brooding, lurking, stalking. And, if I were a bragger, I'd add killing to that list, but we both know I'm reformed."

Buffy couldn't help but smile. "Okay, so maybe you're lacking in hobbies. You haven't picked up something to do in all your years?"

"Some things."

The simple statement pricked Buffy's curiousity. "Care to elaborate."

There was another chuckle. "Reading," he answered. "I read. A lot."

Buffy knew there was something he wasn't telling her. But she figured if he wasn't talking, he wasn't talking.

"Okay, reading is good," Buffy said adopting the subject. "I read. All the time."

This time a muffled laugh could be heard on the other end. Buffy, slightly stung, was not amused.

"Buffy, what was the last thing you read?," he asked when he'd stopped laughing. "That wasn't school related."

Buffy frowned. "All right," she admitted. "The last thing I read, that wasn't assigned, was the latest issue of Cosmo. But I had to sneak that one in during a Slayerette meeting."

"My point proved."

"Hey!," Buffy said indignantly. "I happen to be a very busy person. I don't exactly have time to sit down and devote a couple of hours to great works of literature. I can just see myself trying to read Shakespeare by the light of the moon in Sunnydale Cemetery."

By the silence on the other end of the phone she knew she'd made her point.

"You're right," he said contritely. "I'm sorry."

Buffy sighed. "Apology accepted. Can we move on, please?"

"Yes, let's move on," he answered. "What do we talk about now?"

Buffy smiled as she snuggled deeper into her covers. "Let's talk about why I haven't seen you for a while," she answered after shifting the phone to her other ear. "You don't return my phone calls, you avoid me at the Bronze. I stop by your place and you tell me you're busy. What's the deal?"

There was another round of silence and Buffy was positive he wasn't going to answer. Just when she'd decided to give up he spoke.

"I've been doing some thinking," he answered softly. "It's not something I do well with you around."

"Should I be flattered?"

He chuckled again. "Yeah, you should," he replied. "Anyway, things are going fairly well for us and I needed to think about what to do next."

"So what did you decided?" she asked, curious to know what his answer would be. "What were your choices?"

"Well, I could either give the 'we're doomed to failure' speech, but I figured that would only upset you, and you upset means trouble for me." he answered after a moment.

Buffy smiled. "Okay, upsetting speech. Your other choice?"

"I could be happy and leave things the way they are."

"And you chose..."

"I chose to be happy."

Buffy sighed happily. "Which means I stay happy," she said. "Good choice. Does that mean no more avoiding me?"

He laughed. "No more avoiding you. I'll return all your calls and when you drop by I won't be busy."

"So, if I said I was on my way over now."

"I'd tell you to go home," he finished for her. "One of us has a class tomorrow."

Buffy groaned. "You're beginning to sound like my mother."

"It's the age thing," he answered matter-of-factly. "Speaking of mothers, where is yours?"

"My mom is out of town on gallery business," Buffy answered. "The New York gallery is having some big art show and mom had to make an appearance. Such is the life of a gallery owner."

"That would mean you're all alone," he ventured.

"Yep," she replied. "All alone. I tried to wrangle an invite but suspected vamp activity has me grounded."

"Giles being Giles again, huh?"

Buffy nodded. "He's had me training extra hard for some upcoming event. You should show. It'll be bigger than Tyson-Holyfield."

"Is that right?" he asked an amused note in his voice. "When did you take up boxing?"

Buffy laughed. "Boxing is cool. I watch to learn. Plus, it gives me a happy. It's nice to watch two sweaty, muscular men pummeling each other and know that, if I were there, I could kick both their asses."

"We talked about my lack of hobbies. Let's talk about your choice of hobbies."

Buffy chuckled. "Let's not. Last week I spent all my free time practicing how to effectively decapitate a vamp using only a butcher knife. Giles won't give me a sword. Says I'll get blade happy. I had to stop fighting him about it when I realized he was right."

"What's the free time activity this week?"

"Knife throwing," she answered. "I can't really use it for vamps but it's fun. The only thing is that my mom walked into my room right after I threw a knife at my target. The only thing she said was, 'Buffy, I don't remember buying knives like that.' Then she walked out of the room, but not before I heard her mumbling, 'Buffy's throwing knives at the wall. Should I be worried?"

He laughed and Buffy couldn't help but smile. "You have customized knives?"

"Yeah," Buffy replied. "Girl's gotta be prepared. I've even got those cool ninja star thingies. My next weapon is the whip. Giles says I'm getting a little carried away. I told him if Catwoman can use one so can I. Besides a whip can come in handy."

"In handy for what?"

"My personal life. Never know when you'll need to punish the ones you love."

Angel chuckled. "Should I be afraid?"

"Do you need to be punished?"

"No," he answered firmly. "Let's get off this topic. Time to move on."

Buffy accepted the change in topic. "Let's talk about the past."

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Let's talk about those whips."

Buffy smiled. "No chickening out," she told him. "I want to know what life was like when you were a kid. I bet you were cute."

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything," she answered. "Did you have brothers and sisters? Where did you live? What did you do? How many women did you seduce? You know, all the dirt."

He laughed. "Okay. I had two sisters. I was the only boy and the oldest. I lived in Ireland. I had a mom and a dad. I didn't seduce any women. I was a gentleman. That's about it."

Buffy smiled. "I can believe that."

"Believe what?"

"That you didn't seduce any women," she replied. "We've been together a while now and you still haven't put the moves on me yet. The thing is I don't believe it. I bet there was some girl you had your eye on. And I'm positive you weren't pure and innocent. It's not you."

He smiled. "I said I didn't seduce women, I didn't say I didn't sleep with them."

"So, finally we get to the truth," she said imagining juicy gossip. "Alright, spill it. Were you a frequent visitor to the local establishment? Did you have a naughty divorced mistress?"

Angel laughed. "Buffy where did you get this?"

"Hey," she said smiling. "I have little to work with. My great source of info is the occasional Historical novel I can sneak in. Clue me in."

"This doesn't bother you?" he asked, stalling for time. Buffy thought she heard him mumble, "It's bothering me."

Buffy shook her head. "No," she answered truthfully. "Why should it? I happened ages ago. Besides I think I have a right to know how you got your experience. It affects me."

Angel smiled. "Will it?"

"Hopefully soon, but that depends on Saint Angel, keeper of Buffy's virgin status."

"Keeper of your what?" Angel asked in a choked voice.

"You heard me," she told him. "Now stop stalling and talk."

He sighed. "No I was not a frequent visitor to the local establishment. I didn't pay for sex. And yes I had a mistress."

Buffy was intrigued. "How many?"

"You assume I had more than one?"

"Yeah," she said impatiently. "Didn't you?"

"Well yes, but I'm stung you assumed it."

Buffy grinned. "Oh, get over it. Your ego isn't that fragile. Go on."

"I'm not telling you about mistresses, Buffy," Angel said firmly

"Loosen up, it's the nineties. The 1990's," she reminded him. "Besides, I'm curious."

He was quiet for a moment. "Do you even care that this is making me very uncomfortable?"

"Not really," Buffy answered. "But if it bothers you that much we'll skip that talk. Better?"

"Much," he answered. "How are Willow and Xander?"

"They're perfect," she responded. "Spending some quality time together. Away from their troublesome friend."

"You're not troublesome."

"I happen to agree," Buffy said smartly. "So sad other adults don't feel the same." She sighed. "Save their lives and they don't even appreciate it."

"Feeling sorry for yourself?"

"No," Buffy answered. "Just a little unappreciated."

Angel laughed. "Alright, next topic."

Buffy smiled. "Okay. What's the weirdest thing about our relationship?" she asked him after a moment. "In your opinion."

Angel chuckled. "Besides the fact that I'm old enough to be your grandfather a couple times over?"

Buffy groaned. "I never thought about it like that," she said. She had a brief flash of herself kissing an old decrepit man. She shuddered. "Thank goodness you look young. We're sick."

Angel smiled. "Maybe just a little, he answered. "But you like me anyway right?"

"Yep," she answered truthfully. "My only other alternative is Xander. Or Spike." She paused to think about it. "I could get into Spike. He's sexy."

"I wouldn't," Angel told her. "He's all talk. No action there at all."

Buffy laughed. "Look who's talking. I'm not getting much of either out of you. What makes you so sure you've got what it takes?"

"We can always ask Dru," he told her. "I'm sure she can fill you in."

Buffy grinned. "No fair throwing up past demons in my face," she told him. "It's bad enough knowing Dru's had you and I haven't."

"Be good," Angel warned. "One more sex reference and I'll hang up."

Buffy sighed. "Slayers honor, I'll be good."

Angel smiled. "Alright. Anything else you want to talk about?"

"Yeah," she answered after a moment. "Are we still on for the weekend?"

"Yes. My place or yours?"

"Definitely yours," Buffy replied. "It's cosy."

Angel laughed. "Okay, it's late and you've got school tomorrow so I'm letting you go."

"Alright. Your place, eight o'clock?"

"My place, eight o'clock. Don't be late."

"I won't," she answered. She snuggled deep into her covers, preparing once again for sleep. "Bye Angel."

Angel smiled. "Goodnight Buffy," he said softly into the phone. A second later, he hung up.

Buffy replaced the receiver and sighed. "Goodnight," she murmurred before drifting off to sleep.



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