A Night of Songs and Reunions

A Night of Songs and Reunions

Rating: You watch it you can read it
Disclaimer: All Buffy and Angel characters belong to Joss and co. From the Bottom of My Broken Heart belongs to Britney Spears and I Knew I Loved You belongs to Savage Garden
Distribution: You want it, tell me where it's going, and you have it
Spoilers: IWRY, Doomed (kinda)
Couples: C/D W/O X/A B/A and minor B/R (I had to, sorry!!!)
Feedback: Please
Author's Notes: My first Songfic, tell me what you think

Buffy couldn't figure out how she had let her friends drag her here. Buffy, Willow, Oz, Xander, Anya, and Riley were at a club in LA. Oz had a gig there with the Dingoes, and the rest of them had thought it would be fun. So, she got dragged along with them. Oz had finished his set and was now at the table with them. Another band was playing and there was lots of dancing. Oz and Willow were cuddled up, as were Xander and Anya. Buffy was trying her best to cuddle up to Riley, but her heart wasn't in it. Maybe it was because she knew Angel was so close. ' Focus!' she thought and turned her attention toward her friends.

" Hey Buff, you finally back with the living?" asked Xander.

" What?" she asked, startled, " Oh, yeah, I was just listening to the music? Pretty good isn't it?" she asked trying to cover up for daydreaming.

" They're good," said Oz, " Not the best, but they're good."

As her friends criticized the band Buffy zoned out, thinking about the last time she had been in LA. She had only been there for five minutes. At least that's what she had thought at first. Then, the dreams came. They were so vivid, so real, they had to be true. And they were. Deep down, she knew Angel had been human. She knew what he had sacrificed for her, knew how much he had suffered with that burden. All of a sudden, a presence jolted her out of her reverie. She turned her head toward the door, and there he was. Behind him were Cordelia and Doyle, the vision guy. She was staring at him so hard, he turned, and saw her. He looked like he was deciding whether or not to come over, but then he saw Riley and smiled sadly before following Cordelia and Wesley to a table. Internally, she cursed herself for bringing Riley. She needed Angel so much. Then, all of a sudden,

" Hey all you brave folks out there, come try your hand at singing. It's now open mike night! Who's brave enough to come!"

Deciding in an instant what she would do Buffy said, " I'll be right back, I'm gonna get a drink."

She walked over to the announcer and said, " I'll sing."

~~~~~~~~

Five minutes later Buffy had not returned. Her friends were starting to get worried.

" Maybe I should go look for her," said Riley. Before anyone could reply, Buffy walked up on stage.

~~~~~~~~

'She's with another guy' Angel thought sadly. But then , isn't that what he had wanted for her? A nice, normal guy who could give her everything. She's happy now. It doesn't matter that I can give her all that now, she's happy, and I don't want to hurt her anymore. Just then, Buffy walked up on stage and fixed her gaze firmly on him.

~~~~~~~~

And now our first brave soul, Buffy Summers singing From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart ," said the announcer. Buffy took a deep breath and started singing.

'"Never look back," we said
how was I to know I'd miss you so?
Loneliness up ahead,
emptiness behind
Where do I go?

Instantly Riley and her friends knew she wasn't talking about him.

And you didn't hear
all my joy through my tears
all my hopes through my fears
did you know, still I miss you somehow?

Angel knew she was talking about him, but he was confused, wasn't she happy with Riley?

From the bottom of my broken heart
there's just a thing or two I'd like you to know
you were my first love,
you were my true love
from the first kisses to the very last rose
from the bottom of my broken heart
even through time may find me somebody new
you were my real love
I never knew love
'til there was you
from the bottom of my broken heart

Buffy wasn't just singing, she was pouring out all her feelings to Angel and she hoped he knew.

"Baby," I said,
"please stay.
Give our love a chance for one more day"
we could have worked things out
taking time is what love's all about
But you put a dart
through my dreams
through my heart
and I'm back where I started again
never thought it would end

Angel felt regret. Regret for leaving her, for not telling her that he was human now.

There were tears rolling down Buffy's face, and she could see Angel was faring little better.

Riley saw Buffy and Angel staring deeply into Angel's eyes and knew her heart had never, would never, and could never be his. They belonged to the man staring at her, her soul mate, Riley realized, the man she'd always loved. Silently he wrote her a note and walked away, knowing he would never really be close to her ever again, not even as a friend.

"Never look back," we said
how was I to know I'd miss you so?'

After she was done singing,, she walked up to the mike and said, " I'll never forget," and walked off stage.

As Buffy walked off the stage a thunderous applause filled her ears. She tried to smile, but there were tears cascading down her face. She walked into an empty niche and stood there crying with her hands over her face. She stayed that way until she felt someone in front of her. She knew it was him.

" Hi," she said, trying to pretend nothing was wrong, that she wasn't about to break down for the first time since he'd left.

" Buffy," he said gently, " What did you mean by 'I'll never forget'?"

" I meant, I remember, that day we had. I dreamt about it and knew it was too vivid to be false. It was the only thing that kept me going."

" You're not upset?"

" How could I be? You gave up true happiness for me, I can't believe you had the strength to do it."

"I almost didn't, but all I had to think of was how beautiful and perfect you are, and how much you deserve."

At the comment, she totally broke down. She fell into his arms and started crying on him. He gently stroked her hair whispering sweet nothing's into her ear. Then all of a sudden, Buffy looked up with realization in her eyes.

" Angel," she said haltingly, " Your heart, it's beating. You're alive again." The last words were just a whisper, but he heard them very clearly.

" I know Buffy, I've known for a month."

" A month?" she gasped, " And you didn't tell me?" There was disbelief, anger, hurt, and infinitely love in her eyes.

" Buffy, shh, the Powers That Be gave me my humanity and let me keep my strength because they saw that there were some demons that congregate in bright places."

" But you didn't tell me!" she practically shouted.

" Buffy," he said in despair, he hated seeing her so upset, " I didn't tell you because I knew about Riley. Right after they made me human, I went to Sunnydale. I saw you and Riley. I knew it had to be him because I had heard Cordy say his name once. You were laughing, you were happy. That's all I ever wanted for you. I didn't want to ruin that chance for you."

" But you could have given me that. I always wanted it from you, only you. Don't you get that?" The hurt in her eyes was tangible.

" Buffy, I."

" Don't, I don't want to hear it. You had the choice, and you chose to stay away, fine. That's how it'll be. Goodbye Angel." With that she walked away. She didn't go to her friends though, she went to the side and stood, trying not to cry. Angel stood there, distraught, not knowing what to do. He had never planned to tell her he was human, she had looked so happy before, yet she hadn't. He had seen the loneliness in her eyes, yet he had still thought she was happy. He was a fool. He looked at the stage and saw someone singing. Then, it hit him, she had sung for him, so now he would sing for her. He went up to the announcer and repeated the words she had said, " I'll sing."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy leaned on the wall not knowing what to do when she saw Angel walk up on stage. " And now," said the announcer, " Angel singing I Knew I Loved You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel looked straight at Buffy and started singing,

"Maybe it's intuition
Somethings you just don't question
Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant
And there it goes, I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound
More than a little crazy
But I believe...
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

I hope she knows it's all true, thought Angel

There's just no rhyme or reason
Only a sense of completion
And in your eyes, I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for, I think I've found my way home
I know that it might sound
More than a little crazy
But I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I have found you

He's the only angel, Buffy thought watching him sing, looking into his eyes. Seeing they were calling for her to come up on stage, she did, as if in a trance.

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life

She was walking toward the stage. He saw and walked to the front of the stage to help her up. He looked into her eyes, and everyone else disappeared. It was only them, alone with him singing straight to her.

I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life "

When he was done, they kissed. Everyone was clapping and all the girls were looking at Buffy enviously. They got off the stage and once again went to the side to talk.

" I didn't know you could sing," said Buffy.

" Well, I can." He looked strait into her eyes and said , " Do you forgive me?"

" For not telling me?" she asked, and he nodded. " On one condition."

" What?"

" Never leave me again."

" I promise," he said before kissing her passionately. They stood for a few moments just kissing and looking into each other's eyes. Then, although reluctant to brake the moment, Angel said," Maybe we should get back to your friends, they might be worried."

" Ohmigod!"

" What, Buffy, what's wrong?"

" I forgot about..."

" About who?"

" My boyfriend, Riley. Angel, I'm sorry, I never loved him. But you told me to move on and.." Angel cut her off with a kiss.

" Are you going to stay with him?"

" No, of course not!"

"Then it's fine, now come on. Time to face the music." They walked back to their table, noticing that Cordelia and Doyle had joined the Sunnydale gang.

" It's about time!" exclaimed Cordelia, " And PLEASE leave off the PDA's, I don't wanna be sick."

Buffy scanned the group and saw Riley was gone, a note in his place. She picked it up and read:

Dear Buffy,

I can tell by the look in your eyes as you're singing that you are in love with that guy. Don't worry, I knew it was coming, knew you were holding back. I knew somehow that your heart was not mine, but I'm happy we had the times we spent together, it was fun. Thanks for letting me get to know you. Don't worry, I won't interfere. I hope you're happy with him. If you ever need help, you know where to find me. See you around.

Your Friend,
Riley

" He knew," she whispered so only Angel could hear. " He knew I loved you and not him, so he left."

" Hey," said Willow, " Heard you're human Angel. How?"

" The Powers That Be saw that some demons live in bright places, so they gave me humanity and my strength. I think they were waiting for this too." He smiled at Buffy and they kissed again.

" Ugh," said Cordelia, " Let's go Doyle, I really don't wanna see that."

Buffy and Angel smiled sheepishly but made no move to separate.

" Yeah, " said Xander, " Let's book."

They all stood up and walked toward the door.

" Hey guys," Buffy called, " You go on back, I think I'll stay in LA for a little while longer."

" Sure Buffy," said Willow, " But don't forget we have classes at noon tomorrow."

" Sure, sure I'll be there. But for now," she said looking at Angel, I have some other things ion mind."

" Oh please!" said Cordelia," Let's get outta here before I get violent."

So their friends went home, and Buffy and Angel went back to his apartment, stopping by the grocery store first.

" What do you want here?" Angel asked.

" Cookie-dough-fudge-mint-chip ice cream," she said with a sly grin. Laughing, Angel followed her in, happy for the first time

The End

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