***

The next night, Buffy and the still weak Layla were out on the hunt. Layla was used to her mentor being pretty chatty, but tonight, Buffy hadn't said a word.

"Buffy?"

"Yes?"

"Is everything OK? You seem awfully down."

"I'm fine."

"Is it Angel?" Layla asked warily. She knew all about Angel, thanks to Xander. Buffy whirled around to look at Layla.

"What about Angel?"

"Nothing. I, just, you know, now he's back... I don't know, forget it."

"For your information, Angel..." Buffy began, but paused. "Duck." Layla did so, and Buffy flung a stake towards a rapidly approaching vampire. It dodged, and continued to come towards Buffy. She stepped up to it, and readied herself to fight. Instead of fighting her, however, the vampire took one look at her neck. And ran. Layla picked up the crossbow and fired, the vampire turning to dust.

"Why did he do that?" asked Layla.

"My scar." Buffy showed her.

"Wow. That's pretty, big." It was an old scar, but still visible were the marks of teeth: large, wide teeth.

"What did that?"

"Angel. He had to drink slayer blood or he'd die. So I forced him to drink mine. It nearly killed me, but he took me to the hospital."

"Why did the vampire run?"

"It's weird. I asked Giles. No two vampires' teeth are the same, like fingerprints. Angel is... was, a master vampire, his vampire teeth are much larger and bigger than a normal vampire. I guess vampires look at my scar and see that I've survived being bitten by a master vampire, and figure it's not worth the fight."

"Angel fed off you?"

"I didn't give him a choice." Buffy looked sad. "I mean, if he didn't, he would have died. I couldn't do that to him. Again."

"It is because of Angel, isn't it? Why you're miserable, I mean."

"I'm not miserable."

"Yeah, right."

"I'm not. Confused maybe. Not miserable."

"If you say so."

"I do say so. Anyway, you should go home, you have to be up for school in the morning. And you're still not over the flu."

"You have to be up for school too." Buffy smiled at Layla's concern. The two had really bonded since Layla's arrival in Sunnydale.

"I know. But I've had more practice at not sleeping than you. Go."

"OK." Layla grinned and ran in the direction of Buffy's old house on Revello Drive.

Buffy's smile disappeared as Layla did. She was right. Buffy was miserable. She hadn't been quite so miserable since she sent Angel to Hell. He'd come back that time, and he'd come back this time. Was somebody trying to tell her something?

***

Angel leaned back. He was in the gym that he'd set up in the mansion. He no longer had vampiric strength, and he had to work out. He was still incredibly strong, but knew that if he and Buffy fought now, he wouldn't stand a chance. He recalled that fight in this very mansion, as Acathla woke up. He remembered every detail........

"So that's it....no weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all of that away and what's left?"

Buffy closed her eyes as Angel moved the sword closer to her. He struck out, but she caught it with her hands. Her eyes opened.

"Me." she said. She pushed the sword back, hitting him in the face, and he recoiled in pain...... Angel opened his eyes. He couldn't relive this again. She had sent him to Hell. Because he had wanted to send the world to Hell, she had to send him there instead. She didn't know that the curse would work. She didn't even know that Willow was trying the curse, thanks to Xander. It wasn't Xander's fault. He thought Angel should die. He was right. But he still came back from Hell. He came back. Even to this day he didn't know why. He supposed it was to do with the prophecies of Aberjian, and the Powers That Be. But he didn't understand why it was him. He resolved to put it out of his mind, at least for five minutes. It was fairly late in the morning, so he decided to go and wake up Cordelia. So, he got up, and went to her bedroom door, which he rapped on softly.

"Cordy? Are you awake?"

"Yeah." she said, appearing in the hall behind him.

"Oh, I thought you were still asleep."

"Nope. Well, I'm awake now. What shall we do?"

"Well, I've been thinking Cordelia. Why do we need the investigations business now? We can just work with Giles and the others. Maybe in LA there was a need for something like that, but Sunnydale's a small place."

"Yeah. And think of the money we'd save on office rental." she said. "But Angel, how do we support ourselves?"

"Come with me." he said, leading her into a small room, where a large trunk sat. He opened it to reveal antiques and jewellery.

"Where did you get all this?" she said incredulously.

"Well, you once called me Mr-Alive-for-200-years-but-hasn't-developed-a-stock- portfolio." he said. She smiled.

"Well, this is kind of my portfolio. All stuff I've collected over the years. And I go to shops selling this kind of thing. Sometimes they have incredibly valuable pieces, but don't realise their worth. So I buy them, and sell them to someone who does."

"Isn't that kind of...."

"Manipulative? Like a scam?" he said.

"Well, yeah."

"I don't do it often. And I'm not doing it for some amazing profit. I'm just doing it to stay alive." he said. He looked a little sad.

"It's not really exploiting anyone. Businesses do it all the time." she said. She picked up a diamond and emerald necklace from the trunk.

"Late 1800s. Belonged to a duchess." said Angel.

"How did you get it?"

"It was a gift."

"From who?"

"The duchess." he looked embarrassed, so she said no more, instead just placing it gently back in the trunk. Angel then locked it, and they went back outside.

"Plus, we have a lot of money left over from the David Nabbit jobs." she said.

"Well, exactly."

"So, does that mean you wont sell the incredibly gorgeous jewellery for a while?"

"You want the necklace?"

"Well, yeah!"

"I guess I could lend it to you. I can't think where you'd wear it round here, but..."

"The country club is holding it's annual ball next Saturday. I want to show I'm back from Los Angeles a success. After the fiasco that was my parents, I need to make a splash. Speaking of.... Angel....?"

"You want me to go with you?" he anticipated.

"Well, I bet you're not doing anything."

"How do you know?" he asked, hurt. She gave him a look. "Well, no I'm not. OK."

"Great!" Cordelia bounced down the hallway, into the bathroom. Angel smiled and shook his head. She really was unbelievable.

****

Buffy shouted instructions to her basketball team from the sidelines as the Sunnydale Razorbacks played the Palisades High team. They were winning at the moment, and Buffy hoped it would stay that way.

"Come on!" she shouted above the din of the game- the crowd, the cheerleaders, the players. Her pulse was fast, and she felt alive in the midst of the game. Here she could forget about prophecies, chosen ones, angels. She saw Riley sitting at the top of the bleachers, supporting her. She smiled over at him. She tried to tell herself that if she were with Angel, he wouldn't do little things like showing up for every game she coached, he wouldn't bring her flowers in the mornings when she was exhausted from a night's patrolling. That he wouldn't leave her little messages when he was at work. But the annoying, disturbing thing was, she knew that, if she were with Angel, he would do all those things and more. Her heart felt heavy. She loved Angel more than anything. She knew this. She'd always known it, even when Angelus took over. She knew Angelus was the demon and Angel was the man. She would never forgive Angelus for taunti! ng her, for killing Ms. Calendar. But she forgave Angel the man, because he wasn't the one who committed those heinous crimes. That's why it had been so hard for her to send Angel to Hell. Because Angel didn't deserve to be sent to Hell. Angelus did. But now, Angelus was no more, and Angel the soul was Angel the human guy. If she was with him, they could have all the things that they could never have before- the very reason why Angel had left for LA. But what about Riley? And what if Angel just didn't love her anymore? After all, he might be back in Sunnydale, but he hadn't come after her, he hadn't tried to get her back. He probably just didn't love her anymore. That's what it was. She was still in love with a man who didn't love her anymore. A pain went through her heart. Was that the truth, or was it something she made up to make not being with Angel more bearable? She did love Riley, she was sure of it. But not like s! he loved Angel. The game ended with a victory for the Razorbacks, and Riley bounded down the bleachers to give the coach a hug and a kiss.

"Congratulations coach!" he said enthusiastically. When she didn't respond, he stopped.

"What's up Buffy?" he asked gently.

"I'm just tired." she collapsed onto the bench.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

"But I have to patrol tonight." she said.

"No. Layla has to patrol. You have to rest." he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out to the car, and drove her home.

"There." he said, as he put the mug of hot chocolate down on her bedside table. "You're probably still not over that soaking you got the other night." he said. She dropped her head back on the pillow when she thought about that night. It had been more than a little reminiscent of her seventeenth birthday. Except the outcome was so different. That night so long ago, she had proved her love to Angel, and she had been repaid by the re-emergence of Angelus. It wasn't Angel's fault. It was mine, she thought glumly as Riley closed the curtains and then went back downstairs.

But she reasoned that Angel must have loved her too. It was a moment of pure happiness that brought Angelus back, not tawdry lust or desire or passion, but happiness. That comforted Buffy now, so many years later. Because she could still remember every single moment of that night, every single thought, feeling, everything. For that short time, Angel wasn't a vampire, he was Angel, her boyfriend.

"You made me the man I am today!" Angelus crowed at her triumphantly, water streaming down his face.

Buffy shot up in bed, the fever beginning to take hold of her. She imagined it. She did that sometimes. Angelus was gone now, Angel was human. She lay back down, feeling the sweat drenched pillow under her head.

**

Angel opened the door to find Buffy standing there.

"Hi." he said quietly.

"Hi." she had told herself that she wouldn't stay long. She would return Cordelia's clothes and then leave.

"Come in, please." said Angel, leading her into the living room, where a fire was burning heartily.

"You have to get central heating in this place. That fire can't be cost effective." she joked.

"They're coming next week." said Angel. "Cordelia wont live in a house without central heating." he smiled.

"You two are really close now, aren't you?" she said.

"Yeah." said Angel. Buffy felt a pain go through her heart. He probably loved Cordelia.

"Cordelia's like my sister." he finished. Buffy looked up at him. When he spoke of Cordelia it was with love, certainly, but not the kind that Buffy and Angel had once had. It was fond, close, but not passionate love. Buffy felt a surge of hope. Despite herself, she wanted Angel to tell her he loved her still. Despite Riley, she wanted to tell Angel she loved him.

"I... I brought these back." she handed Angel the clothes.

"Are you OK?"

"I have a bit of a fever, but you know, us slayers, we don't give up easily."

"If you have a fever you should be in bed." said Angel. His look of concern touched Buffy.

"Well, you know, it's getting better. It wasn't a really awful fever." she stood up.

"I have to go."

"You just got here." he said.

"I know. I only came to give back the clothes. I have to get home. My mom and Layla are coming over....."

"OK."

"See you around Angel."

"Yeah." he watched as she left the house, and he heard the sound of a car drive away into the distance.

Part 3

"Wow, don't you look....spiffy." said Cordelia. Angel was wearing a tuxedo, and even he had to admit he looked pretty good.

"Well, I'm glad I managed to persuade you to come with me." she said. She stepped out of the bathroom, and it was Angel's turn to be impressed.

"You look absolutely beautiful." he said.

"Thanks... I know, though." she smiled, making an ironic face. She'd gotten good at lampooning the old Cordelia. She was wearing a long black velvet dress, and the diamond and emerald necklace. Her dark hair was loosely piled up on her head.

"Well, come on then Angel. Time to go schmooze the locals." she took his arm and led him out.

**

"Cordelia Chase!" a voice exclaimed.

"Lishanne! How absolutely wonderful to see you again!" Cordelia exclaimed. But Angel had spent so long with Cordelia he could hear the false notes in her voice which gave her away. "Lishanne, this is my good friend, and roommate, Angel." Lishanne looked at Angel appreciatively.

"Do I know you?" she asked, appraising him curiously.

"Well, Angel did live in Sunnydale briefly before we met up in LA, didn't you?" Cordelia said. He inwardly groaned. Oh how he loved when she invented a life for him, and didn't tell him.

"Yeah." he ventured. "As a kid."

"And you met Cordelia in Los Angeles?"

"Yeah." he said, still uncertain.

"You were in theatre with her?" asked Lishanne. Angel looked at Cordelia, both glaring and looking for help.

"Yeah. Angel and I met during a run of... The Crucible..." said Cordelia, struggling as she saw Willow and Oz come in. "Then after he retired from the stage, we decided to check out Sunnydale.

"So are you two involved?"

"Oh no," said Cordelia quickly. "Like brother and sister." she said, the first truth since she had begun talking to Lishanne. Lishanne then excused herself, and Angel pulled Cordelia aside.

"When you decide to make up my life story, will you at least let me know what it is first?" he asked.

"Sorry. Look, to cut a long story short, they think I'm a theatre actress, successful and all, and you were there. How about that? And you were born in Sunnydale, but moved away. That's how to explain if anyone recognises you." she said. "Now come on." she pulled him into the fray.

**

Buffy saw him first, something drew her to him like a sixth sense, an Angel sense. He was standing with Cordelia talking to Lishanne Davis. He looked heavenly in his tuxedo, and her heart skipped a beat. She felt Riley tense up as he saw Angel, and looked up at him.

"Here goes." she thought. She smiled at him, just for Riley, and felt him relax a little.

"OK. Look, Willow and Oz are here." Riley pulled her towards Willow and Oz, and right away from Angel.

"Hey man!" said Oz to Riley.

"Hi. Willow, you look absolutely adorable."

"Thank you Riley. I think that's everyone except Oz who complimented me."

"Well, I would, but I'm a man of very few words. I've written a song to say all those unspoken words, though." he grinned that little grin Willow loved so much.

"Let me guess. It's an instrumental." Willow smiled. He nodded.

"Looks like Cordelia wants toget in with the Country Club set again." commented Buffy.

"Well, Cordelia is still Cordelia." said Willow. "And we are kind of the Country Club set now."

"Yeah, but not out of choice." said Buffy with a smile. "If they didn't have those cute finger sandwiches, I'd be outta here." A new song began. Riley wrapped his arm around Buffy's waist. "Dance, Mrs Finn?"

"Sure." she smiled as Riley led her onto the dance floor. Only then did she notice Angel and Cordelia dancing too. But once she noticed, she couldn't make herself tear her eyes away from Angel. She was sure Riley noticed, but he didn't say anything.

"May I have this dance?" Buffy thought she was dreaming, but sure enough Angel was standing by the table, smiling uncertainly. Maybe even looking a little scared.

"OK." she said, glancing at Riley for just a moment. It wasn't a particularly slow dance, and she decided to throw the whole 'Angel and I are friends, but I love you' thing at Riley if he got annoyed. It was just one dance, and Angel and Buffy were friends. Without warning, something someone said to her a long time ago went through her mind.

"You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love until it kills you both." said Spike.

Buffy shook her head. The words sounded real in her mind, but she knew that Spike was off in Europe somewhere.

"Buffy? Are you OK?" Angel sounded concerned. She then realised that she was rubbing her head with her hands.

"What... yeah.. I've just got aheadache. It's... I'm just going outside for a minute." with that, she rushed outside, leaving Angel staring after her. Suddenly, he felt a hand grip his shoulder, and turn him round. Riley.

"What did you do to her?" he asked angrily.

"Nothing." said Angel, almost dismissively. He didn't care about Riley. But he did care about Buffy. He turned to go after Buffy, but Riley stopped him, by hitting him squarely in the jaw. Angel moved back only slightly, not feeling the punch of the physically older, weaker man. The rest of the people there turned to look and the room fell silent.

"Don't make me hit you Finn." he warned.

"Why? After all, you're not as strong as you were... before." At least Riley had the presence of mind not to reveal to the world Angel's former vampire status.

"Maybe. But I'm still stronger than you. And believe me, you don't want to make me hit you." Angel's voice was deep and almost a growl. Riley stood his ground. Cordelia stepped in between the two.

"Excuse me, but before you start, can I just remind you that the chances of me getting back in the Country Club depend on tonight." she sounded annoyed, but Angel saw the real concern and fear in her eyes, and he walked away from Riley.

**

Buffy sat outside, not really noticing the cold night air. She was torn between her old life with Angel and her current one with Riley.

"I look into the future and all I see is you." said Buffy.

"I know the feeling." said Angel hoarsely.

Buffy's eyes snapped open. So much had happened since then. She wasn't the innocent little girl she once had been. But then, Angel wasn't what he was then either. He was free to love her now like he'd always wanted to, to take her out in the sunlight, to make love to her without losing his soul. But why didn't he want her? Had she really changed that much?

"Hi." she heard a voice behind her, caring yet uncertain.

"Hey Will." she didn't move. Willow instead came and sat beside her.

"What you thinking?" asked Willow in a way that told Buffy she didn't have to confide if she didn't want to.

"I'm still in love with Angel." she said, numbly, as if it weren't happening to her.

"I know." said Willow, squeezing Buffy's hand.

"How do you know?"

"Well, because you never stopped loving him. That would mean that you're still in love with him because you never stopped in the first place. Did that make sense?"

"Kind of." Buffy paused. "But he doesn't love me anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"Will, he doesn't want anything to do with me!"

"Maybe." Willow paused. "Or maybe he doesn't want to wreck the life you have. Maybe what he sees is a happily married couple called the Finns. Maybe he doesn't see how unhappy you are underneath."

"Maybe. There are too many maybes in my life."

"Maybe." joked Willow. Buffy smiled. "But I do know that Riley just hit Angel for caring about you."

"What?" Buffy looked up sharply.

"Well, you ran out, and Angel looked really worried, and he was going to follow you, and then Riley stopped him, and hit him. Angel nearly hit him back, but Cordelia stepped in. Although I'm not sure Angel would have actually hit him. Angel's Self Control Guy."

"Riley hit Angel?" Buffy's mind was whirling in all different directions.

"I think he's jealous." said Willow, stating the obvious.

"Jealous. God! When Angel was jealous, he just went and brooded a bit. He didn't hit Xander after that stupid dance! He didn't go after Scott Hope! What is Riley's problem?" she exclaimed.

"He loves you." Willow said simply.

"Riley hit Angel?" Buffy repeated, oblivious to Willow's last statement. "Is he hurt?"

"No. He barely moved actually. Riley can't have hit him very hard."

"But he hit him nonetheless."

"Buffy, don't use this as an excuse." warned Willow. "If you want to be with Angel instead of Riley, it has to be because you truly love him, not because Riley did something stupid and a little understandable."

Buffy calmed down a little. "You're right."

"I think though, you should talk to Angel. Not tonight necessarily, but sometime when you're ready. I think you should find out what he really feels before you make any decisions."

"OK." said Buffy, fully in control of her emotions. "Shall we go back inside?"

"Sure." Willow stood up, helping Buffy up too, and together they walked inside.

**

Angel stood with Cordelia and Xander. Since his divorce, Xander had been alone. Cordelia was alone. And they still had that strange latent desire for each other. Angel predicted something, he wasn't sure what. Probably not groping in a broom closet, but... His thoughts were cut off when Buffy and Willow came back in. He watched as Buffy went over to Riley. He couldn't hear what was being said, but it was clear Buffy wasn't happy about something. Then, before he realised, she was coming over to him.

"Angel, I'd like to apologise for Riley."

"You don't have to. I guess if I were him, I'd do the same."

"Except that you wouldn't." she said. He was confused now.

"When I danced with Xander that time, you didn't hit him, did you? Or Ford, even? You just got Will to check him out. And you were right." she winced slightly at the memory of Billy Fordham.

"But Buffy, I wanted to. It always got me so mad..."

"But you didn't. You stayed in control. And you had more to keep in control than Riley. I'm sorry he hit you Angel. And I'm sorry it was because of me."

"Buffy..." he paused, smiled a little. "If I'm gonna be hit over something, I'd rather it was about you than anything else." he smiled at her sadly, and then he left, leaving her standing alone with Xander and Cordelia.

"Great." said Cordelia. "There goes my date and my ride home."

"I'll take you." said Xander quickly.

"You would?" Cordelia smiled sweetly.

"Of course. Anything for a beautiful woman." he paused. "Buffy? Are you OK?"

"Me? Oh. Yeah. I'm fine." She thought she might be fine too. What Angel just said, if that wasn't a declaration of love, then what was? Willow was right. She had to talk to Angel. And she would do it tonight. She walked slowly but decisively over to her table, where Riley was sitting. She took her coat and her car keys.

"Buffy, what? Where are you going?" he demanded.

"There's someone I need to talk to."

"You..." Riley laughed harshly. "You're not going to him are you?" he spat out.

Buffy looked at him, but didn't reply, instead just left. The way he was acting, he was making it easier and easier for her to decide

**

Buffy pulled up outside Angel's mansion. She saw his car, so he must be there. Nervously now, she got out of the car, and went up to the door. Softly, she knocked. After a moment, the door opened. Angel was standing there, no longer in his tuxedo, but in black silk pyjama pants, and, well, nothing else.

"Buffy?" he seemed surprised and a little embarrassed.

"Uh... Hi. I, well, I need to speak to you."

"Sure, come in." he recovered enough to lead her inside.

"I haven't lit a fire, it's cold in here, why don't you come through here?" he led her into a smaller room, filled with books and a couple of green leather armchairs.

"You've got an awful lot of books. And I bet you've read each and every one." she said.

"Well, what does a vampire do during the day?" he cracked a feeble joke. "So, you came to see me?" he asked uncertainly, nervously. Buffy decided he was cute when he was nervous. But she wasn't here to ogle him, she was here to talk to him. She cleared her throat and began.

"Yeah. Yeah I did." she said, sitting bolt upright in one of the armchairs. "Angel..... Angel... Do you love me?"

Angel looked at her, surprised by the question. "Buffy, I don't....." he began. She stood up.

"That's OK. After all..."

"You didn't let me finish, as usual." he sat her back down. "I don't think I ever stopped loving you, is what I was going to say. Ever. All those years in LA, I still loved you. Maybe even more than before."

"So, why did you come back and then ignore me?"

"I've told you before. I didn't want to ruin your life. I thought you were happy here with Riley. I thought you were in love with him, and I didn't want to get in the way."

"I'm not happy, Angel." she said simply.

"I know." he said, sighing, pained that she wasn't happy. "I can see that now. This evening, I was about to come after you when he, you know..."

"He hit you. I'm sorry Angel. Did it hurt?"

"Yeah. But I wasn't about to let him know that." he smiled slightly. She stood up, and approached him where he sat in the other chair. She knelt down beside him, and taking his face gently in her hands, looked at his jaw.

"It looks a little red. But I don't think it's really bad." she blushed, noticing their proximity. Again, a moment from the past echoed in her mind.

"I love you. I try not to, but I can't stop." Angel said brokenly.

Buffy froze.

"Buffy, are you all right?" Angel was concerned.
"Are you still my girl?" he asked.

"Always." she said.

"Buffy?" he asked again. He was entirely consumed with concern for her. She looked into his deep brown eyes, and felt like she was drowning. But it wasn't dangerous, and she wasn't scared. Instead it just seemed like the right thing to do.

"Buffy? Are you..." she cut him off by kissing him, softly at first, then more impassioned. He pulled her onto his lap, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you still my girl?" he asked, hesitating only a little.

"Always." she said without hesitation. He lifted her up, and carried her into his bedroom.

**

Buffy's eyes fluttered open, straining against the sun. She spent so much time in darkness, that she had come to hate the mornings. But now, it seemed strange. The sun was warm, not painful. The start of the day wasn't something to be hated now. She opened her eyes wider now. The picture was strange. Instead of her own bedroom, with it's light coloured walls and curtains, the walls were a darker red colour. Instead of her own white cotton sheets, she was lying in sumptuous black satin sheets. And instead of Riley next to her, she was alone. She shot up. What? Then she remembered. Angel. And then immediately the fear that had taunted her for so long coursed through her. Last time this happened, she awoke alone and then later found Angelus in Angel's place. She began shaking with fear. Then slowly, a sound began to infiltrate her mind through the rush of thoughts. Then, suddenly the noise stopped. And Angel entered the room, dripping wet, wrapped in a towel.

"You're awake."

"I thought..." she said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd wake up for a while longer. I didn't mean to scare you. I mean, after the last time, the least I could have done is...."

Buffy cut him off with a kiss. "Doesn't matter." she smiled. "What's the time?"

"Nearly ten o'clock." he said, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her forehead.

She jumped up, and began pulling her clothes on.

"What's the matter Buffy?"

"Riley. I have to speak to Riley." she pulled her dress on, realising how absurd she looked, on a Sunday morning, wearing an evening dress. She pulled her coat on over it. "I have to speak to Riley. I have to tell him."

"Tell him what?"

"That I'm in love with someone. And it's not him. It's a dark, gorgeous older man who lives in a big house...."

"This guy, it is me, right? Cause if not, then..." Angel smiled slightly, a lopsided grin that warmed Buffy's heart.

"Of course it's you." Buffy kissed him gently. "But I have to talk to him." She gathered up her skirt and went to leave.

"Wait." Angel stopped her. "At least have something to eat. Just wait a second, let me get dressed and I'll make you some breakfast."

"OK." she paused. "But you don't have to get dressed." she said slyly. He laughed.

"Yes I do. I've long made it a policy never to cook without the appropriate protective clothing." he grinned.

"Please don't tell me you learned that the hard way." she said, laughing, sitting back down on the bed as he dressed.

"No." he said simply, laughing. Then, he was dressed and took her hand as he led her out of the bedroom and through into th! e kitchen.

"What would Madame like for breakfast?" he asked, visibly lightened. With Buffy he truly was human.

"I don't mind, I'm not all that hungry." she said.

"Eggs? Bacon? Toast?"

"Toast is good." she said, sitting down at the big kitchen table.

"No, go and sit in the living room, it's warmer in there. And, if you stay here, you'll see the secret to my culinary prowess." he said. She kissed him softly on the nose, before going out and into the living room. Where Cordelia was sat with Riley.

"Riley." she said softly.

"Buffy, you're up." he sounded strange.

"He came about half an hour ago." explained Cordelia, before she left them alone.

At the sound of the voices, Angel came in. Riley stood up.

"I don't know what you want," he began, "But if it's Buffy, you can't have her. You're too late." he pulled Buffy to him, and then she smelled the alcohol on his breath.

"I want whatever Buffy wants." said Angel. He smiled supportively at Buffy.

She couldn't believe it! Even after everything, Angel was going to let her make her own mind up. He wasn't going to make her stay with him. He wasn't going to force her. Just like he didn't force her before. She could change her mind right now. Then she remembered the feeling of completeness last night as she lay in his arms, just listening to his heart beating, listening to him breathe.

"Well, what do you want Buffy?" demanded Riley. She looked at him. He wasn't The One. Angel was The One. He always had been.

"I... I want Angel. I'm in love with Angel. I'm sorry Riley. I don't want to hurt you. You're so special to me, but...."

"Save it Buffy." he said. "Just save it." He stood up, swayed a little and approached Angel. "You…" He began to talk, then raised his fist. But before he could hit Angel again, Buffy intervened.

"Just leave." She said coldly. He swayed again, before stumbling out of the house.

Buffy collapsed onto the couch. Angel was beside her in a second.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I was sure twenty years ago, but you wouldn't listen." she smiled.

"I was listening. I just didn't think you were right."

"I'm always right Angel. Haven't you learned anything?" she admonished him lightly. A popping sound was heard in the kitchen.

"Toast?" he asked.

"Thanks."

**

Buffy was collecting her things from the house. It didn't take long. Riley had signed all the papers. Riley hadn't taken the break-up well. He'd stalked Buffy for a while, demanding her return home. He hadn't wanted to sign the divorce papers, but Layla had paid him a visit one night. Since then he'd stopped with the phone calls and stalking.

"I think that's everything." she said to Riley, who was standing on the porch.

"If I find anything else, I know where to bring it." He said harshly.

"I'm sorry Riley."

"Me too." he moved towards her, but paused. He didn't want another visit from an angry slayer. "I love you Buffy."

"Please don't Riley." She sighed. "Don't make this harder than it is."

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't feel that we can't ever see each other again." He tried. She looked at him.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Riley." She told him firmly.

"Oh. OK." Riley looked sad. She sighed, and put the last box in the car.

"Good bye Riley." She said, before driving back home to Angel.

***

"Is that everything?" asked Angel, bringing the last box into the mansion.

"Yeah." Buffy was busy hanging clothes in the closet. "I swear Angel, you've got more clothes than I have. Hell, you probably have more clothes than Cordelia!"

"I heard that! Nobody in this house has more clothes than me! It's, like a rule!" Cordelia called from her position by the fire.

"Well, all you have to do, is this..." Angel swung his arm in the closet, pulling a bunch of his clothes out, leaving space for hers.

"What are you going to do with those?" Buffy asked.

"I'm going to put them in a closet in another room. That's! the beauty of this house. Lots of rooms." he grinned. Buffy put the last of her clothes in the closet and turned to him.

"How was Riley?" he asked.

"He was Riley." She grimaced. "He tried to get me to stay."

"What did he do?" Angel was immediately concerned. "Did he hurt you?"

"After Layla's Angel-sponsored visit to his house? Not likely. Riley's stupid but he's not… stupid." She finished lamely.

"Well...." Angel let his anti-Riley comment hang in the air unsaid.

"I'm so tired of all that stuff. Come on! I haven't had a chance at happiness for so long, and he wants to deny me it."

"Well, I intend to give you all the happiness in the world." Angel nuzzled at her neck.

"Promise?"

"Promise." he kissed her softly. "I'm gonna do everything I can to give you the happy ever after ending."

***

Buffy lay moaning in excruciating pain.

"Angel! I'm gonna kill you!" she screamed. The sheets were soaked in sweat, she felt like she was dying. No demon had ever hurt her this much.

"Angel! I'm gonna kill you!" she screamed again. The nurse placed the mask over her face to give her more gas and air. Sitting beside her, Angel held Buffy's hand, concerned.

"I'm so gonna kill you!" she said, as another contraction ripped through her body.

"OK. Kill me." he said. "But I think you need to wait until all this is over." he smiled at her. Instead, she gripped his hand tightly, so tightly that her nails drew blood. "Owwww! Buffy!" he wrenched his hand away.

"That's for starters." she said, before screaming once more. Angel took her hand again.

About an hour later, Buffy screamed one last time. Silence fell for just a second, before more screams filled the room. But these weren't the screams of Buffy, they were the screams of a baby filling it's lungs for the first time.

**

Angel sat, holding the tiny little baby, a girl. Buffy lay still, exhausted. "Still gonna kill me?" he asked, putting the little girl into Buffy's arms.

"Well, maybe not right away. But soon." she smiled in spite of herself.

"Hi!" voices called brightly. Willow and Oz came in, followed closely by Xander and Cordelia, who were followed closely by Joyce, Layla and Giles.

"Sorry we're late. Slayer issues." said Layla, shaking Angel's hand.

"Hi." said Buffy. "Everyone's here."

"She's beautiful." said Willow, looking at the sleeping baby in Buffy's arms.

"Well, I should think so." said Angel with a grin.

"Just think, with Buffy and Angel's looks, auntie Cordelia's fashion advice...." began Cordelia

"Auntie Cordelia?" said Xander

"Yeah?" she challenged him.

"Oh, so many jokes, so littl! e time." he shot back, and she elbowed him.

"Do you have a name yet?" asked Giles.

"Yep! Destiny Summers." said Buffy.

"Summers?" said Angel.

"Well, it's not like you even have a last name." she said. Angel paused.

"OK. You have a point."

"Destiny? That's a pretty name." said Willow.

"Why Destiny?" asked Joyce. She was about to make a comment about a strange name, but then she recalled that she had named her daughter Buffy.

"Because that's exactly what she is. Our destiny. Hokey I know, but hey, I don't care." said Buffy, looking at the little girl with deep brown eyes fit to drown in.

Angel sat watching Buffy sleep, with Destiny in the cot beside her. For the first time in his life, he felt truly at peace.

As for Riley? Well, he tried to stalk Buffy again in a more subtle way. However, he forgot to take into account that Buffy's boyfriend was the master of subtle lurking. So, one day, while Riley was lurking in the graveyard, watching Buffy and Layla fight some vampires, he suddenly found himself face to face with an extremely pissed off vampire. Angel? But he's not a vampire! I hear you say. No, it wasn't Angel. Nope, this vampire was blond, back from his holidays in Europe and owing Angel a favour.

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