You're Where I Belong

You're Where I Belong

DISCLAIMER: Not mine, no matter how much I may pretend they are ;). The song "You're where I belong" is by Trisha Yearwood off the Stuart Little Soundtrack.
SUMMARY: The battle is over, and feelings have been hurt. What happens now?
WARNING: Slight angst, and tons of cheese. I think I overdid it on the fluff factor.
SPOILERS: Definitely up to the Where the Wild Things are and 5x5. Everything beyond that is just from what I've heard, but I'm living pretty spoiler free.so don't hold me to anything.
FEEDBACK: Help feed my addiction.It gives me a happy and helps me write.no feedback I do other things, like concentrate on school work. ?

"I really don't want to go tonight," whined Buffy, curling up underneath her comforter, even though it had to be at least 90 degrees outside.

Willow gave a heavy sigh, and focused her gaze on her roommate. The past few weeks had taken their toll on the small blonde slayer. As far as she knew it had gone to the whole Faith debatical, when Faith had taken over Buffy's body for a short time. Then to find Faith in L.A. with her ex-boyfriend, and Angel ordering out of her out of Los Angeles, plus everything else..Willow shook her head softly. She could understand her friend's state of mind from all that, but then she had dumped Riley a few days after the last big battle that had brought Angel Investigations back to Sunnydale. "Buffy, come on, you can't just hide in our room forever."

Something sounding like a snort came from underneath the pile of blankets. "Watch me."

"All right, you don't go with the gang tonight. What about class tomorrow? You haven't been to any of your classes since, well since the thing. Have you even left the dorm?"

"Why should I? I have the phone. Food comes to me."

Willow suppressed a growl at Buffy's stubbornness. Reaching out, she gripped the blankets, and ripped them off Buffy's curled form. Buffy's tear-streaked face looked up at her in shock. "You will get out of that bed right now. You will take a shower, and put on something other than pajamas, preferably nice clothes. Then you will go out with your friends, and make some attempt of a life."

Buffy sat up, her lip pushing out with a pout. "Willow, I just went through a lot. And I just broke up with my boyfriend. Give me some slack."

Willow sat down beside her. "I understand you just went through a lot. But you're acting like Riley dumped you." Seeing Buffy about to say something, she shook her head. "Okay, you're not going to explain that. But please Buffy, come out with us tonight."

"Fine. Fine," submitted Buffy, grabbing her shower stuff and slipping her feet into shower shoes on her way out the door.

****

Buffy stopped inside the door, warily eyeing the throng of grinding bodies that filled the dark space of the dark club. Self-consciously, she smoothed a hand down the front of her dark blue dress with small white flowers, that clung softly, falling in soft wafts to her ankles. Willow and Oz, newly returned from his sabbatical, stood on either side of her, as if to make she didn't turn tail and run. "I don't know. I'm not really in the mood for this. I don't want to bring you guys down."

Willow and Oz took either of her elbows, steering her back to what had become "their" corner over time. "You're staying at least for some time. What else are you going to do? Sit in the dorm and eat that entire container of cookie-dough-fudge-mint-chip that I know is in our freezer, so don't try and deny it."

Buffy suddenly froze, refusing to go a step farther, a mask both of terror, sadness and something akin to hope on her face. Her hazel eyes swept over the group that was clumped in the back corner. Xander, Anya, Giles, Amy, Spike, Wesley, Cordy, and him. Buffy wrenched herself from Oz and Willow's surprisingly strong grip. "What is he doing here? I thought he went back to his town." The bitterness in her tone was not lost on her friends.

"Buffy, you can't just leave it like this. Sure, you two had a little fight."

"Little? You were there when it happened Willow. I wouldn't call that a little fight." Buffy shook her head, retreating a few steps, even as Angel's dark gaze caught hers. "I'm sorry. I can't do this. I-I've got to get out of here."

She ignored Willow's cries to her, turning on her heel and heading to the door. She'd made it 3 steps from the exit when she felt his cool hand on her arm. She spun angrily, trying not to let him see how just how little of a grasp she had on her emotions. When she spoke, her words were toneless, void of emotion. "What do you want now, Angel? I pretty much figured you'd said everything you needed to."

His voice was cool, controled. "Damn it Buffy, stop acting like a child."

"Running out of insults? I kind of remember you calling me that a few days ago. I don't really want to deal with this again, or at all."

Angel sighed, pushing out breath from his not working lungs. "Please Buffy, I was harsh, I realize that, and I'm sorry. But you have to realize, I was going through a lot too."

"You expecting me to forgive you that easily? You hurt me Angel. You just added more pain to that pile of angst I've been carrying around for the past three years. I can't handle this anymore Angel. I've tried to move on, it doesn't work. But us just doesn't seem to ever work, and I'm not going to let myself feel that pain again."

"You don't think I hurt too? I hurt every second that I'm away from you. Every time I think of you, I have to force myself to not pick up the phone to hear your voice, or come driving down here. And the whole Faith thing.and Riley.."

"Don't even try and explain that Angel. The whole thing is a mess. And Faith is just a psycho bitch." She exhaled. "I'm still in love with you Angel. I never stopped. I just tried to bury all those memories, and live the normal life that I stopped having when I was fifteen."

"I love you too."

"So what do we do now? Nothing has really changed."

The soft strains of a slow song began, and Angel looked at her expectantly. "Dance with me?"

Even though her heart warned her against the heartache that would come later, Buffy couldn't resist the urge to just be held by him. As she nodded, he took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. She told herself that this would be the last time. That this would never happen again. If she saw him again, it would be as a business acquaintance; not the lover that she still thought him of.

Yea.
*

Angel's arms slipped around her slim waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Even being held so, there was still a foot of space between them. Buffy held herself stiffly for the first few strains of the song, before totally giving in, and stepping completely into his embrace.

*
I am home now
Home now
I've been waiting for forever to find you
To find you
*

The words were aptly appropriate as she leaned her head against his strong chest, closing her eyes at the painful familiarity of it. The weight of his head rested against her's, and she gave a soft sigh of pleasure. This was how it was supposed to be. Just the two of them, together, in each other's arms.

Why had she ever tried to find this in anyone else's arms? She'd only feel this safe, this complete, here, in Angel's arms. People searched forever to find what they had. They'd been lucky, and at the same time, unlucky, to find it in each other.

*
I'm not alone now
Alone now
'Cos you've taken in my heart from the cold
*

Angel tightened his hold on the small figure that was pressed against his cool length. They'd hurt each other so much in the past; he wondered if anything would ever be as perfect as that one day they'd had together. The day that only he remembered.

He'd done most of the damage to the relationship, he was willing and able to admit to that. His own insecurities, his willingness to live an eternity without this small blonde goddess in an attempt to give her everything she deserved. She, the first one to make him feel truly alive and wanted in his over 240 years of existence, despite his past. The one whose heart was so giving and caring. He marvelled that she wasn't more unforgiving or angry after everything that had been thrown into her destiny.

*
All I know is every time I look into your eyes
I'm home
I know
*

Buffy pulled back slightly, capturing Angel's dark chocolate gaze with her own lighter one. She saw so much of herself there; everything that Angel saw in her, reflected back, making her feel worshipped, loved. At home. She knew he saw the same in her own depths; he'd always been able to read her so well. Could he see that she remembered? That every moment of the day that hadn't been had played through her mind as soon as he had come back to Sunnydale? That those memories had made her see that no one could replace him, and that Riley had just been a poor subsitiute. That the physical relationship she and Riley had was in no way comparable to the emotional, wordless one that she had with Angel?

As they gazed at one another, words went unspoken. Unneeded. Both were forgiven in that short moment, understanding found in each other's arms.

*
You're where I belong
I belong with you
You're where I belong
And I know it's the truth
You're part of my heart
There's nothing I can do
Oh you're the one who keeps me warm
My baby you're where I belong
*

The two star-crossed lovers swayed gently to the music, Buffy's head returning to its resting place above his unbeating heart. Tears pooled in her eyes, knowing that no matter what, her heart would stay complete. Past grievances were forgotten.

"This feels so right," she whispered softly.

One of his large hands moved up her back, caressing softly, reassuring her. "I'm so sorry for the past."

"I know. Don't brood about it please. You're forgiven. I could never stay angry at you. The past is still very special to me."

*
You're my first taste
My first taste
Of the sweetest feeling I've ever known
That I have known
You're my safe place
My safe place
From a world that can be so cruel and cold
*

The past was special. To both of them. Namely the one night that had such a drastic mark on their entire future. He'd been her first lover. The first guy that she had ever felt so strongly about. That night she had known true love, and how magical it could be. Even after the following events of that night, she'd known, deep down, that it would never be the same again, with anybody.

He made her feel safe. Loved. Understood. The others lived her life, but he was the only one that had truly understood what her life was truly about. The evils of the night, the fear and strength that ran deep within her.

*
You're my harbor, you're my shelter
You're that welcome smile
That let's me know
I'm home
*

In his arms, no matter where they were, she was protected. Safe. She didn't have to worry about the reality of her life when she was wrapped in his arms. And his smile, his words, his gaze, his touch; each let her know that she was home in his arms. That she could forget about the reality. Wherever he was, he would always love her.

"How are we going to do this?" she asked quietly, the fear that he would change his mind and leave her yet again unable to be forgotten. "I don't know if I can stand being away from you any longer."

Angel was silent for a moment and she continued.

"Angel, you are what I want. What I've always wanted, no matter what you may think. I don't care if you can't give me the things that you seem to believe I deserve. I don't want them without you. And the curse, we can work something out. Willow never looked the curse over after she cast it; perhaps we can do something. But if not, I can live without if you can."

*
You're the one I come to, yea
To keep me from the cold
*

Angel pulled away, a hand tipping her chin up to look at him. "I want you Buffy, all of you. I love you, with the same strength and intensity that I fell in love with you." He paused, his lips breaking into a small grin. "As for the curse, Cordelia said it won't be a bother anymore."

"What, how?"

"I still have it," he said gently, "but she had a vision earlier today. We just need to go to L.A. and see someone. The last battle gave me some of my redemption."

"The Oracles?" she asked curiously. It was his turn to be shocked. "I remember Angel. I just knew as soon as I saw you here again. Its one of the reason's I dumped Riley." His grip tightened around her waist, and she smiled. "So we're going to L.A. What are the Oracles going to do? Restore your humanity? I would have thought."

"Strength as well as my humanity."

"This is surreal, Angel. After everything that we've gone through. We'll finally have our happiness. It's perfect."

"Almost, my love. Almost perfect." He couldn't help but grin at her curious look. "Marry me. Be my wife. We'll work everything out later, but I don't want any more time to go by without you."

*
You're where I belong (you're my only heart)
You're where I belong
You're where I belong (you're my only heart)
You're where I belong
You're where I belong (you're my only heart)
You're where I belong
*

"Oh god, Yes. Yes, Angel, I'll marry you."

They smiled softly, tenderly at each other. Angel's hand gently caressed her cheek, and she leaned into the palm, seeking out more contact with his skin. At the same time, her slim fingers wove their way into the hair at the nape of his neck.

Neither knew who made the first move, but in moments their lips were touching lightly, sweetly, washing away the pain of the past months. The tenderness of those first few touches only lasted a short time, as soon the kiss intensified. The passion flowed between them as bodies pressed tighter and hands roamed. All those surrounding the reunited pair could feel the love between the two. Most knew that what the contrasting couple had, they would most likely never find, because a love like theirs was a being on its own. Unstoppable, uncontrollable, unending.

Buffy sighed into Angel's mouth, everything feeling right for the first time in 3 years. She was home.

*
I am home now
Home now
*

The End

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