DISCLAIMER: Do I look like a person who would force Riley down people's throats? I don't own 'em. The song is "Crash" by Dave Matthews Band.
SUMMARY: Fluff. Do you need anything else?
DISTRIBUTION: Go on, take it. Just let me know where its headed.
RATING: PG-13 for suggestive material. < g >.
FEEDBACK: Hells yea. Please?
SPOILERS: Set in an AU world, anything not demon related or dealing with Angel, is fair game. Set after my "No Heroes Needed" story. Need to read that to understand some of the stuff, but you don't really NEED to if you just want happy fluff. Minor for Surprise and Enemies though.

The early morning sky was still a midnight blue when Buffy Summers rolled from the comfort of her bed. Moving in the dark, so as not to awake her sleeping roommate, she shed the cow print pajamas that she'd slept in and exchanged them for a pair of shorts, break-away pants, a tank top and a long-sleeved tshirt, which she tied around her waist by the arms.

Grabbing her key, she moved to the door, stilling as Willow stirred. "Buffy?" asked Willow, sleepily. "You going running?"

"As usual. Sorry if I woke you."

"Its all right, I need to get up soon anyway, I have to put some finishing touches on my computer programming project."

"So you won't be back until later tonight?"

Willow nodded an assent, the fact of which that Buffy was only able to make out by the glow of a street lamp outside. "Possibly. I'm going out with Oz tonight…"

"So you might not be back until tomorrow. I'll see you later then."

Grinning, Buffy stepped into the hallway, locking the door behind her and slipped the key onto her wrist. Walking silently through Stevenson, she paused on the steps outside, stretching out her muscles for her run.

As she started out on the path, her thoughts strayed as she fell into the familiar pattern. She'd always been somewhat athletic, ice skating when she was younger, and then gymnastics and cheer leading up to when she'd moved to Sunnydale. It had been here, in the quiet town where it was safe to go walking by yourself at night, that she'd started running. She'd found that it was relaxing the way that you could just fall into a zone and not even have to think about what you were doing.

"Ugh," she suddenly exclaimed as she ran into some one. A familiar hand reached out to steady her, and she looked up, smiling, as she recognized him. "Angel."

Her boyfriend of only three days grinned at her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he leaned down to kiss her hello. After the kiss ended, he pulled away, but kept his hands settled at her hips. "We have got to stop doing that."

Buffy pouted playfully. "You don't like kissing me?"

Angel growled at her, knowing she knew what he'd meant. "Bumping into each other, you little minx."

Buffy laughed, and looked at him, taking in the jogging pants and the dark grey t-shirt that was darkened with sweat. "You run?" She blushed at the blonde-ness of the question, and amended her words. "Well you must, cause you're dressed for it, and why else would you be out this early, and I'm babbling aren't I?"

Angel chuckled and nodded, pushing back a piece of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail holder. "What I meant was, I didn't know you ran."

"Well we have only known each other for less than a week," he pointed out to her.

Buffy nodded. "I know, it's just that I feel like I know you so well already. Its kind of scary that I really don't know that much about you."

"I feel the same way, but we'll learn. We have forever," he said, meaning it literally, as he cupped her face in his hands.

She looked up at him in wonder. "Seriously?" she breathed, not daring to hope.

Angel gathered his courage, not knowing if only three days of going out was the best time to say anything, but knowing that for him, it was true. "That's how I feel about you, about us, Buffy. I realize you're still young, and might not feel the same, but that's how I feel. This is a forever sort of thing for me."

Buffy's eyes shone with tears, glad that she wasn't the only one with these feelings, not caring that others might think 3 days was too early for such a declaration. "It is for me too, Angel," she replied, her hands moving up to rest on his arms.

He flashed her a brilliant smile as he bent down again to capture her lips in a long, breath-taking kiss. Buffy was still slightly dazed as the kiss ended, and he said something, so she didn't' quite catch it. "Huh?"

Angel laughed. "I asked if you wanted to continue your run."

"Um, yea, but do you think…"

"I'd run with you? Of course, I wasn't suggesting anything else."

****

Buffy yawned as she entered her dorm room, tossing her books onto her desk, not caring as one of her notebooks slid to the floor. Shutting and locking the door behind her, she turned, surprised to see Willow laying on her bed, a book open beside her. "Wills? I thought you had a date with Oz?"

Willow made a face, shutting the book and sitting up. "His band called an emergency practice. Seems their drummer broke his hand and they have to find a replacement."

"Oh Will, that sux. I'm sorry."

Willow shrugged. "Its okay. We didn't have anything specific planned anyway. What about you, how was your day?"

Buffy grinned, sitting on the end of Willow's bed, and pulling her legs up. "Fantastic. I got to see Angel this morning."

Willow smiled at her friend's happiness. "Thus the goofy smile that has probably been plastered to your face all day, right?"

"Pretty much."

"I thought you two had complete opposite schedules," mused Willow.

"Oh we do, which sux, but guess who I ran into running this morning."

"Nu-uh. Angel?"

Buffy nodded happily. "Its so weird that I feel like I've known him for so long, but barely know anything about him. I pretty much said the same thing to him, and he told me we had forever to learn."

Willow's mouth fell open. "He didn't. What did you say?"

"That I felt the same way of course. Which is true, I do. Oh yeah, and guess what else?" Willow shrugged. "He was thinking of signing up for the 10K race this weekend too."

"Buffy, that's great, you've been planning on this race for months."

Buffy nodded, then her smile faded somewhat. Concerned, Willow asked what was wrong. "I just remembered. I signed up with Riley for it. Which means he's going to be there."

"Buffy, its going to be crowded there, you probably won't even see him."

"I hope so. So, girls night in?"

"Don't you want to go out with Angel tonight?"

Buffy shook her head. "An old friend of his was coming in today, so we didn't make plans."

*~*~*

Buffy curled up on her bed, the windows shut against the rain that was pelting down, making the Friday an awful day. She'd been drenched walking to class, and the only thing making up for it was that Angel was with her now. Willow had braved the raging storm to hole up with Oz, so the two were alone in the dorm room.

Buffy watched idly as her boyfriend examined the CD tower's contents. "I hope this storm clears up by tomorrow. I really don't like running in the rain."

Angel glanced up from reading the back of one of the cases, and flashed her a grin. "The weather channel didn't say anything about rain."

"But they didn't say anything about rain today either, and look what happened," quipped Buffy. "Hey, what happened to that friend of yours that was in town?"

"Doyle? He had some family business that he had to take care of today. You'll probably meet him tomorrow, he said he might catch the race."

Buffy took a magazine off her bed side table, and began to flip through it. "That will be cool. Cordy's coming into town, maybe we could introduce them."

Angel grinned to himself at Buffy's matchmaking, and stopped short at the sight of a particular CD in the collection. "Uh, Baby?"

"Huh?" answered Buffy distractedly.

"You have an Nsync CD?" he asked, looking questioningly at her.

Buffy blushed. "Um, its Willows?" Angel shot her a look and she back tracked. "All right, all right. I admit it, I'm a closet Nsync fan."

Angel chuckled. "It's all right. They have their redeeming qualities."

Buffy arched an eyebrow at that, and Angel just shrugged, taking another CD and loading it into the player before crossing the room to sit beside her on the bed.

"Whatcha pick?" she asked, shifting her legs so that he sat sideways between them.

Angel shrugged one shoulder, twisting so that his arms rested on either side of her slim body. Buffy moved so that she was closer to him, their faces inches away. Looking up at him, she licked her lips nervously, acutely aware of the effect it had on him.

You've got your ball
You've got your chain
Tied to me tight tie me up again
Who's got their claws
In you my friend
Into your heart I'll beat again

"Well?" she whispered. "Aren't you going to kiss me?"

Sweet like candy to my soul
Sweet you rock
And sweet you roll
Lost for you I'm so lost for you

Angel moved closer, till their lips were millimeters apart. Shifting, he pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her lips, smiling as she turned instinctively toward him. "I was thinking about it."

You come crash into me
And I come into you
I come into you
In a boys dream
In a boys dream

Buffy growled low in her throat, and she moved her arms to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. "Well stop thinking about it, and do it."

Touch your lips just so I know
In your eyes, love, it glows so
I'm bare-boned and crazy for you
When you come crash
Into me, baby
And I come into you
In a boys dream
In a boys dream

With those words, she crushed her lips to his, in a kiss that went from passionate, to soft and loving, back to passionate as their bodies shifted on the narrow bed. Buffy instinctively brought her knees closer to her body as Angel moved so that he was above her, his body nestled in the soft cradle her legs made, and his forearms carrying his weight under her body.

If I've gone overboard
Then I'm begging you
To forgive me
In my haste
When I'm holding you so girl…
Close to me

Angel rolled so that they were both laying on their sides, their bodies pressed fully against one another, and their legs entwined. Breaking the kiss that they were currently occupied with, hands wandering, Angel pressed small butterfly kisses to her face, one of his hands caressing her hair.

Oh and you come crash
Into me, baby
And I come into you
Hike up your skirt a little more
And show the world to me
Hike up your skirt a little more
And show your world to me
In a boys dream…In a boys dream

Buffy moved closer to him, barely even realizing as her hips thrust towards his in a silent plea for something more. Angel did, however, and with a great amount of self-control, he stopped himself from returning the gesture in kind as his hand caressed down her curves before stopping on her hip. "Baby, we should stop."

Buffy looked up at him with glazed eyes, and he doubted that she'd even comprehended what he'd just said. "Huh?"

With a wry grin, he kissed her forehead. "I said we should probably slow down."

Oh I watch you there
Through the window
And I stare at you
You wear nothing but you
Wear it so well
Tied up and twisted
The way I'd like to be
For you, for me, come crash
Into me

Buffy gave herself a mental shake. "We should?"

"You don't think this is a little fast? You were saying yesterday how little you know about me."

"I meant the things you're interested in." Her hand moved, pressing against his chest above his heart. "But I feel like I know you here, inside, where it counts." Buffy sighed, and moved away from him, sitting up with her back to him. "But you're right. We probably should stop."

Angel suppressed the moan at the loss of her body against his, and sat up, wrapping his arms around her waist. Shifting so that he had direct access to her neck, he pressed a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses down the smooth column, stopping where it curved into her shoulder. "Hey, I never said stop. Just slow down a bit."

Buffy giggled, pressing her back against his firm chest. "How could I have missed that?" Turning her head, she caught his lips with her own. As the kiss ended, she groaned. "I hate rain."

Angel was a little startled at the change in subject, but shook it off with a laugh as he lay back down on her bed, pulling Buffy down with him so that her head was pillowed on his chest. "And why is that?"

"We're stuck inside, and I don't know if being this close to you for a long period is such a good idea."

Angel chuckled, and wrapped his arm around her more. "I promise to control myself."

Buffy gave an un-ladylike snort. "Its not you I'm worried about."

****

Part 3

****

The day, despite Buffy's worries, had dawned bright and sunny, and the grounds designated as the starting point for the Regional 10k Race for the Cure were crowded with runners and their friends. Buffy was seated on the ground, stretching and talking with her friends when Angel walked up to them, a shorter, dark haired guy beside him.

Angel was wearing shorts and a tight tank top that showcased his toned body, and Buffy whistled as he approached, tilting her head up to receive his kiss. She herself was in grey running shorts, a purple tank top and a green sports bra. Her long blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail that fell out the back of her school baseball cap. "Hey."

"Buffy, this is Doyle. Doyle, my girlfriend, Buffy."

Buffy smiled widely at him, drawing herself smoothly up from the ground and moving against Angel as she extended her hand. "Its nice to meet you."

Doyle nodded, shooting a look to Angel. "You didn't tell me she was such a hottie, man." Doyle glanced back at Buffy, whose eyes were sparkling. "No offense."

Buffy laughed. "Definitely none taken. Thanks for compliment. Doyle, these are my friends, Willow, Oz, Xander and Anya." After the chorus of helloes, Buffy looked back at Angel's friend. "I hope you two aren't busy tonight; my friend is driving in from L.A. and we were hoping the eight of us could go out and do something?"

"Sounds like fun," replied Doyle, his face going odd at a sight behind Angel and Buffy. "This guy isn't serious is he?"

The group swung around to see who he was talking about, Buffy and her friends choking back laughter, and in Buffy's case, embarrassment. Cheeks reddening, she hid her face against Angel. "What was I thinking when I went out with him?"

Coming toward them was, in fact, Riley. Dressed for the run, he had for some reason decided that tight running pants in electric blue and a dark green tee shirt were a fashion 'yes'. "Buffy, hey. I was wondering if you were still going to run."

"Uh, yea, hi Riley."

Riley flashed a wide grin. "That's great. Maybe we could run together like we'd planned, and keep pace? Maybe talk about the fight we had the other day?"

Buffy's cheeks were burning from both embarrassment and dull annoyance. "Riley, that wasn't a fight. That was me dumping you. For good."

Riley hadn't seemed to have heard her. Or if he had, he was ignoring the comment. "Who's your friend? I didn't know you had a brother."

Both Buffy and Angel coughed. Buffy spoke though, Angel's arm tightening around her waist. "Maybe that's because I don't have one. Riley, this is Angel. My boyfriend."

It took him a while, but it seemed to get through to him. He threw Buffy an angry look. "You sure move fast." He looked at Angel. "Hope you like used goods."

There was a crack, and Riley fell onto his ass, holding his nose, staring in shock at the person standing above him. Buffy shook her hand out. "Yea, well, it wasn't hard to get over you. Get lost Riley."

Willow broke the silence that fell over the group after Riley had slinked off to the med station. "Well, guess I was wrong about running into him."

As her friends talked about the recent events, Buffy pulled Angel away a bit, looking up at him with desparation. "Angel, I want you to know…I'm not 'used goods'. Riley was just upset."

Angel placed a finger over her lips. "Shh. I know. You don't have to explain."

Buffy shook her head. "But I do. No matter what he says, I haven't…I mean, I've never…"

Angel placed his hands on her upper arms, rubbing them slightly. "It's okay Buffy. I didn't think you were that kind of person, and even if you were, I wouldn't care."

"Its just, I've always said that I wanted to wait until it was right. Until I found the person I wanted to be with completely."

"I understand perfectly, Baby." He silenced any other protests with a kiss, pulling away when Xander and Doyle started a catcall. "I think its time we went and got in position, don't you?"

****

Buffy gazed resolutely into the bathroom mirror of the Bronze restroom as she carefully reapplied her lipliner. Which was probably going to be useless, she told herself, since as soon as she got back out there, she'd be joined at the lip to Angel.

"Hey, Buffy?" called Cordelia, as she emerged from a stall, primly adjusting the tight black jeans that encased her legs. "How attached are you to that hunk of man out there?"

Buffy grinned as she turned around, leaning on the sink as Cordy approached the neighboring sink and washed her hands. "Doyle? I just met him." Buffy ducked as her friend splashed water toward her. "Forget it Cordy. I'm not giving him up."

Cordelia faked a sigh as she pulled out a brush and began to pull it through her long hair. "It was worth a try. Hold onto him, he's definitely a keeper."

Buffy smiled thoughtfully as she pictured Angel. "Don't worry I will." Turning back to the mirror to make sure her eyeliner wasn't smeared, she moved back to Doyle. "What about Doyle? You two have been flirting all night."

Cordelia gave a harsh laugh. "That isn't flirting, that's pure annoyance."

"Uh-huh," mummered Buffy, sensing the truth. "He's cute."

"He's a fixer-upper. And I told myself that after Xander I wouldn't date another guy that needed so much work."

"So you do like him."

Cordelia growled and flounced out of the bathroom, Buffy on her heels, trying to hold back her laughter. Buffy weaved herself through the crowds of kids that were packed into every available space of floor.

After the run that afternoon, in which her and Angel had finished in good standing and in good time, the whole group, including Cordelia, who had shown up just as Buffy had finished cleaning up from the run, had hit the town. Or in Sunnydale's case, whatever was considered the town. The campus pub first for dinner, in which Cordy had ribbed Doyle for downing a few shots, then Sunnydale Cinema for the latest Kevin Smith movie, then they'd ended up at the Bronze.

When she reached the table a few minutes behind Cordelia, who always seemed to be able to cut through the crowds, her friends were talking and laughing, watching in interest as Doyle and Cordelia, who had only just met that day, covered their flirting with glares and mock dislike. Angel was quiet, oblivious to the flock of girls that were huddled a few paces away from the groups' two tables. A few steps closer, and he turned toward her, as if he sensed her proximity, his face brightening in a wide smile that she couldn't help but return.

She grasped the hand that he stretched toward her, and allowed herself to be pulled to him. She grinned as he wrapped his other arm around her waist, and she reflexively put her arm around his shoulder, one hand lazily creeping into the hair at the nape of his neck. For an indeterminable amount of time, they stood like that, quietly watching the interplay between the group they were with.

Usually, Buffy reflected, it wasn't such a good idea to mix your friends with your significant other's. And most times, your own friends didn't much like your significant other himself. With their group, it was weird, because they meshed together after only a week, like it had always been that way. And last Saturday, when Angel had watched movies at Giles' place, it had been the first time any of her boyfriends had even met him.

Something tugged at the end of her long hair, and she was pulled out of her thoughts, looking accusingly at Angel. "Yes?"

He smiled at her. "Just making sure you weren't leaving me here."

Buffy wrinkled her nose at him, and he laughed, standing up and pulling her closer to him. Curious, she tilted her head back to look into his eyes, happily surprised at his words. "Let's dance."

Smiling happily, she allowed herself to be pulled along as he moved out onto the small area of the floor designated as a dance floor. The fast paced songs that had everybody crammed into a tight space and the beat had been slowed down to a more romantic pace. It was heaven, she decided, wrapped in his strong embrace, her cheek resting comfortably against his broad chest.

They each had an arm wrapped around the other's waist, holding their bodies flush against one another. One of Buffy's hands rested softly against his chest, at her shoulder level, and was clasped gently with Angel's free hand. The gentle weight of Angel leaning his cheek against her hair, drew her more under his spell as the music drifted around them, and she closed her eyes, breathing in his clean, heady scent.

They stayed like that, moving in lazy circles until the music sped up and they were forced out of their quiet world. Hands clasped tightly, they made their way back to the table. Xander and Anya had disappeared, as well as Cordelia and Doyle.

"Where did everyone go?" asked Buffy as she ignored the empty seats and placed herself in Angel's welcoming lap.

Willow smiled at her best friend as she stirred her Cherry Coke in one hand and held Oz's in the other. "Anya got antsy and dragged Xander home, though they probably made it as far as the back alley."

"Doyle and Cordelia?"

Oz grinned, and inclined his head to the dance floor. "Doyle egged Cordy into dancing."

Willow giggled. "He told her she probably couldn't keep rythmn."

Buffy yawned, and blushed as she covered her mouth. "Sorry 'bout that. Long day." Tiredly, she leaned back against Angel, who held her closer.

Concern colored Willow's face as she saw how tired her friend really did look. "Hey, why don't you head out? Xan and Anya already did."

Buffy nodded, holding in another yawn, and hopped off Angel's lap. "Good idea. You going to be back tonight?" Willow only slightly blushed as she shook her head. "All right, tell Cordy I'll talk to her tomorrow then."

****

Buffy waited in the darkened entrance-way of the apartment as she waited for Angel to lock the door and flip the light switch. Her eyes squeezed shut at the sudden flood of light, and she leaned tiredly against her boyfriend as he wrapped an arm around her.

She'd been more tired than she had realized, and since his apartment was closer to the Bronze than her dorm, he'd suggested that she crash at his place. She knew there wasn't any ulterior motive, just concern for her.

She followed him as he led her through the dark apartment, and entered the bedroom behind him. Standing uncertainly just inside the doorway, she watched as he flipped on a bedside lamp and moved to his closest, pulling out a black button up shirt.

"Here, you can use this to sleep in. I'll be out on the couch if you need anything."

Buffy clutched the soft material to her chest, nodding as he moved to leave the bedroom. "Angel? What about Doyle?"

"Doyle?" he repeated, not sure where she was leading. A look of understanding crossed his face. "Oh. Don't worry about it."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Angel, that's stupid. There's no reason for you to not sleep in your bed, just because you're letting me crash here." His stubborn look told her he wasn't close to caving, and she shrugged, making as if to throw the shirt over her shoulder. "Fine, be that way. I'll just head back to my empty dorm room." She shot him a look. "Alone."

****

Buffy rolled in the bed, waking up in surprise when she hit a warm body. Opening her eyes, she took in the muscled expanse of chest that belonged to her boyfriend. As she moved to snuggle in closer to his side, she got a glimpse of the clock and groaned when she realized that she had to be at Giles' in less than an hour to go to breakfast with Cordy

Sighing, she sat up, and carefully got out of bed so that Angel wouldn't wake up. Reaching for her red jeans, she pulled them on under the black shirt she'd worn to bed. Thankful that she hadn't worn the black dress last night because she hadn't felt like dealing with it, saving her from the walk of shame, she slipped into her black slides. Scrounging around in her purse for a hair tie, she pulled her hair up and away from her face just as Angel reached over to the side of bed she'd slept in, waking up when he didn't find her.

"What are you doing?" he asked, not fully awake.

"I promised to meet Cordy this morning. I have to go back and shower and stuff." Buffy leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Go on back to sleep, I'll talk to you later."

"Are you sure you have to go?"

"Yea. I'm sorry. I'll call you later." Angel shook his head and she arched an eyebrow. "You don't want me to call you later?"

"I was just thinking, now that you know where I live, why don't you just come back over when you can? I'll cook."

Buffy grinned brightly at him. "You'll cook for me?" Angel simply nodded. "You're awesome. All right, I'll be back around three or so. That way I can watch you work."

Giving him a chaste kiss, she moved from the bedroom, stepping quietly so as not to wake up Doyle, who was sprawled across the sofa bed in the living room.

*****

At three thirty, Buffy stood at Angel's apartment door, straightening the outfit she'd picked after a quick run home before meeting with Cordelia. She'd gone for comfort, the call of the weekend, and was in jeans and a purple v-neck top.

Footsteps precluded the opening of the door, revealing Angel's smiling face. Before even asking her in, they were kissing, not even breaking the embrace as Angel moved them back into the apartment. Buffy giggled as they broke apart, Angel moving to shut and lock the door.

"That made me feel right at home."

Angel grinned at her and took her hand, leading her into the main room of the apartment. "How did you did your meeting with Cordy go?"

Buffy made a face, showing him just how much she wanted to be talking about her friend right then, but smiled as they made themselves comfortable on the couch. Buffy leaned into his arms as he used the remote of the stereo to put music on. "It was good. I wish she hadn't moved out to L.A., but it seems to be good for her."

Angel nodded. "She came by earlier to pick up Doyle."

Buffy smirked. "Yea, she mentioned that she was going to be driving him back." Buffy tilted her head up, looking at him. "He's a good guy, isn't he? I mean, he isn't going to go stabbing her in the back or anything like that is he?"

Angel chuckled, the rumbling of his chest making her giggle. "They only met last night, Buffy. I doubt that anything is going to happen that fast."

Buffy laughed as she snuggled closer to him. "It amazes me how blind guys can be when it comes to relationships."

"Hey, I'm not blind to anything in this relationship."

"Of course not, honey," she said, reaching up and patting his cheek. "Its other relationships that guys tend to not notice."

Angel glared down at her, giving a playful growl as he suddenly shifted out from under her, leaving her at the mercy of his searching fingers. Buffy gasped and wriggled underneath him as his fingers tickled a particularly sensitive spot, moving her hands to retaliate.

"Oh no. I don't think so," laughed Angel, seeing her movement and taking one of his hands away from the objective of having her at his tickling mercy, took both of her wrists and stretched her arms up above her head, pinning her arms to the couch.

"Hey, no fair!" objected Buffy between gasping breaths as she tried to maneuver her legs, glaring at him as his strong legs locked around her own.

Angel chuckled, pausing in his all out war for just a moment and gazed down at her. "I'm just trying to defend my own ticklish spots. It's plenty fair."

Buffy's eyes narrowed and locked with his own gaze, and then it suddenly got very hard to breathe. They both seemed to realize just what position they were in, but didn't try to change the situation. The hand pinning her wrists down released, slowly sliding down her bare arms, touching her face gently as he slid the hand back to support her head as he leaned down to capture his lips.

At the pressure of his lips against hers, Buffy gave a small moan, the only invitation Angel needed to deepen the kiss as her hands moved down from above her head to pull his body closer. His lock on her legs released, and neither of them realized it as one of his legs slipped between hers, resting at the apex of her thighs.

Buffy sighed as Angel moved down to press wet, open-mouthed kisses to her throat, and she shifted against his leg, unconciously looking for something more. Angel groaned at the pressure, his hands slipping to hold on tighter around her waist, and shifting to roll onto his side, when they both fell off the couch.

The mood broken, Buffy didn't even attempt to get up as she was caught in fits of laughter. Angel grimaced at her for all of two seconds, before he began to laugh as well, untangling his limbs from hers and helping her up off the floor.

"That was certainly interesting," quipped Buffy, adjusting her shirt which had ridden up to right below her breasts.

The movement caught Angel's eye, and he stifled the surge of desire. Shaking his head, he reached for her hand, pulling her in close to him and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "How about I start dinner, and we eat early, then go see a movie or something?"

Buffy gave a soft sigh, her lips turning up in a smile. "That sounds wonderful. Have I told you yet how much of a wonderful boyfriend you are?"

Angel, her hand in his, began leading her toward the kitchen doorway, looking back and smiling at her. "It's only because I'm inspired by my girlfriend."

Buffy jumped up onto the countertop that could serve as a eating place, her legs swinging lightly as Angel began to move around the small kitchen, grabbing various items from the cupboards. "Oh really? Have I met her?"

Angel shook his head and came closer to her, kissing her lightly on the nose. "On an intimate level."

Buff giggled and kissed him softly on the lips.

****

"I didn't think cooking could be sexy," said Buffy, as they finished eating.

Angel's lips quirked in that half-smile that made her legs go weak, and he took a sip of the sparkling cider that he'd gotten to go with dinner.

She'd spent the entire time he'd been in the kitchen cooking, sitting on the counter as he worked. They'd talked and laughed about little things through out the entire time he'd cooked, then they'd set the small table by the windows together, and had taken their time over the meal. It had been simple, but delicious and she hadn't expected him to be such a good cook.

"I do everything sexy," he joked.

Buffy laughed and tossed her napkin at his head as she stood and took her plate. "Do you want some help with the dishes, or are you so sexy you have to do them yourself?"

"I think I could handle having some help, if you're the one offering."

Buffy looked around herself as she headed into the kitchen. "I don't see anyone else offering the same."

Angel laughed and pressed a kiss to her head as he passed her going to the sink. "Then, thank you. I'd love some help."

Buffy took up a position beside him at the sink, grabbing a towel to dry. "You're lucky, you know."

"I know. I have you."

Buffy arched an eyebrow, eyeing him. "Are you sure we drank the same stuff? I'm not sure your drink didn't have any alcohol. You're acting awfully strange."

Angel smirked, and shook his head. "If I am, it's only because I'm around you. So why do you say I'm so lucky?"

"Because I never offer to do the dishes for my mom. I only do them when she tells me to."

They finished up the dishes in companianable silence, broken only by the clinking of the dishware as it was washed and dried, and Angel's directions of where to place the items.

"So, what do we do now?"

"How about we go see what's playing at the theater?" asked Angel, slinging his arm around her shoulders and hugging her against his side.

Buffy put her arm around his waist, leaning her head against him. "Sounds good."

****

Angel held open the exit door as Buffy left the theater into the night, her cheeks burning with embaressment. "Well."

Angel glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Well."

"That was very…artistic."

"Yeah."

"Wasn't what I expected. I've never actually seen... Well, from the title I thought it was about food."

"Well there was food."

"Right. The, the scene with the, the food." Buffy stopped walking and threw her hands up in the air, exasperated. "This is ridiculous. We're a couple. Why should we be embarrassed by what we just saw?"

Angel nodded sagely. "Right. Other than the fact that we've only been together for a week."

Buffy grinned up at him, taking his hand in hers and starting back on their walk. "Next time we try this? I'm thinking a nice movie with a title we can actually read, and a nice PG-13 rating. At least until…um…"

Angel smiled softly at her discomfort, pausing their walk to steal a kiss. "I'm not sure even that would ever prepare me for seeing that movie."

"No I suppose not. So what shall we do now? The night is still young."

"Well, we could go back to my place. Or the Bronze?"

Buffy worried her bottom lip as she thought. "Could we just walk? Maybe get coffee and head over to that park we stopped at that first night we met?"

"Sounds perfect. Like a certain blonde I know."

"Flattery will you get you anywhere."

****

"So what are you going to do after you get your Masters?" asked Buffy as they idly swung on the swing set in the park.

"I'm not sure exactly. I might teach if I can't get a position at an art gallery."

"Why wouldn't you?" He shrugged. "I'm sure you'll get anything you tried for Angel."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence. What about you?"

"Me?"

"What do you think you'd like to do after graduation?"

"I'm not sure really. I mean, I'm doing all right in school, but I'm not a stellar student. Maybe a counselor, or, there is this cool writing class I want to take next semester. I could be a writer."

"What would you write about?"

"I don't know…I always thought it would be cool to write some science fiction type thing about a stereotypical blonde schoolgirl that would usually be the first to be killed off who is actually this super hero type person that saves the world from demons and vampires and stuff."

"That could work."

Buffy shrugged, pumping her legs a bit more to get more height in her swing. Silence reigned for a short time before she realized that Angel had stopped and was contemplating something he was holding in his hands. Digging her feet into the sand below her, she slowed to a stop, twisting the swing to face him. "Hey, you okay there?"

"Huh?" He looked up, startled. "Oh, yeah. Its just, I have something I want to give you…"

"A present?" Her eyes lit up and a smile spread across her face. "I like presents."

He gave her a smile before looking back down at his hands. "Sorta. I'm not quite sure what you'll say to it."

"Well, you'll never know unless you let me see, now will you?"

A small chuckle escaped his lips, and he held out what a small, black, velvet bag. Taking it from him, Buffy held her breath as she loosened the string at the top and the contents slipped onto her palm. A nearby streetlight illuminated the area enough to see a delicate silver ring, in the design of two hands holding a heart topped with a crown glinting in the light. "It's beautiful. Why would you ever think I wouldn't like it?"

"It isn't the ring so much that I was afraid of, though I'm glad that you do. More the meaning behind it." Angel paused and took a deep breath. "My people, well, my ancestors, they used to exchange these as a sign of devotion. The hands stand for friendship, the crown for loyalty, and the heart…well…"

"It's beautiful."

"Wear it with the heart pointed in, and it means you belong to somebody." He raised his own hand, to show her a ring she hadn't noticed before that was a duplicate to the one in her hand, its heart pointed in.

Buffy smiled softly, kissing the ring before looking up at him and holding her palm out, the ring laying on it. "Put it on me?"

Angel released a gust of breath, and he nodded, placing it tenderly on her finger, repeating her actions. "I was afraid you wouldn't want to wear it if you knew the meaning behind it."

Buffy got up off her swing and went to stand in front of him, stepping into the space between his legs as she placed her hands on his cheeks and tilted his head up to look at her. "We've gone over this before, Angel. I feel the same way you do, even though we've only known each other for a week."

"I love you."

Buffy caressed his cheeks with her thumbs. "I love you too. More than I thought was possible."

Angel's arms came around her waist in a crushing embrace as she bent her head to kiss him. The kiss was passionate, but didn't escalate, just simmered as they tasted and explored the others' mouth. After a while, the kiss ended, and they stayed wrapped in each others' embrace, foreheads pressed together and eyes closed as they enjoyed the moment.

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