* * * * * * * * * *

Clutching Angel's hand tightly in hers, Buffy slowly took each step as they rose to the second level of the magnificent house. Her heart was pounding madly - in some part due to the heat seeping through Angel's fingers - but largely due to the fear that had blossomed in her belly. Since arriving, just about all of Buffy's senses and thoughts had been focused on a certain tall, dark and handsome fellow, not aware of other beings or concerns. Now though, as they approached the demon, she shivered involuntarily - the cold it projected putting all her Slayer senses on high alert.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Buffy and Angel paused once more, their hands falling to their respective sides as they became all business. Glancing briefly at each other, they nodded their heads almost imperceptibly, knowing without verbal communication just what to do. Starting forward again, the two warriors moved behind the clumps of people who were gathered at the railing, leaning over to watch the spectacle below. Scanning the small groups, Buffy and Angel both located the demon immediately, altering their course to move in its direction.

Standing tall amongst the other guests, there was something unsettling about the 'man', even to those without supernatural know-how - as evidenced by the unoccupied space around him. Heavily built, bald, and with a penchant for gold jewellery, he looked like he'd just walked straight off the set of a mafia movie. Going by the stereotype, he'd be called 'Johnny' or 'Mikey', and would act as a heavy for one of the local crime bosses. His brawn and bravado would see him survive half the film, but his thick wits ensured he would fall prey to a surprise ambush by a rival mob.

While he obviously possessed all the muscle of the stereotype, the eyes that John Maligo turned on Buffy and Angel as they approached did not ring true. Instead of dim comprehension, they shone with cold, clever evil, enhanced slightly with some angry violence.

The combatants locked eyes and stood still as a roar of applause broke around them. The President had concluded his speech, and now the party-goers left their viewing stations, heading for the bar or dance floor and mingling with new faces. As the crowd swirled around them, Buffy and Angel stared hard at the demon, their bodies tense and racing with adrenaline. The scelus leant back against the railing, crossing its arms and adopting a casual air. As it watched the stern couple watching it, one corner of its mouth lifted in amusement. The smirk soon transformed into an appreciative leer as its gaze lingered on Buffy's body.

Choking with revulsion and disgust as she practically felt the demon's eyes on her flesh as if it were touching her, Buffy was startled by a low, angry snarl beside her. Almost as threateningly impressive as his undead days, Angel's face twisted in hate, his muscles bunching and his fists clenching. There would be no more watching and waiting.

Sensing the pair's strengthened resolve, the scelus straightened and slowly began to walk away, keeping an eye on its would-be attackers over one shoulder. Buffy and Angel could do nothing but follow - they certainly couldn't make a scene by jumping on and attempting to kill a demon in the middle of the function, and there was a strong possibility that an innocent onlooker could be injured. So they followed, content to wait until they reached a more private place to get down to the dirty business of fighting.

The demon wove its way through the guests, sidestepping waiters and guests as it kept tantalisingly out of reach from its pursuers. Trying to maintain visual contact with the surprisingly agile demon, Angel and Buffy's efforts were frustrated when a laughing mob strayed across their path. The few precious seconds it took to negotiate this obstacle was all it took for the scelus to disappear from view, and once again Angel growled in frustration as they scrambled to follow. Finally free of the hindering guests the pair gave chase, ducking down a corridor that the demon had vanished into moments earlier. Holding onto the hem of her long skirt, Buffy managed to keep abreast of Angel with his long strides, in spite of the high heels that she was now regretting wearing. As they raced down the hallway, slowing only to stick their heads into empty rooms and check for their prey, Riley appeared behind them.

"What's happening?" Angel spared no time or words on the agent, and continued his search of the long corridor.

"We found your demon" Buffy replied, before hurrying to catch up to the ex-demon. Something in a room at the end of the hall caught his eye and he quickly entered, with Buffy and Riley appearing moments later. Finding themselves in a very luxurious sitting room, Angel motioned to the other two to be quiet as he crept towards a set of imposing French doors, which were standing open to reveal a small balcony beyond. A light breeze was playing with the filmy curtains in the doorway, and Angel stretched out a hand, slowly pulling one back as he slipped outside. Apparently satisfied that the coast was clear, he turned back to the room when a large shadow appeared beside him, wrapping its arms around his neck. Grappling with his attacker, Angel lost his footing on the balcony's smooth tiles, and before Buffy could even move he had fallen over the railing, taking the demon with him.

"No! Angel!" Uttering a heart-wrenching cry, Buffy raced to the edge of the balcony and only spent a moment surveying the scene before flipping over the railing to the ground below. Hitting the smooth grass of the immaculately tended estate, Buffy dimly registered Riley's voice somewhere above her, as he yelled into his radio. The sound faded, as he presumably moved back into the house, looking for a safer way to travel the several metres to the ground.

Leaping to her feet, Buffy was distracted by a ripping sound. Looking down, she saw a huge tear in her dress, caused by one of her heels. Wasting no time, she ripped off the bottom part of the dress in seconds, and then seized the wicked looking knife that now could clearly be seen strapped to the inside of her leg.

Armed and ready, Buffy's eyes filled with horror as she saw the scelus metres away, standing over a motionless Angel. Springing into action she raced towards it, leaping to tackle it and send it tumbling away from the body on the ground. Jumping straight up again, Buffy launched a series of bruising kicks in the demon's direction, the scelus easily avoiding her blows. It laughed as she lunged at it with the knife, before sending Buffy flying with one sweep of its arm, the knife falling out of her grasp. Reeling from the immense power behind the punch, she was relieved to see Riley and a security detail race around the corner of the house.

"Get Angel! Check on Angel!" she yelled in their direction, before returning her attention to the demon. Riley directed two of his men to tend to the injured man, while the rest of the outfit flanked Buffy. Whipping guns out of holsters, they raised their weapons and opened fire.

Lights flashed, and gunshots rang out, and yet the demon still stood, laughing heartily at their attempts to stop him. Buffy and Riley's team stared as the creature began to transform in front of them. Not just donning a demonic visage like its vampiric brethren (though it had one of those too), the whole body of the scelus seemed to change, what skin that was visible toughening into a thick green hide.

Two of the agents ran forward, attempting hand-to-hand combat with the demon. However it easily disposed of them, slamming them head first into the ground where they lay still. As the other members of the security team stepped forward to fight, Buffy screamed at them to stop, but to no avail. Yelling to Riley to pull his team out, she leapt into the fray, distracting the demon from its task of snapping a man's neck. On Riley's orders the agents backed out of the firing line, dragging their wounded with them before disappearing in search of medical attention and back up.

Buffy now had the demon's full attention again, and she circled it like a boxer, seeking its weak points. It was broad and muscly, yet despite its bulk it was very quick on its feet, easily avoiding the punches that Buffy darted in its direction. As she traded blows with the beast, Buffy caught sight of Riley creeping up behind it, attempting to attack it from behind. She knew that he would be no match for the scelus, especially without any effective weapons.

"Riley, watch out ..." her warning came too late, as the demon pivoted and delivered a punishing blow to the former commando. He fell to the ground unconscious like his teammates, and the scelus turned back to face the Slayer.

"All alone at last."

"Just the way I like it" Buffy replied, before attacking with renewed vigour. Punch, duck, twist, kick, punch again, slap - she was getting tired. Buffy was pulling out all the stops, but nothing seemed to affect the demon. Her most powerful blows seemed to bounce off it, while she was quickly become bruised and bloody. Gathering her strength she leapt in the air, hoping to deliver a powerful kick to its head. However it anticipated her move, and twisting to the side it used her own momentum against her and tossing her at a nearby tree trunk.

Slamming into the tree and then the ground, it took some moments for Buffy to open her eyes, her head spinning from the force of the impact. Rubbing her forehead she opened her eyes, and focused just in time to see the scelus standing over her, his fist descending for the final blow. Shaken and disoriented, Buffy could do nothing but squeeze her eyes tight and wait for the end - which came in the form of a large warm body falling across her. Shocked back into her sense, Buffy's eyes snapped wide open, to see Angel sprawled above her, his face tight with pain as the demon's blows rained on his back.

"No!" Suddenly finding her tired body brimming with energy, Buffy rolled Angel away from the demon's attack, before leaping to her feet once more.

"Nobody gets away with hitting Angel!" As the scelus stalked towards her, Buffy scanned the ground searching for her knife that she had lost earlier. Despairing to see that the demon stood between her and the weapon, Buffy held her ground as her foe approached, waiting until the last moment when it swung at her, before dropping to the ground and rolling past it to her knife. As it turned to follow her, momentarily off guard, Buffy lunged upwards, driving the knife into the demon's heart with all the force she could muster. For a few moments it just stood still and smiled at her, and Buffy was afraid, not having any more weapons to attack it with. But then it toppled to the ground, its form holding briefly before collapsing in on itself, leaving nothing but the knife to mark the spot.

Closing her eyes momentarily, Buffy sighed in relief. Her shoulders sagged and she suddenly felt very very tired. Bending down, she spent a few moments surveying what was left of her opponent, before gathering her knife and rising to her feet.

"Buffy!" Spinning around, Buffy saw Riley stand tall and walk towards her, his only blemish a bruise from the blow that had rendered him unconscious. Coming to stand in front of her, he looked down into her face, his handsome, kind features expressing concern.

"Buffy." Turning again she saw that Angel had also risen, and stood watching her from a few metres away. His clothing was rumpled and dirty, his cheek displaying a nasty gash that he received in the fall. No longer filled with swagger and pride, Angel looked beaten, his posture slumped and his eyes sad and pleading.

Standing silently, Buffy felt a strange feeling wash through her. She sensed that this was a momentous occasion; this was one of those events that changed the course of your whole life. She'd had that feeling the day she was Called, a strange discomfort, knowing that something big was going to happen, but not knowing what it was. When she'd stood in front of Acathla, and seen the open vortex over Angel's shoulder, she'd faced a moment like this one now. A moment where a choice had to be made. A choice that there would be no going back from, no changing. Now the choice was not between her love and the world - it was just about her love. About two men. Riley and Angel. About comfort and passion, and safety and pain, and contentment and ecstasy.

Buffy turned to Riley.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Riley." Buffy looked up into the former commando's face as it broke into a wide, warm smile.

"Buffy", he said in reply, his voice expressing relief and happiness as he clasped his hands on her upper arms.

"Riley, I ..." the sound of movement behind her caught Buffy's attention. She turned slightly to see Angel walking away, his shoulders hanging in defeat. The scene called to mind her graduation, and the heartbreak she had felt seeing Angel disappear into the smoky night. Well, she wasn't going to let him disappear again.

"Riley, you're such a good man, you deserve real happiness - but I can't give that to you. I'm sorry."

"What?" Riley's voice took on a desperate note. "But Buffy you can! These last few years after we broke up, I've regretted letting you go every day. I know we can make it work! I love you Buffy, you can make me happy." Buffy smiled sadly, her expression affectionate but firm.

"But you can't make me happy. I'm sorry Riley, there's only one person who can, and I can't let him get away again. Goodbye Riley." And with a quick kiss to his cheek, Buffy turned and ran, leaving Riley staring after her.

"Angel!" The former vampire had already covered a lot of ground when Buffy began to chase after him. He didn't turn around or acknowledge her call, he just kept walking, disappearing from view around the corner of the house.

"Angel!" Buffy raced after him, ignoring the agents who rushed past in the opposite direction. Rounding the corner - her heart pounding and her muscles twitching with nerves - Buffy spotted Angel making his way towards the exit, heading past the countless limos parked beside the elegant gravel drive. Putting on a burst of speed, she caught up to him, grabbing his arm and spinning him around to look at her.

"Angel" she panted, gazing into his face. As she stood in front of him, heart pounding and lungs heaving, Buffy searched her mind for a way to express the countless things she needed to say. Angel stared back at her with sad, stoic eyes.

"Buffy, he's a good man ..." The slayer shook her head, even as he continued to speak. "... I'm sure that the two of you will be very happy." Buffy continued to shake her head, still unable to find her voice as Angel's eyes fell away from hers and he sighed.

"I'll always remember you Buffy, but I think that it's time to say goodby ..." Before he could finish that fatal word Angel was silenced by a pair of warm lips. Buffy clutched at Angel's head as she kissed him ferociously, partly to keep him close and partly for support - for the moment she kissed him her knees buckled, as the sheer joy of being close to him again rushed through her. Angel's arms slid around her, pulling Buffy tight against his body as the kiss deepened and tears slid down her cheeks.

Reeling, Buffy was forced to pull away so that she could breathe and try to regain her senses that were currently turned to overload. She was stunned to see Angel's deep eyes welling with tears, and as he opened his mouth to speak, she hushed him by placing her hand over his lips.

"No, don't say that. Don't ever say that. I won't let you say that. It's not over between us, it will never be over. Angel, I love you." Angel shook Buffy's hand away and tried to speak. "No, just let me finish, I've waited a long time to say this. I need to tell you this." Buffy stared up at Angel, her eyes shining brightly with emotion.

"I love you so much, I never stopped. When you left everything fell apart, and I didn't know anything anymore. I made some stupid, really stupid mistakes, and I didn't know who I was. Then Riley came along." Angel stiffened and turned his face away. Buffy reached a hand up to cup his cheek, gently turning him back to look at her.

"Just listen ... Riley came along, and he was nice ... but that was all. Just nice. I didn't really feel anything for him, but seeing you at Thanksgiving, even if it was just for five minutes ..." both Buffy and Angel swallowed convulsively, but for different reasons " ... it just hurt so much, reminding me of what I couldn't have! So then I threw myself into the life that you wanted for me, that normal life. Ok, Riley wasn't exactly your average Joe, but he was a close as I could get with the slayage and all, so I went out with him. And I liked him. And I loved him ..." Angel's face creased with pain ".. but never the way I loved, the way I still and always will love you. Riley is good and sweet, and he made me feel loved when I really needed it. He was comfortable and safe and could give me that normal life that you insisted I have ..." Angel interrupted.

"Buffy you deserve to have a normal life without any pain ..."

"Angel, I tried normal on for size, and it didn't fit. And anyway, - I deserve 'normal'? Why should I settle for normal? Why should I put up with normal, and average, and routine, and standard when I could have extraordinary, unique and amazing? And that's what you are Angel, all those wonderful things, and you make me feel special. I want the fire and the passion that you make me feel, just by being near. I want you Angel!" To emphasize her speech Buffy clung to Angel, kissing him desperately as she tried to show him in deed as well as in word. But there was still more she needed to say, and she broke away from Angel's intoxicating mouth before she got to distracted.

"And Angel, I know I was a complete bitch to you over the whole Faith thing. You've got no idea how much I regret the lies I told that day, about not knowing you, not trusting you. And I know that you have every right to hate me, I know that there's someone else ..." Angel's brow was furrowed as he took in Buffy's plea.

"Someone else?"

"You know, the other woman that Anna caught you with, the one you said you had feelings for - but Angel, if you will just give me a chance I'll make you forget about her, I'll make you fall in love with me again."

"Buffy." Angel raised his hands, and gently trailed his fingers over her wet cheeks. "You can't make me forget about her, and I can't fall back in love with you ..."

"Angel," Buffy sobbed broken-heartedly.

"... because I never stopped loving you." Angel sighed, as Buffy's speech had forced him to lower barriers and admit feelings that he had denied for so long. "You were the other woman. After Anna saw us together in my apartment - after you were hurt battling the demons - she could tell that I cared about you. And I couldn't deny it. I tried, I denied it for so many years, but seeing you again ... I love you Buffy."

Buffy began to cry even harder, as joy surged through her at those words. Her eyes fell shut with relief, and her mouth lifted in a smile before it was captured by Angel's. As their lips and tongues feverishly embraced, their arms did the same. Buffy had one hand entwined in Angel's hair, holding his head close to hers as the other danced over his well-muscled back. Angel's arms clasped them firmly together, his hands setting afire the skin of her bare back.

As they continued to press against one another, desperate for as much contact as possible, Buffy became aware of Angel's body stirring at their closeness. Pulling their mouths apart only far enough to breathe, Angel rested his forehead against Buffy's, both smiling widely as they panted, unable to contain their delight.

"Maybe we should ..." After another passionate, mind-blowing kiss, Buffy finished Angel's sentence.

"Go?" After observing the sexy grin that passed over Angel's face, she could do nothing but submit willingly as he kissed her again, ravaging her mouth with his tongue. Angel then wrapped his arm around Buffy's waist and led her back towards the house where their limo waited. Their sides pressed close, Buffy pouted and only reluctantly let her grip on Angel go as he hurried to find the driver. He returned a short time later, the driver in tow and Buffy's wrap clutched in his hand. As they walked towards the car, Buffy was pleased as Angel gently placed the material around her shoulders.

"Thank you" she offered, with a warm smile. "I didn't think you'd even noticed what I was wearing." Angel handed her into the vehicle, sliding in after her.

"How could I not notice? You look beautiful Buffy," Angel replied as gently trailing a finger along the neckline of the garment. At his feathery touch Buffy shivered, suddenly having a little difficulty breathing. "When you got into the car tonight it was all I could do to keep from touching you. And when you took the wrap off ..." Angel shook his head "... it's a good thing I have almost a century of experience in the field of self control." Buffy's battered heart swelled at these words, and her confidence soared.

"Well what about that other woman, in the barely-there dress you were staring at. Don't deny it," she teased, "I saw you at the bar, she was all over you, the little hussy."

"I don't remember her." At Buffy's scoff, Angel continued. "When I was at the bar, all I was thinking about that you were dancing with Riley, his arms were around you instead of mine." As if to prove his point, Angel draped one arm around her shoulder, drawing her firmly against him. Smiling in satisfaction Buffy gazed into his eyes, unable to believe that after so many years of pain and heartache they were finally together again. Moonlight and streetlamps intermittently illuminated the interior of the car, Angel's skin gleaming palely in the light. Running her fingers along his jaw line, Buffy frowned slightly.

"How long have you been human?"

"Two and a half years." Buffy winced at the thought of all that time wasted, but pressed on.

"You've been alive for over two years - Angel why are you still so pale? After so long I thought you'd be dying to tempt skin cancer and do a little sun baking. Clasping her hand in his, Angel replied in a soft voice.

"Because the sun meant nothing to me if it wasn't shining down on you." Tears again welled in Buffy's eyes as her heart swelled almost painfully in her chest. Overcome, she buried her head against Angel's shoulder and sobbed, crying even harder as Angel maneuvered her into his lap, hugging her close. They sat that way for a long time, holding each other as years of pain and anguish were cathartically released, and soothed by the embrace of the other. Buffy's heaving shoulders quieted, and her fingers played with the buttons of Angel's shirt as she collected herself. Lifting her head once more she found Angel's eyes trained on hers, the intensity of his gaze making her tingle.

Already close together, Buffy eased even closer, bringing her lips up to press against Angel's in an achingly slow, incredibly soft kiss. Her hands roamed over his chest, delighting in the warmth beneath her palms. One of Angel's hands was involved in similar motions on her own back, while the other entangled itself in her golden hair. The kiss deepened, and they both became lost in the feel of each other, occupying themselves in a passionate embrace for the rest of the ride back to Angel's apartment. As they neared their destination Buffy pulled away, knowing that the air between them had not been completely cleared. And she needed that, she needed to know that there would be nothing to come between them ever again.

As the car turned the last corner and slowly covered the last few metres, Buffy took a deep breath and hoped that they could make it through the coming conversation, emerging together on the other side. They had to.

"Angel ... about Spike ..." At those words Angel's gaze hardened, and he pushed Buffy from his lap. Seeing the car had pulled up, he leapt from the vehicle and stormed into the building, leaving a stunned Buffy behind him. She had expected him to react badly, but after what they had just shared she had hoped ... obviously the pain ran deeper than she thought. Clambering from the limo Buffy chased after him, calling his name as she ran. Closing the door to the offices behind her, she paused for a moment and prayed that Angel would listen to what she had to say.

Having shed his jacket Angel was pacing the floor like a caged tiger, and as she walked down the steps he stalked into the kitchen. Coming up behind him Buffy watched as he took a glass down from the shelves and filled it at the sink. Drinking it all in one quick go he slammed the glass back down, before bracing himself against the sink. As she stared at Angel sadly, Buffy could only despise herself as she saw the pain that she had inflicted expressed in his taut muscles and defensive stance.

"What I said in the dead guy's apartment was true Angel, nothing happened with Spike."

"You can't deny it Buffy," he said, still not turning, his tone anguished. "I saw you with him."

"Angel what you saw were some of the stupidest few seconds of my life, but that's all it was, a few seconds." She moved closer, slowly, wanting to offer physical comfort and reassurance, but scared to get too close in case he bolted.

"After Riley, there wasn't anyone else. I went on a couple of dates, but nothing ever happened. Nobody touched me, nobody touched my body or my heart. And while I didn't want to be with anybody, I guess I was lonely. The gang were all doing their own thing and ... I don't know" Buffy shrugged and went to stand next to Angel, leaning back against the sink. "Spike had started patrolling with me every now and then - I guess kicking some vamp ass was better than kicking no ass at all. And he can be so bloody annoying, but he's Spike you know? You can't help but like him sometimes. But still, I felt nothing for him, at least not in that way. After Riley I completely shut myself off from that. Spike caught me totally off guard when he kissed me." Angel made to move away, but Buffy gently placed a restraining hand on his arm, and he allowed her to turn him to face her.

"For the first couple of seconds I was in shock, and then, well yes I did start to kiss him back. But Angel ..." Buffy once again had to hold him to his position. "Look at me Angel." When he didn't obey, she asked again, and he reluctantly lifted his brown eyes to her hazel. "Angel, I only responded for a moment. You mustn't have hung around long because you would have seen me push him away. So hard in fact that he ended up with a big bruise despite the super duper healing. And it never happened again. It was never about Spike or the demon ... you know I hated Angelus, not so much for what he did to me, but for the pain and guilt he put you through." Buffy trailed her hand along Angel's cheek, her gaze dropping to his mouth as she softly continued.

"The only reason I kissed him back was because I thought it was you." Angel started with surprise, but Buffy persisted. "I know it sounds stupid. I mean, I knew in my heart, in my soul that it was Spike, but for a moment my mind was fooled - because his lips were so cold." She slowly traced the outline of his mouth with a fingertip, and Angel stood completely motionless under her caress.

"You were the only one who had ever kissed me that way, with icy lips that could make me feel so hot ... not that Spike made me feel that way, but I guess I wanted to believe, if only for a moment. Angel, nothing happened I swear ..."

"I believe you."

"And I know I have to win back your trust, but ... what? You what?"

"I believe you Buffy." Disbelieving, Buffy gazed up at him, but could see nothing but love shining back at her as Angel lowered his head to kiss her. Still for a moment, she then returned the kiss whole-heartedly, sliding her hand up Angel's back and pressing herself to him. Buffy marveled at Angel's warmth as she lost herself in his embrace. His rapid heartbeat reverberated through her body which was in such close contact to his, and his hot breath teased her sensitive skin as he began to trail kisses along her jaw-line.

"So, human, huh?" Buffy breathed, hardly daring to believe what was so obvious, now that she was so close to happiness. "That's working well for you?"

"It is now." Buffy's mind was fuzzy as Angel's mouth moved its attentions to her neck.

"What you still haven't ... mmm ... discovered pizza, or gone to the ... ooh ... gone to the beach, or found out how much easy it is to do your hair when you have a reflection?" Angel pulled back, his mood instantly somber.

"Humanity was everything I'd dreamed of, but ... you weren't there to share it with."

"And the curse?" Buffy was slightly embarrassed bringing up such a long taboo topic. "I mean, obviously its not there because of Anna ... I mean that you and she ... well, it's totally ok that you would ... because after so long without I'm sure that ..."

"The curse is gone" Angel gently interrupted. "But nothing happened with Anna." Buffy couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

"Nothing happened?" In reply Angel kissed her, silencing her briefly.

"And all the others?" At Angel's confused look, Buffy was forced to continue. "Cordelia told me about the parade of women through this place, and that's totally fine. You were human again, and I'm sure that you were looking for companionship and ..."

"Buffy, I haven't made love to anyone since you. Even if the curse was still there, it wouldn't matter. True happiness ... I couldn't reach that if I didn't have you." Buffy smiled, her heart swelling once more.

"And now you do. Always." At her pledge Angel enveloped Buffy in his embrace, burying his head in the crook of her neck, overcome by emotion. After standing that way for some time Angel pulled back once more to look at Buffy, smiling that half smile that made her knees wobble every time.

"And you have me. I guess that is if you want me ... an ex-vampire given to brooding and sitting in dark corners - it's not much of a match for a slayer."

"Oh, I don't know, I'd say it's pretty much a perfect match for an ex-slayer who has a thing for brooding ex-vampires." Angel was startled.

"Ex-slayer?"

"Yeah, retired if you can believe it. Apparently if a slayer was ever to reach her twenty-fifth birthday, another girl would be called. I can still fight if I want, but I don't have to. It's never happened before - you'd think I'd get a plaque or a gold watch or something, but nothing."

"Never happened until today. Happy Birthday Buffy."

"You remember?"

"How could I forget?" Both were silent as memories of her seventeenth birthday flashed through their minds.

"So what are you going to do now?" Angel distracted Buffy from her pleasant and painful memories. Though absolutely sure of what she wanted, Buffy was still a little unsure about Angel's thoughts.

"Well, it's up to you."

"Well, maybe you could change careers, become a professional lawn bowler or work for the tax office. Or you could take up a hobby like ... stamp collecting ..." Angel suddenly abandoned his playful mood "... or you could marry me as soon as humanly possible, become a partner in the business as well as my life, have a bundle of children and life in perfect happiness forever."

"Hmm, lawn bowls - is there a course I can take in that?" At Angel's impatient growl Buffy laughed, and answered him the best way she knew how - with a deep kiss affirming their love and commitment. Arching into his warm body, Buffy clutched at Angel's shoulders as his kiss practically made her swoon. Holding her tight in return, one hand fixed to the small of her back, Angel ran the other hand through her hair - his actions both tender and passionate. Pressing themselves as close together as they could, the embrace soon overloaded both their senses as they became hopelessly aroused.

"Maybe ... mmm ... we can ... yesss ... start a new tradition here ..." Buffy murmured between kisses. Reluctantly abandoning his task of caressing her neck with his hand and teasing it with his lips, Angel looked at Buffy quizzically.

"Well, after all the demons galore of my birthdays for the past eight or so years, maybe now we should find something else for me to remember my birthdays by." Buffy pressed her lower body firmly against Angel's arousal, gazing at him from under her lashes.

"Wouldn't we be just renewing the tradition?" Angel replied, referring to the night of Angelus' return.

"How about we start a new one along the same lines ... just without the gut-wrenching postscript." Glancing at a clock on a nearby table, Angel smiled. Lifting Buffy up so that her feet dangled above the floor, he began to wend his way towards the bedroom.

"Well, we've only got about seven minutes left to start this tradition, so we better get moving."

Send feedback to Cat D.

Back to the Fanfiction Archive