Rating: PG
Pairing/Couple: Buffy/Angel
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Joss Whedon and Co. I don't own any of the
Buffy or Angel characters or background. I wish I did, but, unfortunately, I
have to live in reality...and not just a delusional one.
Summary: Angel arrived in Sunnydale. They're together. Cuteness ensues. (If
you've read the past two stories, you'd understand what that summary relates
to.)
Author's Note: This is the third story in the now developed series "Spinning
Into Infinity". It was just originally meant to be one small POV type piece
but it just kind of grew into more. You don't have to read the previous two
stories to understand the story but I would advise it anyway because it would
help you to understand how things got the way they are in this story.
Feedback: Please!!! It is always essential and definitely vital to my
cognitive process, everything I write, and my existence...plus, it helps with
my self esteem issues.
Dedication: To whoever it was that suggested I write a sequel to "Life,
Death, and the Infinity After That" which was a sequel to "My Destiny". She
said fluff is always fun and it is. And I think it was her that suggested I
turn it into a fluff series as well. Well, I am. So whoever said it, could
you please email me so I can recognize you by name in the stories to come as
well.
Buffy and Angel disentangled themselves, pulling apart. She smiled at him, her entire face lighting up. It was still a little surreal that he was there. And even more so that he was there with her. She couldn't not smile.
Angel looked down at her. After so long, it was good to be where he was destined. Forever, he was destined to be with her...just like she had said she was destined to be with him. And he was ready to accept it as he had before. He needed to be what he once was. He needed to have what he used to long for. He needed to have her. He needed to have her in his life...and now he did.
"So, uh, you know what?" Buffy glanced at everyone. Okay, a room full of people wasn't really working for her. "The kitchen." She said quickly. "I have to...show you the kitchen." She realized how stupid that sounded, but it didn't matter.
"The kitchen is good." Angel smiled once more. "Haven't seen it in a while."
"Yeah, that's why I have to show it to you." She said, taking his hand. She was so the inconspicuous one. "We'll be right back." She quickly pulled him out of the room.
"I'm sure you will." Dawn said, rolling her eyes. She, of course, loved Angel. They got along so well. He was always so nice to her...and not just because she was Buffy's sister and he was Buffy's boyfriend. He always listened when she spoke, never ignoring her. He always made her feel better when she was upset. And mostly, she was just glad that he made Buffy happy. That sounded really...well, sappy and she was never one for sappy but despite and in light of everything, she loved her sister. And when you love someone, you want them to be happy.
"So, what do you think this means? I mean, what do you think is going to happen?" Xander asked, not sure how he felt about Angel presumably coming back into their lives. He had never gotten along well with Angel most on account of him hating Angel. But he didn't know what the future held...and what it would come to signify.
"I think it means that they can be happy and together." Willow said simply, smiling. She was happy for her best friend. She had sat by and watched all of the obstacles they had run into and all of the pain that they had endured. She knew that their relationship was hard for so many reasons, all of them were derived from her being the slayer and him being a vampire and all the issues that encircled those realities.
She just wanted Buffy to be happy. Hell, she wanted Angel to be happy. After all, he was her friend as well...even though they hadn't really seen each other in a while. But that was mostly because he wanted to avoid Buffy as much as possible. He didn't want to interfere in her life. He just wanted her to move on so that she could be happy...only, he didn't get that she would never be truly happy unless she was with him.
Willow was glad that he had finally come back...and from the look of things, they would get back together.
Buffy and Angel walked into the kitchen, his arms going around her waist. "I'm glad you sent me that letter." He said, resting his chin on her head.
"I'm glad you sent one back." She turned around in his arms, her arms going around his neck. "And I'm glad you feel the same way."
He stared down at her. Anytime he looked at her, he was just completely entranced...transfixed by her...well everything. He was transfixed by her. "You are so beautiful." He told her, gently smoothing her hair back. He placed his lips on her, softly kissing her. When he ended it, he leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you."
It felt right to be able to say that to her. It made everything seem so much more grand and essential to life. It just took all things obscure and put them into place. Everything finally became clear, revealing that everything was finally as it should be. They were back together.
Her entire face lit up within those three words. They just defined everything she once felt and longed to feel again. They were those three words...and they were said by him. She smiled. "I love you too."
******
Cordelia, Gunn, and Wesley sat at the Hyperion Hotel. Angel had left a few hours ago and they all had a pretty good idea of his destination. They knew that he was going to the only place he could go...the only place he desired to be. He was going to Buffy.
Cordelia grimaced at that knowledge. She wished she could just live in an ignorant denial about it but she had to face the unfortunate reality. She knew Buffy and Angel were getting back together. It was inevitable after all...especially when it involved a love like theirs.
It wasn't like she didn't like Buffy. They had always fought and bickered and traded insults and whatever else but that didn't mean they weren't friends. They were, whether it was through linking relationships or their own accord. They liked each other most of the time. They generally got along and all that.
But that didn't even factor into it at all. That wasn't the cause of the dread that she was drowning in. The actual reason behind it was knowing that they were in love and what that could cost Angel...and, essentially, everyone around him.
She supported relationships and the love that were inspired by them but this went beyond that. If they were talking about anyone else, she would be completely supportive, but they weren't. They were talking about Buffy and Angel...and more importantly, they were talking about Angel's soul.
She very much wanted it to remain a part of him. She didn't want him to lose it. That's what she was afraid of. She was afraid of the loss of control that might occur in an inevitable moment of passion. She was afraid that they would just lose themselves in each other and he would end up relinquishing his soul. That didn't seem like such a pleasant event.
She loved Angel. They were very close. He was her family. She wanted it to remain like that. She emphatically did not want Angelus to make a reappearance. She didn't enjoy him....mostly because of the fact that he had tried to kill her and everyone else that was key in her life...mostly because they were key in the lives of Buffy and Angel.
More than anything, more than fear of Angelus, she did want Angel to be happy. She knew he deserved that. She just didn't want to lose him.
"So, do you think everything will work out? I mean, from what I gather, things usually go in the way of bad for them." Gunn said. He did hear about the entire Buffy and Angel 'saga' from Cordelia and Wesley...even though he might not have fully known it having not been there but he did understand it.
"Well, I think we'll just have to wait to see what happens. Hopefully, things will work out...no matter what happens." Wesley said, cleaning his glasses.
He had never really been a big supporter of their relationship. In fact, he had once frowned upon it. It kind of went along with him being Stuffy-Watcher-Guy. It was against the rules therefore he was against it.
But, overtime, he had seen what they had...what they were. He understood that their love was genuine and irreversible. Even when they aren't together in reality, they are eternally together in their hearts. All you have to do is look at them and it becomes completely obvious.
He had come to fully comprehend what they were to each other when Angel had been poisoned by Faith. Buffy had actually quit the Council and boycotted him when the Watchers wouldn't help him...when he couldn't help him. After all that, it was clear what was between them, truly between them, and it couldn't ever be frayed or shattered.
After all, that's what soulmates were...they were the definition of love that can never be lost.
"No. Waiting is bad." Cordelia said, shaking her head as she stood up from the couch. "But you know what's good? Knowing. Knowing what's going on is good. So why don't we find out?" She went over to the phone.
"Cordelia, I'm not sure that's wise." Wesley started, going over to where she stood.
Cordelia just rolled her eyes. She picked up the phone and dialed the number to the place she knew Angel would be. Buffy's house.
"Hello?" A voice said from the other side of the line. It was Willow's voice.
"Willow? This is Cordelia." Before Willow could say anything, Cordelia just continued. "Look, is Angel there?"
"Yeah. He's here."
"Can I talk to him?" Cordelia asked, tapping her fingers impatiently on the counter.
"Uh, sure. I'll get him. Hold on." Willow put the phone against her hand, muffling the receiver. "Dawn, go get Angel. Tell him Cordelia's on the phone."
Dawn did as she was told, walking to the kitchen. "I'm coming in the kitchen so whatever you're doing, just...stop." She peeked her head in the doorway, finding them safely disentangled. "Angel, Cordelia's on the phone."
Angel nodded, following her into the living room. Willow handed him the phone. "Thanks." He put the receiver to his ear. "Cordy?"
"Angel? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" He asked, taking his coat off.
She laughed bitterly. "Why wouldn't I be, he asks...well, you just run out of here and don't even tell us where you're going!" Angel pulled the phone away from his ear when she raised her voice, putting it back seconds after. "For all we know, you could be hurt! Or you could need our help! You're lucky we knew where you'd end up or I would have killed you."
He smiled slightly. "You can't kill me. I'm already dead, remember?"
"Don't be a smart-ass."
"I'm not being a smart-ass." He groaned at her attitude.
Xander looked at Willow. "Smart-ass?" He mouthed. She just shrugged. When had Angel become so nonchalant?
"You can't kill me. I'm already dead, remember?" She said, mimicking his voice. "That is not at all funny!"
"Cordy, calm down." He rubbed his forehead.
"Oh, don't patronize me."
"I'm not patronizing you."
"Oh, you so are!"
"Alright, stop yelling."
"I have a right to yell! Alright! You are the one that just left! If I had done that, you would have had a complete wig-fit. You're always lecturing me on how you need to know where I am. Because it's really dangerous. Well, you know, that goes both ways."
"Oh, you're going to lecture me?" He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah." She said in that 'duh' tone of voice she had. "You're damn right. Look, you can't just run out on us like that. Especially all the way to Sunnydale. I was worried. We were worried."
He sighed. "I know. I'm sorry." He picked up the phone and sat on the stairs. Everyone just kind of watched him. "I didn't mean to run out like that. But I just needed to see her."
"I know what that's like. I understand what that's like. But next time, could you give us a little notice first? I mean, what if I had a vision or something?" She said, sitting in the chair behind the counter.
"You didn't, did you?" He asked, all of a sudden concerned.
"No, I was just proving my point." She sighed. "How long are you going to be staying in Sunnydale? You know, just so that I know how long I have to be angry with you."
He laughed slightly. "I don't know. Probably a few days."
She rolled her eyes. Of course. Like he was really going to come home anytime soon. "Where are you gonna stay?"
"I'll probably stay at the mansion."
"How can I reach you?"
"You can call me on my cell."
"Did you take it with you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure, I did." He told her, standing from the stairs. He picked up his jacket and searched the pockets for the phone. "Or I didn't. Where is it?"
"Sitting on the counter right next to me." She said, picking it up as if he could actually see her.
"You couldn't have told me that in the first place?" He asked, laying his jacket back on the couch.
She smiled. "Now what kind of fun would that have been?"
"The kind I like." He smiled as well. "Is Gunn or Wesley there?"
"Uh, sure. Here's Wesley." She started to hand the phone to him but took it back. "Oh, and have fun." She shook her head. "But not too much fun."
"Cordelia." He said, rolling his eyes slightly.
"Alright. Alright." She handed the phone to the Englishman.
"Angel." Wesley said, putting the receiver to his ear.
"Wesley." He switched the phone to the opposite ear. "Uh, I'm most likely going to be here a few days. If you guys need me, just call Buffy's house. I apparently forgot my cell phone. Cordy has the number." He sighed, thinking of what else he needed to tell him. "Just try and keep everything under control until I get back. If Cordelia has any visions, call me. I don't want you guys doing anything really dangerous by yourselves."
"We can manage around here." Wesley assured him.
Angel nodded slightly. "Make sure Cordelia gets home safely. Don't let her walk at night by herself. Oh, and don't let her near my kitchen. We don't need another fire." They both laughed slightly. "Alright I'll talk to you later. Be careful."
"You too."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Angel hung the phone up, turning around to the group. They were all staring at him, all smiling. They had never seen him so...well, relaxed. He was actually laughing...not a lot but laughing nonetheless. It was a little strange. "What?"
"Cordelia set your kitchen on fire?" Willow asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, she has this thing with baking brownies...only they don't come out so well. I guess it's a good thing I'm already dead." Angel said, trying not to laugh.
"Brownies?" Xander asked. It was a little hard to picture Cordelia baking brownies or...well, anything for that matter. Angel shook his head. "Don't even get me started."
"And since when do you have a cell phone?" Buffy asked, her expression one of curiosity. Angel was never one for modern technology.
"Cordy bought it for me. I hate it." Buffy couldn't help but laugh. "What?"
"Nothing, honey. It's just you and cell phones...the two things just don't seem to be meshable."
"Well, not normally. But it's either that or Cordelia nags me because she can't reach me. She says that I need to...how did she put it? Live in the now."
"That's definitely Cordelia." Xander muttered. He knew all too well what Cordelia was like.
Angel nodded slightly, agreeing with him. He rubbed his eyes wearily, turning back to Buffy. "Look, I'd love to stay but I'm exhausted. I'm just gonna head to the mansion but I'll be back tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" She asked in a whiney voice. "But tomorrow is so far away." She took his hand. "Why don't you stay here?"
"Here?" He narrowed his eyes. "I don't think here is such a good idea."
"Why not? Mom's in New York for a few days." She just gazed into his eyes. She could get lost in them for hours. They were so full of him. She could see everything. She could see his life. She could see his heart. She could see his soul. They were just so revealing and she liked what she knew.
Everyone stood up. "Hey, Buff. You know what, we can just continue this tomorrow. It wasn't that important anyway." Willow told her.
"Are you guys sure?" She asked, breaking her eyes from his to glance at them.
"I'm sure everything can wait until tomorrow." Giles said, grabbing his jacket.
"Okay. I'll call you guys." She said, walking them all to the door.
Willow hugged her on the way out. As she did, she whispered in her ear. "You are so giving me details later."
Buffy laughed slightly. "Definitely."
Once everyone was gone, she shut the door, turning back to Angel. "Please stay." She said, her eyes pleading with him.
He sighed. He never really could say no to her. She was just so...her. And that's why he loved her. "Fine. I'll stay."
"I knew you'd see it my way." She laughed. "And my way is so much better anyway."
Dawn stood up from the couch. "I guess I should go to bed then. It's getting late anyway. I'm kind of tired." She shared a look with her sister, Buffy silently thanking her. "I'm glad you're back." She said, hugging Angel.
"Me too." He hugged her back. They were always close. He never knew why but they just connected in some way. She kind of reminded him of his younger sister...except she was different. Dawn was just so vibrant and kind, just like Buffy...and it was hard not to like her.
"I'll see you guys in the morning." She said before heading upstairs.
Angel and Buffy watched her walk away before turning back to each other. She leaned her forehead against his. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He smiled. It was so indescribable what he felt when he was in her arms. It just felt like there could never be anywhere else outside of that.
She reached up, brushing her lips against his gently. "And I missed this."
He nodded but he wasn't really listening. He was just staring at her. She was so beautiful to him. "We should probably go to sleep...it's late. I had a long drive."
She nodded. "Okay." She took his hand and began to lead him to the stairs.
"Where are we going?" He asked as if it weren't completely obvious.
She gave him a 'duh' look. "My room."
"I'm just going to sleep on the couch." He glanced at the living room.
"But-" She started to protest but he interrupted her with a kiss, effectively silencing her.
"It just seems...inappropriate. Especially with Dawn here." He told her when he ended the kiss.
"Dawn is a big girl...and besides, it's not like we're really gonna do anything besides sleep." She tried to reason with him.
"Buffy." He said curtly.
She rolled her eyes, groaning at his stubbornness. "Alright. Fine. You can sleep on the couch." She headed for the stairs. "I'll get you a blanket."
She returned a few minutes later, a blanket in hand. He was sitting on the couch, waiting for her. "All set." She handed the blanket to him. Sitting down next to him, she laid her head on his shoulder. "Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
"Positive." He smiled.
"Alright." She said before kissing him.
He gently caressed her cheek. "I love you."
She smiled for the hundredth time. She was just so full of joy and utter excitement. She was just so full of everything...of him. "I love you too."
She kissed him once more before heading for the stairs. "Buffy." He said stopping her. She turned around, looking at him. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She said softly before ascending up the stairs...all the while, wishing he would go with her. But she understood why he chose to sleep on the couch. And she respected it...she just didn't like it.
He turned off the lamp before laying on the couch, smiling to himself. Everything was finally right in his life. He was finally with her. And that was infinite because she was so beyond everything to him. And he fell asleep knowing that. He fell asleep knowing that he was completely whole. It was the wholeness of feeling...and it was more overshadowing than ever.
Go to the next story Nowhere and Everywhere