Disclaimer: They're not mine! I only wish.
Author's Notes: This is my extremely fluffy New Years sequel to "End of Days". It really has nothing to do with the other story, except some spoilers.

***

"Buffy, I'm home!" Joyce called. Buffy and Angel froze, pulling apart abruptly. They were in the kitchen, making breakfast and.doing other things.the sun shone brightly in the window. Thank god they weren't in the living room...

"Hi Mom!" Buffy exclaimed, straightening her pajamas and running a hand through her hair. She peeked into the next room. "Welcome home." Joyce was setting down her bags.

"I'm exhausted. Christmas was fun though. Sunnydale looks fine. Why did you want me out of the house so much?" Joyce asked.

Seeing what she was about to tell her mother, this was going to sound really, really bad. "It's a long story," Buffy said nervously. She glanced back into the kitchen, where Angel was waiting patiently. "Uh, Mom, I have something to tell you. Three things actually."

"What is it honey?" Joyce asked, taking off her coat and hanging it up.

"You might want to sit down." Joyce raised her eyebrows, but did. "Okay, first thing.Angel's human." As she said it he appeared from behind her (luckily Buffy made him put on a shirt and pants when they came downstairs) obviously in the sunlight.

"Hello Joyce," he said softly. Joyce's eyes widened.

"Secondly," Buffy continued, "He's moving back to Sunnydale." They'd decided almost right away. Since he didn't have super-human strength anymore, there really wasn't a reason for him to keep his business in L.A. And without that, there was no reason for him to stay away from Buffy.

"Wh-what?" Joyce asked faintly. Buffy nodded.

"He's moving back into the mansion-with some redecoration. And um.I'm moving in with him," Buffy said, trying to sound as casual as humanly possible.

Joyce's eyes bulged. "You're what?" she exclaimed.

"Well, not exactly moving in. I'm still going to stay at the dorms most of the time during the week, so it's easy to get to class on time and everything, but I'll spend weekends and vacations with Angel, and I'm going to be moving a lot of my stuff over there. So you'll have more storage room!"

Joyce didn't seem thrilled.

"Are you sure he's human?" she asked darkly.

"Let's see.he's standing in the sun. He's breathing. And he has a heartbeat. So pretty much yeah," Buffy replied.

"Buffy, you're too young for this serious of a relationship," Joyce said desperately.

"Mom, I'm also 'too young' to have a job, 'too young' to save the world, 'too young' to be risking my life daily.and I already do those. I think I can handle this one. And I'm eighteen. You can't tell me what to do anymore. Though I do wish you could be happy for us."

"It's just a lot to take in," Joyce said.

"I can deal with that. Would you like some pancakes?" Buffy asked. Joyce looked from one to the other.

"How exactly did you become human? And have you been staying here the whole time? And why are your pajama pants untied Buffy?" she asked.

Buffy and Angel exchanged glances. Uh-oh.

***

"I can't believe this is the biggest party night of the century, and I don't have plans!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"None of us do," Xander replied glumly.

"Well it's not surprising about you," she replied.

"Hey!" Anya exclaimed.

"Would you three shut the hell up?" Spike asked.

"Why don't you?" Anya snapped.

Willow and Oz exchanged glances. Buffy and Angel arched their eyebrows at each other. Doyle patted Cordelia's arm.

"You could all stay home and enjoy each other's company," Giles suggested, walking past. The arguing four shut up, and then all nine said as one, "No."

"We need something exciting," Buffy said.

"Something memorable," Willow agreed.

"Something to make up for all the oodles of fun we had at Christmas!" Xander exclaimed.

"The Bronze is having a party," Oz put in.

"That's kinda predictable though," Cordelia said. "Plus, that place is totally high school."

"Is there a reason you all had to gather at my house?" Giles asked, looking up from his book.

"Well, my mom's not too pleased with me right now," Buffy said apologetically.

"Uncle Rory temporarily moved into my room," Xander offered.

"Does he have whores?" Willow asked. Buffy gave her a look. "What! I was just curious!"

"All I can say is.dear god I hope not!" Xander replied, shuddering.

"We're getting off topic guys," Buffy pointed out. "We still need plans." She turned to Angel. "You've been through a couple of turn of the centuries. What do you think we should do?"

"I don't care," he said softly, "As long as I'm with you." Buffy's heart melted and she kissed him softly.

"Good answer,"she whispered, then sighed. "But not getting us any closer to something to do!"

"I never would have guessed what he was like without all the brooding," Doyle remarked.

"Now if he'd only stop with the PDAs, I'd be thrilled," Cordelia added. "Just so you know, that whole thing is really over."

"Thanks for the tip Cor," Buffy remarked with a slight smile twisting her lips.

"Weren't we discussing New Years plans?" Anya asked.

"Thank you! I say we blow something up!" Xander exclaimed. "You know, to commemorate the whole end of the world thing."

"That's over," Buffy reminded him.

"Yeah, but no one knows!"

"So we should get ourselves arrested so we can spread the message?" Angel asked, arching his eyebrows. Xander nodded enthusiastically.

"Uh huh!" Everyone gave him a look. "It was only an idea."

"I for one shall be spending a nice quiet evening at home reflecting on-"

"Why you have no life?" Buffy cut in. She shook her head. "No way Giles, you gotta get out there! But not in the sense of dating out there cause.that's just wrong. But um, there's probably a really stuffy party somewhere that you'd enjoy."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Giles said dryly. "The beginning of a new millenium is a time of reflection, of looking over your life and seeing where it needs to be changed. It's about new beginnings."

"It's about parties," Cordelia said.

"Yep," Xander agreed.

"I thought it was about blowing things up?" Angel reminded him. He shrugged.

"I'm past that phase now. I'm with the whole massive bash thing."

"I don't know, maybe Giles has a point," Buffy said softly. "Maybe we should just spend it all together. Like a family."

"We're not related," Cordelia pointed out.

"That didn't stop us on Christmas," Doyle said.

"We're totally a family!" Xander exclaimed. "But I still want to party!"

Buffy sighed and glanced at her watch. "Eek! We have to drive to L.A. and get Angel's stuff tonight!"

"Why?" Willow asked.

"So I have time to redecorate his house before I go back to school!" Buffy replied as if it was obvious. She stood up and hauled her boyfriend to his feet. "Come on dear. Time to move out."

"So I can move in tomorrow?" Doyle asked hopefully. Angel shrugged.

"Sounds good to me." His lease was paid up for another three months, so Doyle and Cordelia were going to keep running Angel Investigations, and Doyle was moving in. They weren't sure if they could do it, but it couldn't hurt to try.

"Bye guys. Call us if you have any good ideas," Buffy said cheerfully.

" 'Us'?" Xander asked. Buffy gave Angel a sideways glance, hoping that he wasn't regarding her with commitment horror. The corner of his mouth was turned up. She sighed in relief. She'd thought she was done for with that remark about grandchildren.okay, so now that she had him she wasn't planning to give him up ever but she knew he was still getting used to the idea of being human and having a future. She didn't want to push her luck.

He knew that there was no way she could ever push it too far. He'd been waiting 245 years for this.

"That's what I said," she replied, and pulled Angel out before things could get any worse. Once outside she gave him another sidelong glance. "It's all right, isn't it.that I said us?" He stopped and pulled her into his arms.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he murmured, and bent down to kiss her. From inside the house someone yelled, "Get a house!" Buffy and Angel ignored them.

Part Two

"Well that's the last of it," Buffy said, setting down another box. They'd already been to L.A. once to pack all of Angel's stuff and for this trip they'd hired a U-Haul and brought everything, furniture included. It was odd, but very cute seeing Angel staggering under the weight of his side of the furniture. The first time he couldn't hold it Buffy dropped her side of the chair on his foot and collapsed in a fit of giggles. Angel was less than amused. Everything else had gone relatively smoothly though, with Buffy taking care of the heavy lifting.

They glanced around the front room. Boxes were stacked everywhere, though for 240+ years Angel had remarkably little stuff. "Aren't you afraid someone's going to buy this place and we're going to be kicked out?" Buffy asked, flopping onto the couch.

"Not really," Angel replied, pulling some papers out of his jacket pocket. He handed them over. It was the deed to the mansion. Buffy's eyes widened at the price.

"How did you.You bought it?"

"Well I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon," he whispered. Buffy melted and pulled him down beside her. She kissed him softly.

"I love you," she whispered. He kissed her again. "And I you."

"So how did you afford this place?" she asked, looking around. "I thought Cordelia was desperate for clients. Where'd you get all this money?"

"I have money saved up. I was trying to live off of what I could earn, but I thought this was a good cause. I'll get a job as soon as possible, but for now I don't have to worry about it."

"That must be a lot of money," Buffy remarked, laughing. She snuggled into his arms and looked around the huge room. "Wow. You own a house."

"We own it," he said. "I bought it to be near you. And everything I have is yours."

"See, my mother may begin to like you after all," Buffy laughed. He grinned. "Now if only you could become a doctor or something."

"A doctor huh? Shall I fix you?" his eyes beginning to gleam.

"How would you go about that?" Buffy asked innocently. Angel pushed her gently over. She flopped backwards on the couch and looked up at him with suggestive eyes, trying not to laugh.

"You'll see."

***

Angel turned over when he heard the knock. He pulled Buffy closer to him, reveling in the warmth of her body, the softness of her skin. The knock came again.

"What's that?" Bffy asked in a whisper.

"The door," Angel replied grumpily into the pillow. It took Buffy a moment to process, then her eyes opened wide and she wiggled out of his arms and out of bed. She started toward the door then realized she was stark naked and grabbed the nearest piece of clothing-one of Angel's very large shirts-and pulled it over her head before dashing to the door.

Willow had just raised her hand to knock again. She raised her eyebrows at Buffy's disheveled appearance and scanty clothing. "Was I interupting something?" Buffy looked down and realized the shirt barely covered her to mid-thigh.

"Just my beauty sleep," she replied with a smile. "Come in. I was deathly afraid it was my mother."

"You guys were asleep?" Willow asked. Buffy glanced at a clock resting on a nearby table. It was almost one.

"Uh, yeah, it was a long night-day! I meant day. Yesterday. Y' know, with the moving and all," Buffy said quickly. Willow gave her a knowing look.

"Sure," she agreed. Buffy shrugged. In actuality they hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and they'd been up at dawn to watch the sunrise from the hill where Buffy had once pleaded with Angel for his life. They'd made love in the sun before coming back to the house and collapsing from exhaustion.

"Hey Willow," Angel said, walking into the room wearing the pajama pants that went with Buffy's shirt. He kissed Buffy softly. "Breakfast?"

"Guys, it's past noon," Willow reminded them. Buffy shrugged.

"Lunch?" She turned to Angel. "I'm ravenous!"

"Scrambled eggs?" he suggested. Buffy nodded and he looked to Willow. She sat down on the couch.

"Sure. Thanks." Angel walked out of the room towards the kitchen. "You're trusting Angel to make you food?"

"He's a good cook!" Buffy exclaimed, sitting cross legged beside her friend. "We bought a new oven yesterday, and a fridge. The one's here were kinda non-good."

"What if someone wants to move into the house?" Willow asked. Buffy grinned hugely.

"Not a problem. Angel bought the house!!!!!" she squealed. Willow's eyes widened.

"He bought it?" she asked, looking around.

"Kinda my reaction, but he says he has major savings or something, plus the people who owned it didn't know it had been fixed up, so he got it at a much lower price than it should have been. I can't believe it. I have a house! With Angel!"

"Does this mean you're ditching our sisterhood dorm thing?" Willow asked teasingly.

"And you're not going to be at Oz's 24/7?" Buffy inquired. Willow grinned guiltily. "Well, I'm still going to be at school most of the time during the week. Just weekends and stuff I'll be here."

"Food's ready!" Angel called from the next room. Buffy leaped to her feet and pulled Willow after her. They sat down at the makeshift kitchen table and Angel set a plate before each of them before getting his own and sitting down. Willow took a bit dubiously, then her eyes widened.

"Wow, this is good!"

"Told ya," Buffy said serenely between bites. "Handsome, sweet, owns a mansion and he can cook. There is no bad here."

"Oh! I almost forgot the whole reason I was coming over to talk to you. You know that party at the Bronze?" Buffy nodded. "Well it turns out it's invitation only. For the Bronze's most loyal and longlasting customers.and guess who's invited?"

"We are?" Buffy guessed, holding her plate up to Angel hopefully. He sighed and went to get her more food.

"Well, Oz is cause of the Dingoes, and Xander cause his Uncle Rory is friends with the owner and he's been going since he was like five, and Cordy cause all those dances she presided over there.and you!"

"Why me?" Buffy asked, taking her plate back with a grateful smile.

"I'm guessing cause all the property damage you averted. And everyone gets to bring a date, so that means the whole gang can go!" Willow exclaimed happily. Buffy smiled at her friend's enthusiasm.

"Sounds good. I thought we didn't think the Bronze was exciting enough though."

"That's because you haven't heard who's playing," Willow nearly squealed, almost bouncing in her seat.

"Will, I know you love the Dingoes, but it's-"

"Nope! Soooooooooooo much better! You'll never guess!" Willow exclaimed. Buffy and Angel exchanged glances.

"Are you going to tell us?" Angel asked.

"The Goo Goo Dolls!" Willow squealed. Buffy's eyes went wide and then she started squealing too, literally bouncing in her seat.

"For real?!"

"For real! We're going to see the Goo Goo Dolls! Up close and personal! New Years Eve with Johnny Reznick!" Willow cried. Buffy squealed some more and grabbed her friend's hands, bouncing.

Angel arched his eyebrows and took another bite of scrambled eggs.

Part Three

The next day was designated as shopping day. There was no way in Hell Buffy, Willow, Anya and most especially Cordelia, were going to that New Years party without the perfect outfits.

"I just don't get it," Angel remarked, watching the four walk off.

"I'm with ya mister," Xander agreed. "Give me jeans and a t-shirt any day of the week."

"You do realize we have to get tuxes right?" Angel reminded him. Xander winced.

"I was hoping they'd forget," Doyle put in.

"Angel!" Buffy called, pausing and turning around. The four guys looked up at them. "Don't forget the tuxes!" Collectively, they winced. Buffy blew him a kiss.

"Did I mention I'm broke?" Xander asked.

"Did I mention I'm out of a job?" Doyle put in.

Oz, as usual, was silent.

"Come on," Angel said. "Let's get it over with."

"And then we can go on to the fun of guy bonding!" Xander exclaimed.

The girls conversation was slightly different to say the least.

"Where should we start?" Buffy asked.

"Starlight and Moonshine," Cordelia replied, switching easily into Mall Mode.

"You know, you have been out of town for a while." Anya pointed out. Cordelia gave her the Look of Death. Willow laughed.

"Anya, when it comes to shopping, never question Cordy," she advised. "Besides, she spent enough time here, there's no way she's forgotten. I mean, the people here still remember her!"

"Hey!" Cordelia exclaimed, annoyed at the implication that all she did was shop. Willow and Buffy gave her looks. "Okay, okay, so they do."

"I hope they remember the tuxes," Buffy murmured. She stopped and turned back to the guys, calling Angel's name. He looked over and she smiled despite herself. He looked so out of place in the mall, poor guy. He was trying to brood, and it just wasn't working. "Don't forget the tuxes!" Angel nodded and she blew him a kiss. He smiled, his eyes returning it and she turned away again.

"Did your dad give you money to buy an outfit?" Willow asked. Buffy shook her head.

"He promised to take me shopping in L.A. sometime, but this week was too hectic. Angel gave me his credit card."

"What?" Cordelia demanded. "Excuse me, I meant WHAT?" Buffy gave her an odd look.

"Well we are practically living together.sharing everything."

"Since when does he have a credit card he just throws around?" she demanded. "He didn't even give me a Christmas bonus!"

"Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to buy you shoes," Buffy said cheerfully. "Something about not noticing or something." Cordelia subsided, obviously trying to plan where she could find the most expensive shoes possible.

"Ooh, I love that dress!" Anya exclaimed, pointing to a shop window. The four stopped to consider it.

"It's not your color," Cordelia said.

"If you had the right accessories it would work," Buffy disagreed.

"Let's go look," Willow suggested.

The shopping had begun.

***

Angel eyed the hamburger with marked distaste. If there was one thing he hadn't missed as a vampire, it was McDonalds. "Are you sure there isn't something better?" he asked Xander. Xander shrugged.

"Do you see something better?"

"I heard that was a good pub down the road," Doyle suggested, brightening up. Angel half-smiled.

"We have to wait for the girls. Besides, Xander and Oz are underage," Angel pointed out.

"Oh fine, flaunt your oldness.Old Guy!" Xander exclaimed. Angel arched his eyebrows. "What, you'd rather I call you Dead Boy?"

"I'm not dead."

"So?"

"Look," Oz said. Xander and Angel stopped and looked up in time to see the four girls approaching, heavily armed with.shopping bags. Lots of shopping bags.

"Hey lover," Buffy said softly, slipping into Angel's lap. "Miss me?" She kissed him, then looked at his food and made a face.

"Horribly," he replied dryly. "Did you max my credit card?"

"Depends, how much did you have in there?" she asked mischieviously. His eyes widened slightly and she laughed. "No, I was good. Cordelia on the other hand, made us look in every single store in the whole place for the most expensive pair of shoes!"

"What?" Cordelia asked. "They match my dress!" Buffy and Angel exchanged a look.

"So, what'd you get?" Xander asked. "How many shopping bags does one outfit take?"

The girls exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Buffy hid her face on the table as she giggled hysterically, Cordelia started shaking her head, Anya blushed bright red and Willow ducked under a nearby chair.

"What'd I say?" Xander asked plaintively.

"We, uh, did some.extracurricular shopping," Buffy managed a moment later, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "For.other things."

Angel's eyebrows shot up. Xander looked hopelessly confused. Anya and Willow started giggling again. Xander went for a shopping bag and Buffy nearly did a dive off Angel's lap to stop him. "Not now! You'll see.eventually."

The four of them cracked up again. For the rest of the afternoon.

***

"My feet hurt," Buffy moaned, flopping onto the couch. Angel sat down, and she obligingly lifted up her feet, resettling them on his lap once he was comfortable. He unstrapped her heeled sandals.

"It might hurt not to wear four-inch heels," he advised mildly. Buffy made a face.

"But what would be the fun in that? Angel."

"Yes?"

"Do you wanna give me a foot rub?" she asked in a pleading voice. Angel considered for a moment.

"I let you spend my money. I put up with you giggling for hours.and now you want a foot rub?" he asked.

"Please?"

He acquiesed and began rubbing her feet. Buffy moaned in appreciation.

"That feels really good," she murmured.

"I aim to please."

"Thank you Angel."

"No problem."

"No, I mean thank you for everything," Buffy said softly. "For loving me despite everything, for being there whenever I needed you. For buying this house so you could be with me.for the clothes."

His dark eyes were serious when he turned them to her. "Of course. I want you to be happy."

"I would be happy with just you," Buffy said, then smiled. "And maybe some shoes." He paused in his massage to lean over and kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and the kiss deepened.

"Do I get to find out what else you bought?" he murmured into her mouth. Buffy shook her head.

"Not until New Years!" she exclaimed. He sighed and kissed her again, his hand tracing her cheek, down her throat. "You haven't finished my massage!" she squealed. He groaned and she pushed him backwards gently, kicking her feet in the air. "Now get to work mister!"

***

The phone was ringing. Why did people always have to wake them up?

"Your turn," Buffy muttered, burying her face deeper into the pillow. Angel moaned, but rolled over and groped for the phone.

"Hello?" There was a pause and then Angel sat up. "Joyce? Yes, Buffy's here. Just a minute."

At her mother's name, Buffy sat straight up, pulling Angel's shirt up over her shoulder as if her mother could actually see her. She took the phone. "Uh, hi Mom."

"Buffy?"

"Yep. How are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"We're good!" Buffy exclaimed. "I mean, I'm good.What's up?"

"I just wanted to check on you," Joyce said, sounding extremely strained. Buffy sighed and leaned back against the headboard of the bed.

"Mom, I'm great. Really. I've never been happier. We moved all of Angel's stuff back from L.A. and we're setting up a home. I was planning to come and get some of my stuff today, is that all right?"

"Yes, I-I'll see you then," Joyce said. Buffy nearly sighed in relief.

"Okay. I'll be over this afternoon. I love you Mom."

"You too sweetie. Good bye."

"Bye." Buffy handed the phone to Angel for him to hang up.

"So?" he asked. Buffy shrugged.

"She sounded stressed, but no lecture. Yet. We have to go get my stuff. Actually have some colored clothes hanging in your closets!" she teased. He laughed.

"Sounds good to me," he whispered, and pulled her down into the bed.

Part Four

"How many pairs of shoes do you have?" Angel asked idly, loading another pair into the box.

"I like shoes," Buffy replied defensively.

"I was just asking."

"Sure ya were. And for your information yes I got new shoes to go with my outfit and no, that's not why you aren't allowed to look in my shopping bags," Buffy replied serenely, carefully folding a skirt into a suitcase.

"Buffy," Joyce said, pausing outside of the door. The Slayer looked up. Her mother hesitated. "Would you two like anything to eat?" Buffy and Angel looked at each other.

"Some chips might be nice," Buffy said, "Thanks Mom." Joyce turned away, looking a little lost. Angel gave Buffy his pensive look. She sighed and got up, bending over to kiss his cheek. "I'll be right back."

"Mom, can we talk?" Buffy asked, catching up with her mother on the stairs.

"Sure honey," Joyce said, sounding forced. Buffy sighed. She waited until they were in the kitchen.

"Mom, I know you're not happy that I'm back together with Angel, but this is what I've wanted for a very long time. I want you to be happy for me." Joyce hesitated, her back to Buffy as she pulled the chips out of the cupboard. She turned around slowly.

"I just didn't think I'd be losing you this soon," she said quietly. "You were already living away from home.but I always knew you'd be coming back. Now I can't count on it anymore." Buffy's heart ached a little at the sadness in her mother's voice. And then she kept talking. "Besides, I don't think Angel's good for you."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "First of all, you're not losing me. I'm still going to be living in Sunnydale, and if you think anything is going to keep me away from Chick Flick Night you've got another thing coming to you!" Joyce smiled despite herself. "Secondly.Mom, you have no idea. First of all, about a month ago Angel gave up humanity so that I could live. Do you have any idea what kind of sacrifice that was for him? Then, last week.well, everything seems normal now, but believe me it was not and there is no way I or this world would still be here if it wasn't for him! He saved me and he saved everyone!"

Buffy paused, considering, and a little smile flitted over her face. "Besides, he makes me happy. Really, truly, completely happy. I can forget all the bad stuff when I'm with him. And there's a lot of bad stuff. But Angel makes it go away. I love him Mom, and I want to be with him for my whole life. I don't want to lose you, but there's no way I'm letting him go, ever."

At the top of the stairs Angel paused, not meaning to eavesdrop, and hearing that, smiled softly.

"I want you to be happy Buffy," Joyce said finally. "Just give me a little while to adjust, all right?"

"I'll try," Buffy said. "Now, how about those chips?"

***

"I can't believe this is the last day of the millenium," Buffy said, unbuttoning her blouse. Angel watched with open interest from a nearby chair.

"It is a little odd, isn't it?" he asked. Buffy nodded vehemently, then caught his eyes, smirking at him.

"And you've been alive for quarter of it," she murmured, sliding the shirt off her shoulders. His eyes traced over her, half laughing, half burning.

"Uh-huh."

"Angel, you do realize that I'm going to take a shower now, not do anything else, right?" Buffy said teasingly, unzipping her skirt and letting it fall to the floor.

"Who me?" he asked. "I'm just enjoying the show." Buffy gave him a dirty look and siezed her bath robe.

"No more for you than!" she exclaimed, flouncing into the bathroom. He bit his tongue. Hard. And waited. "Make sure your tux is all right," she called a moment later. Angel put his face in his hands. Nothing more came out of the bathroom for a moment.and then yelling.

"Stupid thing!" Buffy's voice muttered. Angel frowned.

"Want help?" he asked hopefully.

"I'm fine," she replied sweetly. "But the shower's being annoying."

He waited. She began swearing, then the door of the bathroom opened to reveal Buffy completely naked. "The shower's broken," she announced. "Call the repairman."

"You want to get dressed?" he suggested. She smiled sweetly at him.

"I will. You want to get a repairman before I throw something at your head?"

She was a tad bit worked up about the concert. Angel was beginning to get that.

"I'm going," he muttered, standing up and beginning to search for the phone amid the boxes and boxes of clothes and shoes stacked around the room.

"I love you Angel," she whispered, kissing the back of his neck softly. Angel shivered, and turned around to catch her, but she was already gone-putting on her bathrobe. He gave her a plaintive look. She laughed. "Call the repairman."

***

"Are you going to be ready soon? Say, in the next hour?" Doyle asked again.

"I'm coming!" Cordelia exclaimed from the bedroom. "Hold your horses. And don't you dare touch that champagne!"

Doyle smiled, taking another sip of whiskey. "Or the whiskey!" she yelled. He winced.

"Well if you would hurry up."

"Doyle!" she yelled.

"Sorry."

"I am driving," Cordelia snapped, emerging from her room. Doyle didn't even have the breath to protest that even with a couple drinks he was a way better driver than she was.

Basically, he stared.

Cordelia smiled.

"You look.you look."

"Great," she finished for him. "I know." She took the glass out of his hand and set it on the table. "Will you get my coat?"

Still on the verge of stuttering, he did as she asked.

"It's seven," he said, getting his voice back and glancing at her watch. "We'll get there at eight. Thanks to your delay." She narrowed her eyes at him, then grabbed the keys out of his hand.

"Not the way I drive."

Doyle supressed a shudder.

***

The problem with calling repairmen was there weren't any to call. Not any working anyway.

"I could try," Angel said reluctantly, after hanging up on the seventh answering machine. Buffy's eyes widened in horror.

"You are not going anywhere near that shower. I need it!" she exclaimed.

"What, you don't believe in my manly expertise with repair tools?" Angel asked.

"Should I even bother to answer that?" she asked, settling on his lap, "or would it damage your manly self-esteem?"

"I think you could find a way to repair it," he murmured, pulling her in for a kiss.

The phone rang. Buffy groaned and tumbled herself off Angel's lap as he reached for the phone. "Hello? You can? Thank you, yes, please come right away!" He hung up the phone.

"A repairman's coming," he reported. Buffy smiled.

"I knew it would all work out!"

***

"What time is it?" Willow asked, rolling over. Oz winced.

"Sweetie, our nap ran a little over.it's almost eight."

"What?!" Willow demanded, sitting straight up. He nodded reluctantly. Willow began cursing in a very un-Willowlike way and ran for the shower.

***

The concert started at eight. The repairman got there at eight-thirty.

"Please hurry!" Buffy said, having begun to get frantic. They hadn't heard from anyone either, and they were all supposed to meet there at eight. No one had showed up.

The man, hugely fat, with a wife beater on that showed way too much and a tool belt around his sagging waist. Buffy inched closer to Angel when he started eyeing her. Angel took a deep breath and asked the man to please come inside.

Buffy paced the front room as he worked. At nine he said it would be about fifteen more minutes. At nine-thirty he said it'd gotten complicated. Buffy seriously considered going to her mother's house to take a shower and get dressed. Of course, the fact no one else had shown up was also problematic.

At ten, Cordelia called.

"Where are you?" Buffy shrieked.

"There's a little traffic. Like, the entire city of L.A. decided to leave L.A. But we're coming. We'll probably be there in like a half hour."

"Yeah, moving would help," Doyle's voice muttered.

"You're not moving?" Buffy asked frantically.

"Not.exactly. At the moment," Cordelia said. "You guys can go, if you're all ready and waiting for us."

"Well.we've had a couple problems. Thanks for calling."

"Come on, they're starting to go!" Doyle exclaimed.

"I gotta go. Bye," Cordelia said, hanging up. Buffy hung up. The repairman lumbered out of the room.

"You're all set to go," he said, eyeing her in her bathrobe. Buffy tried to smile at him.

"Uh.thanks," she murmured. "Happy New Year."

"Yeah, right," he said, leering at her.

"Gotta go.take a shower!" she exclaimed, and dashed past Angel into the bedroom.

***

"Anya, we have to go!" Xander exclaimed. Anya rolled her eyes.

"It's not midnight yet. Just once more." she whispered. Xander eyed her, then the rumpled bed.

"Hell, one more time in the millenium," he laughed. Anya grinned. They didn't get ready.

***

"You look.amazing," Angel said, emerging from the bathroom to find Buffy fully dressed. She looked up from pulling on her stockings and smiled at them, then glanced over at the clock.

"You have to get dressed!" she yelled. "I'm calling Willow."

Willow wasn't home. She called Oz.

"Sorry, we kinda slept in," Willow said.

"Slept in?! Through the Goo Goo Dolls?"

"We're coming," Willow said.

"Then hurry up!" Buffy shouted, and hung up. She was missing the Goo Goo Dolls. She was missing the Goo Goo Dolls.

At eleven Xander called.

"Uh.sorry about that. We're coming right over now," he said.

"Shut up and come!" Buffy yelled.

"Sweetie," Angel said, coming up behind her. "You might want to calm down a little bit." Buffy turned, her eyes surprisingly playful.

"But how else am I gonna get them over here?" she asked plaintively. Angel laughed and kissed her.

"I love you," he said softly.

"I know."

Cordelia and Doyle finally showed up at eleven fifteen. Xander and Anya came a few minutes later. Willow and Oz arrived at eleven thirty, apologizing profusely. The eight of them raced off to the Bronze.

"I can't let you in," the man at the door said.

"What?" Buffy asked in an icy voice. It was eleven fifty-five. They could faintly hear music coming from inside.

"No one after midnight," he said firmly, never guessing what the small blond could do to him if she chose.

"Does it look like it's after midnight to you?" Cordelia demanded in a high pitched voice.

"Let us in," Angel said quietly, his voice promising consequences if the man didn't step aside.

"Five minutes!" Johnny's voice shouted. "Anyone left outside? Come on in!"

With a smug look, they pushed their way inside.

Part Five

Buffy caught a glimpse of the band before Angel drew her into his arms. They started to play.

Baby's black balloon makes her fly
I almost fell into that hole in your life
And you're not thinking about tomorrow
Cause you were the same as me
But on your knees

"I spent so much time just holding on to today," Buffy whispered, "To the present. I was afraid to look into the future. Into a future without you."

"But you don't have to be afraid anymore," Angel said softly.

"I know," she whispered, completely joy in the words. "Now all I want is the future. This is just a beginning of the rest of our lives."

A thousand other boys could never reach you
How could I have been the one?
I saw the world spin to meet you
And scatter like ice from the spoon
That was your womb

"Hi Will," Buffy whispered as they spun past her best friend. Willow looked radiant, and truly happy in Oz's arms. Willow waved back, smiling.

"We got here," Angel said. Buffy smiled and leaned her head against his chest.

"Uh-huh."

Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
Or are you someone's prayer

"Do you realize that we saved the world a week ago?"

"Not even a week," Buffy reminded him. "Andyes. All of this.was gone. But it's here. We did it Angel. My Angel.everyone's angel."

"If I'm an angel you're a prayer," he whispered. "My prayer." Buffy lay her head down on his chest and listened to his heart beat, to the music, to the sound of beginnings.

You know the lies they always told you
And the love you never knew
What's the things they never showed you
That swallowed the light from the sun
Inside your room

Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder

And there's no time left for losin'
When you stand they fall

"You know, I wouldn't care if we were in a graveyard right now, or some weird third world country, or.anywhere. I'm with you," Buffy said. "Do you realize how close we were to not being together for New Years?"

"I realize it every second," Angel replied, then smiled. "But I do like the band." Buffy laughed happily.

"Finally, I'm going to get you to appreciate modern music if it's the last thing I do!" she exclaimed.

"Well, the last thing you do this millenium," he murmured. Her smile was blindingly bright.

Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you grow colder
All because I'm
Comin' down the year's turn over
And angels fall without you there
And I'll go on to bring you home
All because I'm
All because I'm
And I'll become
What you became to me

The last note faded away as the clock on the balcony began to glow.

"Ten!" Johnny Reznick shouted.

"Nine!" they all joined in. Angel's hands tightened on Buffy's.

"Eight!" The eight friends somehow found themselves together.

"Seven!" Willow's grin lit up the place.

"Six!" Angel pulled Buffy into his arms again.

"Five!"

"Four!"

"Three! Two! One!" The nightclub burst into bright lights, but Buffy didn't even notice, lost beneath the sweetness of Angel's mouth. The band began to play again.

"Happy New Year," Angel said.

"Happy New Millenium," Buffy corrected him, and pulled him in for another kiss.

***

"You're not tired right?" Buffy asked, unzipping the back of her evening gown.

"A little. Why?" Angel asked, then turned around and saw. His eyes widened. Buffy smiled.

"Oh my," he breathed.

"You like?" she asked playfully.

"How do you.how do you get that on?" he asked, squinting at the lingerie.

"Well it's damn uncomfortable, I'll tell you that," Buffy laughed. "Don't you want to help me out and get it off soon?"

"Uh.right," he whispered.

"They didn't look this uncomfortable in the store," Buffy muttered, then crooked a finger at him. "Come on lover boy."

"In the store? Is this the surprise?" he asked, eyeing her.

"Uh-huh. Ya like?"

"You have no idea," he breathed.

"Xander and Oz are probably very happy men right about now."

"What about Doyle?"

"Cordelia wasn't sure. I think she wants some real dates first. With him paying."

"They may be happy," Angel breathed, finally reaching her. "But not as happy as I am."

"I was hoping you'd say something like that," she whispered.

"Now how the hell do you get it off?" he asked. She laughed and bent to kiss his throat, his chin.

"Happy New Year lover," she murmured. And then they didn't talk for a very long time.

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