Disclaimer: Buffy, Angel and all other characters (except those I make up) are the absolute property of Joss Whedon (A. K. A The EVIL One), Fox, Mutant Enemy and Warner Bros (If I owned them, the events of Buffy season 4 or most of season 3 wouldn't have occurred).
SUMMARY: Buffy and Angel are reunited by a letter. They do some catching up. Buffy meets Kate.
RATING: PG
TIMELINE: Approximately six years after season 3 (BTVS)
SPOILERS: General BTVS and ATS
NOTES: I started writing this before most of the Riley crap occurred in Buffy and definitely before the sucky episode Sanctuary. So in my little Buffyverse some of the events of season 4 Buffy and season 1 Angel don't occur.

ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS, LA.

Buffy Summers stood outside the office door, debating whether or not to go inside. Even after six years she didn't know for sure if she was strong enough to go inside and face him. Angel, the one true love of her life and the man who deserted her in order to give her a normal life, it wasn't his fault that Buffy and normal, just didn't get along. She took a deep breath and walked into the office.

Her first thought when she saw Cordelia sitting at her desk fixing her already perfect make-up, was that some things just never changed.

"Hiya, Cordy. Long time no see?" Buffy said.

Cordelia Chase looked up at the doorway in shock, seeing the one person she hadn't expected to come to the office. "Buffy?" she whispered in surprise.

"Well duh. Who did you think I was, Xander?" Buffy quipped, as Cordelia jumped up from her desk and hugged her.

"Oh my god, it's so good to see you. How is everyone? And tell me all the news".After giving Cordelia a funny look, she replied "Excited much Cor. Everyone is fine".

"That's great and all but dish up the goss, NOW" Cordy demanded.

"Ok, Ok. Well, Xander and Anya are getting married soon, Willow and Tara are happy. Oh the major news is, Giles and my mom are dating, despite there being much weirdness and a total ick factor on my part" Buffy told her.

"Eew, your mom and Giles, that's disgusting. Wait a second, someone is stupid enough to marry Xander?"

"Yep"

"Why would anyone in their right mind do that?" Cordy asked in amazement.

"They kind of have to" Buffy answered.

"You mean...."

"Yep, Anya's pregnant"

"That's even more disgusting than the news about your mom. Xander is reproducing, soon the world will have a new fashion victim" Cordy paused for a moment, as if she was deep in thought. She then asked "Who is Tara?"

"Willows girlfriend" Buffy replied.

Cordy looked confused and started to ask "When did Willow...." when Buffy cut her off by saying "In college after Oz left" Both girls stood there in silence for a couple of minutes until Buffy said "Not that this hasn't been fun Cor, but I did come here for a reason..."

"Yeah, sure. He's in his office."

"Thanks" Buffy said as she started to walk towards his door, she stopped when she heard Cordy say her name.

"What, Cor?"

"Nothing much, just remember to say good-bye before you leave this time"

"Sure I will, Cor" Buffy answered confused.

Buffy knocked on the door to Angel's office and heard him say "Come in". She walked inside and closed the door behind her.

"Hi" she said softly taking a good look at the one thing she would always want but could never have.

"Buffy?...This is a surprise" he could barely believe she was here, he'd thought he'd felt her nearby but thought he was just imagining things again.

"Look, I know this is kinda awkward, so I won't stay long. Giles asked me to give you this letter, although he could have just mailed it" Buffy babbled.

"Thanks" Angel said in a strained voice as his hand brushed Buffy while passing him the letter.

"No problem" she said still feeling funky over his touch "I guess I should go then"

"Yeah, I guess" he replied even though he was desperate to keep her there, he wanted to say so much but he knew he never would tell her any of it.

"Bye Angel"

"Yeah....Bye" he replied softly as she left his office and walked out of his life perhaps forever this time.

When she got into the outer office, she realised that Cordy wasn't there alone.

"Oh my god, Oz? It's been quite a while"

"Hi Buffy. How's it going?"

"Ok. You?" she asked.

"Decent. Willow?"

"You know same old Wils"

"Cool" Oz replied "She seeing anybody?"

When he asked that question Buffy realised Oz didn't know about Tara and she set about telling Oz about Willow's new lifestyle.

Meanwhile in his office, Angel was opening the letter Giles had sent him through Buffy. He began to read it.....

Angel,

Both myself and Willow are ashamed over the news we are about to tell you (well not the news just the lateness of it) as it should have been discovered years ago. When you were recursed, Willow used one that was translated straight from a book and did not contain the clause. So you need not worry about Angelus resurfacing.

We feel terrible over all the heartache and trouble caused to both you and Buffy. We hope to be forgiven someday.
Sincerely Rupert Giles and Willow Rosenberg

Angel couldn't believe it, more than six years of heartache and worrying for nothing, Angelus was never going to be free again. He had to tell Buffy, and hope she still felt the same way about him as he does about her. He grabbed his jacket and raced out of the door and ran straight into Buffy who was still talking to Oz and Cordy.

"Hey, where's the big evil?" Buffy joked as she straightened him up.

Instead of answering her, Angel grabbed her and kissed her. When he finished, she asked him "Why did you do that?"

"I got some good news" he answered.

"Must have been some news" Cordy whispered to Oz.

"What?" Buffy asked him.

"No more happiness clause" Angel replied, with a calmness he didn't feel.

Buffy stared at Angel in shock as the news sunk in. While Cordy told Oz "This means when they get happy, we won't die"

"Cool" Oz replied as Cordy received glares from both Buffy and Angel.

Angel looked back at Buffy and said "I realise you probably want to take things slow......"

He was silenced as Buffy began dragging him towards the lift that led to his apartment.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"I'm taking you to your apartment to get happy. Got a problem with that?"

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Totally and completely"

"Lets go" Angel said quickly in case she changed her mind.

ANGEL'S APARTMENT - LATER

Buffy awoke in unfamiliar surroundings, she for a minute wondered where she was and then the memories of what happened earlier returned. She turner over and looked at Angel sleeping, he looked so peaceful, it was at that exact moment she realised how deep her love for him went. Just then he stirred.

"Hi" he said.

"Hi yourself" she said as she started to kiss Angel's neck.

"What are you up to now?"

"I'm just doing some catching up. Wanna join in?" she asked.

"oh yeah" he said as he grabbed her.There were no more words exchanged for a long time.

Later that night they went upstairs to the office, just as Cordy and Oz were arriving back after dinner.

"Oz run, they're happy, the world as we know it is ending" Cordy yelled.

"Ha-ha, very funny" Buffy replied sarcastically.

"So, you guys are like back together again?" Cordy enquired with a funny look on her face.

"Don't worry Cor, since the Hellmouth is closed permanently, I can move here to LA to be with Angel, so your job is totally safe."

"Good.....Not that I was worried about that or anything" she said looking relieved.

"Sure, Cordy, sure. Angel and I are going to patrol, we'll be back later."

Buffy said as she dragged Angel out of the office.

A couple of hours later, Buffy and Angel were walking home, holding hands oblivious to everyone and everything around them but each other. So they didn't even hear the voice calling Angel until Kate stood directly in front of them.

"Angel" Kate said.

"Oh, hi Kate"

"Who's your little friend?"Kate asked.

Buffy taking offence to the little comment said "Yeah, honey aren't you going to introduce us?"

Angel looked at Buffy and noticed a funny look in her eyes, but instead of questioning her he said "Sure. Buffy Summers meet Kate Lockley. Kate and I have helped each other out on some cases. She works for the LAPD"

"Buffy, that's an unusual name. What do you do?" Kate asked in a condescending tone.

"I work for Angel" Buffy told her.

"Really, since when?"

"Since now"

Angel stood on the sidelines listening to the exchange between the two women, utterly confused.

"Angel sweetie, shouldn't we be heading home" Buffy said suggestively.

"Sure" Angel said to Kate "Bye"

"Bye Angel and Muffy, was it?" Kate said sarcastically.

"Actually it's Buffy, but since I'll be around I'm sure you'll remember it"

After they walked away, Angel said "So what were you and she talking about?"

"Nothing. I was just telling her where she stood"

Angel decided wisely to end the conversation, because it didn't matter, nothing really did as long as he had Buffy with him.

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