Part 11

Angel paced back and forth across the room as he nervously awaited the arrival of his former work companions. He heard the door open and shut, and he turned to face his old friends.

"This had better be good," Cordelia announced. "Or I am so leaving. Now what could you have possibly wanted to see all of us for? Need our help with Darla or something? Because you are so not getting it."

Angel looked at Wesley and Gunn, hoping that one of them would say something. When neither of them said anything, he spoke, "I needed to talk to all of you. It's important, so I would appreciate it if you just let me get this all out."

Cordelia plopped down on the couch. Wesley sat beside her, and Gunn rested himself against the arm.

Cordy motioned to him, "Go on. Some of us don't have all eternity to wait. I have things to do."

"Okay. I don't really know how to say this, so I'm just going to be blunt about it. I made a big mistake when I fired you. I have made some pretty big mistakes lately, and I realized how much of a jerk I have been. I'm sorry for any pain that I have caused you. You guys always tried to do what was best. You were trying to help me with my obsession with Darla. I was just too blind to see that. I hope that with time you can forgive me, and accept me back into your lives." Angel said.

"I really miss all of you. Cordelia, I miss seeing your smiling face every morning," he continued. "Wesley, I miss yours and Cordy's constant bickering. And your reliable help with research. Gunn, believe it or not I miss having the competition we always seemed to have going when fighting demons. I miss working with you guys. You were the best friends I have ever had. I was stupid to ever give you up. I'm incredibly sorry. I'll understand if you never want to speak to me again," he concluded. He started to walk from the room. He didn't want to stay because of his fear of them having a negative reaction to his apology.

Cordelia was the first to speak up, "Angel, wait."

He came back into the room.

"Is this for real? Or tomorrow are you going to go back to maniac, and fire us again?" she questioned. "I do not want to have to deal with that again."

"This is for real," he replied.

"What about Darla?" Wesley finally spoke. "How are you just going to leave her alone now? It wasn't possible for you to do so before."

"She was just a distraction. I know that now. I'm going to fight for the better good again. I don't want to end up on the dark side. Being around Darla gave me the temptation to do so. I don't want to be a monster. I can't do it alone. I need my…" he trailed off.

"You need your friends." Gunn finished for him.

Angel nodded, "I do. If I see Darla again, I'll kill her. But I'm not going to seek her out. That's what she wants me to do, but I'm not going to give that to her. I'm going to forget about her. I don't need her. She's nobody."

"Angel, if you don't mind my asking, what suddenly made you come to this realization?" Wesley questioned.

"An old friend," Angel said simply just as the door to the hotel opened.

Dawn entered looking upset. She stormed past Angel and his newly reunited partners, and up the stairs.

Angel heard a door slam.

"Isn't that…?" Wesley started to ask.

"Dawn," Cordelia supplied. "As in Buffy's sister Dawn?"

"It is," Angel verified.

Buffy then walked in; "I take it you've seen Dawn?"

"I have. What's she so upset about?"

"I told her she would have to attend school while in L.A. She didn't take it too well." Buffy answered.

"Are you two going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine in a little bit. It'll be like nothing ever happened between us. It's a sister thing." Buffy assured him. "Don't worry about it."

"I told her she'd have to go to school." Angel stated. "Guess she didn't believe me about it."

"She believed you. It's just the fact that it actually happened that upset her. No biggy."

"Buffy, hi," Cordelia greeted. "I haven't seen you in a long time. What brings you to L.A.?"

"Dawn and I are going to be staying here for awhile. Some major things have been going on in Sunnydale. We just need a break from it all."

"You know what, Angel?" Cordy asked. "Maybe coming back to work for you isn't such the brightest idea. Working with a psycho killer is a lot worse than working with someone who may fire you again."

"What do you mean by that?" Gunn inquired.

"She's the one that can turn Angel evil," she clarified.

"So don't like the sound of that." Gunn replied.

"Look, nothing is going to happen between us." Angel defended him and Buffy.

"Yeah, we're just friends," she added.

"Friends who like to get pelvic with each other." Cordelia reminded them.

"Angel is just helping me and my sister out. Dawn needs to be safe right now. There's a demon, or rather a god, who's after the key. The key just so happens to be Dawn. The whole thing is complicated, but you just have to trust that Angel and I will not do anything to put anyone in danger." Buffy swore. "We're going to need all the help we can get with research. Giles and I have spent months researching, and have found nothing. Can we count on you guys for help or not?"

"I'm in." Gunn said. Cordelia and Wesley agreed as well.

"Look's like we're a team again." Cordelia stated. "So what's the plan?"

"The only plan we have so far is research," Angel told them.

"I think the best thing is to research when Dawn's at school. I don't want her to feel anymore out of place than she already is. I wasn't really considering sending her to school until I decided that she needs to get out some." Buffy said. "She doesn't need to be cooped up all day."

"Tomorrow we'll start the research then?" Wesley questioned.

"Yeah," Angel informed.

"We'll be going then." Cordelia announced. She gave Angel a quick hug, startling him. "I missed you too."

Angel and Buffy watched as the three left.

"So how was your shopping adventure?" he asked.

"We got a few things. The bags are over there," she pointed. She went to get them. Unaware that Angel had followed to help, when she turned around she ran right into his chest. It caused her to drop the bags.

"Here let me help you," Angel said helping her pick up the bags. When they both went to stand up, they bumped heads.

"We're just so accident prone today," Buffy joked. She looked up into Angel's eyes.

He caught her eyes as well. He leaned down to kiss her. The urge was too powerful to pass up.

Buffy sensed what was going to happen. She closed her eyes in anticipation. Just as his lips were about to touch hers she chickened out. "We need food."

Angel straightened out, "Excuse me?"

"You have no food for Dawn and I to eat. I need to go shopping." She hurriedly left. Once outside the building she leaned up against the wall. 'What was I thinking? He was going to kiss me, and I stopped him. I've been waiting so long to have a kiss from him. Why didn't I go through with it? He won't try it again. He's going to think that all I want to be is friends. Nothing more.' Her thoughts were clouding her mind. She took a deep breath, and raced back into the hotel.

She found Angel standing in the same spot as she had left him. Without another thought in her mind, she ran to him. She leapt into his arms and kissed him.

He returned the kiss with as much passion as he could muster. He was surprised at her action, but grateful. He thought that when he made the move to kiss her, she didn't want it. But he was wrong.

When they finally broke apart, Buffy gave him a brilliant smile. She didn't know what to say. Her mind wasn't functioning right. She did the only thing she could think to do. She walked back towards the door. She finally managed to form words. "I'm going to the grocery store. I'll be back." She turned around once more, flashing him a smile, before leaving for the store.

Part 12

When Buffy arrived back from the grocery store, Angel was nowhere to be seen. She felt disappointed, but mostly relieved. She didn't know what the kiss meant for their relationship. She had to talk to Angel about it. The whole thing might have been a big mistake. 'Was it a mistake?' she thought to herself. 'Even if it was, I sure as hell don't regret it.'

She put the groceries away, and then headed up the stairs. She walked past Dawn's room. Dawn had her headphones on and was reading a magazine. She made her way to Angel's room. He was sitting in a chair reading a book.

Buffy knocked softly on the doorframe; "May I come in?"

He looked up from his book, and gave her a small smile. "Sure." He closed the book in his lap.

She took a seat on the edge of his bed. She didn't know how to start the conversation. "Wow...this is awkward. Umm…about the kiss…"

"You regret it. Don't you?" he inquired.

She shook her head, "Never. I definitely don't regret it. It's just…well…it…you know…"

"Where does it leave us?"

"Exactly," she said. "I mean, nothing's changed. We can't be anything more than friends. Right?"

"Yeah, we have to remain friends. We can't be anything more." His statement came out more like a question.

"We both know the consequences of being together. You'll lose your soul, and I can't go through that again."

"We don't have to be together like that," he stated. "We could be…"

"We could be friends with privileges. We could still kiss, but with no expectation for there to be anything more than that," she suggested. "I like being able to kiss you. I'd hate for that to go away."

"We could have a relationship without making love. We've done it before. We can handle it."

"Yeah, we could. We know how to control ourselves." She tilted her head to the side, expectantly.

He took her up on her offer, quickly kissing her. As the kiss became more passionate, the two laid back on the bed. His hands went up Buffy's tank top. He needed to have closer contact to her, to feel her skin.

Buffy unbuttoned Angel's shirt, and pushed it off his broad shoulders. Her hands immediately went to his belt. She tugged at it. During her struggle, she began to think clearly. She quickly pulled away from Angel, and sat up. "We can't do this. It can't happen," she panted.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let it go that far," he apologized.

"So much for being able to control ourselves," she joked. "Maybe we should set up some rules, like no kissing on a bed. We won't be tempted to make love then."

"I don't know if that'll work. We don't need a bed to do that," he said remembering the forgotten day, when they made the table a makeshift bed. "If we want each other that much, we won't use a bed."

"Then how do we prevent it? Try the just being friends thing again? It wasn't working. If it were, we wouldn't have ended up having this conversation. There would have been no kiss." Buffy pointed out.

"There has to be some way for this to work. We just have to be more careful, and not get so caught up in the moment." He wrapped his arms around her, and held her against his chest. "I want this to work out." He kissed the top of her head. He smoothed her golden blond hair with his hand. "We can do this."

"I know we can, we just have to be strong. Maybe some day we'll be rewarded for it." Buffy said.

"Yeah…you never know."

"What is it?" Buffy asked. "You have something you want to say to me. Don't try to say you don't. I know you far too well."

"It's nothing." He released her from his embrace.

"You wanna know something funny? I was talking to Dawn before, and I told her that you and I could never be together. She said that you never could tell. I asked her what she meant, and she told me I'd have to talk to you about it. So what are you hiding from me?"

"I can't tell you," he replied.

"You're not getting out of this," she persisted.

He knew there was no way he could win. If he refused to tell her, she'd beat it out of him. "After the coming battles, the End of Days, and everything, there's a chance I could receive a reward. I could become human."

Anger flashed across her face, "And you thought you'd keep this a secret from me? If you don't want to be with me just say so. I can take a hint. You'd obviously be happier with someone else."

"You know that's not true. You know that I love you more than anything else in the world."

"Then why keep it a secret? We could finally be together. Angel, we would be able to have everything. A family, a life outside of slaying."

"This is exactly why I wanted to keep it a secret."

"What?" she inquired. "I don't understand."

"Buffy, I may not become human in your lifetime. It could take hundreds of years. I didn't want to get your hopes up."

"Hopes and dreams is a part of living. Everyone has them, even you. I know that you have the same dream that I do. You want to be with me."

"But right now, I can't give you all the things that you need and want. Maybe it's not a good idea that we get back together. You just said you wanted a family. Who knows if I'll ever be able to offer you that. You deserve someone who can." Angel explained. "I'm not that person. You don't understand how important it is for you to enjoy your life. You shouldn't be waiting around for me."

She shook her head, "No, Angel. You're the one that doesn't understand. I don't want a family if it's not with you. I tried to be with someone else that wasn't you. It ended in heartbreak."

"Sometimes it takes a lot of wrongs to get a right."

"You are my right. I don't want or need anybody that's not you. I never loved Riley. I could never give myself completely to him. You're the only one. The only one that understands me. Angel, I'd wait forever to be with you. And if that's what I have to do, then I'll do it. I want to be together, we said before that we'd get through this time together. Well, now we'll also fight for your humanity together. Don't try to talk me out of it. I've made up my mind. It's what I want."

He gave her a small smile, "Why did I ever let you go?"

"I'll never let you do it again. If you do, I'll knock you unconscious, tie you up, and won't let you leave. You know I'll do it, so don't tempt me." She leaned up and gave him a kiss.

'I'll never let you go again,' Angel thought to himself.

Part 13

Buffy awoke to the gentle sunshine lighting up her room. She smiled, she had dreamt of him all night. But unlike the last night, she felt refreshed, and couldn't wait to see Angel again. Stretching, she got up out bed.

As she made her way downstairs she saw Angel reading a book. He was already devoting his time to research. He got out of his seat, and looked at his bookshelves. He had his back turned to her as he selected another book.

Buffy quietly came up behind him, and put her arms around his waist. She rested her chin against his back.

He turned around in her arms to face her, "Good morning sleepy head." He gently kissed her cheek. "I thought you were going to sleep all day."

"Let's just say I was having some very nice dreams."

"Was I in them?" he asked.

"You might have made a cameo appearance or two."

"Oh I did, did I?" he bent his head down to hers.

"Oh you sure did," she said before leaning up and kissing Angel. "You were wearing leather pants," she stated.

"That's more of an Angelus thing," he commented.

"You don't have to be bad to look good. And let me tell you, you look damn fine in leather pants."

"Well, you look pretty good in a pair yourself," he told her. "I think you look very sexy in them."

"I do? Well, I think I might have brought a few pairs with me. Maybe we'll have to try them out sometime," she said suggestively.

"Just for modeling purposes," he added. He kissed her before she could say anything else on the matter.

"Oh please!" Cordelia said from the other side of the room where she and Dawn had entered, breaking the two apart. She turned to Dawn, "I take it they're back together. It doesn't take them long to be all over each other." She looked at Buffy and Angel, "What happened to the just friends thing?"

"It didn't work," Buffy replied.

"I knew it!" she announced. "There is no way that you two can stay just friends. It like goes against the laws of Buffy and Angel."

"Cordelia, what do you want?" Buffy said sweetly.

"I was just coming in here to tell you that Dawn and I are going to go out shopping."

"Dawn, we just went shopping." Buffy pointed out. "You don't need to go again."

"We went the boring kind of shopping. Cordy and I are going to go clothes shopping. I promise not to buy anything, we're just going to be looking around," Dawn assured her. "Can I please go?"

"Look at it this way, you two will have some alone time. Just don't get too…you know," Cordy warned.

Buffy gave in, "Fine. Dawn, you can go."

"Thanks, Buffy." Buffy opened her mouth to say something, but Dawn continued, "I know, stay by Cordy. Don't talk to strangers. Blah, blah, blah. I don't need the lecture, I have it memorized."

The two girls left leaving Buffy and Angel alone.

"So…what should we do with ourselves?" Buffy wondered.

"I was thinking that we should get some research done."

Her hopes dropped, "That's no fun."

"Then, maybe we could…you know…go to a movie."

She smiled, "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"I'd love to go see a movie with you. Just a suggestion though, no movie that we don't understand the title of. We don't want to go to a foreign movie like last time. That was umm…interesting to say the least."

"Agreed."

In the evening Cordelia agreed to look after Dawn while the two of them went to a movie. They decided to see the "The Mexican". They were the only two in the theater.

"Guess we picked a bad movie," Angel said.

"Willow saw it, she said it was good. I think we just picked a time when no one else comes to the movies. It is kinda late," she stated as she munched on some popcorn.

About half way through the movie, she trailed her fingers down his arm. "There are upsides to being in a theater alone." She gently kissed him.

"Hey! I'm trying to watch the movie, it's getting good."

"What? Do you think Julia Roberts is prettier than me?" she pouted, throwing some popcorn at him.

He couldn't resist her, "Definitely not." He threw some popcorn back at her.

She took a handful and tossed it at his face.

He grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his lap. He returned her kiss ignoring the presence of Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt on screen. His girl was a lot more interesting anyway.

They didn't even notice when the film ended and the lights came on. An usher rudely broke them apart. They both turned bright red, and hurriedly left the theater.

Once outside, Buffy burst out laughing, "Did you see the look on his face? I think he was more embarrassed than us."

"He probably was," Angel agreed.

They returned back to the Hyperion Hotel. Angel walked Buffy to her room.

"Well, we're here," he said.

"Yeah. I'd invite you in for a cup of coffee, but seeing as I don't have a coffee maker inside my bedroom…"

"I had a wonderful time tonight."

"Me too," she said as she slipped her hands into his. "I wish it didn't have to end. You could come in."

He shook his head, "I shouldn't. It's not a good idea. Things might happen."

"We don't have to do anything. You could just hold me in your arms until we fall asleep. Like you used to do." She tugged him into her room.

He followed.

She let go of him, "Could you…?" she made a circular motion with her hands, instructing him to turn around. "I don't really want to go to sleep in a skirt."

He did as she asked. With her permission, he turned around again. She was wearing a simple tank top and pajama pants. "You always look beautiful."

She walked over to him, and started to unbutton his shirt. "You don't need to wear this to bed."

He also kicked off his shoes before going over to her bed. He stood there for a moment, unsure of his next movement.

Buffy crawled into the bed, "Don't be afraid."

He slowly joined her, pulling the blankets around the both of them.

She snuggled up next to him, and rested her head on his bare chest. "Goodnight, my Angel."

He kissed her forehead, "Goodnight, my love."

Part 14

She woke up in Angel's arms. Since she had arrived this had happened only in her dreams. Now it had come true. It sent an incredible warm feeling through her body. It felt amazing to be next to him.

He still had his eyes closed. She sat up on one elbow and watched him. It had been a long time since she had been this close to him. His chest didn't rise with gentle breathing, she observed. He had no need to breathe.

She rested her hand against his cool bare chest. There was no warmth to it, yet he was one of the warmest people she knew. She couldn't feel a heart beating. She wondered what it felt like to not feel your own heart beat. To not have the need to breathe.

All the things she took for granted, Angel didn't have. He might some day, and she hoped that one day would be with her.

He most have felt her hand on him for he opened his eyes. He gave Buffy a smile, "Good morning."

Her face lit up, "Morning." She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Angel's lips. "This is perfect," she stated. "It may not seem like a big thing to other couples, but waking up in your arms is a dream come true."

"I know it is."

She kissed him again, but Angel pulled away. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

Angel started getting out of bed; "I have to go downstairs. The gang is probably already here to do research. I don't want to keep them waiting." He grabbed his shirt and shoes, and quickly left the room.

Buffy watched him go, 'What has gotten into him?' she thought. She felt abandoned. He had rejected her. 'He regrets what's happening between us. Sleeping in the same bed must not have been on his things to do list. He couldn't even give me a kiss this morning.'

Tears stung in her eyes, threatening to rush down her face. She brushed them away with the back of her hand.

She made her way to the bathroom, and splashed cold water on her face. It didn't help, more tears rolled down her face. Her sobs were becoming audible. She turned on the shower to mute them. She stepped into the water, hoping to bring herself back to reality. She leaned against the wall, still crying.

She started to realize that the tears weren't about Angel's rejection. She had been holding in so much. She was finally letting it all out. Finally after regaining control over her emotions, she got out of the shower.

Fifteen minutes later she was downstairs. Angel was talking to Wesley over some book. Cordelia and Dawn were at the computer. Buffy had a feeling that those two were doing more surfing than researching. The new one, Gunn, was flipping through a book. He looked like he was about to fall asleep.

Angel glanced at her, he said something to Wesley, then started towards her.

Buffy's breath caught in her throat. She was scared of what he might say to her. If he needed to talk, then she knew it would be over between them. Imagine how surprised she was when Angel cupped her chin in his hand and gave her a tender kiss. She found herself saying, "We need to talk."

They were in a spare room. It was dusty, and had a dank smell to it. Angel closed the door to the room. She sat on the arm of an old chair.

"What did you need to talk to me about?" he questioned her. His eyes held concern.

She cast her gaze to the floor. She couldn't look at him. "What's going on?" she asked of him.

"We're researching."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"What's going on with us?" she asked her eyes still looked at the floor.

"We're back together. At least that's what I thought. Did I get it wrong?"

"You kissed me just before…"

"Did I miss something?" he inquired. "What are you talking about? Something's bothering you." He sat down in the chair she was perched on. "What is it?"

"You kissed me a minute ago, but you wouldn't kiss me when you woke up. Why didn't you want to?"

"Morning breath," he supplied.

"Don't joke about it. You don't breathe, so you won't have morning breath. You never used to have a problem kissing me when I woke up. So what changed?"

He put his hand on her knee, forcing her to turn and face him. She took her eyes off the floor and focused them on him. She awaited his answer.

"I was scared, Buffy. I know that it was just going to be a harmless kiss, but what if it turned into something more? There was nothing standing in our way of making love. The temptation is too great. I can't stand it any longer. I want you so much, but I can't have you."

"It was just going to be a kiss, Angel. Nothing more."

"You know how fast things can change. One minute we're just kissing, the next we're trying to remove each other's clothing. I'm afraid I'll lose control."

"You can control the demon in you."

"I know, but I can't control the man. I'm weak. I'm weaker than I'd like to admit. I just want to give into my urges, but the consequences that will follow… You are everything, Buffy. You are the image of perfection. I don't know how long I can stand this until I take you in my arms, and make love to you."

"Angel, you're not the only one who has a say in this. I have a mind of my own. I can make sure that we don't go too far."

"Things can happen rather quickly. You might find yourself not being able to stop."

"So what are you saying? That we should stay away from each other? Do you want Dawn and I to leave?"

"I don't want you to go. I just think that maybe putting our relationship on hold could be for the best. At least until we have a better plan for it."

"There's no plan to a relationship. It just happens. So it's over between us then? It didn't even really begin."

"I don't think it'll ever be over between us. We're just going to put things on hold for awhile."

"How long is awhile?" she questioned. "A week, a month, a year, five years, more?"

"I don't know," he replied honestly. He pulled her down into his lap, and gave her a gentle kiss.

"I'm pretty sure that wasn't awhile."

"One last kiss."

"Oh, then I guess I better go." She got off of his lap, and was about to open the door, when it opened.

Cordelia rushed in. She waved a book around. "We were doing research."

Angel stood up; "Did you find something?"

"You have got to see this," she answered.

Part 15

"What is it?" Buffy demanded. "Did you find out something about Glory? About the key?"

Cordelia shook her head, "Nope."

Buffy's hopes dropped, "Oh. Then what are you so excited about?"

Cordy shoved the book at Angel, "Read."

His eyes quickly skimmed over the page. He couldn't believe what he was reading. Was it for real?

Buffy watched him intently, "Angel, what does it say?"

"The vampire with a soul, cursed the second time, will be unable to lose his soul in a moment of true happiness. After giving up his own life for the one he loves, he will be able to experience the joy of love with her," Angel read.

"You mean your soul is permanent?" Buffy questioned.

"Not permanent," Wesley appeared in the doorway. "He must meet those requirements first. I know you have been cursed with a soul twice, but what about giving up your life for Buffy? You're still standing here in front of us. You have saved her many times, but as for giving your own life..."

"He has," Cordelia murmured thinking about the forgotten day. The other two hadn't heard her clearly, but Angel picked up on it.

"What did you say?" Buffy asked.

"Nothing," Cordy answered after looking at Angel.

"Is this for real?" Angel inquired.

"I don't see why it wouldn't be," Wesley told him. "It's one of those great prophecies."

"Prophecies don't always come true," Buffy mentioned.

"I say go for it," Cordelia stated. The small group sent her surprised looks. "If it doesn't work, I had Willow e-mail me the curse, so we can just recurse him. And if it is true, then maybe he won't brood so much."

"I suppose that we could¦" he started before looking at Cordy and Wesley.

Cordy grabbed Wesley's arm, "I get it." She pulled the former watcher out of the room, and shut the door behind them.

"What do you think?" he asked for Buffy's opinion. "Do you think that we should try it out?"

"Would we still be putting things on hold? Or would we be back together after this? Well, assuming it is true, and works."

"There would be nothing holding us apart then, so we would be back together." Angel replied.

"So our relationship depends on whether or not you get sex?"

"That's not true, Buffy, and you know it."

"That's what it seems like to me. You get some and we're back together," she argued. "I thought you were different, but I guess you're not. You're just like every other man. You want sex."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Five minutes ago, you were ending things. Now that you learned you could have sex; you want to be a couple again. What else would I interpret from this, except for the fact that you want to sleep with me?"

"Now I don't have to worry about giving into my temptations and having to face the consequences. That's what I am getting at. I don't only want sex from you. I love you. I want to be able to make love to you. Now I have been given that opportunity."

"See-" she started.

He interrupted her, "Don't get me wrong. I'd love to make love to you, but what's more important to me is the fact that I love you. I don't need to have sex in this relationship. I just want to know that if we ever took things that far, I wouldn't hurt you. You'd still be safe. It would break my heart to see you suffer like that again. Please don't think that I would ever use you for sex. Besides, the book said that it has to be with the woman I love. And you are that woman."

"I know that you'd never use me, Angel. I just had to be sure that you wanted this relationship for the right reasons. And you do." Buffy said. "I don't want to be without you. I want to be with you. Always."

He took her in his arms. "Always," he repeated. "We don't have to rush back into it all. We can take things slowly."

"What if I don't want to take things slowly?"

"What? You mean that you wan to-"

She cut him off with a passionate kiss. It quickly grew. Their hands roamed over each other's body. Angel slipped her shirt over her head. His shirt was discarded as well. Buffy jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. They were up against the wall trying to get better leverage.

He carried her over to the big armchair that they had sat on before. He gently put her down on it, as he kissed her neck. He continued placing kisses on her soft skin, as Buffy started to unbuckle his belt.

A knock on the door broke them apart. "You two can at least go upstairs into a bed. That room in there is disgusting." Cordelia called through the door.

Buffy laughed, "Maybe we should go up to your room or mine. It'd be kinda disturbing if they can hear us in here."

Angel grabbed their clothing. Taking Buffy's hand he led her out of the room. Cordy, Wesley, Gunn, and Dawn greeted them outside the room.

Buffy blushed and tried to cover up her scantly clad body. She saw Dawn roll her eyes at them. She heard Angel say something to the group, but she was too embarrassed to catch it. Angel then took her up to his room.

He closed the door behind them, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I have never been more sure about anything in my life," she replied.

Angel kissed her, marking the start of their new life together.

Go to Part 16