"Nice place, Cordy." Xander was grinning ear to ear as he followed his girlfriend and the others into the spacious beachhouse. The others set their bags down, nervously looking on as Xander made his way through the house. Inside was a virtual museum of old family knickknacks and antiques. Candles, books, and various porcelain ornaments surrounded the highly-priced furniture and for some reason, Xander insisted on touching whatever breakable items were in arm's reach.
"God- could you have any more painted glass around this place?"
"Well I won't if you keep touching everything!" she snaps, snatching the small glass tree he was tossing in his hands. "Just...don't touch anything that looks valuable, okay?"
"Valuable?"
"You know- as in anything that could be considered above *your* price range. So pretty much everything in the house qualifies."
"You know what-" Xander angrily puts down the porcelain bear his hands were fumbling with, "you are the most-"
"Okay- do you think we can hold off on the world war until tomorrow?" Buffy intervenes, already knowing that before their two days were up, Xander and Cordelia would come to blows.
"Guys..." she turns to address the others as she sets the tree back down on its table. "Just make yourselves at home. You can decide which rooms you want to take- mine's straight down there at the end of the hall."
"You mean that extra really big one with the balcony?" Willow passes her a look.
"Hey- be grateful any of you are even here," she answers the redhead's stare. "If it weren't for me, you'd probably all be at some lame party for freaks-anonymous."
"And what's it saying about you when you were the one to invite us freaks to spend two days with you when you could've invited Harmony, Anya, and all those other flakes?" Momentarily stunned by Buffy's quick retort, the brunette decides to change the subject. "Anybody feel like something to eat?"
"Pizzas are always a good standby," Willow offers, settling down onto the couch with Oz.
"Great," Buffy stands, grabbing Angel's hands along with her. "I saw a pizza place about a block away. Looked like they were still open. We'll go get a couple."
"We will?" Angel raises an eyebrow at her, yet still allowing himself to be dragged towards the front door.
"Sure," she smiles, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I think a little walk would do us good."
"Why do I get the feeling that it's going to be more of a smooch-fest instead of a walk to get food to feed your starving friends?!" Xander shouts to them, watching with a disgusted look as the two head out the door, already in the middle of a make-out session. "Whatever. I just hope they come back with food!" His girlfriend passes him a sudden glance, somewhat sharing his sentiments.
"I just hope they find the time to come back in between kisses period!"
******
"Buffy..." Angel pulled away from their kiss long enough to just breathe out her name. "Mmm...Buffy? Aren't we supposed to be...bringing the pizzas back?"
"They'll stay hot," she passes the two boxes a glance before capturing Angel's lips again.
"I would think after twenty minutes the heat would kind of wear off," he smiles, just imagining Xander's angry glare and whining back at the beach house- an image that gave him all the more reason to continue his activities with Buffy.
Finally realizing that they'd been gone for almost an hour, the lovers share a final short but sweet kiss before heading back to the house. As they walked along the pier, with only a few houses left before reaching Cordelia's, Buffy couldn't help but appreciate the view. Although it was close to 11 at night, she could still clearly make out the waves that were rolling in gently. Angel was too busy appreciating her rather than the scenery, enjoying the almost serene look on her face. He could hardly believe that such a young, gentle young woman could be the fierce warrior that she was.
"So whadya think?" her voice brought him to attention as she pulls him over by the arm to get a closer glimpse. "Pretty peaceful, huh?"
"Yeah...even better than I remember. Probably because you're here with me," he sets down the two boxes on a nearby bench, wrapping his now free arms around her, taking a moment to fully appreciate all that he'd been given in Buffy. He lovingly looks down into Buffy's eyes, seeing the same love he has for her reciprocrated for him in her glossy eyes. Buffy pulls Angel into hug, running her hands through his hair as he leans in for a soft kiss. "Okay..." he wills himself to pull away as the kiss lingers on. "Unless we want everyone to send out a search party for us, we'd better finish this at home.
"Oh fuck them," she giggles, pulling him back in for another kiss.
"Buffy! I'm surprised at your language! You know, everyone thinks you're so prim and proper...now I've got a thing or two to tell them about you and the words that come out of your cute little mouth somtimes when we get back."
"You might want to rethink doing that...unless you'd like this cute little mouth to limit it's 'visitations' with your cute little mouth," Buffy threatens, inching closer to his face.
"Duely noted," Angel says and he captures her lips, laughing, in a passion-filled kiss.
"I knew it!! I...knew...it!!" Xander's semi-naked form came storming onto the pier. Clad only in his boxers, the highly upset young man was shivering slightly from the cold breeze coming off of the ocean as he approached the two. "You two probably never even made it to the pizza place! Now what are we gonna eat!"
"What do you call those?" Buffy points towards the two boxes resting on the green bench, passing Xander a glare. Without hesitation, Xander grabs the pizzas, pacing his way back to the house, still yelling. "First my big loss, and now this! And to think- an entire two days with these two wild bunnies!" He looks towards the sky, beginning to shout to whoever was listening.
"What did I do to deserve this, huh! What else do you have in store for me this weekend? A few bolts of lightening maybe?!"
"You should be so lucky!" Angel shouts after him.
"Oh zip it, Deadboy! If you two were able to go one minute without touching each other, I would've already eaten and been in bed by now!" Buffy and Angel merely shake their heads in laughter as they follow behind him from a distance, already looking forward to what the next morning would bring.
"Hey guys!" Willow welcomed the couple back. "Sorry about Xander springing on you like suburban commando or something. We tried to stop him from going out. Buffy- there's still some pizza left in the kitchen. Angel, there's..." the redhead thought for a moment about what food to offer him. "Umm...there's..."
"It's okay," he grins, sensing her awkwardness as to just what he would be eating in the house. "I...fed...this afternoon before the prom. And I...brought my own...container, just in case." He walks over to his bag beside Buffy's, reaching in to retrieve a small plastic container. As he walks into the kitchen to place it in the fridge, a painfully loud sneeze erupts from the living room. He turns at the sound, seeing Cordelia eyeing Xander suspciously.
"Look at me," she demands, grabbing his chin in her hands to observe his features. "You're getting a cold!"
"What?" Xander screeches out, reaching for a tissue in the process. "I am not!"
"Yes you are! I can tell these things- I have a sixth sense."
"I thought that was only when it comes to shopping," he argues, sitting up with his plate. "I'm going to bed. I think I've had just about all I can take tonight." Watching as he heads towards her own room, Cordy jumps up to grab his arm from behind.
"Oh no- you are *so* not sleeping with me tonight! You're not gonna get me sick with all your disgusting germs!"
"I am *not* sick!"
"Define sick..." Angel whispers to Oz, the two usually taciturn men having developed a strong friendship over the past year.
"Icck! Don't touch me!" Cordy brushes away his hands as she races into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. After a few seconds, the door opens, much to Xander's delight.
"I knew you were only playing- umph!!" The flying pillow and blanket almost whacked him off balance as he turns back towards the living room, a nervous smile breaking out across his face. "I'm gonna...sleep out here tonight," he explains, still nervously grinning as he slouches down between Oz and Willow. "So...anyone want to watch a movie or something? Maybe play some cards?"
Willow and Buffy share a look of panic as they grab their boyfriends and head back towards their own rooms. "Guys!! Come on! I am not getting sick!! It was just a sneeze!!" His pleas go unnoticed as the couples continue walking. "Geez...I don't even know why you're so worried, Angel!! It?s not like you can even get sick!!"
"I may not be able to get sick *from* you, but trust me, I can get plenty sick *of* you," he chuckles, picking up Buffy from behind, slamming their bedroom door behind them.
"No good, lousy..." Xander mutters to himself, soon finding that late night tv had very little to offer at one in the morning. "Mom said there'd be days like this..."
******
Buffy lay in the quiet darkness, too content to open her eyes, and wondered idly why she was awake at such an early hour in the morning. A welcome summer sun peeked in through a corner of their heavily-covered windows and she could feel the tiny fragment of weak brightness on her eyelids as she slowly woke. When she finally opened her eyes, lying on her side facing Angel, Buffy kept as motionless as she could, unwilling to disturb the priceless scene before her. For some reason, she felt no inclination to get out of bed just yet, electing, instead, to memorize the smile that crossed her lover's face as he held her in his arms.
Last night, she wanted to melt into him, become a part of him; to be his heart. There were no words that could express what it was about him that had stolen into her soul and woven him so inextricably within her very being. She had known him far more intimately than any others. But, it went beyond, and was more than the physical sharing of their bodies. It was the joining of everything that made them what they were, separately, and fused into one living wholeness. He was what made her life truly beautiful.
She leans her head against his shoulder, smiling as she feels his head bend slowly toward her mouth, capturing her lips in a kiss. "Morning..."
"Morning..." She leans up to give him another kiss, and snuggles into his chest, planting several kisses there, until finally laying back down ontop of him, hoping to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Her disappointment in not being allowed to do so was clearly evident as she moaned her protest at Angel sliding out from underneath her, pulling on a pair of boxers, headed down the hall.
"Mmm...just five more minutes?" she mumbles into his pillow, making sure she moaned loud enough for him to hear.
"Come on," he calls back. "I'm making you breakfast." Sighing in defeat, Buffy hops out of bed, beginning to get dressed. After about twenty minutes, Buffy emerges in the kitchen wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a grey t-shirt. To keep her eyes from becoming too engrossed in the sight of her boyfriend, still wearing only shorts, she takes a seat at the table as Angel turns around, finally noticing her watching him with her loving eyes. "Hey sleeping beauty," he says almost as a whisper. "Enjoy..." he places the plate of food in front of her, giving her a soft kiss. Before she can even take a bite, she notices him headed back towards their guest room. "Where are you going?"
"To get dressed," he replies, still walking down the hall.
"Get back here buddy," she demands, patting the seat next to her at the wooden table. "Sit with me for breakfast first, and then maybe I'll help you get dressed-"
"You just want me to stick around to do the dishes when you're done," he smiles, seeing right through her act.
"Well...that's part of it," she admits. "But I always enjoy watching you get dressed..." she says, wrapping an arm around his neck to pull him down for a kiss, "...though I prefer watching you get undressed."
"Please!" the sudden outburst breaks the couple out of their embrace. "It's eight in the morning! As of this moment I'm making a rule for this weekend- no PDAs before noon!"
"Good morning to you too, Cordelia..." Buffy greets the waking brunette.
"Well it was until I walked in here to see the two of you sucking face," she mutters, running a hand through her slightly messed hair. "Nice of you to make *everybody* breakfast, Angel," she jokes, stealing a piece of toast away from Buffy's plate. She pulls up a chair alongside them, throwing a surprised stare towards the couch as a loud moan escapes from the body resting across it.
Xander stumbled into the kitchen blearily. His feet shuffled along and he kept his head bowed low as he made his way instinctively towards the coffee machine. Buffy, Angel and Cordy traded concerned glances. The brunette's suspicions from last night seemed to be accurate as they collectively agreed that something was obviously wrong with their friend.
He flopped down into his chair lethargically, his famed exuberance tamed. Just as Buffy was about to question him, Xander sneezed, violently, three times in succession. He sniffled and took a sip of his coffee as though nothing were out of the ordinary.
"I told you that you were getting sick, didn't I?" Cordy asks kindly, though very amused by the situation.
?Mm fine...? Xander mumbles so quietly that it was almost inaudible as he sniffles again. "Wuz fer bekfust?"
"Xander, maybe you should get into bed," Angel suggests, genuinely concerned about his friend. "You really look sick." Seeing that Xander was giving no response, Cordelia grabs him by the point of his chin and raises his head without protest. She leans forward on instinct and places a hand on his forehead. He was burning up and she announced as much.
Once allowed, Xander immediately hung his head again as though holding it up was too much of a struggle. ?...mm fine,? he mumbles again, his tone a little more forceful. ?Tuk pillz laz night,? he manages to get out before coughing a few times.
?Xander Harris,? Cordy begins authoritatively, ?you are not going out until this fever is broken and you can string three words together. Do I make myself clear?? Silence follows as Xander's jaw drops open, his eyes slowly closing.
Buffy frowned, her eyes widening as she took in Xander?s ragged, yet rhythmic breathing. She tries to rouse her friend but knew from the start it was no use. If it was a battle just to get Xander to go to sleep, waking him up was twice the hassle. She tries to force annoyance into her sigh as she loops one arm around his shoulders, Angel supporting him from the other side, and the two began to drag him down the hall to Cordy's bedroom.
Cordy followed wordlessly, opening the door to her room and slipping off her poor boyfriend?s duckie slippers when Buffy and Angel lay him on the bed. They put a blanket over him and Cordy sits down by his bedside as Buffy goes to get some cool water and a face cloth.
She comes back a moment later, laying the cloth over Xander's forehead as she passes Cordy and Angel a smile. "Maybe this will teach him to go running around outside in just boxers." Angel returns the smile, something catching his eye suddenly. He reaches over, pulling a nearly empty package of Sudafed out of Xander's shirt pocket. He glances over at Xander's completely still face. "No wonder the bottle says do not operate heavy machinery."
Cordelia motions for the couple to head out with her into the living room. "Now who amongst you is going to question my sixth sense, huh?" she asks once they all sit down.
"Poor Xand," Buffy sighs. "I just hope it's a 24-hour deal cold. I'd hate for him to be sick all weekend while the rest of us are out enjoying the beach."
"Hey guys." Willow, along with Oz, comes trudging out of their room, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "What's up?"
"Xander's sick," Buffy informs them. "We've got him in bed right now, but I think somebody should stay with him today to keep an eye on him. Without giving anyone else a chance to sacrifice their afternoon, Angel speaks up.
"I'll do it."
"Great!" Cordy cheers. "Problem solved! If we hurry, maybe we can still get a good spot on the beach..."
"Cordelia!" Willow passes her a shocked stare. "Your boyfriend is in the other room, sick as a dog, and all you're worried about is getting a good spot on the beach?"
"Xander would want me to enjoy myself," she answers matter-of-factly, heading towards her bedroom, but stopping in her tracks about midway. "Uh...could someone else go in their and grab my clothes from off my bureau. I don't want to catch his cold."
"You'd rather one of us get sick," Oz states.
"I knew you'd understand," she flashes him a smile, turning towards the bathroom. "When you get them, just toss them in here, will ya?" The friends share a frustrated look until Angel starts walking towards Cordelia's room to retrieve the clothes. Upon entering, he notices Xander's eyes flutter open, beginning to wake.
"Angel?"
"Yeah- just have to get something. Go back to sleep, Xander. If you need anything just let me know."
"Whadya mean? You're gon' be watchin' me tuday?"
"That's right." Angel's eyes widen in amazement as Xander tosses off his blanket, helplessly trying to crawl out of bed as he calls out to the others. "Help! Cordy! Buuffyy!!"
The rest of the Scoobies, including Cordelia, come running into the room, shocked to see Xander sitting up in bed, eyes wide with panic. "Xand? What are you doing?" Buffy asks as she approaches the bed. "What's wrong?"
"That!" he points to Angel, his ability to speak coherently suddenly returning. "*That* is what's wrong. I'm in bed dying and you're all gonna leave me with Nurse Ratchet over there?! I thought we were friends?!"
"Oh come on, Xander," Willow chastises her friend. "You should be grateful that Angel's willing to wait on you hand and foot."
"Grateful?? What else is he gonna be doing during the day- sunbathe?! You're crazy if you think I'm gonna...did you say 'hand and foot'?" he raises his eyebrows at the thought of being able to order around the vampire for a whole afternoon.
"Did I say that?" Willow passes an apologetic look towards Angel who was already visibly concerned about what her statement implied.
"You know what..." he says after a moment, "it's okay. You guys all head down to the beach or the pier for the day. I'll be fine...taking care of...him..." he trails off, noticing the evil gleam that was in Xander's eyes."
"Are you sure?" Buffy asks, hoping he would come to his senses. "I'm sure we can just leave him alone for the day. He shouldn't get any worse."
"I'm sure...and what's all this 'we' stuff? You're going out today with the others."
"Angel-"
"Buffy, please. I'll be fine. Go and enjoy yourselves. You and I will be able to go out tonight after sunset, okay?" Knowing not to even bother arguing with him, Buffy sits with him for awhile until the others get dressed.
Finally around eleven, everyone was ready to go out. Buffy followed the others, turning to face Angel once she reached the door. "I'd rather stay here with you..."
"And I'd rather you go out with your friends," he lies, wishing he could just let his selfish side take over and let her spend the day indoors with him. "Besides, you need some more sun...I'm pale enough for the both of us," he kids, rubbing his finger alongside her jaw. He softly brushes the hair out of her eyes and kisses her on the lips. As he goes to break the kiss, he sighs as she pulls him back, making the kiss longer and deeper.
"Okay- this is ridiculous!" Cordy's voice approaches from outside as she climbs the steps back up to the front door. Quickly retreating from the opening door, Angel walks backwards, Buffy still in his arms, as Cordy storms into the house. "You've already broken rule number one!" In an instant, she hastily grabs Buffy's arm, spinning her away from Angel and dragging her along out the door and down the steps.
"Have fun..." Angel sighs to the closed door.
"Aaannngggeeelll!" Xander's voice, now returned to 'sick-mode' calls out to him. "Cun I 'ave sum waater?" The vampire, suddenly realizing that he was too generous for his own good, sighs, heading into the kitchen to retrieve a glass.
"An sum bekfust!"
"This is going to be fun..."
******
One hour, twenty-seven minutes, and thirty-one seconds later, Angel was steadily observing the living room clock, calculating when Xander's next command would be shouted. He'd caught on pretty quick to Xander's system- almost every half-hour, his surprisingly recovered voice would cry out for something else. Whether it was breakfast, orange juice that had to be freshly-squeezed, fluffier pillows, ice cream, or just calling Angel into his room to tell him he wasn't feeling any better, Angel was certainly getting his workout for the day. But what had bothered him so much above all else was the fact that Xander had discovered one particular item Cordelia had in her room.
*Ding ding ding*
The vampire made a mental note to ask Cordelia why in god's name she
kept a small silver bell in her room. "What do you need, Xander?" "Took you long enough! I thought vampires are supposed to have super
hearing or something." "We have *sensitive* hearing," he corrects him. "And that bell isn't doing
my ears much good you know." "I need a tissue." Angel glances over to the sidetable, seeing that a box
of tissues were clearly resting within arm's reach of the sick boy. "They're right there. You can't grab one?" "Ooohhhh..." Xander begins to moan. "My head...my stomach...my liver...it
all hurts." "Fine." He reaches over, handing him the box, then turns to leave, stopping
only when he hears the bell ring again. "What?" "I need a drink too," he says between sniffles. "You have a glass of orange juice, *freshly squeezed*, right there," he
points to the young man's hand. "But it's cold. Can I have some fruit punch...please??" he pleads, stealing
one of Buffy's puppy-dog pouts that he knew Angel always fell for. "Sure..." Angel sighs, walking out towards the kitchen. Within a few
seconds he returns, glass of punch in hand. "Here...now is there anything
else I can get you right now before I sit down to read again?" "No?nothing I can think of. What're you reading anyway?" "I don't really know...I haven't had the chance to finish reading the
*cover* yet," he replies, his tone a little sharper than Xander anticipated.
Deciding to let his servant rest for a little while, Xander relaxes back
against the pillows, sipping away at his fruit punch with a wide smile.
< Being sick isn't so bad after all. So long as I've got good ol' Jeeves to
take care of me... > ****** "So how do you think Jeeves and Xander are getting along?" Cordy asks from
underneath her sunglasses. The four friends had decided to stroll the pier,
opting to spend the night on the beach when Angel would be able to join
them. "I'm sure they're fine..." Buffy rolls her eyes at the brunette's comment,
wishing the others would suggest heading home soon. As much as she was
enjoying her time out with her friends, she would've still rather have
stayed home cuddling with Angel. "I wonder how Angel's holding up," Oz mentions, stealing a piece of Willow's
cotton candy in the process. "What are you worried about Angel for?" Cordy asks. "Xander's the one
that's sick-" "Oh, you mean the Xander who's your *boyfriend* and who you wouldn't stay
home with to take care of?" Willow blurts out. "I would've stayed home with him...but...Angel offered to first!" she
asserts, still receiving a disbelieving stare from the three others. "You
know...it was really nice of him to offer. I mean- even though he would've
been stuck in the house anyway...just goes to show you how nice Angel is,
right Buffy?" "Mmm-hmm..." the blonde agrees, still eyeing her suspiciously. "Wish we
could say the same for *some* people." "Alright, alright- fine! Tell you all what...I'll stay home with him
tonight while you all go to the beach, okay? Happy now?" "Well gee...don't do us any favors or anything," Oz mutters. "Whatever. He'd just better not get me sick! I don't do sick very well." "Or anything else for that matter..." Willow mumbles to her best friend. "What'd you say?" Cordy overhears her. "I said look at all that funnel cake batter," she nods towards the nearby
foodstand. "Oooo- let's get some!" Cordy cheers. "I'm starved." "We should bring home one for Xander," Buffy smiles. "After twinkies, I
think that's his favorite food." "Yeah...I'd say bring back one for Angel too...but...considering the whole
lack of tastebuds thing..." Willow pouts. "Yeah," was Buffy's simple response. "Do you know how weird it is that for
someone who can't really taste anything, he's the best cook I know?" ****** "You know, for someone who doesn't eat, you cook pretty good." Xander was
happily sitting up in bed, eating off of the tray of food Angel had brought
in for him. "Thanks...I think. Is there anything else you want?" "Ooo- some barbecue sauce would be good on this chicken." "I thought your stomach hurt?" "It does..." he answers, rubbing his ailing tummy appreciatively. "Don't you think you shouldn't have anything too spicy then?" "No way! I've got a cast-iron stomach. Besides, that's just one of those
old superstitions. An old wide tale or whatever you call it..." "An old wive's ta- never mind..." Angel sighs, headed into the kitchen for
what he estimated to be the hundreth and third time. "Here..." he hands him
a bottle once he returns. "But don't blame me when you get sicker." "Never gonna happen my man. In the past eighteen years I've never gotten
sick from food..." An hour later... "This is the worst I've gotten sick from food in eighteen years..." Xander
mumbles, emptying his stomach once again in the bathroom as Angel looked on,
letting out a sigh that was halfway between a laugh and a desperate cry. "I'm really beginning to hate vacations..." ****** *Ding ding ding* "Well...at least I managed to finish a whole chapter this time," Angel sighs
to himself, setting his book aside as he gets up to answer Xander's latest
call. "You rang?" "There's nothing on tv," he whines in between coughs. "Why don't you read something?" Angel suggests, anxious to return to his own
book. "Who do I look like...you? Newsflash Angel- books and vacation do not mix." "And exactly how do *you* play with fish Angel, cause to us normal folk,
fish aren't exactly the play kind of pets." "I don't know Xander! Just...find something else to do besides annoy me,
okay?" "I wanna watch a video!" Angel looked around Cordelia's room, noticing that
a vcr was nowhere in sight. "The only vcr is in the living room. If you want to watch a tape, come lay
out on the couch and I'll put one on for you." "I don't wanna move! I'm nice and comfy right here." "Well Xander, it's either that or me bringing the thing in here...oh no.
Xander come on! I don't know the first thing about setting these things up,
and Cordelia would have a fit if I ruined anything of her's." "Owww!" Xander let out a sharp moan in response. "My pancreas...my
gallbladder...my lower thorax!!" "You don't have a lower thorax Xander! That's only in insects!" "Well I told you I was really sick! I'm so sick I'm starting to sprout bug
parts! Owww..." "Okay, okay! I'll bring it in here..." To Angel's, as well as Xander's amazement, setting up the vcr wasn't as
hard as he'd anticipated. Within a few minutes, everything was all hooked
up. "Okay...what tape do you want to watch?" "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" "It's the middle of June and you want to watch something having to do with
Christmas?" "Hey- it's an all-time classic movie!" Angel goes back into the living room
where Cordy's tapes were collected and grabbed it from the shelf, reading
the back of the box as he headed back into the room. "This isn't even a
movie, Xander?it's a thirty minute cartoon." "Who cares? It's awesome! You should stay and watch it with-" "Oh no. I'm good...thanks anyway. Just?be quiet and watch your cartoon,
okay?" Xander joyfully scoots near the end of the bed, drink in hand, to
get an upclose view of his cartoon. After about an hour, Angel figured that Xander had fallen asleep after
the tape and began to thank god for small miracles. For the entire
afternoon, he hadn't been off of his feet for more than twenty minutes and
was practically clawing at the door, waiting for the others to come home. *Clank! Zapp!* "Oooopps..." Upon hearing the noises and Xander's accompanying 'oops', Angel knew
he'd spoken too soon. Hopping up from his seat, he raced into the bedroom
only to find Xander's now-empty glass laying beside the fruit punch covered
vcr. "Xander...please tell me you didn't..." "It slipped...next thing you know...poof! I think it's broke..." "Cordelia...is going...to skitz!!" "Hey- you've been practicing since last time! Good use of the word, Angel.
And here I thought you'd forgotten my little lesson in modern language!"
Angel's angry eyes shifted slightly up to meet Xander's, wondering just how
one person could be so annoying and clumsy all in one. "Oh well...no use
crying over spilled fruit punch, which, by the way, I need another glass
of," he asks, shaking his glass in front of him as a not-so-subtle hint.
"Only, can you make it lemonade this time?" Having no other clue as to how to react, Angel wordlessly grabbed the
glass, marched into the kitchen and poured him a glass, making sure to put
in the straw that Xander had consistently reminded him to include with his
drinks whenever he wanted lemonade. "Here..." he wimpers, handing him the
glass as he passes a look to the broken vcr. "Thanks- hey, wait a minute! Angel, what did I tell you before? The straw
is facing the wrong way..." "Oh?here, let me get that," Angel smiles, taking the glass out of Xander's
hand and turning it upside down over his head, spilling the drink and ice
all over him. "What the hell- are you crazy!!" "I think I'm pretty close to it after taking care of you all day!" He
slammed the glass onto the bureau, finally having had enough of Xander's
lunacy. "Well this is just great!! Now I'm all wet, and I'm probably gonna go into
a relapse thanks to you!!" "Oh give me a break! You're probably not even sick!" Xander's eyes widened
as he pulled himself off the bed, slowly pacing towards Angel. "Are you calling me a liar?" "No...liar is too good. You're a deceitful charlatan!" "Hey- if you're gonna insult me, you'd better do it in english!" Angel
could only roll his eyes as he left the room, willing to just drop the
subject and return to his book. Xander on the other hand wasn't willing to
let things go that easily. "Don't you walk away from me!" he shouts, running after him. "I haven't
thought of a good comeback yet!" "Xander- let's just drop it, okay?" "No! Apologize for dumping that lemonade on me!" Angel was willing to drop
the matter, not apologize for it. "After the way you've treated me?! And especially now that you've ruined
Cordelia's vcr?!" "On accident!" "There seem to be a lot of those whenever you're around!" "Oh that's it! That is it!! This sick man's taken just about all he's
gonna take from you, you big...you big...vampire!!" "You're losing your touch, Xander. Now I know why you lost class clown!"
Angel turns his back on him, hoping the two of them would be able to calm
down without saying anything they'd regret. "Look..." he takes a deep sigh,
rubbing a hand across his forehead before continuing. "Maybe I shouldn't
have dumped that- umph!!" Angel was completely thrown off balance as Xander jumped him from
behind, wrapping his arms around his neck, trying to choke him down to the
ground as he wraps his legs around his waist. "Xander!! Aggh! What are you doing?!" "Trying to choke you! Now hold still, will ya?!" Angel was finding it
difficult to maintain his footing as Xander started punching him on the top
of his head. Suddenly, tripping over the rug that laid in the living room,
both men are sent spiraling to the ground, continuing their impromptu
wrestling match. "Get off of me!" Angel shouts, grabbing him by the leg. "Apologize first you gargoyle!!" "Do you really want to resort to childish name-calling?" "Yes!" "Good- so do I, you simpering twit!!" "Lousy excuse for a corpse!!" "Ummm...excuse me?" The two managed to disentangle themselves long enough
to look up at the front door, nervously grinning as Buffy, Cordelia, Willow,
and Oz all stood, mouths dropped wide open at the sight before them. "Is
this like quality time?" Oz spoke again. "Do you want us to go?" Both
Angel and Xander were dumbfounded, though Xander still managed to keep his
arms firmly gripped around Angel's neck. "Angel, what's going on?" Buffy demanded, giving the both of them an angry
stare as she tries to hide her amusement at the situation. "What the hell
did Xander do to you?!" "Me!" Xander finally released his grip from Angel, pulling himself to his
feet. "He started it!" "Maybe it's just me..." Willow shyly speaks up, "but I find that really hard
to believe." "Sure- take his side! Don't worry about the fact that your *sick* friend
has been harrassed!" "Funny..." Oz steps towards Xander, giving him a quick once over. "You
don't look so sick to me." "Well who can afford to be sick when they've got the Dark Angel of Death to
deal with!" As Angel gets up himself, Xander begins walking towards
Cordelia's bedroom. "I'm going back to bed to get as much rest as I can,
cause I'll be damned if I'm gonna stay sick and be stuck in this house with
him again tomorrow!" "Unbelievable!" Cordelia tosses her bag onto the couch, throwing her hands
up in the air. "We leave for a few hours and return to When Wild Idiots
Attack!" Xander sneezed loudly as he reached the bedroom, causing the others to
stare down at him. It was Cordelia's sudden sneeze that finally drew their
attentions away from Xander. "This doesn't bode well..." Oz surmises, watching as the brunette lets out
another sneeze. An hour later and Cordelia still couldn't believe it. She was a head
cheerleader, one of the most powerful girls in school. Queen C did not get
sick. A wicked bout of coughing was proving it's point to the contrary.
Xander looked at her sympathetically as they were cuddled together in her
bed. Somehow, he had a feeling that this was his fault. He reached over
and handed his girlfriend the Sudafed. Cordelia stared at it for a moment
as though not comprehending what it was. Reluctantly, she swallowed two
tablets. "This sucks..." "Welcome to my world," Xander muttered drowsily. ****** "Okay guys...there's some soup on the stove and a bunch of orange juice in
the fridge, so you two should be okay for the night." "You're leaving the both of us!" Cordy hacks out, reaching for another
tissue. "You can take care of each other. Xand's getting better so this will be
*his* turn to start waiting on someone hand and foot." "Wait a minute-" Xander sits up in bed at her last remark. "I didn't go and
open my big mouth like Deadboy did and volunteer to play nurse for *her*!"
he shoots a pointed stare over at his girlfriend. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" Cordelia pouts. "You wouldn't even stay here with me when I was sick! Why should I have to
take care of you now that you're sick?!" "Because you're the one who got me sick in the first place! Now shut up and
get me some more orange juice." Leaving the lovebirds to sort out their caretaking arrangements for the
evening, Buffy turns into her own room, passing by Angel to change into her
bathing suit. "Xander and Cordelia both getting sick...I never expected
that. But then again, I never expected that they'd ever wind up dating
either." "Neither did I," Angel answers, tossing on a white t-shirt over his black
shorts. "I don't think much of their taste in people, but at least they
have each other...no matter how twisted, cheap, arrogant, and annoying they
may be." Buffy reemerges from their bedroom in her bathing suit, laughing
at his remarks. "Plus, they're out of our hair for the night, so that's a huge note on the
positive side," she beams. "Whatever makes them happy, I guess. Ready?" "Yeah...let's go." He grabs her hand, preparing to head out the door with
Oz and Willow when he suddenly remembers something. "Give me one minute."
He races into the kitchen to grab a glass, filling it with lemonade and a
straw. "Here you go, Xander..." he smiles, handing him the drink as he enters
Cordelia's bedroom. "Thought you'd like some lemonade. And I've even got
the straw facing the right way so you won't *spill* it all over yourself
like the last time..." Without giving him a chance to respond, Angel
happily strolls down the hall to meet up with the others, already outside on
the porch. "All set?" Oz asks him. "Yeah...just wanted to get Xander a drink, that's all." ****** "What was that for?" Buffy tried to sound angry as she yelled at Angel for
dunking her under the wave, but her smile gave her away. Before Angel had
the chance to answer, she splashes him directly in the face. Angel rubs his
face with his hands, then submerges them into the water, pushing them
forward and upward, sending another stream of water in Buffy's direction. For a good hour, the two couples act like children, splashing about in
the ocean, and dunking each other under the water, trying to make the most
of Angel's first visit to the beach in years. As a final splash, Buffy musters up all her strength, and spins around
in a circle, creating a mini tidal wave just big enough to drench Angel.
When she stops spinning, she notices Angel was underwater. As she looks
around herself to see just where he is, Angel comes up from the water
directly underneath of her, and Buffy now found herself helpless atop his
broad shoulders as he stood up completely in the water. "Don't you think you've gotten into enough fights today?" she squeals out,
never knowing her creature of the night boyfriend could be as playful as a
bunch of teens. "That was not my fault," he insists. "Xander literally jumped me from
behind. He said he was trying to choke me," he laughs, running a wet hand
over Buffy's thigh eliciting a giggle from her as well. "That would've taken a pretty long time...his fever must've made him
delusional," Willow jokes, splashing Oz in the face again. "Poor Cordelia
though. Now she's stuck sick too. But who knows...maybe this will teach
the two of them to appreciate one another. You know sometimes I think those
two are really good for each other-" "More like *deserve* each other," Oz reminds her. "Yeah," Buffy agrees. "That relationship is like the blind leading the
blind?or the dumb leading the dumber- take your pick." As she feels Angel
start to shake her from her position atop his shoulders, she lightly smacks
him on the head. "Alright, alright, you win. Come on, let's head back to
the house. We can check up on Twedledee and Tweedledum, then relax in the
pool." Buffy slides herself down from Angel's shoulders and onto his back,
wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, as Angel
picks up their stuff and makes his way back to the house carrying her
piggyback around his back as Oz and Willow followed alongside them. Once they arrived back at the house, Willow and Oz decided to call it a
night, volunteering to check on the beachhouse's sick ward before turning
in. Meanwhile, Angel, with Buffy still wrapped around him, makes his way
out onto the back deck to relax in the pool. "Buffy?" "Yeah?" "Don't think that I'm complaining or anything, but it's going to be a little
rough settling down in the pool if you're around my back," Angel says with a
laugh. "Ohhh?I see what ya mean. No problem," she says, and she proceeds to climb
down off of Angel's back, only to jump ontop of him, wrapping her arms
around his neck and her legs around his waist, holding on for dear life as
Angel falls backwards into the pool. "See..." says Buffy, trying to keep a straight face, "problem solved. We
settled into the pool just fine." She runs a hand through Angel's drenched
hair and pulls him in for a kiss. The couple spends the lazy evening just holding each other, talking
about anything, from the gorgeous scenery to some new ideas for slaying. Buffy's lips soon make their way to Angel's chin as she begins to
deeply kiss his soft spot along the underside of his jaw. "You know," says
Angel, thoroughly enjoying Buffy's toying with him, "two can play at this
game." He tilts Buffy's chin up as he relinquishes an arsenal of kisses to
her neck, stopping only at her own soft spot at the nape of her neck to dish
at the same kind of
loving torture to Buffy. "Mmmm...ok...uuh...you win, you win." Angel pulls his head up to face her
after she surrenders. "I always do," he says, giving her a quick kiss. "Yeah...well we'll see about that tonight," she says with a seductive smile. The two sat in peaceful silence as they watched the overlook of the
quiet ocean, the graceful moonbeams glimmering as they hit the ocean's
horizon, disappearing into shattered fragments of white and crystal blue. ****** By early the next morning, Xander was feeling almost one hundred
percent better. Cordelia on the other hand was an absolute mess. "You?re
just going to rest today," he informs his girlfriend, leaning over in bed to
brush his hand across her forehead as she sneezed. "How do you feel?" "Ugh," was Cordy?s weak reply. "Like an ogre?s tap dancing on my head."
Xander couldn?t help but smile at her typical dramatic reply. As much as he
really did love Cordelia, the two often spent most of their time arguing and
this was probably the longest they had ever gone without fighting. Cordy sneezes loudly, groaning and resting her head against the pillows
to gaze at the ceiling. "Why do these kind of things always happen to me?
What did I ever do to anyone?" "You starting to feel like that too?" Xander chuckles. "You'll be fine by
this afternoon...maybe we'll even get a chance to go on the beach together
this weekend after all. I was starting to think I would've been better off
just staying-" "Xander, do you mind? We're talking about *me* here, remember? The really
sick one?" "Oh- like I'm the picture of health?! I'm still sick ya know!" "Not sick enough to stay in bed with me all day, and I know that's what
you're planning on doing! I barely got any sleep last night because of all
your tossing and turning. I mean, it's bad enough I had those two wild
bunnies' moaning to deal with. So just shut up and get me some breakfast
would ya?" "If it'll shut you up..." he mumbles, getting out of bed to head for the
kitchen, cringing as he heard the sudden ringing coming from her bedroom.
< I knew I should've hidden that bell in a better place... > Smiling to himself as he heard the familiar sound, Angel runs his
fingers through his lover's hair, sighing down at her sleeping form as he
wraps his arm around her, snuggling back down into the covers with her.
With his lips pressed against her back he smiles as he feels the vibrations
of the soft sigh escaping her lips. "Hmmm...I hear bells?" she tiredly
announces, rolling over to face him. "I think Xander's finally getting a taste of his own medicine," he laughs,
lightly brushing lips with the beauty he held firmly in his arms. "It would serve him right," Buffy giggles, nuzzling against Angel's neck.
"But I still feel kinda bad for him. I mean, when it comes right down to
it, Xander's really a great friend and he's really gotten the full shaft job
this week." Hearing his moan of agreement, Buffy's eyes dart up with an
idea. "You know what would be really great? What if tonight before we
leave..." After hearing her plans to surprise Xander, Angel had to admit he
thought the young man deserved some sort of compensation for everything that
had happened to him. "Hey Angel!" Xander's steady pounding at their door wasn't helping the
couple capture a few more peaceful moments of sleep. "Do you know how to
make french toast?" "You were saying..." Angel sighs, sharing an amused look with his beloved. "I said he was a great friend...I didn't say he wasn't annoying as hell!" Receiving no answer, Xander was still apprehensive about just barging
into their bedroom, knowing full well just how he was likely to find the
over-affectionate couple. "Angel?? Come on...Cordy will be bitching all
day if I don't make her her damn breakfast. Do I have to beg?" Reluctantly
pulling himself away from Buffy, Angel pulls on his shorts, headed for the
door. "Now that is something I'd like to see." "Ha! I just wanted you to open the door!" Xander blurts out, grabbing him
by the arm and attempting to pull him along into the kitchen. "Xander..." Angel stares at the poor boy, tugging helplessly at his arm and
soon realizing the vampire wasn't budging. "You don't seriously want me to beg..." he turns around, somewhat exhausted
from his efforts to move him. "Do you...?" "No...I suppose not." "Good-" "But I do!" Buffy excitedly cheers, emerging in the doorway behind Angel, a
wide grin plastered across her face. "So...come on, Xand." With the
surprise she was planning for him later that evening, she just had to get
out this last form of humiliation. Seeing him not making any effort to
utter the words to Angel, she brushed past her boyfriend, approaching Xander
to lean on his shoulder. "I'm sure by now Cordelia has taught you to beg,"
she giggles, finally getting to him. "You two are gonna pay for this..." he mutters, rolling his eyes as the
words finally escape his lips. "I'm begging you to help me, Angel..." "Now was that so hard?" Buffy pats him on the head affectionately, strolling
into the kitchen to sit down at the table alongside Willow and Oz.
"Oh...and while you're at it, you can make the rest of us breakfast too!" "Oooo...I want pancakes!" Willow shouts. "I'm an omlette man myself," Oz smiles. *Ding ding ding* "Xander!!! Where's my breakfast!" Cordy's scratchy voice calls out from her
room. "What did you do- go to France to get the damn toast?! I'm
starving!" "What would it take for you to go in there and snatch that bell from her?"
Xander whispers to Angel as they walk down the hall into the kitchen.
"Cause I would definitely beg you to do that." "And deny you the fun of waiting on an ungrateful whiner, hand and foot,
answering to every single ringing of a bell?" Angel places a hand across his
chest in mock sincerity. "Xander- I like you way too much to deny you that
privelage." He hands him some bread, pointing him towards the stove as he
sits down beside Buffy, ready to instruct Xander's cooking lesson. "Hey Xand," Buffy grins, taking full advantage of the situation, "I think I
want some chocolate chip pancakes instead of french toast." "Oh, and how about some bacon with my omlette," Oz suggests, following
Buffy's lead. "Muffins are always good with pancakes," Willow chimes in. "What's this look like to you guys- a buffet?!" Xander slams down a few
more pans onto the stove in frustration. "You'll eat whatever I make you!" Go to the Next Part