Rating- G
Summary- Halloween Fic-A dance with a stranger can change everything.
Spoilers- Umm, it mentions Buffy’s Mom being dead and ‘Halloween’.
Timeline- There really isn’t one. It takes place after ‘The Body’ but, ‘The Gift’ and S6 haven’t at all happened.
Disclaimer- Oh yes, I own them all! That’s why (while I’m a die hard B/A fan) I made Spike and Buffy bang each other multiple times while Angel has some deranged kid with Darla. Eww, no, I don’t own them. Joss screwed up and I’m trying to heal wounds with some fluff.
Feedback- I don’t always reply, but I LOVE it!
AN- I felt the urge to write some fluff while I’m writing my other stuff. That’s what it is, folks, pure fluffy Halloween lovin’! And, I don’t usually write fluff. I like to write long, action/mystery/adventure/horror/romance-y type things. So, if it’s a little…lame, well… Enjoy!

Halloween. The perfect time of the year. Everything was peaceful and quiet, just like she wanted. No demons running around, killing, maiming, murdering. They were all shut up in their crypts, some watching old reruns of ‘Passion’ on SoapNet. But, that was a different story.

"Buffy, are you going?" Willow asked her friend, who was staring at something in her hand.

"Oh." The blonde looked up, startled, "Yeah, sure. What time?"

"We’re leaving at eight, that’s when it starts." Willow answered, looking at the sad faced Slayer, "It’ll be alright., Buffy."

The Slayer looked up. This was the first year of Halloween without her Mom. But, that wasn’t really what was bothering her. In her small hands, she held a picture. It was of her and Angel. Some Halloween’s ago, when Buffy had dressed up as a noble women. They stood side by side, Angel’s hands wrapped around her, his face full of love as he looked at her instead of the camera. She had been smiling. Her dark wig framed her glowing face.

Buffy looked up, "I know. Tell Dawn to get ready."

"I will. We’ll meet you there, alright?" Willow asked, her voice soft.

"Yeah." Buffy nodded, turning around and pulling her dress from the closet.

It was a soft green, the waist flaring out gently so it swooshed and swayed when she walked. The soft whisper of the fabric lulled anyone near. The top was a dark green, velvet bodice. The fabric molded and melded to curves and glistened to the light. It had a soft heart neckline that left just a glimpse of cleavage. Buffy slipped it on and gazed at herself. It was like a transformation through time. Her long blond hair had been curled and coiled to perfection. Soft, glossy curls hung around her face while the rest was pinned back with classic bobby pins. Buffy wore the cross that Angel gave her the first day they met around her neck. At first Dawn had told her that it conflicted with the theme the dress held, medieval times. But, it really didn’t. If anything, it added more radiance. Buffy put on a dash of lip gloss and some glitter and decided it was finished. She slipped on her heels and walked elegantly downstairs.

"Whoa…" A voice murmured.

Buffy turned and saw Xander standing there.

"Hey Xand." Buffy greeted.

He was dressed as, none other than, James Bond.

"Buffy… Lady of Buffionia, Duchess of Buffiliania, Princess of Bufflaria." Xander murmured.

"Deja vu." Buffy murmured, smiling, "Now when did I hear that?"

"Well, I wouldn’t know. But, I must say, if I wasn’t madly in love with my former vengeance demon, I would try and court you." Xander said, a goofy smiled plastered on his face.

"Why thank you kind sir, escort me to the ball?" Buffy asked.

"Milady." Xander offered her his arm and off they went.

*

It wasn’t really a ball. A costume party hosted by the Mayor, who, thankfully, wasn’t a 100 year old demon snake. The whole town was there, all ages. Xander and Buffy entered and they looked for their friends. Dawn stood by Tara and Willow, wearing a costume similar to Buffy’s. She was supposed to be Juliet for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Willow and Tara were dressed as Chinese Empress’s. Anya, once again, came a bunny. Spike, laughingly, had shown up. He came as a biker. Buffy stifled a laugh.

"Yuk it up, blondie." Spike growled and took her arm as he led her out onto the dance floor.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked, as he twirled her.

"What’s it look like?" Spike asked, smirking.

"The big bad William the bloody is dancing with the Slayer." Buffy said, with raised brows.

"So what? I came, I intend to dance." Spike defended himself.

"Whatever." Buffy said as she twirled around more.

Someone caught her eyes. A tall man stood on the sidelines, watching her every move. He wore black leather pants, a dark navy silk shirt, a black velvet cape, and a white mask, much like the Phantom of the Opera, over his face. The mask covered his eyes and nose. Buffy could feel his eyes on her like the hot rays of the sun. The trail of his eyes burned a hot trail over her body. Buffy felt herself shudder. It was exhilarating.

"What’s wrong pet?" Spike asked, taking her shiver for something else.

"Oh, nothing. Just kind of cold." Buffy answered, tearing her eyes from her spectator.

"Want me to warm you up?" He asked, purring in her ear teasingly.

"Spike!" Buffy exclaimed, pushing him away, laughing.

They had formed some kind of teasing friendship.

"Offers always open." Spike laughed, taking Dawn into his arms and dancing her around.

Buffy walked away, smiling at her friends and went to the punch, taking a glass and sipping it.

Her observer had vanished within the crowd, but Buffy could feel his eyes on her. It made her excited.

‘This is crazy. It could be some crazy killer stalker and here you are, getting warm fuzzy sexy feelings.’ Buffy thought to herself.

Buffy finished her drink and disposed of her glass. Within the crowd, Buffy caught a flash of the mysterious man. Buffy smiled to herself and went to join her friends. She and Anya made quite comical conversation. Anya talking about her glory days and going to thousands of parties and galas like this. Buffy, in turn, talked about her glory days at Hemry. They laughed and actually got along until Xander swept her away, in all her fuzzy pink bunnieness. Buffy sat, smiling happily watching her friends dance with one another. Tara with Willow, Spike with Dawn, and Anya with Xander.

A hand gently gripped her arm and Buffy looked up, straight into her mystifying viewer. He smiled, revealing white teeth. Buffy searched for any sign of who he was, but her mind went blank. In a deep, sensual voice, he murmured,

"Dance with me, milady?" His voice deeply accented. Not British, but Buffy suspected Irish.

"Of course, kind sir." Buffy answered breathlessly.

He led her into the middle of the floor and held her as if she were made of fragile spun glass. Buffy leaned her head on his smooth, muscular shoulder. She breathed in the scent of night, the ocean, and sandalwood. Her skin hummed with a warm vibrancy that she hadn’t felt in months, weeks…years. A warm tingle spread through her body. This shocked her. She hadn’t felt this way since…well, since high school, with Angel. Buffy tensed for a moment. Did that mean she was getting over Angel? She was finally letting him go? Oh God… The man tailed his fingers down her bare back, making her tremble. Buffy gave a small sigh.

"What was a beautiful lady like you, doing sitting all alone?" The man asked, his accented voice purring in her ear.

"I’m always alone." Buffy whispered.

"Why?" The man asked, curiosity making his voice delightfully smooth.

"Its just the way it is." Buffy said, sighing.

"It doesn’t have to be." The man said.

"Maybe. But it is for me. I fight, I live, and I’ll probably die…alone." Buffy whispered.

"How do you know when the fight is over?" The man asked.

"When they win. And they will, they always do. Because I’m not strong enough." Buffy said, not completely aware of her words.

"Fighting is strong. It’s hard, and its everyday. And its something we do together." The man whispered, in her ear. Buffy’s head snapped up and she looked at him. She knew those words, she had too.

"Who are you?" Buffy breathed.

"You already know the answer to that." The man answered, kissing her hand, and then leaving.

He disappeared within the crowd, leaving her standing there, shocked.

"Oh God…" Buffy whispered.

"Buffy, who *was* that?" Dawn asked, her voice full of wonder of the new man the swept her sister off her feet.

"I’m going to find out…" Buffy said, lifting the hem of her dress and following the man.

*

Buffy couldn’t find the mysterious man anywhere. It was like he vanished in thin air, which, being in Sunnydale, could be very much possible. Buffy sat, in her plaid pajamas and tank top, brushing out her curled hair. Her window was open, letting a cool breeze life her golden tendrils off her shoulders. Her hopes were dashed. Another love lost. Or, in this case, potential love. Buffy sighed as a fresh lining of tears filled her eyes. She would always be alone.

"Don’t cry." A soft voice pleaded.

Buffy turned slowly and saw her mystery man sitting on the window ledge.

"Its you." Buffy said.

"And, its you." He said.

Slowly, he took off the mask and revealed the face of an angel, her Angel. A slow smile crossed Buffy’s face.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked.

"I miss you." Angel answered.

"I’ll always miss you." Buffy said.

"You looked beautiful tonight."

"Why than you, kind sir." Buffy blushed.

"Brings back memories." Angel murmured.

"Come in before you fall down." Buffy said, taking his hand.

"I’d rather fall to my death than see you unhappy." Angel murmured, brushing a stray tear.

"Then you have fallen a thousand times during the past few years." Buffy said.

"I’m sorry." Angel whispered.

"Me too."

"What can I do…to make you happy?" Angel asked, taking her into his arms.

"Stay with me." Buffy whispered.

"Always."

"What…?" Buffy asked, her eyes wide.

"I hate this. Not being with you. I want you back." Angel said, his hands weaving through her hair.

"I don’t know if I can do it again." Buffy murmured.

"I’ll never leave again. I’ll stay until the end of eternity." Angel promised, his dark eyes pleading.

"Angel…"

"I love you." Angel said, stopping her cold.

"I love you." Buffy said.

"Until the end of forever?" Angel asked.

"Always."

There was silence while the two lovers held each other. They had months to regain and arguments to solve. They had demons to kill and monsters to face. But, together, they could do it. Each lover gazed at the photo placed in the frame of the mirror. Of that one Halloween, many years ago. Maybe, someday, it would be like that again.

"Happy Halloween, Angel."

"Happy Halloween, Buffy."

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