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Scene 1: Reluctant Goodbye

Angel sat on the bed as Buffy crossed to her closet, pulling out a grey boat neck shirt and tugging it on over her sports bra.

"Buffy....are you sure you're up to this????" He was unable to keep the concern out of his voice. "I mean you have had a pretty big couple of days..."

She turned to him, pulling her unwashed-unbrushed hair away from her face and secured it at the back of her head. "What do you want me to do??? Let everyone in school die???" She rummaged through her bag, looking for a small pocketknife.

Angel frowned. He knew the consequences. That didn't stop him from worrying. "Just....be careful, ok???" He said softly.

She paused, hearing the worry in his voice. She turned to face him, and the same worry was amplified in his eyes. She sat down next to him, as close as possible without actually sitting in his lap. There was no time for that now. She raised her hands and brushed her fingers through his hair, which, for once, gel-less. She leaned over a gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, leaving her hand in his hair as she pulled away. "Wait here. I'll be back in an hour or two. Promise" She pressed her lips to his forehead, and felt him nod before she removed her hand from his hair, standing.

She spotted the knife on her dresser and took it, slipping it into her pocket. She turned and smiled softly at him. "We'll talk when I get back??" He nodded, and she wished she didn't have to leave. "I'll be back soon. I love you."

"Love you" He replied without hesitation. She smiled, blew him a kiss, and bounced out the door.

Scene 2: Questions Introduced

Joyce watched as Buffy came barrelling down the stairs, nearly running into Giles.

"Let's go" She said breathlessly, grabbing Giles' arm.

"Doesn't Angel need a lift????" Giles asked, and Buffy shook her head.

"He's staying here. No way I'm letting *my* vampire become a crispy critter. Besides, I wanna talk to him later, and there's nothing like a captive audience" She explained, tugging on his arm.

"You're feeling better about the Faith episode, then???" Giles asked, letting her lead him out the door.

Joyce followed them into the sunshine.

"Not yet. But I will. " She said firmly, then muttered under her breath. "Stupid Slut"

Joyce frowned. What were they talking about??? Had Buffy had a fight with Faith???

Buffy waved. "Bye Mom!" She called, slipping into Giles' ancient car.

"Be careful!" Joyce called, but the Citroen was already backing away.

Joyce turned, determined to find out what had transpired between Buffy and Faith.

Scene 3: Finding Answers

Joyce paused in the doorway. Angel was seated in a wicker chair in the darkest corner, his long legs stretched out in front him.

There was an open notepad in front of him, and the black biro in his hands moved quickly, etching an unseen picture into the flimsy paper.

He seemed to sense Joyce watching him, and looked up, stiffening slightly. "Hey" He said quietly, acknowledging her presence. He continued to stare at her.

"Is that....Is the sun hurting you???" She asked, indicating the streaks of light that managed to infiltrate the blinds.

Angel shrugged. "As long as I stay out of direct sunlight, I'm generally ok" He explained.

She nodded slowly, filing this information away. "Uh....Will there be any side effects??" Angel looked at her blankly. "From the antidote, I mean" She added hastily.

"She'll be pretty tired tonight. Part of that's just processing all the information she's gathered. She's gonna know things she never really wanted to" Angel explained.

"Things from you???" Joyce asked, trying not to think about her own spilled secrets.

Angel shook his head. "She couldn't hear my thoughts"

"Oh" Joyce said. "Because you are a, um, vampire??"

Angel just nodded.

"She's been quiet this week....do you know if anything else has been bothering her? Something with Faith, maybe???"

Angel seemed to hesitate. "I really think you should ask her..." He said.

Joyce just shook her head. "She never wants to burden me. But I worry....and I just need to know what's upsetting her, occasionally. "

Angel frowned, then sighed. He'd just tell her the basics. "Faith's finally gone completely nuts" He said. "She's turned a little evil" He paused. "Only, that's a very big understatement"

Joyce paled. "What did she do? Faith, I mean"

This question seemed to make Angel extremely uncomfortable. "She uh, tried to make me lose my soul. By sleeping with me"

Joyce's eyes grew narrow with anger. Angel seemed to notice. "Oh, don't worry, I refused. One woman vampire, I swear. But when I refused, she brought in a shaman, who was supposed to do a spell or something to rid me of my soul, only the guy was an old friend of GIles' so we knew beforehand. I had to pretend I'd lost my soul for awhile, and....I was very cruel to Buffy"

Joyce frowned. "But she knew, right? That it was just an act???"

"She did, but...it didn't make it better" His face clouded over, and Joyce suddenly got the feeling that Angel wasn't talking to her anymore. "She had to watch one of her worst nightmares unfold and then, worse, you had to add in Faith. I had to kiss her, and grope her, and....it must have been terrible for Buffy to watch"

Joyce felt the heavy silence hang around them. How would it feel to watch the man you loved being...intimate with a girl you had considered your friend. The double blow of Angelus must've been shattering.

"She's strong, isn't she?" Joyce said after a moment, in wonder. "If I'd had to deal with everything she has, I think I'd die.."

"You don't die" Angel said softly. "You deal. She has no other choice. This is what she was born for"

"Doesn't make it any easier, though, does it?" Joyce questioned.

Angel shook his head. "Nothing makes it easier"

Something hit Joyce for the first time. She'd always known, subconsciously, but now...it was staring her in the face, and all she had to do was reach out and accept it.

"This is never going to finish, is it?" She asked in a shaky voice. "She's never going to find her freedom"

Angel sighed. "No. She won't" He looked at Joyce. "Can you handle that??"

"Yes" She said after a few moments hesitation. Angel nodded slightly.

"You love her, don't you?" Joyce asked, looking him squarely in the eyes.

"More than I ever thought was possible" Angel replied earnestly.

Joyce nodded slowly. "Good"

And then she got up and walked out of the room.

Scene 4: Passing Time

Angel looked down at the pad in front of him, sweeping the biro over the page. His doodle took on a form; Buffy's face, her eyes smile and her lips curved into a soft smile. No big surprise there. These days, she was pretty much all he drew. Her or things connected to her.

His pen moved over the page, defining her blond hair, shading in her cheekbone.

He smiled, running his fingers over the picture, resting his fingers against her mouth. Nothing was quite as sweet as Buffy's lips. Nothing could compare to their smooth softness, their tantalizing warmth.

He closed his eyes and took a deep, unneeded breath. The smell of vanilla and lavender lingered throughout the room, the familiar scents comforting him and bringing with them memories of nights spent in this room with Buffy, her kisses raining over his face and neck, his hands drawing languid circles on the small of her back.

He smiled softly to himself. Such things had become forbidden so long ago, it seemed, and it was nice to know that that had changed. He hadn't told Buffy that, yet , of course. He wanted things to be perfect between them again, and the lingering shadow of Faith's games had ruined that for a while.

Still, he supposed, he never would have known if she hadn't called in the shaman, so maybe he should be thanking her. Not likely.

So now, things were getting back to normal with Buffy, and he'd be able to tell her soon. After they talked, he supposed. He hoped. The anticipation was killing him.

But his soul was permanent.

And that was good.

Scene 5: Enter Sandman

Buffy yawned as she trudged up the stairs, stretching and rolling her neck. She was sore all over, and she was on mental overload. It had been a long few days. Knowing everyone's secrets was exhausting.

She smiled happily when she realized that Angel was waiting for her. She quickened her steps, rushing into the bedroom, her heart bursting at the sight of him sitting in her wicker chair, a small smile on his face as he drew.

"Whatya drawing??" She asked, yawning as she came and curled up on the arm of the chair. He looked up at her and smiled.

"You" He told her. "You save the students?"

She nodded. "It was this whole big thing. Guns in the clocktower, rat poison in the cafeteria food. You drew this from memory?"

He chuckled slightly at the abrupt redirection of topic. A look of wonder was on her face. He nodded.

"You know, I look better in your drawings than I ever do in real life"

Angel snorted. "Buffy, I draw you over and over again and it never comes close to looking as beautiful as you"

She blushed, leaning her head against his shoulder and yawning.

"Tired??" He asked, brushing her hair away from her face. She nodded sleepily, and he stood, taking her hand and pulling her up with him, she clasped his hand, letting him lead her over to the bed. She let him peel her shirt away, and felt her flannelette pyjama top settle around her shoulders. She was too tired to care about the intimacy factor. This wasn't about lust. This was caring, gentle sweetness. She knew it was completely innocent. Still, she couldn't help feeling a tingle in her shoulders as his fingers brushed against her skin. But it didn't matter. She was too tired.

She felt his hands tug down her sweat pants and replace them with her pyjama pants. "Thanks" She murmured as he eased her down on the bed She smiled, attempting to tug him down on the bed with her. Finally he caved, flopping down next o her. She grinned, cuddling into his chest, their problems forgotten for the moment.

"Now Sleep" He whispered sternly.

And she did.

Scene 6: Reunion

Buffy awoke to the spicy smell of Angel's cologne, and smiled against his chest before peeking up at him.

"How long have I been sleeping?" She asked, blinking. He smiled down at her, brushing her hair away from her eyes.

"A little over an hour" He replied.

"Mm. Seems longer" She said, Pulling herself up on herself up on her elbows. "I feel better"

"I'm glad" He told her.

She pushed the blankets away, slowly climbing out of the bed. She turned and leaned against her dresser, facing him. "I suppose we should talk"

He nodded. "We should"

They were both silent before Angel sighed. "I feel nothing for Faith, Buffy"

She digested this. "I know that you don't emotionally, Angel, but she's gorgeous. I don't think I've ever met a guy who wasn't attracted to her"

"I'm hardly a normal guy, Buffy. Besides, my all-encompassing obsession with you sorta doesn't leave much room for anything else" He gave her a lopsided grin.

She smiled back, shifting slightly. "Besides. She's skanky"

Angel chuckled softly, then grew serious as he watched her. "It still bothers you, though"

She looked at her feet, and when she looked back a him, her eyes were troubled. She nodded miserably. "It's like....remember how you used to be about Xander???"

He nodded. Irrational jealousy, all the way.

"It's like that. I know you don't feel anything for her, but just...everytime I close my eyes, all I see is her wrapped around you. And it hurts. I can feel it twisting in my stomach, this rage just boiling up inside me" She looked away from him. "Kissing is about as intimate as we've been able to get in so long, and to see her kissing you....it was like watching....like watching you two....like watching her screw your brains out and there wasn't a goddamn thing I could do about it"

Angel felt his stomach twist. The thought of having sex with Faith....He grimaced. It wasn't on his to do list.

She looked at him miserably. "And I hated her because she had what I wanted and know I can never, ever, have again"

"Don't be so sure" He murmured, standing, stepping towards her a capturing her face in his hands.

"Angel, wha-" He cut her off by kissing her, trying to express everything he felt for her in that kiss. He poured into it that passion that fired his very existence, the need that nearly drove him insane, but more than anything else, he needed her to know how much he loved her. How she made him feel.

At first, she hesitated, but then she melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him the way she used to. She arched against him, moaning, trying to create more contact.

Somewhere, in the frenzied kissing, Buffy's mind must have slowed down again, because she pulled away and stepped back, tears welling in her eyes. "Angel, we can't. The curse..." She whimpered.

He stepped toward her again, putting his arms around her waist and kissing and nipping at her neck. After a moment, he whispered into her ear. "See, that's what happens when you need a break. You miss out on important developments in your partners life"

"You lost me on this one. I'm - ooohhhhh" She moaned as he found a sensitive spot behind her ear and suckled at it.

"My Soul is permanent" He told her.

Her eyes widened in happiness and a laugh of pure glee escaped her lips as she threw her arms and legs around him, sending them both tumbling to the floor. Angel chuckled, continuing his task of giving her a hickey.

"I guess it's a good thing my mom's gone to work, then" Buffy grinned, baring her neck to give him better access.

He smiled. "Good thing" She placed her hands against his chest, pushing herself up so she sat, straddling his hips. She put her hands on the waist of his shirt, tugging it over his head even as he had begun to unbutton her pyjama top. She lowered herself down so they lay nose to nose, slowing down enough to trace the outlines of his face with her fingertips. He moaned and pulled her tighter against him, caressing her back with his hands, leaning into kiss her.

She moaned into his mouth, their tongues dueling, bodies entwining as they rolled over the floor....and right onto Buffy's shoe.

Buffy pulled away. "I'm thinking the bed might be a good idea" She grinned.

"The bed. Right" Angel replied, sweeping her into his arms as they stood, He carried her to the bed, laying her softly down on the mattress before climbing on next to her. "You're so beautiful" He murmured, kissing her once more, helping her to undress.

And no more words were exchanged.

Well, a little moaning, maybe.

Later, Buffy fell into an exhausted slumber in Angel's arms, dropping a kiss on his bicep as he slipped a protective over her shoulders.

Scene 7: Afterglow

Joyce walked into her kitchen later that night, surprised to find Angel and Buffy in the dim light.

Angel was holding a bowl, stirring it slowly, leaning against the bench. Buffy sat behind him on the bench, her legs dangling on either side of his hips, her arms slipped around his waist, hands drumming out a steady rhythm on his abdomen. They looked up as she entered, and Buffy offered a bright smile. "Hi Mom! Angel's making pancakes!" She chirped, and Joyce raised an eyebrow.

"You're in an awfully good mood" She said approvingly.

Buffy grinned. "True" She said mysteriously. Angel looked up, barely repressing his own smile.

"Hi Joyce" He said, and his voice was lighter, somehow, than it had been that afternoon.

"Is someone gonna tell me what the big joke is??" Joyce asked, crossing her arms and leaning back, staring at them in good natured curiousity.

"Nope" Buffy said, shaking her head. "Sorry Mom., Private Joke. You wouldn't get it" Buffy grinned, then thought of what she'd found out about Giles and Joyce that morning. "On the other hand..." She leaned her chin against Angel's shoulder. "Mom slept with Giles"

Angel glanced at Joyce, then sidelong at Buffy. "I didn't wanna know that, Buffy"

Joyce was mortified. "Buffy! Why did you tell him that???"

"Because now you can't yell at me. Angel's soul is permanent" She said matter of factly, kissing his shoulder.

Joyce raised her eyebrows. Ok, now the mood made sense. "Oh. Well that's....that's good"

Buffy smiled, clearly impressed. "Cool. I was expecting at least a few 'being careful' riffs, not that matters cause he's technically dead, and..." She felt Angel stiffed beneath her, and trailed off. If he'd had circulation, he'd be blushing madly, she knew. "Sorry honey" She squeezed his stomach, and he covered one of her hands with his for a moment before going back to stirring.

"So anyway, that's where the happiness vibe is coming from" Buffy explained. "No more un-relationship for this li'l slayer"

Joyce nodded, knowing that even if she had the heart to object, her daughter wouldn't listen. Besides, what she saw was a couple very much in love. Her daughter was an adult now, and she wouldn't take away anything that made her happy.

"Do you want some pancakes, Mom??" Buffy's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Uh...can he cook???"

Buffy grinned. "Oh, yeah" She said, accentuating the words with a tap on Angel's stomach.

"Ok" Joyce nodded, sliding into a chair.

Angel moved to the stove, pouring pancake batter into the frying pan.

Buffy frowned as he walked away from her, but accepted the loss as necessary and jumped off the bench, taking a seat next to her mother, sneaking surreptitious glances at his back, assuring herself that he was there, and this was real.

She sighed happily, content in the knowledge that this feeling would last a long, long time.

Scene 8: Girl Talk (This is *after* Giles walks into the tree.)

Buffy pushed the swinging doors into the library open, striding through, glancing at the clock, mentally working out exactly how long it would be until she saw Angel again. She flicked her hair over her shoulder, a petulant frown settling onto her face. 6 Hours.

"Talked, huh??" She snapped her head around, seeing Willow, whose eyes were focused on the red mark behind Buffy's ear. "That's funny, cause that looks remarkably like a hickey"

Buffy smiled. "That's because it is a hickey"

A careful frown settled across Willow's features. "Buffy, you know that temptation is not a good thing, and I'm only saying this as a friend, even though it sucks the big one, because I don't want you and Angel to have to go through that again, and- What's so funny???"

"You're so cute, Will" Buffy grinned. "And don't worry. His here to stay. Believe me. We tested it" A lazy smile spread over her face. "Believe me, we tested it. You could call us overachievers"

"It's permanent??" Willow asked, shocked. Buffy nodded, and Willow shrieked, hugging Buffy. "That is *sooo* great! That's great!! Really great" A strange look settled on her. "I've always wondered what Angel looked like happy"

"Well, you know how gorgeous and sexy Angel is when he's brooding??? He's even better when he's smiling. One corner of his mouth lifts up, and his eyes twinkle, and he does this little smirk thing. Satisfied, you know??"

"You've paid a lot of attention to this, haven't you?"

"Believe when I say, definitely. I couldn't take my eyes off him last night, Will. It' was like, everything was whole again. The world came into focus. And my Mom didn't freak or anything"

"Your Mom?? What did she say???"

"Something like 'Oh. That's nice'. And then we had pancakes"

"Pancakes are always good" Willow agreed.

"So you and Angel are like, 'You and Angel' again???"

Buffy smiled happily. "Yep"

"Couples are always good, too" Willow said gleefully.

"Yeah" Buffy agreed. "They are"

:: Chapter Two ::