> hey! Ok. Here's the challenge. It There's not really a time period that goes with the requirements so make up something. There has to be LOTS of Riley > and Kate bashing, B/A smooches, S/C and O/W stuff. Willow has to confront > Tara and say bad things. (I hate this whole t/w stuff! It's gross!) that's practically it . . . oh! plus kicking ass and all that. Could include:
> 1. How sweetened ice tea is better than unsweetened
> 2. A monkey pants comeback(they are so cool!)
> 3. Angel in a tank *DROOOOOL. . .*
> 4. Spike in colorful clothing(clown costume maybe? . . . hehehe)
> 5. B/A child
> 6. Wesley dancing(OMG help me!)
> 7. The song "Two Princes" by Spin Doctors
> 8. A boxers of the year award
> 9. Xander and Anya doing stuff other than having sex(we never see them!)
> 10. A surprise b-day party for Giles!(sweet!)
> 11. Jenny's still alive

RATING: You watch it? You can read it.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, don't sue.
DISTRIBUTION: Ask and ye shall receive.
FEEDBACK: I crave it. It's like cigarettes, you know? Just when I think I've quit…
SPOILERS: IWRY
NOTES: I'm so sorry, I know this wasn't what you meant but it just popped into my head and demanded to be written. Tara isn't in this because I've never seen any episodes with her in so I don't know anything about the character and Kate isn't here because she just didn't fit. This is the first time that I have ever responded to a challenge so please be kind and let me know what you think. This is in response to Steele's Challenge.
SUMMARY: Silly fluff fic. See the title.

Buffy stood with her back to the wall facing the group of twenty or so vampires that had cornered her in the old warehouse. She spared a single disgusted glance for Riley who was cowering on the floor, trying to use her a shield while he blubbered pathetically that he didn't want to die. She knew that the odds were against her but nevertheless she would go down fighting and take as many of them with her as she could.

The vampires advanced in unison, grinning in anticipation of the kill; a wall of demons that moved as one. Riley clutched at her leg and she kicked him off, raising her stake as she prepared to make one last stand and, as though her movement had been a signal, they attacked.

The first to reach her was the first to die as she whirled and kicked in a graceful dance of death but for every one she killed another took its place. Riley shrieked, grabbing once more for her leg and she stumbled. Before she could regain her balance they were upon her, kicking the stake from her hand and pinning her down so that she couldn't move. Buffy bucked and twisted but she couldn't get up enough leverage to break free and the leader grabbed her hair, pulling her head aside so that he could sink his fangs into her neck.

She closed her eyes and pictured Angel's face in her mind as she prepared for death but the expected pain never came. Instead there was an ear-shattering crash, as the far wall of the warehouse seemed to explode inwards.

Instinctively, the vampire's grips slackened and they turned towards the disturbance. Seizing her opportunity, Buffy kicked free of their hold and in an instant she was on her feet, stake once more in her hand and several vampires were dust before they realised what had happened as they stared in astonishment at the place where the wall had been. It was little wonder that they were surprised, it was not everyday – even in Sunnydale – that a tank came crashing through the wall. The hatch opened and out popped Angel with a crossbow in his hands. He fired and reloaded in a single smooth motion and the leader gave an enraged scream as he disintegrated. At the same time, Buffy attacked and it was only a matter of minutes before, leaderless and afraid, the once organised attack force broke and fled in panic.

Shoving her stake back into the waistband of her pants, Buffy moved towards the tank as Angel climbed out and jumped to the ground. For a second they just stood looking at each other then she launched herself into his arms and he caught her close to him. Their lips met in a long passionate kiss, which healed the wounds that their long separation had left on both their hearts.

Only gradually did reality return but when it did, Buffy reluctantly eased away from him, "Angel…we can't…the curse…"

"Is gone." He told her gently.

Her heart missed a beat and her eyes desperately searched his, unable to believe that their miracle had occurred. Peace and love looked back at her and her heart filled with joy as she burst into tears.

"Shhh…it's all right, Beloved," Angel whispered as he stroked her hair soothingly and pressed little kisses to her forehead, "we're together now."

"Oh, Angel, I love you so…and it's been so hard without you. Promise me that you'll never leave me again?"

"I promise. I'll stay with you forever."

"And I'll never forget." He pulled back to looked into her eyes and she smiled at his astonished expression, "I told you I wouldn't."

"But…how long?"

"I dreamed about that day about a week after it happened and when I woke up…I just knew."

"I'm so sorry, Buffy," he said sadly, "I never wanted you to have to live with that."

"No! I treasure those memories. Even though I though that we could never be together I knew I would always have the memory of that one perfect day in my heart so I could take it out and look at it when I was unhappy. It was a gift."

They smiled as the memory of that day flashed between them then leaned towards one another and their eyes drifted closed as their lips met once more.

The beautiful moment was broken by Riley's outraged voice, "Hey! What do you think you're doing kissing MY girlfriend?"

Angel lifted his head to look questioningly at Buffy and she rolled her eyes expressively before turning within the circle of his arms to look at the annoying boy. "Riley, for the last time, I am NOT your girlfriend, I have never been your girlfriend. I went out with you once because Willow pushed me into it and even then I made up an excuse to leave early!"

"You know you don't mean that," he told her complacently, "you're just playing hard to get."

"Oh, brother!" she muttered with a helpless look at Angel, "there is just no way through this guys ego!"

"Come on," he said holding out his hand, "we should go. The army is going to be looking for its tank and Cordelia, Wesley and the others are waiting at Giles'."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Willow spotted the two of them as they walked hand in hand towards the house with Riley tagging along behind, talking to himself and seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were paying no attention to him at all. She waited impatiently for them to reach the door and opened it before they could knock, practically dragging them inside.

"Where have you been!" she demanded, "Giles is going to be here any minute and look at you…you're filthy!" She herself was dressed in a blue satin gown that was slinkier than what she usually wore and was basking in the fact that Oz couldn't take his eyes off her.

The door slammed shut behind them but they opened it again when there was a cry of pain from outside. Riley was sitting on the doorstep clutching his bleeding nose. Willow looked at him and said unsympathetically, "You can't stay there, if Giles sees you he'll know something's up."

"I think my nose is broken," he said pitifully, "you should call an ambulance."

"If it isn't it soon will be," Xander muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear him from where he was playing cards with Anya.

"Your nose isn't broken but you should go home and put some ice on it." Buffy told him, hoping that he'd take the hint and leave but of course he didn't. Instead he held out his hand inviting her to help him up and, when she ignored it, clambered clumsily to his feet and walked into the house.

Closing the door, Willow turned to look at Buffy and said, "We have to do something about the way you look before Giles gets here. I've been practising this spell…"

Buffy froze like a deer trapped in the headlights of a car and looked at Angel in panic, while everyone else except Riley dived for cover behind the sofa. "Um…Will? I really don't think…" she began but it was too late, the amateur witch had already begun to chant.

Buffy closed her eyes tightly and began praying to a god she wasn't sure she believed in, that this time everything would work the way it was supposed to. There was a bright flash, which she saw even through her closed eyelids and then silence.

Cautiously she opened one eye and looked down at herself. Nothing had changed and she heaved a silent sigh of relief before turning to look at Angel. Her eyes widened and it was all that she could do to keep herself from drooling as her insides turned to liquid. The black trousers and shirt he had been wearing were gone and in their place were tight fitting leather pants and nothing else.

He looked questioningly at her and, unable to resist she slid her arms round his waist and his eyes widened as he realised that she was touching bare skin and he looked down at himself quickly, relieved to discover that he still had his pants on.

"Mmm, I think I like that spell, Will," she murmured, turning to look at her, "you should…" she broke off abruptly and a choked sound emerged from her throat at the sight before her. Riley stood there stark naked except for a pair of shocking pink boxer shorts on which were printed little red hearts and little yellow ears off corn. Following her gaze Angel and Willow turned to look at him and immediately began to laugh. Buffy clamped a hand over her mouth in an attempt to stop her giggles but they burst free and she and Angel collapsed in each other's arms, roaring with laughter.

Confused, Riley looked down at himself and immediately went the same colour as his shorts. At the same moment a howl of fury came from behind the sofa and Spike shot to his feet, "Red, what have you done!" he exclaimed, indicating his appearance.

He had reason to be annoyed. His trademark duster, jeans and red shirt were gone and in their place was the baggy, colourful outfit of a clown and the sight sent them into further paroxysms of mirth.

"Oh dear," said Willow, trying desperately to suppress her own laughter, "Are the others…?"

One by one they stood up; Xander, wearing a long red dress; Cordelia, in what looked like a potato sack; Wesley, dressed as a large lemon with yellow tights; Anya, in an immense purple hoop skirt that wouldn't have looked out of place at the court of Elizabeth I if it hadn't been decorated with little pictures of mating peacocks; and Oz, in a monkey suit with light brown fur and green trousers.

The sight was too much for Willow and she too dissolved into hilarity as Buffy gasped out to Angel, "I think that you should consider yourself very lucky right now, I don't think you'd look as good in a dress as you do in leather!"

At that moment there was a sound at the door and Giles and Jenny walked in before stopping, transfixed by the sight before them. "Good God!" he exclaimed faintly, "what in Heaven's name is going on here?"

Everyone turned to look at him and for a moment there was silence, then Buffy took a deep breath and stepped forwards to give him a hug, "Happy Birthday, Giles, welcome to your surprise party!" she waved a hand at the others and said, "sorry about all this. Willow tried to do a spell that would make me presentable and it…went a little…wrong." the last words were choked but she managed to force them out before returning to Angel's arms exploding with laughter once more.

Giles and Jenny looked at the strange assortment before them, then back at each other and as their eyes met, they too began to laugh.

"It's not funny!" Cordelia protested angrily, "I look like the little match girl and that dress you've changed cost $500!"

"It's all right, luv." Spike said soothingly as he stepped forwards to take her into his arms, almost tripping over his huge clown shoes in the process, "You look beautiful no matter what you wear and we'll get you another dress, I promise."

Her expression softened and they kissed. Then Cordelia looked over at the others and giggled, when he looked at her questioningly she explained, "Just l ook at us! I've always said that Wesley was a bit of a lemon but… And have you ever seen worse boxers?"

Spike grinned but Riley looked offended and asked indignantly, "What's wrong with my boxers?"

"Oh God! You mean that they aren't part of the spell? You actually wear those?" Xander asked incredulously, voicing everyone's thoughts as they turned to look at him in disbelief.

"Yes, of course, why not?"

That did it, everyone except Riley began to laugh helplessly. He looked at them reproachfully, which only made them laugh harder, then his eyes filled with tears and he ran from the house, only to be run over by a lorry when the driver was dazzled by the brightness of his boxers.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The party had been in full swing for the past two hours and Angel looked around him with a contented sigh, he still found it hard to believe that he was an accepted part of this special and close knit group. Everyone except him had changed out of their magically created costumes into things that had been lent to them by Giles and Jenny and, while Spike, Xander and Oz all looked a little strange dressed in tweed, it was still a definite improvement. The memory of how they had looked made him smile and he knew that it was an image he would never forget.

Earlier Spike had challenge Giles, Wesley and himself to a drinking competition and, while he had declined, preferring to spend his time with Buffy, the other two had accepted. As a result Spike and Giles were currently engaged in singing a very off key serenade to Cordelia and Jenny while Wesley…danced? around the room. Xander and Anya were playing cards and arguing whether Twinkies or Peanut butter cups were better and Buffy sat beside him, nestled in the crook of his arm.

His gaze returned to her face as she leaned forwards and picked up her glass of iced-tea from the table. She took a sip, then wrinkled her nose and put it down again. Seeing him watching her she explained, "It's unsweetened."

He bent his head and kissed her thoroughly, tasting the tea on her lips, "Tastes sweet enough to me," he murmured softly, looking deeply into her dazed eyes.

She smiled at him and then abruptly got up and pulled him to his feet and headed upstairs, slightly confused but willing, he followed her. Angel just had time to realise that they were in the bedroom before she pushed the door closed and began kissing him. His knees went weak but with his last remnant of common sense he managed to gasp out, "Buffy… everyone's downstairs and this is Giles' bedroom! Do you really think this is a good idea?"

She hesitated and regretfully he realised that she was going to listen but then she shrugged and started kissing his chest, "Probably not, but who cares?"

And then there were no more words for a long time, except for murmured exclamations and endearments as they rediscovered one another after so long.

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