19

"We're back!" Melissa announced when she and Angel stepped into their mother's room.

"Was Buffy's party fun?" asked Mrs. Riches from the bed. She had been laying down watching television when her children came home.

"Eh. It was okay. Glad to be home, though."

Mrs. Riches smiled. "I'm surprised you two are home so early. It's graduation night, you should be out partying. That's what I did."

"I'm not a big party person."

Angel entered the room. He had quietly sneaked out to pack a change of clothes into an overnight bag. "You doing okay, Mom?"

"Fine. You don't need to constantly worry about me, Angel. How come you left so early? I figured you wouldn't be home for a few more hours."

"Missy wanted to come home, so I drove her. But I am going back to the party," Angel explained.

Melissa eyed the bag in her brother's hand. "What's that for?" she questioned, pointing to the bag.

"Buffy asked me to stay overnight. Is that okay with you, Mom?"

"Go right ahead. Have a good time."

"Thanks."

From several feet away, Melissa's jaw fell agape. "I don't believe it! Mom, how can you do that?"

"He's eighteen years old. Your brother can do whatever he wants," their mother reasoned.

"It's not like I never spent the night with her before, Melissa," Angel reminded her. "Remember? She and I spent three whole nights together after the Prom."

"Yes, and do you remember what happened then? You ended up having sex with her!" she shouted.

"That's my business, not yours."

"Mom, how can you allow that? Angel's only going over there so he can sleep with her," Melissa whined to her mother.

Their mother took a deep breath. "Melissa, leave the room so I can speak to Angel in private."

She did as her mother told her to. Smirking evilly at her brother, Melissa closed the door behind her. "Mom, she's exaggerating," Angel said.

"Is what she said true? About the weekend after Prom, I mean?"

Slowly, he nodded his head. "Yes."

"You and Buffy…you slept together?"

Again, he nodded. "Yes. I love her, Mom. And she loves me. I never would have let things go as far as they have if I didn't feel that way about her."

"The two of you have only been together for a short time," Mrs. Riches observed. "A little over a month."

"I was with Kelley for three years. It never happened with her. I am in love with Buffy. Can't you trust my judgement?"

"Are you being careful, at least?"

"Very careful. Mom, you know me. I wouldn't have slept with her if I didn't have every intention of spending the rest of my life with her. I'm noble and old-fashioned, remember? You brought me up to be that way. I respect her."

She smiled. "I know; you're a good boy, Angel. Just promise me that if something happens and you two get in trouble, you won't leave her to face it by herself."

He kissed his mother on the cheek. "You know I'd never do something like that. I don't run away when things get too rough, like Dad did. I'll be there every step of the way for her if something should happen. I hope that puts your mind at ease."

"It does. Just please be careful."

"I always am."

***

"Go on, open your present first," Buffy ordered Angel. It was two hours later and they sat facing each other on the bed. All the partygoers had left twenty minutes earlier.

He opened the heavy box his girlfriend had handed to him. "I'm afraid to open it," he said with a smile. "What on earth did you get me?"

"Like I said, open it and find out."

Angel pulled out a laptop computer and stared at it for ten seconds before he even blinked. "Buffy, this is way too expensive. You really shouldn't have."

"I wanted to. The computer you have at your house is an Apple IIE. It was time for an upgrade," she said. "It has everything you can possibly imagine, and a state-of-the-art word processing program for the Great American Novel you're going to write."

He shook his head in utter amazement. "This is the best present anyone's ever given to me. Thank you so much."

"Just remember to mention me when you write that novel."

"It'll be dedicated to you." He handed her a small box in silver paper. "This is for you. I'm sorry I couldn't have bought you something nicer."

Carefully, Buffy ripped away the wrapping paper, then opened the box. Inside sat a white gold claddagh ring. "It's beautiful. I love it."

"The ring has a legend to it," he informed her. "I was so busy this past week working on my speech that I never got around to look into it."

Buffy put the ring on her left hand. She knew what the ring symbolized; her mother had one and had explained the lore behind it. The claddagh was the Irish wedding band. The gift filled her heart with joy. "Thank you. I'll never take it off."

"I got you one more thing. It's not a present, really. It is a poem I wrote for you."

He picked up the frame it had been sealed in and began to read the poem. "My Beloved."

"What are the right words to express how much I love you?

Love can have so many different meanings.

It can mean the love of a mother to a child, trying to protect her young from harm.

It can mean the love of a friend who's always there in your life, during your trials and tribulations.

It can mean the love of a woman to a man, and how she fills him completely in every way imaginable.

My beloved, that is what you do to me.

When you enter the room, the sight of you sends shivers down my spine to the very inner core of my body.

When you flash that big bright smile of yours that exudes happiness and joy, both of which you bring into my life.

When you say the words I love you, I feel this part of my heart that was once empty and hollow being filled by those three little words over and over again until my heart is complete and whole.

When you kiss me with your sweet luscious lips; I can never get enough of that sweet taste that is uniquely yours, showing me every way in which you love me.

When we make love, I feel that we are intertwined as one.

There is no beginning or end; it's just us; not you or me, but us.

Loving a woman like you has shown me, opened my eyes to new ideas.

You never judged me for my ideas or actions or opinions; you simply loved and accepted me.

If there is one thing I wish for, my beloved, it is an eternity with you by my side.

My beloved, you are my everything.

My beloved, I am fire and you are ice.

Our love and passion together douse the flames and leave behind a cool river flowing endlessly like our love.

My beloved, our love is eternal.

No matter where I'll be, my beloved, you'll always be in my beating heart until my very last breath.

My beloved, you mean so much to me.

No matter what words I may use to express my feelings for you, they will never be enough; nothing will ever be enough.

I love you forever, my beloved."

Angel looked up from the poem he'd just read. "Well? What did you think?"

Tears fell down her cheeks. "Angel, that was beautiful. You really wrote that for me?"

He wiped the tears away with his fingers. "Yes. About you and me. I love you, Buffy, and I meant every word I wrote."

"You want to spend eternity with me?" she asked, sniffling.

He nodded. "Yes, I do."

She threw her arms around him, tenderly kissing him on the lips. "Me, too."

Their kiss deepened and they fell back on the bed.

***

Some hours later, Buffy and Angel lay on their sides on her bed, facing each other. Both were exhausted after having spent their passion for one another.

"Angel?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah?"

"I-I was just thinking about something. And I wanted to know what you thought about it, or even if you have thought about it."

"Thought about what?" Angel wanted to know.

She gave him a small, shy smile. "I don't know why I was thinking about this; maybe it has something to do with your speech at graduation. Have you ever given any thought to having children? Do you want them?"

"I guess so. Who doesn't?"

"Would you prefer a girl or a boy?"

Angel eyed her suspiciously. "Buffy, are you trying to tell me something?" Fear gripped his heart at the possibility of her being pregnant. He'd promised his mother that he would be careful and he knew that it would disappoint her if something happened. "Are you…?"

She shook her head. "No, don't worry. Everything is fine. I was just wondering. See, I always imagined having a son. A little boy who'd look exactly like his father."

"Why not a daughter?" he questioned.

"I'm too afraid she'd end up looking like me. Being all awkward and gawky and ugly. And then end up being teased and tormented like I was."

"You're beautiful, Buffy. Don't be so hard on yourself. Everyone goes through one of those stages."

"Sure. You never did," she muttered under her breath. "What about you? Have you ever wondered about kids? What they'd look like, that kind of thing."

Angel grinned. "Not until recently. But I think I'd want a daughter. I'd spoil her rotten and treat her like the little princess she is. And unlike you, I want her to look like her mother. With big green eyes and hair the color of spun gold. She'll be a beauty, just like you are."

"Me?" she asked incredulously. "Why me?"

"Well, I sort of assumed you would be her mother. The mother of all my children. That is, if you'd even want to have any with me."

Joy filled her heart like never before. He wanted to have a family with her. "Would I? Angel, do you have to ask? Of course I do. It's all I've ever dreamed of and wanted since, like, forever. I love you and I want to share everything with you. Absolutely everything; the good, the bad, having children, growing old with you and all that stuff. Nothing is ever going to change that."

He smiled at her response. "Good."

Angel propped himself up on one arm, using the other one to push her back to the bed. Bending his head down, he captured her lips in a sweet kiss. Buffy tangled her fingers in his soft brown hair, holding him to her. His tongue delved into her mouth, running over her own, caressing the roof of her mouth. Moaning his name, she pulled him even closer; then, using all her strength, she flipped them over so that she lay on top of him.

Slipping his hands under the blanket that covered them, Angel ran them over the silky skin of her back. He loved to touch her, and was filled with joy from the fact that he would be the only man to do so for the rest of her life. Removing his left hand from her, he reached over into the nightstand drawer for the necessary protection they would need.

Buffy put her hand over his. "Angel, no. Not now."

"Why not?" he asked, confusion glinting in his eyes. "I thought you wanted to do this."

She smiled at him. "I do, believe me I do. But I'm so tired right now. I only wanted to kiss you, to feel you touch me. It wouldn't be much fun for either of us if I was just lying there."

"I could make it fun," Angel teased.

"Yeah, I'm sure you could. Please, Angel, let's go to sleep."

"If that's what you want, okay."

She frowned. "You're mad at me, aren't you?"

"No, not at all. It's been a long day for both of us. I completely understand. I just thought you'd want to do it one more time before we went to sleep. It might have helped you fall asleep."

"I'm too sleepy. I can't even form a coherent thought right now," Buffy explained. "Besides, I'll sleep fine as long as you're next to me."

"Okay. We'll go to sleep." Angel scooped her into his arms, turning them so that they lay on their sides, her back pressed against his chest. He nuzzled her neck with his nose.

She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer. It seemed as if she fell right to sleep when she was wrapped in Angel's embrace. "I don't think I told you how much I loved your speech at graduation."

"Thank you. I worked really hard on it."

"Yeah, I know. And it was sweet and thought-provoking and poignant all at the same time. I was so proud. You have an amazing creative ability; I told my dad today that you're going to be a famous writer someday."

"It's nice that one of us has confidence in that."

Buffy rubbed her hands along his arms, which held her about the waist. "Don't be so self-effacing. It'll happen, I know it will. Just give it some time."

***

Mr. Summers pulled into the driveway at quarter after nine the following morning. He gazed curiously at the green Ford Taurus parked behind his daughter's Pontiac Grand Am. 'Who is here?' he wondered. It wasn't Cordelia or Harmony's car, that he knew for a fact. 'Someone must have left their car here last night. Oh well.'

The house was silent when he entered, which wasn't all that surprising to him. Buffy didn't usually wake up until ten or eleven on her days off, and he imagined her sleeping even later because of the party. But Mr. Summers was eager to give her her graduation present. A week earlier, he'd purchased a brand new car for her, and he couldn't wait to see the expression on Buffy's face when she saw it.

He headed up the stairs to her bedroom and paused before entering. With a smile on his lips, Mr. Summers opened the door. The sight before him was something he had not been prepared for: his daughter laying asleep in the arms of the man he recognized as her boyfriend, Angel. It was apparent to him what had been going on the previous night.

"Buffy Anne Summers! What the hell is going on here?" he demanded, unable to control the anger and outrage in his voice.

She awoke with a start upon hearing her father's voice. "Dad! Oh my god!" Buffy clutched the blanket to her naked body.

Next to her, Angel roused from his peaceful slumber. "Buffy? Why are you shouting? Who are you talking to?" he asked with a yawn. Looking at the doorway, he saw her father. Gulping, he said, "Mr. Summers."

When he didn't say anything in reply, Buffy took the opportunity. "Dad, I can totally explain this."

"Downstairs. Five minutes. Fully dressed," he ordered, his face turning red. "Alone, young lady. I want him out of this house."

***

20

The two of them quickly climbed out of bed when Mr. Summers left the room. Buffy wrapped the bedsheet under her arms while Angel wrapped the comforter about his waist. When he looked at her, he noticed that her lower lip was trembling.

From behind her, Angel put his arms around her upper arms, wrapping her in his embrace. "I'm so sorry, Buffy," he apologized. "I never wanted to get you in any trouble with you father."

Buffy closed her eyes as if in pain. "This isn't your fault. It's mine. I-I never should have made you stay over. I knew my dad would be coming home in the morning. It's all my fault."

"Everything'll be okay."

"My dad was really angry. Angel, I've never seen him so pissed off in my entire life. It frightened me."

"He just found you in bed with your boyfriend. I can't imagine any parent being too happy about that. I know my mom wouldn't be thrilled if it had been her."

She shook her head. "This is different. Your mom knows about us, you told her everything. God, you can tell her anything and she will trust you and your judgement. Things aren't like that for me and my father. It's the complete opposite for us."

"Just explain it to him and I'm sure he'll understand. I'll even come with you if you want, for moral support."

"Thanks for the offer," she said, turning around to face him. "But I have to do this on my own."

Angel nodded. "Okay. Like I said before, everything will be just fine."

***

With a tentative breath, Buffy stepped into her father's study. He was sitting in his leather swivel chair, looking out the window, watching the sun play on the wet grass.

"Is he gone?" Mr. Summers asked without turning around.

"Yes. Angel just left a minute ago. Dad, I can explain -"

Turning the chair, he glared at her. "Don't. I have a pretty good idea of what went on up there. You were in bed with a boy you've only been dating for a little over a month."

"I know how disappointed you must be…"

"Disappointed? You could certainly say that, yes. I am quite disappointed. Frankly, I would have expected more from you." He took a sip of coffee. "I thank God your mother isn't alive to see this."

"Mom would have understood. She wouldn't have thrown Angel out on his ass like you did," Buffy said, tears stinging her eyes. "She would have been fine with it. I know she would have."

"You don't think she would've been upset? Joyce is probably turning over in her grave as we speak, wondering where we went wrong with you."

She couldn't believe her father was saying such things to her. "Where you went wrong?" she repeated. "Nothing's wrong with me. I'm perfectly fine, perfectly normal."

"So, you consider it normal to be having sex with a boy you've hardly known for a month?" he asked, with a sharp edge to his voice.

"I've known him my entire life! And I've loved him for just as long. You can stop it with the sex lecture, Dad. I've already had it. Mom told me that I should wait until I find the man I want to be with forever, the man I love. Well, I love Angel! And he loves me."

"I always expected better from you, I thought you had much better taste in men. It's almost shameful what you're doing."

She didn't understand what her father was saying. "Shameful? What am I doing that's so shameful to you?"

"You should be with someone better, Buffy. You should be with a young man who can provide a stable life for you, give you what you need. A man with means," Mr. Summers informed her.

"A man with means…you mean a man with money?" she accused. "You think I care about that? I don't. All the guys at Sunnydale High whose parents have money have egos bigger than the state of Texas. They're rude and snobby and sick; they're only after one thing and I'm not about to give it to them. Angel may not have any money, but he loves me. He knows how to treat me, and that means more to me than any dollar amount. He's a bigger, better person than any of those so-called rich high school boys could ever hope to be.

"Angel works hard to get what he wants. He supports his sick mother and twin sister by working for *you* forty hours a week. He gave up going to an Ivy League college so he could stay at home and take care of them. It's called substance, Dad, and he has a lot of it. How can you say that I shouldn't be with someone like him? He's what parents dream of. He's what I dream of."

"Someone like him will only end up hurting you."

Buffy blinked. "How? And what do you mean by 'someone like him'?"

"I suppose you already know about Luke Riches."

She nodded her head. "Yes. Angel told me about his father. He left them when Angel and Melissa were only ten. What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"It's been my experience that, in cases such as this, the apple never falls far from the tree." Mr. Summers took another sip of his coffee. "Angel will do the same thing to you that his father did to Adrienne…his mother. He'll leave you broke, with children to care for. His children."

"Angel would never do that. He's nothing like his father, he hates his father for what he's done to that family," she told him. "How can you call yourself my father and say those things about the man I love? Haven't you ever been in love? So deeply in love where you didn't know where you ended and she began? That's how I feel when I'm with Angel."

He fell into his memories at his daughter's words. A face formed in his mind's eye: a beautiful young woman with long, curly dark brown hair and deep chocolate eyes, and a smile that filled his heart with love when he had been Buffy's age. A smile that still filled his heart even to that day. "Of course I've been in love like that. But that's not what you're feeling."

"How do you know what I'm feeling? You never take the time to find out."

"You are trying to defy me by dating someone you know I would never approve of; by doing things with him you shouldn't be doing. If you wanted my attention, Buffy, you have it now. End this game you're playing."

"This isn't a game. I love him and he loves me. I don't care if you don't approve, I wasn't asking for your approval."

"You have to stop this before you get hurt. That boy will only hurt you. Mark my words, young lady."

***

Angel was worried. It was four o'clock and he still had not yet heard from Buffy. He hoped everything was okay and that her father hadn't come down too hard on her. 'I'll call her after work and make sure she's handling everything fine,' he decided.

When he stepped behind his register, Jason McKenzie walked up to him. "You're wanted upstairs in the office, Angel. I'd suggest you go now."

"Who wants to see me?" Angel wanted to know.

"Mr. Summers," Jason said. "Man, what did you do? He never asks to see the employees. You must have done something big."

He shook his head. "You don't want to know."

His heart beating nervously, Angel ascended the stairs to the owner's office. Pausing for a brief moment, he knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Mr. Summers called.

Angel entered, closing the door behind him. He tried his hardest not to look like a scared puppy, but he doubted he was doing a good job at hiding his fear and apprehension. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Summers?"

"Yes, I did. Please have a seat, Angel. You and I need to have talk. It's about your relationship with my daughter."

***

21

"Cordy, it was awful!" Buffy exclaimed when she called her best friend that night after her father left for work at the department store. "He came in and found me and Angel in bed and totally flipped out on us!"

"Well, can you really blame him?" Cordelia asked. "He did catch you in bed with your boyfriend."

"Yes, I can blame him! He didn't have to throw Angel out. God, he practically told him to leave and never come back. Poor Angel barely had enough time to get dressed when he left."

On the other end of the phone, her best friend smiled at the mental image. "Now there's a picture. Your boyfriend running out of your house clad only in a thin little sheet. What I wouldn't give to see that!"

Buffy groaned. "That's not funny. You're not exactly helping me here."

"I'm sorry. What did your dad say when you two talked? Did he tell you that you can't see Angel anymore?" she wanted to know.

"Not really…well, not exactly, anyway. Dad said that I disappointed him and that I was shaming him and our family by being with Angel. No matter how many good things I said about Angel, all my dad could seem to remember was how poor he is and that his dad left his mom. Nothing else mattered. He's so stubborn!"

"And your father thinks he'll do the same thing to you," surmised Cordelia.

"Exactly!" Buffy agreed. "But Angel wouldn't do that. I know him. I mean, he and I talked about the future last night and about children. And he wants to have them with me. Cordy, he even gave me a ring as a graduation present. A claddagh ring."

She raised her eyebrows. "Isn't that considered a wedding band in Ireland?"

"Yes. I don't know if he realized it, I don't think he did. But do you know what it means? He and I are married!"

"Buff, I think you might be jumping the gun a little there. I know you love Angel and you want to be with him, but think about it. Seriously think about it. You've only been together for a month. Maybe you're getting too attached too quickly."

"Not you, too. You sound just like Dad. I've been in love with Angel for thirteen years, and now that I finally have him, I'm never letting him go. Come hell or high water, we'll be with each other forever."

***

Cautiously, Angel sat down in the chair opposite Mr. Summers' desk. He knew it wasn't a friendly, let's-get-to-know-my-daughter's-boyfriend visit. And that left him more than a little frightened.

"Mr. Summers," he began, "I'd like to apologize for what you saw this morning. I never would have stayed overnight if I'd known that could happen."

"Obviously," Buffy's father replied. "I don't think I need to tell you how concerned I am about the rather rapid progression of things between you and my daughter."

Angel looked down. "No, you don't. Buffy and I have only been together for a short time, I'm very well-aware of that. But we love each other, sir."

"You don't need to call me sir. Your family and I go way back. I knew both of your parents when we were only in high school, and your mother and I dated for several weeks until we graduated and I left town for the army. But you knew that already, didn't you, Angel?" he asked. "That your mother and I were a couple, that is."

"Not until recently when my mother met Buffy for the first time."

"I cared very much for Adrienne, I still do. Although, I have to say, your father was never my favorite person, particularly after he married your mother and then abandoned your family."

"Welcome to the club," muttered Angel.

Mr. Summers scrutinized the young man sitting across from him. "You look like Luke did when he was eighteen. Handsome, strong-boned, almost the same hair and eye color. It's no wonder my daughter is so enchanted with you. I certainly hope that you haven't inherited his less-appealing personality traits along with his looks."

"No, I haven't. I'm nothing like my father and I never hope to be." He took a deep breath. "Look, Mr. Summers, I don't want to sound rude or anything, but is there a point to all this? Why did you ask me to come up here? I get the feeling it wasn't to relive your past with my parents."

"How is your mother, by the way? Doing well, I hope," questioned the older man. "I know how sick she's been."

"She's doing fine." Angel paused for a moment, a thought entering his mind when Mr. Summers brought up his mother. There was something written on his face, almost a look of longing. "I certainly hope you're not about to tell me something really disgusting, like you're my real father and not Luke Riches."

With a small, amused smile playing on his lips, Mr. Summers replied, "No, I'm not your father." 'Although if I'd had the chance…' "Your mother and I were never together like that. Besides, you look too much like Luke to be my son. Your sister as well, from what I saw at the graduation ceremony yesterday afternoon."

Unnecessarily, Angel sighed with relief. "My sister's soap operas must be rubbing off on me. I apologize for my little outburst. It was uncalled for."

"It's perfectly fine. Buffy was singing your praises when she and I spoke earlier this morning. She told me how hard you work to support your family, how intelligent you are and that you'd been accepted to several Ivy League universities."

Angel nodded sheepishly. "Just two Ivy League schools."

"Still, an admirable feat. You seem to have a sensible head on your shoulders, and I respect that." He reached into the top drawer of his desk, pulling out a rectangular-shaped piece of paper. He held it up for Angel to see. "Do you know what this is, Angel?"

"It looks like a check."

"Very good. But not just any check. It's a check for three million dollars. Made out in your name."

He didn't quite understand. "Why?"

"Because it's for you. Under one condition."

"What's the condition?" Angel wanted to know. He'd had the feeling that there was stipulation to it. Nothing was free, he understood that.

"That you never see my daughter again."

***

Angel wasn't sure if he'd heard Mr. Summers correctly; he thought his ears were playing tricks on him. "Excuse me? What did you say?" he asked.

"The three million dollars is yours, provided you no longer maintain contact with my daughter. It's as simple as that."

"I don't get it. Why?"

Mr. Summer sighed. "I mean nothing personal against you, Angel. You seem like a very nice young man. It's just that…well, I always pictured my Buffy with somebody different. A man with a better status in society, if you know what I mean. Someone who can provide for her and give her the life she deserves; the life she is accustomed to. You should be able to understand that."

'Better than you think. I know exactly what you're getting at,' thought Angel. "What you're doing is paying me off. Hush money."

"No, not at all. I know how much you mean to my little girl, and how much this money would mean to you."

"Do you honestly believe that I can be bought? That you can just hand me a check for three million dollars and I'll get out of Buffy's life?"

"As I said before, the three million is yours. I'm willing to make it very worth your while if you agree."

Angel narrowed his eyes. "I don't want your money."

"Buffy told me yesterday how smart you are, and as the class Valedictorian, I can see how you got into so many good colleges. And I'll see to it that you attend the one of your choice."

"I already told you, Mr. Summers, I don't want your money. I have no need for it."

"But there, young man, you are wrong. I happen to know just how much you need that money. There're your mother's medical bills, which I assume are outrageous; the house, the bills for it, etc.. Think about what I'm offering you. It's the chance to be out of debt."

"No." Angel refused to be bought. "I love Buffy. Money won't make me go away."

Shaking his head, Mr. Summers proceeded. "If you love my daughter as much as you claim to, you'll let her have the life she deserves. Leave her alone. I am offering you the chance of a lifetime here. Three million dollars; I will take care of all of your college bills, books, tuition, dorming expenses and whatnot. Your mother's medical bills will be paid in full for as long as need be. I'll even buy out the mortgage on your house so that you'll own it outright. Just think about it, Angel. I'm doing all that for you, and all you have to do is one little thing for me."

Hatred and loathing filled Angel's heart and mind. Who did Hank Summers think he was? "I don't care how much you give me, I'll never leave Buffy," he said through gritted teeth. "I don't need your money. I'm perfectly happy going to Sunnydale Community College next fall, and I can handle maintaining my family's bills just fine on my own. And as for the three million dollars? It's blood money and I refuse to touch it."

"If you love her so much, you'll release your hold on her," Mr. Summers said. "And it's not blood money. Think of all the good you can do with this money. You and your family can be financially secure for the rest of your life. How can you say no to that?"

"My family and I are getting along just fine with the amount of money I'm making here."

"This could change your life," he pointed out. "How can you say no to something like this without even talking it over with your mother and sister? Shouldn't they have a say in it?"

Angel shook his head. The man obviously didn't get it. Yes, the money would be helpful, but there was a principle behind it. "The answer is still no."

"And as wonderful as it is to know that you care more about my daughter than you do about money, this isn't a decision you can make in an instant. Talk it over with your family, see how they feel about it. Take twenty-four hours to consider my offer." 'Either way, you'll be out of Buffy's life. I'll see to it.'

"Fine. But the answer will still be no. I guarantee it."

***

22

Angel returned home from work at nine-thirty, his mind still reeling from Mr. Summers' offer. Three million dollars, fully-paid tuition to the university of his choice, his mother's hospital and doctor bills paid for and complete ownership of his life-long home. All of that in exchange for breaking up with Buffy.

The question remained: could he do it? Angel was positive he couldn't. No, there was no way he could ever give up the girl he loved, no matter how much money was involved.

'But what I can really offer her?' Angel questioned himself. 'Everything Mr. Summers said was true. I can't give her the life she truly deserves. Buffy should be with someone who can give her the world; I can't do that.' He frowned. 'I love her, though. I can give her love. More love than any other man can give.'

"Angel, honey, is everything okay?" his mother asked. When he'd walked through the door, Mrs. Riches noticed a distant look on his face. Like something was plaguing his thoughts.

'Mr. Summers made a good point,' he thought. 'I *should* discuss this with Mom before I do anything. It has as much to do with her and it does with me and Buffy.' "Actually, no, it isn't."

"Did something happen at work? Did you get in trouble?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I…do you remember how I stayed overnight at Buffy's house last night?"

"Yeah."

"Well…Mr. Summers came home this morning and found out. It was more along the lines of him coming into Buffy's bedroom and finding us there. So, tonight when I got to work, I was called up to his office. He wanted to talk to me about it."

"And I'm assuming Hank wasn't too happy," Mrs. Riches said quietly. "What did he say to you?"

Angel snorted. "He was more pissed off than anything else. We talked. But this is the clincher, Mom. Mr. Summers offered me money if I break up with Buffy."

She lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "That doesn't sound like the Hank I know and…well, that just doesn't sound like him."

"I guess this Hank is different from the one you knew back in high school. Because this one isn't above bribery to get what he wants. And what he wants is me out of Buffy's life," Angel told her.

"Exactly how much is he offering you?"

"Three million dollars, my college tuition, the mortgage on this house and all your doctor's bills will be paid from now on. And all I have to do is stop seeing Buffy. He made it sound that easy."

Mrs. Riches didn't reply right away. It was a lot of information for her to process all at once. "That's…wow."

"What should I do, Mom?" he wanted to know. "Should I take the money or tell him to shove it?"

"It's your decision, not mine. I can't tell you what to do."

"But I don't know what to do! I told Mr. Summers that I didn't want the money. Then I started thinking about it, started second-guessing myself. Not from the financial aspect, but from a more reality-based point of view. I can't give Buffy the life she's used to, the life she deserves. What can I give her, besides me?"

She smiled at her son. "Perhaps she doesn't need those things as much as her father thinks she does. Maybe you are enough for her."

"It can't be." Angel bit his lip. "What should I do?"

"I'd say you should talk to Buffy about it. This concerns her, too. She should know what her father is doing."

"You're right, she should know. I have to talk this over with her. I can't just make this big of a decision on my own. Especially when it has to do with her, too."

***

Angel stood on the front porch of the Summers' home, with his finger poised only inches from the doorbell. After some hard thinking the night before, he knew for a fact that he had to tell Buffy what her father had said to him. Taking a deep breath, he rang the doorbell to announce his arrival.

From the bathroom, Buffy heard the chiming of the doorbell. Putting on a robe over her still-damp body, she ran downstairs to find out who it was. Her face broke out in a grin when she found Angel on the other side of the door.

"Hi!" she greeted, throwing her arms around him.

"Hey," Angel replied. He could feel the warmth of her body radiate through the thin robe she was wearing. 'How can I even consider leaving Buffy?' he wondered. 'I don't need money, I just need her.' "Did I come at a bad time?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I was drying myself off after my shower. Thought I'd get up early and get some sun before Passions starts. Come on in."

"Sorry for coming by so early. I didn't know if you'd even be awake, but I needed to talk to you," Angel told her, stepping inside the house.

"It's perfectly okay. I wasn't really expecting to see you until dinner. We're still on, right? That's not why you came, was it? To break out date?"

"Nope. We're still on."

"Great. Do you mind waiting in my room while I finish getting dressed?" Despite their intimate moments together, Buffy still felt shy and self-conscious whenever she was undressed around him.

"No problem."

Angel sat himself down on her bed after she returned to the bathroom. Reaching over onto her nightstand, he picked up the picture taken of them during the Prom. 'If only we'd known, Buffy. Maybe then things wouldn't be as screwed up as they are now.'

"All done," Buffy announced when she entered her bedroom. "Do you want to go outside? We can sit on the back patio and talk out there. It's such a nice day out."

He nodded. "That's fine with me. Lead the way."

Taking a firm hold of Angel's hand, Buffy led him downstairs to the patio. She pulled two lounge chairs into a sunny area and motioned for him to sit down.

"So, what's so important that you came by at ten-thirty in the morning to tell me? It couldn't have waited until later?" Buffy wanted to know.

"It couldn't wait, I had to tell you. It…it's about your father and what happened yesterday morning."

She gazed curiously at him. "My dad? Angel, he and I had a long talk yesterday after you left, and then another one when he got home from work. He understands how I feel and he's okay with it. Dad gave us his blessing. He isn't angry anymore; he knows how in love we are. And he's okay with it."

Solemnly shaking his head, Angel placed his large hand over her smaller one. "No, Buffy, he's not. He doesn't understand. He doesn't even care how we feel."

"What are you talking about?"

"Last night at work, your father called me into his office. He wanted to talk to me about us. And he started saying how you deserve better and that I can't give you what you need."

"You know that isn't true," she reminded him. "All I need is you. Nothing more, nothing less."

He managed a small smile. "I'm glad someone thinks so. Then he brought up my parents, asking how my mom is and telling me about old times. Buffy, I'm going to make a long story short here. Your father offered me three million dollars to break up with you."

Buffy didn't say anything for the longest time. Staring deep into his mesmerizing brown eyes, she burst out laughing. "That's a good one! You really had me going for a minute there. Nice joke, Angel."

"This isn't a joke, Buffy, it's completely true. He'll give me three million dollars, pay my college tuition, pay my mom's medical bills and buy my house if I never see you again. This isn't something I'd ever joke about."

"No. It can't be true. My father would never do something like that," she disagreed. Nothing Angel said sounded like anything her father would do. It didn't make sense to her. He had no reason to say such things.

"I'm sorry. He did."

She stood up. "No! You're lying! He wants me to be happy, and he said he knows you make me happy. Dad would not do that to me."

"Buffy -"

"Get out." She pointed to the driveway. "Go away and don't come back until you apologize for saying that stuff about him. It's all lies."

Angel had figured she wouldn't believe him; he couldn't blame her. He's always been told that blood was thicker than water. "I'm not lying, I swear." He pulled out the check Mr. Summers had given him the night before from his shorts pocket. "Here's the proof if you don't believe me."

Buffy took it from him. She found it hard to breathe when she saw her father's signature on the bottom of the check, which had been made out in Angel's name. "Oh my god," she muttered.

"I thought you should know."

She closed her eyes. "Thank you. I'm sorry for yelling at you like that. I just couldn't imagine my own father doing something that heartless."

"It's okay. I understand. Buffy, he gave me until tonight to make my decision. I told him no from the start. Money doesn't mean anything to me, not like you do. But I at least had to tell you," Angel explained.

"What are you going to do?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm being forced to choose between the woman I love and more money than I know what to do with."

"And?" she prodded.

"And if I had to make the decision on my own, I would tell your father to take that check and shove it up his ass. Love would win out, hands down. But I can't make that decision on my own. I have to make it with you."

"Do you think you can drive me to the store?" she asked.

He lifted his eyebrows in confusion. "Why?"

"Because I need to have a little chat with my father."

***

23

Mr. Summers looked up from his paperwork when his daughter burst into his office without bothering to knock first. "Sweetie, I wasn't expecting to see you. What's going on?"

"Don't 'sweetie' me, Dad. You know exactly why I'm here. Angel came to see me today; told me all about your conversation with him yesterday. How could you?!" she yelled.

"Now calm down…"

"I will not calm down until you explain! Did you or did you not offer my boyfriend money in exchange for breaking up with me?"

He nodded. "I did. It's an extraordinary opportunity for him. You said it yourself how smart he is. So I offered him the chance to attend any of the universities that he's been accepted to."

"Why? Why would you do it?"

"For you, Buffy."

"I don't get it. Why would you do that, knowing full-well how much it would hurt me?" she demanded. "I love Angel and you're trying to buy him off. What kind of a father are you?"

"One who loves his daughter more than anything in the world. One who doesn't want to see her get hurt."

"Excuse me? What do you mean by that? Angel's not gonna hurt me. We went over this yesterday morning."

"He will. Sooner or later, it'll happen. And I would rather it happen now, before you become too attached to him."

She shook her head in disbelief. "You asshole. I hate you."

"Buffy Anne Summers, don't you take that tone of voice with me," her father warned. "I'm telling you right now, young lady, if Angel says no, and you continue to see him, I will cut you off. You'll be out of my house faster than you can even blink."

"I'm your daughter. You wouldn't do that."

"Yes, I would. Let's see how you like being broke. You think you can survive on love alone? Guess again. I am doing the two of you a favor. Convince your boyfriend to say yes. Things will be much better that way."

"I can't believe you're threatening me."

"I'm not threatening you. I'm giving you options. You're eighteen now, Buffy. I no longer have to provide for you, you're old enough to do that on your own. And if you continue on with this…relationship with Angel Riches, you'll be on your own. No money, no home, no family. Is that understood?" Mr. Summers asked.

Buffy felt defeated. Her father had won; there was no way out. "Fine."

***

"How did it go?" Angel questioned when she climbed back into his car. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Do you still want me to tell you what to do about the money?"

Angel nodded. "Of course I do. It had to do with you just as much as me. I can't make this decision without your input."

She took a tentative breath. "All right. I want you to take the money."

***

Angel blinked several times before saying anything in reply. He'd never expected Buffy to say that he should take her father's money. It had been his assumption that she'd tell him to say no and stay with her. "Did I hear you right, Buffy? You want me to take the money?"

"Yes. When you see my dad tonight, tell him yes."

"Why? What made you decide that?"

Buffy whipped her head around to face him. She hadn't been able to look him in the eye when she gave him her answer. It would have hurt too much to look into the eyes of the man she had loved most of her life and tell him to leave her. "Can we *not* talk about this here? We'll go back to my house and talk there."

He didn't move a muscle. "Did your dad say something? You're upset and being snappy. That's not like you. Something happened, I can tell by the tone of your voice and the look in your eyes."

"I told you, not here. Just take me home, Angel, and I promise to explain everything. I can't talk here."

"Okay," he responded, nodding his head.

They didn't say a word during the ten minute drive back to her house. Angel knew Buffy was upset, but did not want to prod her into talking when she obviously wasn't ready to. Though when he saw the black mascara streaks on her cheeks, caused by her silent tears, he had to force himself to keep driving and not pull off to the side of the road and hold her in his arms.

On the other side of the seat, Buffy sat staring out the window, her mind flashing back to her conversation with her father. 'How could my own father do that to me? Is money all he cares about? Aren't my feelings important to him? And does he honestly believe that he'll be able to keep me and Angel apart? He's dead wrong. Not if I have anything to say about it. He's not going to run my life, he will not keep me from the man I love,' she swore.

Angel held the door open for Buffy as she stepped out of his car, and followed her to the back patio once again. She threw her purse on one of the chairs and grabbed his hand. Together, they began walking through her large backyard. Angel waited patiently for her to speak.

"I'm sorry for not believing you," Buffy apologized when they'd walked only thirty feet.

"It's okay, don't worry about it. I never expected you to believe me over your own father."

She snorted. "Father…ha! No father of mine would have done what he did. It's inexcusable! How can he be the same man my mother fell in love with and married? I don't think they're the same person anymore. They can't be."

"My mother and I said basically the same thing last night after I told her about our conversation," he said.

"Your mom," Buffy stated. "What did she say? What does she want you to do?"

"She said it wasn't her decision to make, that I am old enough to do it on my own. And that I should talk to you first." Angel sighed heavily. "Do you want me to accept your father's offer? Is that really what you want?"

Buffy nodded vigorously. "Yes. Angel, do it. It's the only way…"

"The only way for what? What do you mean by that?"

"It is the only way for us to be together."

"Buffy, what are you talking about? We'll still be together if I say no," he told her. "Which is exactly what I want to tell him. I can't take that money. It's not right."

"No! Dad admitted to everything you said. The money, the house, the tuition, everything. And he told me that if you say no to it, and we keep dating, he'll…he will…"

Angel looked closely at her. "He'll what, Buffy?"

"He'll disown me. I will be kicked out of the house, no money and no family. That's why you have to take it."

"Buffy…" he began.

"Listen to me. My father may be a heartless bastard, but he's the only family I have, the only father I'll ever have. It has absolutely nothing to do with the money he has. I don't care about it. I care about you more than any dollar amount. He doesn't understand that, though."

"I still won't leave you."

Buffy stopped walking. "I have a plan; a way for the two of us to be together. I came up with it on the way out of the store. Say yes to him and take the money. Go to Emerson like you've always wanted to."

"I don't understand you. How can we be together if I'm in Massachusetts and you're three thousand miles away in California? It doesn't make sense," he pointed out.

"Just listen to me for a minute while I explain. You'll go to Emerson College in the fall. I'll attend UC Sunnydale like I've planned, and I will transfer to Boston College for the spring semester. My dad will love it because my mother went there; it'll be like I'm following in her footsteps to him. He'll never suspect a thing. Then our sophomore year, I'm sure Dad will let me get an apartment off campus if I complain enough about the dorm situation. And I'll need a roommate. Think about it, Angel, we'll be on the opposite side of the country from him. You and I will have an apartment together. It's perfect, and he'll never be any the wiser."

He shook his head in amazement. "You have this all figured out, don't you?"

"Pretty much."

"Your father is going to find out, Buffy. And then we're back to square one."

"He'll never find out. And even if he does, I won't care. You'll have your money and everything you've ever wanted. Not to mention, when I turn twenty-one, I will come into my mother's trust fund. Angel, I have it all worked out. We'll be together, we'll be happy, whether my dad approves or not. He may be my family, and my father, but there's no way he can run my life. I won't let him. We'll already be settled into a life there. He can't threaten me with disownment or kick me out of my own home. We just have to wait a little while."

Angel closed his eyes. Despite Buffy's plan, part of him knew it wouldn't work. "I'm sorry, but I just can't do it."

"Then do it for me. I love you more than anything in this world. And I honestly believe that if you love something, you should let it go. I'm letting you go, but only for a couple months. It's your chance to fulfill your dream. You made my life-long dream come true the weekend after Prom, Angel, and now it's my turn to make yours come true. Let me make it come true."

***

At six o'clock that evening, Angel knocked on the door of Mr. Summers' office. A few seconds later, it opened, revealing Jason McKenzie.

"Hey, Angel," he said. "I thought you had tonight off."

"I do. I'm here to talk to Mr. Summers. Is he busy?"

"No, I'm not," Mr. Summers called from inside. "Not too busy to speak to you. Please, come on in, Angel. Jason, may we have some privacy? We have rather private matters to discuss."

Nodding, Jason left the other two men alone. Mr. Summers pointed to a chair, suggesting that Angel have a seat, but he remained standing instead.

"I suppose you are aware that my daughter came by to see me today. Why did you tell her? I thought this was a private matter," the older man wanted to know. "I thought you would have used discretion."

"It affected Buffy, too. I couldn't make an important decision such as this without informing her first. She had to know."

"Fine. Have you decided?"

Angel cast his eyes downward to the ground. "I accept your offer."

Mr. Summers smiled, not noticing the shamed look on Angel's face. 'Now my little girl can be happy. She can have a normal life, now that he'll be out of the picture.' "Very good. You made a wise choice, Angel. I can see that you have a very strong business sense. You'll go far, I'm sure of it."

"I did not do this for me, Mr. Summers. I did this for Buffy. I can't give her what she deserves. And I love her enough to let her go." He used the words Buffy had told him to use; words that would not only impress her father, but would ring true. It had to sound believable.

"Yes, I see that. I admire your honesty in that matter. Let's get straight to business, shall we? You know the terms of our agreement. From this moment on, there is to be no contact between you and Buffy. Neither physical nor on the phone or whatnot. Do not speak to her, write to her or even attempt to contact her in any way. Is that understood? If I find out that you have broken our agreement, all bets are off and I'll take that money away before you have a chance to think about it."

He nodded. "I understand the terms of the agreement."

"Good," Mr. Summers said. "I'll have the papers for the house drawn up and delivered to you in the morning."

As Angel walked out of the building, he thought, 'I certainly hope you know what you're doing, Buffy.'

***

Go to Part 24