Angel's Surprise: A Very Special Buffy: Angel's Surprise: A Very Special Buffy
by Kristy
Rupert Giles woke at his desk, disoriented at first as to where he was.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Buffy teased from the doorway.

"Buffy? What are you doing here?" A glance at his clock told him it was well past midnight.

"I had a bad dream. Thought it might be note-worthy."

Rupert yawned widely, waving for Buffy to be seated out in the library. He followed her out, and they both came to an abrupt stop when they spotted Angel.

"Angel!" Buffy grinned, even as she tried to down play her joy at seeing at him. "What are you going here? Are we doomed?"

"No." Angel shifted uncomfortably. "It's nothing like that... I just... I wanted to.... See if I could... Get my jacket back from you. But you weren't home, so I came to the library, and yes, you're here, so now I've found you, and I'm trying to ask you."

"Angel, are you high?" Buffy was staring at Angel as though he'd sprouted a second head.

"No!" Suddenly a sullen little vampire, Angel stomped around the room. "I just need my jacket for something. Nevermind."

Before either Rupert or Buffy could speak, he hurried out of the library.

"That," Buffy stated. "Was very, very odd."

Her Watcher nodded his agreement. "Now, about that dream?"


* * *
"Buffy!" Willow grabbed her friend's shirt sleeve and pulled her out of the main hall. "Something very weird is going on. I saw Angel last night, and he... He said some bizarre things."

"Did he ask you for an article of clothing?"

Willow shook her head earnestly. "No, he let himself through my window and woke me up by coughing really loudly, like he wanted me to just wake naturally and find him in my room or something. Then he hinted that something was happening today, and seemed angry that I couldn't guess what it was. Then he just left, real suddenly."

Buffy frowned. "This doesn't sound good."

"Maybe it's another Prophecy. Or a day for the undead. And some vampire thing prevents him from being able to tell you, and..."

"I'd better go talk to Giles. I'll meet up with you at lunch."


* * *
"Buffy, I've been researching that dream you told me about..." Giles was standing in the center of the library, open book in hand. "About Angel and fire? I believe it may be linked to a situation between Angel and a past Slayer..."

"Giles, Angel was at Willow's last night. She thinks he was trying to tell her that something is happening today. Maybe that's why he was acting so odd last night; he wanted to tell us something, but couldn't. So he made up some excuse to see me."

"Of course." He was nodding. "That would make sense. I must consult my books."

"And I must get to class," Buffy called over her shoulder as she made for the doors. "Before Snyder jumps my case again.

Rupert immediately began poring over his books, everything from the Codex to old Watcher's journals. Finally, as the final bell neared, he came across the passage that explained everything. "Of course!" he whispered to himself.


* * *
Xander was grumbling as he walked up the stairs at Angel's apartment complex. "Stupid vampires and their stupid cryptic messages and their stupid crushes on Slayers and their..." Gasping, he had reached his door and pounded it loudly.

Angel, looking as though he had been crying, opened the door and looked at Xander sadly. He didn't say a word.

"Angel," Xander was still out of breath, making his voice sound panicked. "Come quick- Buffy- the library-"

Without hesitation, Angel shot past Xander on his way to the library.

"Hey!" Xander yelled, a bit angrily. "Wait for me!"


* * *
The school was dark. Xander and Angel hurried through the shadowed hallways to the library, bursting through the doors without hesitation. It appeared dark, and empty.

"Wait the-" Angel began.

"I guess we're too late." Xander gave a little shrug, trying to appear sad.

"Tell me what's going on here." Angel demanded, grabbing the boy by the throat and pushing him against a wall.

At that moment, the lights burst on, and a chorus of voices called out, "Happy Birthday!"

Angel felt tears, this time of joy, spring to his eyes unbidden. "Oh, guys..." He managed, though his voice was choked.

All the humans in his life were gathered into the room; Buffy was holding a large package, Jennie Calendar was in charge of the cake that was covered in so many candles Angel wasn't sure if there was frosting, Willow and Giles were also bearing gifts, and Xander was still gasping for air as Angel had him pinning to the wall. His frantic movements were slowing as he came closer to losing consciousness. Even Spike and Drucilla had showed for the celebration, each bearing a healthy young girl as way of gift.

Angel dropped Xander as he rushed to Buffy to envelope her in a bear hug.

"Careful, you'll make me drop your gift," she laughed.

Angel grabbed the gaily wrapped package from her hands and ripped the wrapping off. Out of the large brown box he pulled several blood packets. "Oh, Buffy!"

"I hope they're the right color," she teased.

"How did you know?" He asked, still sniffling.

"Giles figured it out."

Rupert cleared his throat. "Buffy had a dream about you and fire. Obviously, it was about the candles on your birthday cake. Then, in researching the old Watcher journals, I came across a rather telling entry. It says that for your birthday one year, you fed on an entire city in France."

Laughter filled the library.

Buffy punched Angel lightly. "You silly vampire. What a glutton."

Sheepishly, Angel shuffled his feet.

A bright, glowing light flashed in the corner of the room. The shimmering image of Darla appeared, beckoning to Angel. "Angelous," she whispered. "Angelous, my child."

"Darla." He moved toward her.

"Happy Birthday, darling."

"I'm so glad you're here."

"I couldn't miss the birthday of my first born, could I?"

With a final flash, Darla was gone. The room was silent for several moments.

"I hate to break up the profoundness of the moment," Ms. Calendar spoke up finally. "But all these candles are making this cake heavy. Could we take a minute to blow them out, please?"

Everyone laughed again. Buffy slung her arm around Angel's waist and they headed toward the table where Calendar sat down the cake. Willow helped Xander up off the floor so that he wouldn't miss the cake. Spike and Dru contemplated spoiling the celebration by killing them all.

And Giles and Ms. C. crept out the back for some much needed... Uh, quality time.

The End


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