Disclaimer: I still only wish they were mine. Don’t we all?
Chapter 8
The sun streamed in through the half covered windows, spilling its warmth on Buffy’s sleeping face. She snuggled further into the covers, wanting to sleep that little bit longer. Instead of the usual nightmares that plagued her sleep, dreams of Angel reigned supreme; many different dreams of Angel. She smiled drowsily. Thoughts of him always managed to make her smile.
She turned over and opened her eyes, blinking rapidly in the bright light. She decided to get up. It was half-past twelve and she was probably the last one to rise. The shower looked so inviting she couldn’t help but have a quick one. She’d have to put on the same clothes when she got out since she didn’t have any fresh ones with her. The pyjamas she had on were Fred’s and she couldn’t borrow anymore of the girls clothes.
A soft knock on her door drew her from the bathroom. She opened the door and was a little disappointed to see Willow’s smiling face. ‘Hi,’ she said perkily and Buffy scowled.
‘Did you have coffee?’ she asked the still smiling redhead.
‘Nope, you’re just tired,’ Willow teased and Buffy threw a pillow at her. Willow gaped at her for a moment then dove for the bed, snatching a pillow and heaving it at Buffy. Buffy ducked and the pillow sailed over her head, hitting the wall above the large vanity. Willow huffed and tried again. Buffy caught the pillow as it made contact with her midsection. She grinned calculatingly. Willow backed up, eyes wide, hands held up in front of her in a peace sign.
Buffy began to put down the pillow when, without warning, Willow hit her in the head with a pillow. Buffy froze and glared playfully at the retreating redhead.
Buffy took a step forward and Willow squealed. She threw the pillow away before diving over the bed. Buffy followed her and whacked her over the head. Willow covered her head with her hands, laughing as she protected herself. Buffy hit her again then threw it aside also. Willow, not realising Buffy had disposed of the pillow, stayed huddled. Buffy leant down and tickled Willow’s sides. The redhead screamed and thrashed around on the floor. Buffy laughed so hard she almost wet herself.
She was still laughing when the door crashed open and a bare-chested and bleary-eyed Angel stood in the doorway. He looked wildly around and Buffy and Willow both dissolved into laughter again. He must have heard the scream and came to the rescue. Buffy had forgotten vampires didn’t keep regular sleeping cycles.
‘Um…Hi,’ Willow waved sheepishly at the confused vampire. ‘Buffy attacked me.’
Buffy wasn’t listening. She was too busy staring at Angel’s chest. Angel’s naked chest. He caught her staring and she blushed and looked away. It hit her what Willow had said. ‘You attacked me, you little liar.’ Buffy accused.
‘Nah uh,’ Willow shook her head wildly and Buffy reached over and plucked the pillow back up off the floor. She walloped Willow over the head again, grinning at her betrayed look. It took seconds for her to recover and she grabbed the remaining pillow on the bed and lobbed it at the Slayer. It hit her in the face and Willow giggled crazily.
‘Okay,’ she wheezed. ‘No more, I’m out,’ she waved a hand at Buffy before she collapsed in a heap on the floor, still giggling.
Buffy smirked and stood up straight. ‘Yeah, no more. You know, you look a little flushed,’ she disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a cup in her hand. Willow’s eyes went wide.
‘You wouldn’t,’ she watched the cup suspiciously.
Buffy’s smirk widened. Willow screamed as she was doused in cold water. She spluttered and lifted her soggy hair from her face. She glared at Buffy. ‘Oh, you are so going down.’
Buffy dropped the cup. ‘Gotta go. Breakfast is calling,’ she fled out the door only to crash into the tall vampire of her recent dreams. She‘d completely forgotten he was there. Well, not completely forgotten. She smiled at him then pushed past before Willow could take her revenge, leaving the vampire staring after her.
**********************
Wesley was in the office when Angel came down the stairs. After being woken so abruptly, he hadn’t been able to fall back asleep, so he’d showered and come downstairs. The hotel was quiet for this time of the day, the only sounds were Wesley shuffling around in his small office, re-shelving books. Where was everyone?
He stood in the doorway of his own office, lost in thought over a small blonde. Gunn found him that way twenty minutes later.
‘Yo, man. Deep thoughts?’ Gunn clapped him across the shoulders.
Angel shook them off. ‘Yeah. Anything the matter?’ he walked around his desk and sat in the big faux leather chair. Gunn dropped into the small metal chair facing the desk.
‘Actually, I was kind of gonna ask you the same question. But before that,’ Gunn raised his eyebrows at Angel. ‘Were they seriously having a pillow fight? I mean women actually do that?’
Angel couldn’t help it. He laughed outright at the eager look on the demon hunters face. Gunn had been with the A.I. team for over six months now. Previously, he had been a street kid, fighting off vampires with a small team of teens and some well made weapons. The kid had talent, street smarts and he could hold himself in battle and against Cordelia. It was a win-win in Angel’s book. He’d hired him almost on the spot. Though it was a long while before the self proclaimed demon hunter came to trust him. It didn’t help that, just before he made his offer of employment, Gunn’s sister was captured and turned. Gunn had had to stake her. He’d been devastated and wanted revenge. What better way than to take up with a vampire who was already killing his own kind?
Gunn became the fourth member of Angel’s Investigations. Angel himself being the first, obviously, Cordelia the seer from Sunnydale- hey, how bout that? Wonder if she knows Willow- second, Doyle the third, he died saving a ship full of half demons but Wesley took his place as the third member after “quitting” the council-he was fired- and so Gunn became the fourth. Lorne- also known as The host and Krevlorneswath- was the fifth and Fred was the sixth. Together they made an unbeatable team and Angel was grateful to have them. He was lucky and he knew it. How many vampires these days had friends and family?
He frowned at the mention of family. Connor had been born by prophesy; the son to two vampires. Last year, during a particularly bad down spiral, Angel had made an error in judgement and slept with Darla, his sire. The goal being, he didn’t know, but eight months later she turned up on his doorstep bigger than a house. If he could have had a heart attack, he would have.
‘Dude, I’m still in the room. Quit it with the brooding,’ Gunn teased and Angel looked sheepish.
‘Sorry,’ he apologised and leant back in his chair. A noise from the lobby had the two out of their chairs and in the doorway in second but they needn’t have worried. Buffy and Willow were walking down the stairs carrying a great load of shopping bags. A second later the lobby doors opened again, this time emitting Fred, who looked very pleased. The girls sat on the largest sofa and began to go through their purchases. Angel raised an eyebrow while Gunn smirked. Women, they thought at the same time.
Before they could turn to go back in the office, Buffy spotted them. ‘Hey guys,’ she greeted perkily. ‘What cha doin?’
‘Nothing,’ they replied at the same time and Buffy grinned. Angel’s smile widened when he saw her grin. He loved to see her happy. She looked the epitome of sunshine dressed in white three quarter pants with a yellow halter and yellow sandals. Her hair was done up in one of his favourite styles, a butterfly clip.
Willow reclaimed Buffy’s attention and handed something to her. Buffy held it up and Gunn laughed. Angel looked at it confusedly and Gunn must have seen the look on his face for he leaned over and whispered ‘Think swimming.’
Angel’s eyes widened. That wisp of a thing was her bathing suit? Not if he had any say in it. He realised sadly after a moment that he didn’t have any say in it. He wasn’t her boyfriend, he couldn’t tell her what to and what not to wear. Even if he was her boyfriend he wouldn’t do that.
The girls finished going through their things and headed upstairs to put it all away. Buffy murmured something to the other two then changed course and came to stand in front of Angel. Gunn took this as his clue to leave, he followed the girls up the stairs.
The vampire and the Sayer watched him go, postponing the talk. Buffy turned to Angel, looking a little unsure of herself as she chewed her bottom lip. ‘Can we talk?’
He nodded and stood back gesturing into the office. She walked in and he closed the door. They both stood there for a few moments, unsure of what to do. Buffy took the initiative. ‘Willow’s decided to leave tomorrow,’ she began.
Angel felt dread come over him. He remembered her telling him she was going to Sunnydale with Willow. He hadn’t thought it would be quite so soon. ‘Oh?’
‘Yeah. I’m still going with her,’ she wrung her hands in her lap.
Oh, Angel thought with sudden clarity. Giles isn’t going to let her go. He’ll insist that she stay here and continue her duty. Buffy seemed to read his mind. ‘I don’t think Giles’ is gonna want to let me go, but you know what? I don’t care. I’m going. Willow’s told me a lot about the town and I really feel I could make a difference. I want to help them. Angel, Los Angeles has you and your team here. You don’t need me and Giles shouldn’t try to keep me here. Not when there are many more important places I could be.’
Angel nodded slowly, hating the fact that he agreed with her completely. She was needed in Sunnydale. There was no point in her being here when there were already so many others. Giles wouldn’t be happy about it but would it matter? Buffy’s been on her own for around two years now and she’s done fine. Would going to Sunnydale be all that bad?
The phone on his desk rang and he unconsciously picked it up. Angel’s Investigations; we help the helpless,’ he rolled out, hating the slogan Cordelia made up. Well, not hating the slogan exactly, just the fact that he couldn’t pick up a phone without having to recite it. It became monotonous.
‘Yes, quite. Giles here, Angel. Is Miss Summers there by any chance?’ Giles stuffy voice came through the handset and Angel gripped it tightly. Had he known they were talking about him?
‘Yes she’s sitting right here,’ Buffy’s eyes widened as he spoke. ‘Did you want to speak with her?’
There was a pause and Angel relaxed his death grip on the phone. ‘No. Just let her know I’m on my way over. I wish to speak with her in person. Good day.’
Angel hung up and turned to Buffy. She looked mildly curious about the phone call and he gave her a small smile. ‘Giles is on his way over.’
At her surprised look, he chuckled. ‘He wants to speak with you in person.’
‘Oh, okay. Did he say what it was about?’
‘No. Just that he’s on his way.’
They made small talk for a few minutes, skirting the big topics like the kiss and her departure. Giles arrived less than twenty minutes later, looking a little worn. He entered the office and sat down. He caught Angel’s attention and nodded towards the door, silently asking the vampire to leave. Angel frowned at this but held his tongue. It was obviously important and if Buffy wanted him to stay, she would say so. He walked out and closed the door. Contemplating what they could be talking about, he sat down in one of the chairs and stared hard at the table.
******************
Giles was quiet for a few minutes and Buffy sat there nervously picking at her cuticles until he spoke. ‘Have you perhaps given any thought about your next moves?’
Buffy wondered briefly if he had heard her conversation with Angel. ‘Yes,’ she said quietly.
‘And?’
‘Willow has told me all about her hometown, Sunnydale. It’s a two hour drive from here and she says it’s a little weird. We did some research. Do you know how may unexplained deaths there are in that town everyday? I do. The number is shocking. How can people not notice that? More people die in week in that town than anywhere else. The attacks are obviously not human. They need a Slayer. I’m going,’ Buffy blurted out. She cringed at her forwardness then shrugged. If Giles didn’t like it, too bad.
‘Yes, well. That was actually a fairly good idea. I, however, may hold that certain information that escaped you and the other talented young lady. We should have everyone together before I explain. I don’t fancy repeating myself.’
Buffy looked at him amused. ‘Good god, you‘re English.’
‘What?’ Giles was derailed at the change in subject and Buffy grinned. Too bad he was staying in L.A. They could have had some real fun.
‘Anyway,’ Giles got back on track and, to Buffy’s endless amusement he took a cloth from his pocket and began to polish his glasses. A sure sign of impatience… or annoyance… maybe both. ‘I have conferred with the Council and they have agreed-’
‘You talked to the Council about me?’ Buffy felt slightly betrayed.
‘And they have agreed,’ he continued with a small glare at Buffy. ‘That you need a watcher. We-’
‘Oh great,’ Buffy stood angrily and began to pace. ’What idiot are they sending here? What stuffed shirt is going to ruin my life for the second time?’
‘If you’d let me finish,’ Giles appealed wearily. Buffy sat back down. ‘We agreed; why send a new watcher over when there are already two here?’
‘Oh god. There are watchers here? Where? Who do I get?’
‘I meant myself and Mr Wyndam-Price.’
‘Oh,’ Buffy slumped in her chair. ‘So who’s going to…’ Please not Wesley, please not Wesley, please not Wesley…
Giles slipped his glasses back on. ‘I will be taking over the role of your Watcher, Miss Summers.’
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