“Angel,” Buffy said softly, as if it were a dream that she had to hold delicately, so as not to wake up.
“Buffy, I kinda need in. A ‘come in’, maybe?” He was sizzling.
“You’re still on the invite list,” she said, stepping aside.
“Oh,” Angel replied, suddenly uncertain. As soon as he was inside, he yanked off the blanket. Buffy could feel the tingle that she always got when he was with her. She tilted her head expectantly, and he leaned down as if to kiss her. Just then, soft footsteps were heard coming down the stairs.
“Buffy, I was just getting back to sleep, when…Angel?” Dawn’s face immediately lit up. Even though she’d been only nine, ten, and eleven when she knew Angel, she still adored him like an older brother. The fourteen year old ran to his arms.
He gladly accepted her hug, and lifted her off her feet. “Hey Dawnie.” Angel put her down and his smile was as big as hers.
“You never come see me anymore,” Dawn pouted. Angel’s face fell, and he looked up at Buffy.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll be better.”
Just then another set of heavier footsteps came down the stairs. Riley, still wet from his shower, was struggling to put his shirt on. “Hey, Buffy, have you seen my—” He stopped mid-sentence as he saw Angel, and immediately his face grew dark and cloudy. “Angel.” Riley pursed his lips. “Long time no see.”
Angel’s face was stony. “Can’t say I regret that.”
Buffy put her face in her hands. “No, no, no, no, no. Not this again.”
“Hey, I’ve got this whole plate of donuts…” Xander trailed off when he saw Angel.
“Harris.” Angel nodded at him.
“Dead boy.” Xander made a similar gesture to Angel’s.
“Could you not call me that?” Those words were so familiar to Xander that he couldn’t help breaking into a smile, but it soon faded. He walked over to Buffy.
“I thought we were in the middle of hating him,” Xander said to Buffy, making no effort to quiet his voice. Angel winced, Riley looked smug.
“We were hating Angel? I never hated Angel,” Dawn spoke up. Angel smiled down at her.
Suddenly a key sounded in the lock. Willow entered, already yelling out. “Don’t worry Buffy, we’ll have this figured out… Hi Angel.” She looked surprised.
“Hey Willow.” Angel turned to the rest of the group. “Um, guys, do you think I could have some time with Buffy?” Everyone nodded, with the exception of one person.
“I think you could never in a million years have time alone with my woman.” Riley’s voice rang out and everyone was surprised with the possessiveness in his tone.
Angel took a step closer to Riley. “I think never in a million years will Buffy be anyone’s woman. Especially not yours. Now, are you going to give us some time to talk, or are we going to have to replay the ass kicking you got last time I came to town?” Angel said, his voice dripping with threat and hatred.
“You and Riley fought? That must have been weird ‘cause of how much stronger you are… and I’m gonna go upstairs now.” Dawn ran quickly upstairs, and Xander soon followed, finally showing respect for Buffy and Angel’s relationship.
“Come on, Riley,” Willow coaxed soothingly. He didn’t acknowledge her. She whispered something under her breath, and soon Riley was turning around and walking upstairs.
“What kind was that, Will?” Buffy asked, knowing she had done a spell, and at this point, not really caring.
“Instinct spell,” she answered. “Riley’s first instinct is to not get hurt, and the spell just lets him realize that. So. I’ll be upstairs.” The redhead smiled encouragingly at the blonde, and left.
“That’s a really advanced spell. I didn’t know Willow had that kind of power.” Angel said, as he and Buffy sat down on the couch.
“Yeah, well, you don’t know a lot about us anymore.” Buffy’s words stung Angel.
“I’m sorry.” Angel looked away.
Buffy sighed. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.” They were silent for a little while, until Buffy spoke up. “So, why did you come?” Buffy asked, hoping it was an apocalypse, and not personal.
Angel pulled out the letter, and Buffy nodded slowly. “I didn’t mean to send it,” Buffy said.
“What do you mean?” Angel frowned, confused.
“It was this kind of therapy. I write down my feelings toward someone, and it helps me feel better. Dawn mailed it by mistake.”
Angel’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’. “So you didn’t mean to mail it?” Buffy shook her head. She was starting to feel tears well up in her chest. “But this is how you really feel?” Angel held up the letter. Buffy nodded, and the tears started slipping down her cheeks. Angel smiled at her. He cupped her chin in his hands. “Hey, hey. Buffy, it’s all okay. I’m not going to leave you anymore. I’m always gonna be here for you. Okay?” Buffy looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes.
“Really?” Then suddenly her face grew upset again. “No, we can’t. Riley. Cordelia…”
“Cordelia’s okay. Buffy, this is about us. Not Riley or Cordelia or Giles or your mom. Us.” He nodded at her.
She just shook her head. “Angel, we can’t. We can’t be together. It’s too difficult, everything is so…” She trailed off.
“Buffy, there’s no point in us not being together. Buffy this is what you want. And after all you’ve been through, damn it, you are owed.”
Buffy smiled. “ You’re right. I am owed. But…I can’t trust you anymore, Angel.” He frowned, so she continued. “You left, Angel. You didn’t even take what I wanted into consideration. How do I know you won’t do it again?”
Angel looked at a loss for words. “I…you can’t trust me?” Buffy shrugged, and a fresh batch of tears came running down her face, fast and furious. Angel felt tears rise up in himself. He suddenly pulled Buffy into his lap, and she cried there, with him rocking her. They didn’t know how long they sat like that, but Buffy hadn’t felt that secure in a long time.
“I just can’t do this anymore.” Riley’s voice was menacing as he came down the stairs. “I can’t be in a relationship where I’m just waiting for the next time the ex shows up to cuddle with my girlfriend.” He shook his head. Angel placed Buffy beside him, who was almost too tired to interfere now. Her whole world had just been flip turned upside down, and she just wanted to sleep.
“Wait, guys,” Buffy spoke up. “Could you please think for two and a half minutes before you get all bloodshed-y over my mom’s nice carpet?” They both looked at her. She stood up, and walked over to Riley. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Riley. I wasn’t being fair. I can’t give myself over to you, not completely. But I care for you Riley, I really do.”
“You’re unbelievable! You string me along for a year and a half, but…” He looked down at her. “Why does he have so much power over you?” Angel raised his eyebrows, and Buffy took a step back. “Is it the vampire thing? You’re like a vampire magnet aren’t you? I mean Spike’s in love with you, Angel’s in love with you…”
“Spike’s in love with you?!” Angel yelled, incredulous. Buffy turned to him and mouthed: Later.
“But, I just don’t get it Buffy. What does it take for you to love a guy?”
Buffy turned, and looked at Angel, then turned back to Riley. “You have to be the guy I love.” Angel smiled, a genuine, loving smile. Riley walked out of the house, and Buffy felt bad when she saw him leave, but also extremely liberated.
Buffy turned to Angel. “It hurts when you’re not with me.” She took a step closer to him, and he to her. “But…” She never got to finish her objection. He leaned down and kissed her, and as it went, everything else melted away.
Once they were done kissing, they sat down on the couch, and talked about how this would work.
“I’m still indebted to the Powers That Be,” Angel said. “I have to finish my redemption. Then I will be human.” Buffy nodded, already looking forward to that day. “I have to stay in LA.”
“I figured,” Buffy whispered. She turned her head to look up at him through a veil of golden hair. “Angel, it may take a long time before I can truly be able to trust you completely.” He nodded. “But I know that I love you too much to not be with you. I just want you to know that I’m yours.”
“Buffy,” Angel said, smoothing her hair out of her face, “I never doubted that.” He kissed her once more. “Look, if we are truly going to do this… when do you want to come visit me?”
Buffy just smiled.
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