“Harris?” Came the incredulous voice across the phone line.
“Yeah, Angel, man.” Xander ran a hand through his hair as he paced around Giles’ study, portable phone at his ear.
“Is something wrong? Buffy? Willow? Dawn?” Angel’s voice was worried. Xander had never even attempted to contact Angel, it made sense that he would assume one of the girls was hurt, or dead.
“No, no, they’re fine.” Xander was wondering how he was going to bring up the reason he had called.
Angel let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God,” he said, and Xander realized then how much of a family they really were. Even though Angel, Wesley and Cordy were in LA, and he had never even met the other three of the AI team, Fred, Gunn and Lorne, Xander understood that Angel’s group in LA, and Buffy’s in England, were really one and the same. And if something were to happen to one group, the other would feel it, hard. Xander heard Angel cough. “Is there something you wanted? Not that I still hate you. Not that I ever did…”
Xander laughed, and wondered if turning human had caused Angel to lose his smooth, mysterious exterior that he’s always had while he was a vampire. “I actually called to… um… ask you about Buffy.”
“What do you mean?”
“When are you gonna come see her? Call her? Email her? Anything?” Xander stopped pacing and sat down. He picked up a pen and clicked it in and out. He laid it down, and tried to focus himself.
“I don’t… know. You know as well as everyone that it’s hard when Buffy and I get together. We’d want more.”
Xander choked out a laugh. “Are you the dumbest person I’ve ever met? Excuse me, I shouldn’t ask questions I know the answer to.”
“What are you talking about?” Angel’s voice was pained.
“You can have more, now. You two can make with the smoochies. What’s the problem?”
“Xander, you really don’t know anything about mine and Buffy’s relationship…”
“I know enough,” Xander cut Angel off. “I know that you two had that kind of love that lasts forever. That desperate kind of love. I know that you left, and left Buffy broken, and I was pissed at you for that. I know that she dated a lot of people, trying to replace you, and I know she never managed to. I know that she has almost everything out of life now. I know that you’re the missing piece. The only question is, are you man enough to rescue the girl you love, rescue the girl who’s never had to be rescued before?”
There was silence on the other line, and Xander wasn’t sure if Angel had hung up, until he spoke. “And she would take me?” Angel asked quietly.
“Book a flight, man. Book a fucking flight.”
“Why are you doing this?” Angel wondered, knowing full well that Xander had never wanted anything more than to break Buffy and him up when they were together.
“It’s not high school anymore, Angel. She needs you. And if you wanna know if I still love Buffy, I do. I’m her best friend. Which is why I’m doing this.”
Angel was silent for a few minutes. Then: “I thought Willow’s her best friend.”
“Willow’s a girl,” Xander replied, using the witch’s response.
“So?”
“It’s a different dynamic… never mind, that’s not the point. The point is that she wants you, and I’m not going to let our past get in the way of her happiness. I’ve grown up, I’m not the same kid you knew.”
“You’re still a kid,” Angel said, and Xander could almost see the ex-vampire’s knowing smirk.
“I’m twenty four. And you’re human now, which makes you, what, twenty two, twenty three? Either way, biologically, I’m older.”
“Nice try, kid.” Angel’s voice was filled with amusement, and Xander wanted to rip out his own hair. Even if this was the man his best friend wanted to spend the rest of her life with, he was still the most annoying human being on the planet.
“Whatever,” Xander said, rolling his eyes, “Just get here.”
“Done.” Angel cleared his throat. “Oh, and Xander?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. I love her, you know. I always have, and I always will.”
“I know, man. I know.”
“Just…thank you.”
The two men hung up.
Xander sighed and rubbed his eyes. Angel was no doubt jumping on a plane right now. That left him, what, nine, ten hours to convince Buffy that getting back together was the right thing? Okay, Xander thought, better get started on conquest number two.
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