a touch of gray

7/28/2019 A touch of gray

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A Touch of GrayBy Ralkana

Disclaimer I dont own them; Joss and all the various other Powers That Be do.If I owned them, Im pretty sure they'd be much, much happier. The title comesfrom the lyrics of the song A Touch of Gray . Lyrics by Robert Hunter, performedby The Grateful Dead.

Comments and feedback to [email protected] would be greatlyappreciated. Thanks!

Author's Note Written for somefairytale in Ducks' Angel ficathon . I've put theprompt at the bottom of the fic.

Author's Note II ML, thank you for being the best friend anyone could ever have. Your words of encouragement kept me going so many times when I trulythought I'd never write anything again. I wish I could send you hugs andchocolate and nekkid Angels galore! And that doesn't even mention how much Iowe you for helping me with the title!

Timeline Picks up at the end of Not Fade Away .

"Well, personally, I kinda wanna slay the dragon." Angel stared at the advancingdemons. "Let's get to work!"

He started forward, but Illyria strode ahead of him, leading the charge. Irritationflared within him and then faded when he realized it made more tactical sense for her to lead, so he drew back, falling even with Spike. Gunn was sheltered behindthem, his labored breathing rasping in their ears, the scent of his blood thick inthe air.

Illyria was eerily silent as she attacked the front line, moving with fluid, unearthlygrace. Even with much of her power gone, she was stronger than either Spike or

Angel, and definitely stronger than Gunn, who was fading fast.

She snapped a demon's neck with ease and was swinging his weapon todispatch three of his comrades before the first body had even fallen to theground. Angel wondered briefly what the fight would have been like if she had fullpossession of her powers, but he realized that if she had her full powers, shemight be fighting on the other side.

Gunn swore and nearly fell as he ducked away from the dragonlike demon,grabbing at Angel for balance. The demon wasn't breathing fire like mythical

dragons, but it was shrieking as it swooped and attacked, trying to take off theheads of Angel and his crew.

Angel watched it, planning his attack as he parried and thrust with his sword the demons were plentiful, but they weren't the most cunning or skillful of opponents. Their battle strategy seemed to focus on overwhelming their enemieswith sheer numbers rather than with any sort of battle plan.

Illyria squawked and staggered, hit by a lucky swing from one of the demons,
http://www.whitegum.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/TOUCHOFG.HTMmailto:[email protected]://www.livejournal.com/users/somefairytalehttp://www.livejournal.com/users/theantijoss/58617.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.livejournal.com/users/somefairytalehttp://www.livejournal.com/users/theantijoss/58617.htmlhttp://www.whitegum.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/TOUCHOFG.HTM


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and she kicked out, sending her attacker soaring over the growing pile of carcasses. The alley was narrow, and the bodies were lying where they fell,building a gruesome barricade of sorts between the defenders and the attackingarmy. Angel had chosen the spot for his last stand well.

The body of another of Illyria's opponents went arcing overhead, and the dragon,acting mainly on instinct, screeched and made a grab for it. Angel tookadvantage of the careless move, thrusting his sword deep into the demon's sideas it dove and using the weapon as leverage to vault up onto its back.

Over the dragon's earsplitting cry of agony, Angel could hear Spike bellow,"Drama queen!"

The thing writhed in midair, trying desperately to throw him off, and nearlysucceeding. Angel had ridden too many wild mounts to count over the centuries,but doing so thirty feet off the ground was a little bit different.

Angel gave up trying to hack the thing's head off and tossed aside his sword,sending it over the heads of his friends and into the body of a demon who'dgotten behind them and was rushing Gunn.Digging his knees and feet into the dragon's sides, he took the thing's head in hishands and twisted, roaring in triumph as he heard neck bones snap like twigs.

The dragon's inhuman screeching cut off abruptly, and the body spasmed andthen plummeted.

"Oh... fuck..." grunted Angel, doing his best to steer what had suddenly become acouple of tons of dead weight. He aimed it toward the seemingly endless army of demons, hoping to take out as many as he could, but the thing gave one lasttwitch and veered off to one side. It only clipped a dozen or so during its fall,killing several and maiming the rest.

Angel leapt free, just before the demon hit the side of a building with athunderous crash. He groaned in pain as he skidded and bounced across the wetasphalt, coming to rest against the wall, thankfully with much less force than hisfoe had.

He sprang to his feet, an instant before a huge broadsword clanged into theground where his head had been, throwing up sparks quickly doused by the rain.Following Illyria's example, he snapped his opponent's neck and grabbed thesword from its slack paw.

The narrowness of the alley and its small confines were both a help and ahindrance as he hacked a swath through the demons, nearing the pile of bodies,which now reached eye level. Demons were still scrambling over it, and some of them were trying to collapse the pile by pulling corpses out and flinging themaside. A few were leaping straight over the bodies, and Angel did the same.

He landed just in time to see a snarling, slavering beast drive a short sword deepinto Gunn's back.

"Gunn!" Angel screamed as he raced toward them, but he knew it was too late.The blow was a lethal one, and he reached them as the demon pulled his sword


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free.

Gunn's body hit the ground and the demon laughed, unholy glee in his eyes.Grief and rage surged through Angel, and he let it carry him through the attack.His friend's killer died a gruesome death, but it wasn't enough. Nothing ever would be.

There was no time to mourn as more demons closed in on every side of him. Angel was a whirling circle of death, but he was tiring. The fight with Hamiltonhad drained him, but the energy had been replaced and then some when

Angel had drunk from him. Angel had no idea how long the feeling of beingsupercharged would last in a battle like this, though, especially since he wasbleeding from several wounds.

He'd lost sight of Illyria and Spike in the driving rain and the mass of bodies alive and dead that pressed in on him. For all he knew, he was the only one leftfighting. Death was inevitable, but he'd take as many of these bastards out withhim as he could.

There was a flash of white light that didn't look like lightning, and it distracted himlong enough for one of the demons he was fighting to sink a spearhead into

Angel's shoulder. Angel grunted as he pulled it from his flesh. He snapped theweapon in two, stabbing out with one arm and catching a tall demon in themidsection. He clubbed another attacker over the head with the remaining pieceof shaft and then shoved it deep into the demon's throat.

Still fighting, he watched curiously as the mass of demons around him heavedand trembled as if something were cutting through them. A wedge shapedopening was appearing in the enemies' ranks.

He saw several female forms, weapons flashing, faces grim, fanned out behind a

leader he couldn't yet see. Demons fell before the leader, and he caught aglimpse of blonde hair. His throat tightened with terror as the tingle in his gutregistered as something more than battle anxiety.

"Buffy..."

She knew exactly when he saw her, when he registered her presence. Horror leapt into his eyes, and his face his body went slack with fear.

"Angel, watch out!" she cried, lunging to get the demon behind him.

He shakily brought himself back into the fight, dispatching the demons around

him without his usual elegant style."How..."

"Willow," she said quickly. "Angel, you have to "

"Tell her to get you out of here! Now!"

"Can't. Besides "

"No," he told her, his voice rising in panic. "No, Buffy, you're not supposed to be


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here!"

"Angel "

"No! No, no, no, you have to get out of here, Buffy! Please! You have to go!"

"Angel, I'm here. You have to deal " Her words cut off on a grunt of effort as she

parried an attack. "Fight now so that we can fight about me being here later. If you don't concentrate, you're going to get us both killed!"

Her words didn't seem to register, but her small gasp more of surprise than of pain as a demon barely nicked the skin of her arm snapped Angel out of it. Hegrowled low in his throat, hacking off the demon's sword arm before taking off itshead. He turned his back to Buffy, and together they fought, swords singing asthey scythed through the air and demon flesh.

Angel was fighting distractedly, and it worried her. He was still killing each demonthat rushed them, but he was preoccupied with her presence, and it was givingthe demons tiny openings. They were wounding him. All minor wounds, butthey'd be enough to eventually bring him down.

She registered the axe heading for her a fraction of a second too late, but beforeshe could even try to react, Angel's sword clanged against the blade, throwing off sparks. She spun under his arm, taking out the ugly thing behind him, and sheresolved not to worry about him. She'd been right; being preoccupied with eachother would get them both killed.

Angel's growl changed, the timbre deepening, and she hazarded a glance in hisdirection, stifling a sigh of relief as she saw her latest companion effortlesslyfighting his way toward them.

"I see you brought him with you," Angel snarled.

"Angel ""Maybe no one bothered to tell you which side he's on."

"He's on our side!"

"Me, Spike, Darla, Dru he knew all of us, and he didn't stake us when he hadthe chance!"

She staggered under a blow from one of the demons, and Angel steadied her and lashed out to defend her, scowling all the while.

"The lady is correct, Angelus. I am on your side. This time."

"The name," Angel bit out, neatly bisecting a demon with one vicious hack, "is

Angel . What, do I need to wear a freaking nametag or something?""My apologies," the Immortal said with a nod, killing four of the nearest attackerswith fluid grace.

"I don't want your goddamn apologies!"

"Uh, guys," Buffy broke in, glancing around them. The army of demons whatwas left of them had realized rushing the three of them was probably a reallybad idea. They were warily circling, snarling and yowling but not attacking.


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"Now would probably be a really good time," Buffy said, and Angel glanced at her curiously. The Immortal nodded. Keeping his gaze trained on their adversaries,he kissed Buffy gently on the temple.

Angel moved restlessly, fingers tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Is this reallythe time for that?" he growled.

"Consider this reparation, Angel, for my past ill treatment of you "

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I may not be so generous next time we meet." He smiled at Buffy, showingperfect white teeth. "It has been... amazing, cara mia."

Before Buffy could do more than blush, there was a thunderous crack and ablinding, eye-wateringly bright flash of blue light. A shrill, inhuman wail rose upfrom the army of the Senior Partners, and Buffy flinched as an agonized roar burst from Angel beside her.

The pounding rain slowed to a drizzle, and then a trickle, and then it stopped.

The alley was eerily silent, and Buffy rapidly blinked away the afterimages fromthe explosion of light.

The demons were gone. The Immortal was gone. The multitude of corpses Angeland his crew had created were gone as well. She vaguely registered a fewhuddled shapes on the wet ground here and there, but her attention was focusedon the crumpled form at her feet.

"Angel!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees beside him. "I swear to God, if whatever that was hurt him, I'll hunt you down and find a way to stake your ass,immortal or not!" she muttered to the empty air as she rolled him over.

He was so still, and she bit her lip as she gently searched him for major injuries.

There were minor cuts and nicks, a mostly healed puncture wound on oneshoulder, and a pretty nasty gash on his belly, but she stopped. His chest wasmoving. Up and down, up and down. His chest was moving, and he wasunconscious. She stared at it, absently placing a finger under his nose. Warmbreath rushed in and out. She studied his face. His dark, wet hair was plasteredover his forehead, long lashes lying on his cheeks. She blinked. Even in the dimlight, she could see a very faint pink tinge to his skin.

"B!"

Ignoring Faith's yell, she reached under Angel's chin and pressed with her fingers. Still in disbelief, she tore open his shirt and bent double, flattening her head against his chest. Steady, regular rhythm. A healthy heartbeat.

"Oh my God," she breathed. A smile bloomed over her features, and she pressedharder, trying to get closer to that amazing sound.

"Hey, Buffy!"

"What, Faith?" she said, distracted, her head still resting lightly on Angel's chest,rising and falling a bit with each breath he took.

"Spike's breathing! Really breathing!"


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That snapped her out of it. "Spike too?" she asked, raising her head to look atFaith, who knelt next to Spike's body. Without realizing it, she slid her hand up to

Angel's chest to monitor his breathing and heartbeat.

"You mean Angel " Faith smiled. "Damn, B! Whatever your honey did..." Shewhistled in amused awe.

"We've got to get them out of this alley," Buffy told her. The rest of her team wasgathering around, looking down at them. One of the younger Slayers stumbledover, looking very pale.

"Shelley's dead," she told Buffy, her voice shaking. There were tracks on her cheeks that looked fresher than they would have if they'd been left by the recentstorm. "I think Tricia is too, but I can't tell. But Shelley is. She definitely is." Shestaggered away from them, holding her stomach, and Buffy shared a sympatheticglance with Faith.

Buffy sighed. Neither she nor Faith knew any of these girls very well, but losingthem wasn't easy. No time for grief now, though. "We've all got to get out of thisalley the Sunnydale police might not have noticed an apocalyptic battle on their turf, but I don't know about the LAPD."

"Want me to call Willow and ask for a return ticket?"

Buffy looked up at the walls the older building that made up one wall of thealley looked very familiar. "Nah... I think I know where we are. We just need toget inside this building, and we'll be okay."

She glanced around, and then pulled herself up to her feet. With a grunt of effort,she lifted Angel up and draped him over her shoulders, ignoring the admiringlooks of her protgs.

"What should we do..." Faith trailed off, glancing at the sodden, huddled formsthat lay here and there in the alley. Buffy sighed again.

"Take them all in. They're either ours or his. Meet you inside. And make it quick."She shifted Angel and secured her grip on his soaked clothes, heading for theback door of his one time home as she heard Faith begin to snap orders to thegirls behind her.

Angel rolled over in bed, and the pain the movement caused jarred him out of hisrestless sleep. Disoriented, he glanced around him. He was in his bedroom in theHyperion. Why was he in the hotel? What had happened to the penthouse?

Everything he remembered... real? Dream?"Hell of a dream," he croaked, and then he groaned in pain. Breathing hurt. A lot.So he stopped. After a few confusing seconds, he gasped, air rushing in to fill hislungs.

"What the hell?" he coughed. He suddenly realized that hammering sound washis heart, and it was racing. At the realization, it pounded even faster.

Breathing heavily, he sat up in bed, ignoring his body's protests at the quick


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movement. His gaze darted wildly around the room. Everything was covered in athick layer of dust. Dust motes danced in the light streaming through the window

the drapes had been thrown back to allow the sunlight in. But the Hyperiondidn't have necrotempered glass...

Before he could make sense of anything , Buffy came through the doorway fromthe suite's kitchen. "You're awake! Finally.""What the hell is going on?" he yelled, and then his elbows refused to hold hisbody's weight anymore, and he collapsed back into bed.

She looked stunned at the anger in his voice. "Well... um... we don't exactlyknow... but we're pretty sure it's something Tim did."

That only served to confuse him even more, and he stared at her. After amoment, she must have realized what he was wondering about, because shesaid, "Oh! Well, I called him Tim. Like I'm gonna call him 'The Immortal' all thetime. Please."

Jealous rage flooded through him, and a little bit of fear, though he refused to letthat show. "He did this to me?"

"And, um, to Spike too."

The rage grew, and then the reality of the situation hit him, and the corner of hismouth lifted up in tiny smile. "I'm human... and Spike's human too? Bet no onesaw that one coming." The thought of the prophecy triggered a memory, and thehint of a smile fell away. "But I don't understand... I signed it away..."

She sat on the edge of his bed, and he frowned. He couldn't hear her heartbeat,and it was like her scent had all but vanished. "Signed what away?" she asked,and he focused his attention back on her.

Angel shifted, trying to make himself more comfortable, and she helped him,placing a pillow behind him so he could sit up some, and he glanced gratefully ather before looking away. He didn't know how to tell her about any of it.

"There's this prophecy..."

"Souled vampire, apocalypse, human?" she broke in, and he stared at her inshock. "Yeah, Giles told me."

"Oh," he said after a minute. He was studying her face, trying to see if she wasupset, but she was smiling. He didn't know what to think. "Well... I was trying toget close to some of the major players in the apocalypse and the only way they'dtrust me was if I signed away the prophecy "

"Angel!""I had to, Buffy."

She nodded. "I know. You wouldn't have done it if there were any other way.Still... Oh well, there's something I picked up in my years as a Slayer prophecies are a pain in the ass. You can't change 'em, even if you want to."

Her words struck home, and Angel sat bolt upright. "Connor," he breathed. Fear raced through him, and some abstract part of his mind realized it led to a much


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more visceral reaction now that he was human. The rest of him just needed toknow if his son was all right.

"What?"

He struggled to get out of bed, fighting her as she tried to hold him down. "Buffy,stop where's my wallet "

"Angel "

"I need a phone! Let me up!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll get you your wallet and a phone, okay? Lie down, you're nothealed yet."

He slumped back on the bed, and his breathing was rough as he watched her move around the room. She collected his wallet from the top of the dusty dresser and grabbed her cell phone off an empty bookshelf. Returning to the bed, shehanded him his wallet but pulled the cell phone away as he reached for it.

"Buffy!" His voice was tight with frustration as he strained to grab it from her.

"Tell me the number."

"I can do it!" he snapped.

"It's an Italian cell phone, Angel, you have to dial like fifteen numbers, and fromwhat I hear, you can't even work an American one!"

Stung by her harsh words, he looked away, dropping his hand back to the bed.She sighed and sat on the edge of his bed again. "I'm sorry. It's just... you'refreaking out about something, and that gets me wiggy."

"It's just... this is he's I need..."

"Angel, what's the number?" she asked softly, cutting through his anxiousness.

He pulled the small piece of paper from where he'd carefully tucked it away in hiswallet. One glance was enough to bring the number back to him, but he clutchedthe paper tightly anyway as he read it off and she dialed.

Buffy handed him the phone as it began to ring, and his breathing grew raspyand then stopped as it rang once, then twice, then three times. No answer.

On the fourth ring, it was finally picked up.

"Hello?" a voice said sleepily.

Angel shakily let out his breath. "Connor."

"Angel?"

It was so strange to hear his name come from his son's mouth without the bite of contempt or ridicule. He couldn't help but smile. "You sound surprised."

"Well, yeah. I kinda got the impression I'd never be hearing from you again. I'mglad I was wrong."

Had his voice trembled at that? Angel was flooded with love and happiness andconcern. But no despair. That was new. It was nice. Was this how fathers and


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sons normally interacted? But maybe without the whole apocalyptic battle thing?

"I, uh, got some... unexpected help," he told Connor, grinning at Buffy, wholooked torn between watching him and trying to pretend like she wasn't listeningto his phone call. She smiled back, but when she prepared to slide off the bed toleave and give him some privacy, he caught her wrist. "Stay," he mouthed, andshe nodded and settled next to him, leaning on the headboard without touchinghim.

"Well, that's good..."

"I... I know you said you don't wanna make a thing but I could tell you about it, if you like. Over coffee again. You know if you want."

There was a pause, and then Connor cleared his throat. "Um..."

Angel's heart pounded. He was pushing too hard. "Not right away! If... if you wantto wait a while, that's okay too. I was just thinking... oh! We could... maybe wecould meet for lunch."

The pause lasted longer this time. "Lunch?" Connor eventually said in a carefultone.

Angel smiled. "Sure, why not?"

"Well... the whole I mean... you're not... a 'lunch' kinda guy... now you have mecurious."

His smile grew. "Lunch then?"

"I'm trying to get those internships I have a lot of running around and packingand stuff to do, and I've got a couple interviews this week "

"Connor, that's great!"

"Yeah, thanks, but I'm not really sure when I could meet you... but lunch sounds...good. I'll call you?"

Angel glanced at the borrowed phone in his hand. "Um... I don't really have aphone right now... I'll call you? In a couple days?"

"That sounds good."

"Take care of yourself " Angel bit his lip to keep from adding 'son' to the end.

"I will... you too, okay? Bye, Angel."

There was a small click as the call ended, and Angel stared at the phone. After amoment, he handed it back to Buffy. "Thank you."

"No problem..."He could see the curiosity in her eyes, and he had no idea what to tell her. Amemory surfaced: he was holding a gurgling, happy Connor while he discussedwith Wes how to tell Buffy about the boy.

Grief surged over him as he remembered Illyria's voice curt and precise butswimming with emotion as she reported Wesley's death.

He bowed his head, and when he looked up, Buffy was watching him with


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concern, all curiosity gone.

"Angel?"

"Illyria?"

She looked confused. "What?"

"Illyria she was fighting with us alongside us is she alive?"Her eyes filled with sorrow. "I... I don't know. We you and Spike are the only we found your friends. Gunn, and... Fred? They're both I'm sorry, Angel."

"You found Fred's body? Fred's body?"

"Brown hair? Thin? That is her name, isn't it?"

"I don't... I don't understand. When Illyria killed Fred and took over her body "

"What? Oh my God! Angel, I'm so sorry."

"You didn't know?"

"Of course not!"He snorted tiredly. "Giles didn't tell you. Figures."

She looked furious. "What? I'm gonna kill him "

"It doesn't matter, Buffy. She was already dead. But that's what I don'tunderstand. Fred's been... she's been dead for a while " His voice trembled andshook, and he stopped.

"Well, whatever The Immortal did to get rid of the demons, it pulled the vamp outof you and Spike, so maybe it pulled whatever was left of Illyria " She glancedover at him, at his tense body and his tightly shut eyes and his clenched fists,and she stopped too. She rested a hand on his chest. "Angel..."

He couldn't do this right now. He needed time. To think. To grieve. Wesley wasdead. Gunn was dead. Fred was dead. Lorne had finally been pushed as far ashis easy nature would allow him to be, and he was gone. Doyle... Cordelia...Everyone who'd allowed themselves to love him they got nothing but pain anddeath and sorrow for it. He brought only darkness into every life he touched.

It would be so easy to let her comfort him. Especially now. And then things wouldget even more confusing and complicated. "I'm really tired," he said quietly.

"Angel "

"Please. I just need... to rest. For a while. Please, Buffy." He turned away fromher, curling on his side with his back to her. He stiffened as her hand landed onhis shoulder, but after a few moments, she removed it. He listened, eyes screwedshut against the mounting waves of anguish, as she slid off the bed and movedto the door. She paused, probably looking back at him, and then the door shutbehind her, leaving him alone to mourn.

Buffy closed the door to Angel's room with a sigh.


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"B."

She turned at the whisper from down the hall. Faith was standing in front of theclosed door to the room where they'd put Spike. She moved forward as Faith did,and they met in the middle of the hall.

"How's Angel?" Faith asked in a murmur. Buffy nodded toward the stairs, andthey started down into the lobby.

"He's... he woke up. And now he's... sleeping again."

Faith looked at her knowingly. "Yeah. Spike's 'sleeping' too. He told meeverything that happened."

"Good. You can tell me. We didn't get around to it... "

"Come on, I'll tell you on the way."

"Where are we going?"

"Spike told me where Wesley was going. We're on a retrieval mission."

Buffy stopped and closed her eyes. "Wesley too?"Faith stared at the ground. "Yeah. Wesley too."

They were quiet as they moved through the hotel, each lost in her own thoughts.

They found Angel's big black convertible neatly and lovingly stored in theHyperion's small private garage. Despite the somber mood, Faith grinned at thesight of it, and Buffy willingly ceded the driving to her. Faith told her what sheknew of the battle as they drove, and with a few wrong turns, they ended up at amansion in the hills, where everything was dark and empty. They walked insideand suddenly stopped, taking in the gory evidence of a battle.

Wrinkling her nose as she carefully stepped around chunks of something thatlooked suspiciously like the remains of Mayor Wilkins, Buffy approachedWesley's body. He lay crumpled on the ground, and she knelt beside him, angrilywiping the tears from her cheeks. Faith stood above her, watching her back, butthe place was desolate, and eventually she knelt too.

"I didn't know him very well, but I know Angel loved him," Buffy told Faith.

"I knew him. He probably wished I didn't, but I did. He was a good guy. Come on.Let's go. I'll take him. You lead."

On the drive back, she told Faith of Angel's mysterious phone call, but Faithcouldn't make any sense of it either. Faith was all for asking Angel about it, butBuffy decided to wait and see if he brought it up first.

When they reached to the hotel, Faith carried Wesley in and placed him with thebodies of the other battle casualties while Buffy hurried upstairs. She reflected onthe fact that they'd have to do something for their dead friends soon, and shesighed at the idea of asking Angel about it.

Voices came from his room, and she pushed open the door without knocking. Angel sat on the bed, showered and dressed, and Spike was sprawled in thechair next to him. They were listening to a report on the radio. She stopped just


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inside the room. The idea of Spike and Angel calmly sitting in the same roomwould have been crazy enough even if they hadn't been sitting in the sunlightstreaming in from the window.

"...Chief Bratton concluded his remarks by stating that the investigation intoSenator Bruckner's brutal murder has just begun, and they are reluctant to putforward any theories at this time."In other local news, geologists are still attempting to figure out exactly what kindof seismic event occurred last night. The quake caused minor damage in severalstructures throughout the Los Angeles area, and scientists are puzzled by theseeming randomness of the damage. The downtown offices of the law firmWolfram & Hart were completely destroyed, and witnesses in the Hollywood areahave reported the bright flashes of a transformer explosion. Southern CaliforniaEdison spokesmen have made no official comment."

Spike snorted. "Transformer, my arse."

"Shh..."

"Thanks, Genie. Caltech should be making a full report within the hour. Now,moving onto this afternoon's weather forecast what about that storm last night?Where'd that come from, Rob?"

There was a nervous laugh, tinny over the radio. "Well, Steve... I think it caughtus all by surprise. The freak storm was most likely caused by a cold front movingin "

Angel switched off the radio. "Cold front. Clueless. They're all clueless."

"You're surprised?" Buffy asked from the doorway. He glanced at her and shookhis head.

"Nah."She looked Spike over. He looked good whole and healthy and she smiledtentatively. "Spike. You're alive. I mean... now you're really alive but..." She tooka deep breath, sorting her thoughts. "Yeah. It's good. I'm glad. You look good,"she finished, trying to ignore Angel as he shifted uneasily on his feet.

"Whether it's good remains to be seen, pet," Spike said with a wry smile. "Goodto see you too."

The tension in the room grew until Faith poked her head through the door. "B? Angel? You guys seen oh. There you are."

Spike smirked. "I forget to leave a note?"

Faith crossed her arms and rolled her eyes as she sauntered in to stand by Buffy."Please. Just wanted to make sure you're not out wreaking havoc."

"That was last night."

Faith sobered. "Hey, big guy. How're you?"

"Alive. Not yet sure how I feel about that."

Faith moved across the room and hopped up on the bed next to him. "So.


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Whatcha gonna do now?"

He glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

"Now that you're a real boy! You too, blondie. Got plans? Beach?"

"Let's go," Spike said. "With a drink. I plan to get very, very drunk. Very, very

fast.""What about you?" Buffy asked Angel.

"Vegas," he said promptly, and they all looked at him, surprised. "There's abranch of Wolfram & Hart in Vegas."

"You're mad. Turning human's finally finished you off, mate."

"Angel "

"You think they're finished with me? With us? This was one branch. Taking outthe Circle of the Black Thorn stopped an immediate threat, but even withwhatever the Immortal did last night which I'd still like an explanation for," hecut in, glancing at Buffy. "That might have hurt the Senior Partners hell, I don'teven know if it did that! You think they're going to let us go out and sit on thebeach and eat ice cream and get a tan? They're going to keep coming until we'redead. And I'm not about to sit here and wait for them to come for me."

He was up and pacing by then, and he turned away from the three of them.

"Well, there's just one little problem with that, Caped Crusader. You forgotten thepart where you're human now? Breakable? More breakable? No super strengthand instant healing? They nearly took you out several times when you were avamp."

"What do you want to do? Hide under a rock? Go ahead then, but believe me,they'll come for you too, Spikey. And being human doesn't mean being weak.Wes was human. So was Gunn. And Fred. And they were some of the strongestpeople I ever knew."

"Yeah, and look what the SPs did to them!"

Angel whirled around. His voice was quiet and soft and deadly as he stalkedtoward Spike. "You bastard. Don't you ever "

"That's not what I meant!" Spike threw his hands up, defending himself before Angel could land a blow. "Look, Angel. They were good people. I know that. Ididn't say what I said to piss you off. Maybe I would have once, but I knew themtoo. They were good and they died. You go off half-cocked after the Senior

Partners, they'll take you apart.""Angel," Faith said from where she lounged on the bed, "I may not be the bestperson to give advice on not acting impulsive, but you need to think this through."

"I have, Faith. I've thought about it for the past year. Planning the next step is allI've been thinking of. They made a mistake bringing me in. They thought theycould control me and sometimes they almost did but they gave me aninsider's view of how they run things. And I'm not going to let it go to waste. Wes,and Gunn, and Fred and Lorne they threw in with Wolfram & Hart because of


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me "

"Angel, their deaths are not your fault!" Buffy argued.

"Yeah, big guy. You mighta shown some of us the way to go, but we're herebecause we want to be. 'Cause it's a good fight. You were ready to die fighting it.

And so were they."

"These bastards killed my family!" Angel's voice broke with a mixture of rage andanguish. There was silence for a few moments, and then he continued, his voicelow and desperate. "I loved them, and I am not going to let their sacrifices be invain. There are still a few people I love on this planet," he said, and his gazeflicked to Faith and lingered on Buffy. "I am not going to sit around pretendingeverything is perfect now just because I'm human, when I know they're out theretrying to destroy everything !"

Buffy crossed over to him and put her hand on his shoulder, rigid with tensionand grief. "Okay. Okay, Angel, we're not trying to talk you out of it if your mind ismade up we just want you to think about it. You don't have to decide to do thistoday. You... there's time. This gift you've been given ""It's not a gift. It's just... something the Immortal did. It's not from the Powers thatBe the fact that it happened to both of us "

"Bloody hellfire! What the hell do you want, mate? You want blue fairies? Youwant a little green cricket although, come to think of it, Lorne "

"Shut up, Spike." He got it in stereo, from both Buffy and Angel. Buffy glared at Angel, furious with him for downplaying what he'd been given. She knew it wasgrief and self-loathing, but she hated the fact that he still didn't consider himself worthy of what he'd been given.

"Look. You can think of it any way you want, Angel, but it is a gift. And it's not likeit's a sweater. You can't give it back."

He winced as she spoke, and she grew concerned. "Are you okay? Maybe youshould lie down. See, you're not well yet, it's too early to decide anyway "

"I'm fine, Buffy. And I've already decided. This is something that needs to bedone."

"Okay. Well, good. Then I'll call Dawn and have her send some stuff for me. We'llgo as soon as it gets here."

"What? No!" Angel stared at her, wide-eyed.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Buffy, don't be stupid " He stopped when he saw her furious glare. "It's a suicide mission. A long, messy one." She crossed her armsover her chest and tapped her foot, and he snorted. "Fine. Whatever. Better youthan me, pet."

"And what are you gonna do?" Faith asked, curious.

"Hello "

Spike ignored Angel. "Sit on the beach, preferably surrounded by a couple of cute Slayers, and drink. You wanna be one of them?"


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"Oh yes, my goal in life is to stand around protecting a drunk guy who spends allhis time moaning about how things were better when he could drain a guy inthirty seconds flat. And why do you need Slayer bodyguards for a life of slothanyway?"

"Sloth?" Buffy asked, amused.

"Guys "

"Giles," Faith said with a shrug.

"Well, with Captain Brood over there off saving the world in a different city everymonth, someone has to stay here and make sure the Big Bads aren't rebuildinghere. Although it'd be kinda funny if he went around, swearing vengeance andraining hell down on all of them, and they just popped up again after he left...kinda like those plastic clowns you hit."

Faith looked intrigued, and Buffy saw it and said, "Faith, you can't stay anyway."

"I need your permission now, B?"

"Hello, you're a fugitive. You need to get out of the country.""Enough!" Angel bellowed. He turned to Buffy. "You are not going with me."

"And how do you plan to stop me? Brute strength?" she shot back, and Angelflushed. "You can't even stop one determined Slayer and you're gonna take downan evil multidimensional corporation? You're going to need help, Angel."

"Now I think about it, it's going to have to be more than a couple. I think I'll need a what's a group of Slayers called, anyway?"

Faith warningly pointed a finger at Spike. "If you say a slew of Slayers, I'll stakeyou."

"Not a vamp.""Your point?"

"Okay, guys, take it outside. Please. I have to talk to Buffy."

Faith snorted. "Yelling at her isn't gonna change her mind anymore than it'dchange yours."

"Out!"

Faith glared at him and Spike shot him a rude gesture as they made their wayout of the room, their bickering carrying back into the room from the hall. Angelresolutely shut the door behind them and turned to find Buffy watching him, her

arms crossed over her chest."She's right, you know," she said. "You've made up your mind to go after Wolframand Hart, and I've made up my mind to go with you."

"You're not going."

Buffy sighed. "Are we really gonna play are-not/are-too?"

"If we have to."


16/24

Anger flared within her, and it was almost welcome. This Angel stubbornlyreckless with his own life and just as stubbornly overprotective of hers shecould deal with. She was on familiar ground here. The Angel she had seenearlier, hurt and quietly crying as he mourned alone, had made her feel helpless.

"I'm not sixteen, Angel! I'll do what I want to do! If all you want to do is killyourself, then fine, I'm sure we can find you a weapon! If you're serious aboutdoing something about Wolfram & Hart, you are going to need some help! AndI'm the best qualified helper!"

He sank down onto the bed. "I can't take them all out, Buffy."

"Angel " She sat beside him.

"I'm not trying to kill myself. But I don't plan to come out of this."

"I know you don't. You think I can't see that? That Faith and Spike can't see that?Maybe you can't take them out by yourself, but maybe the two of us can. Andwherever we are, there's a couple hundred Slayers a phone call away you sawthat last night."

He glanced at her and then looked away. "What happened to not trusting me?"he asked sullenly.

"What?"

"Andrew... When he took Dana away and I could have helped her, dammit! hewas pretty clear. And when Fred "

"Okay, first of all, Andrew is an idiot. He's always been an idiot. Just because hethinks he's my best friend and I tell him everything doesn't make it true. And I'msorry about Fred, Angel. Giles has a lot to answer for, and I'm going to make surethat he does."

He still refused to look at her, and she laid her hand on both of his, which werefolded tightly in his lap. "Angel... I've always trusted you. This last year, I'veworried like hell about you, but I knew you had a reason. I just didn't know what itwas." She studied his face. "I still don't. But I've never thought you were a lostcause. Believe me, I would have been here I would have done somethingabout it if I thought you couldn't be trusted anymore. And you know, you couldhave called me if you had something to say."

Angel said nothing, but he turned his hand under hers so that it was claspinghers loosely. The corner of his mouth twitched up. "I thought we alreadyestablished that Angel and cell phones not a good combination."

She laughed and leaned against his shoulder. "I forgot."He was so warm, and his body was so firm against her side, and she foundherself snuggling closer. Unconsciously, he slid one of his hands from hers andwrapped it around her, pulling her even tighter against him.

She looked up just as he looked down at her, and they were inches apart. Her breath caught in her throat. It would be so easy to stretch just a little bit more andfind out if his lips were as soft as she remembered. He made the decision for her,


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dipping his head to catch her lips with his own.

Buffy moaned as he nibbled at her. His lips were soft, and warm... hot. He stilltasted like Angel, though, and she nipped at him, trying to get more. His tonguedarted between her lips to mate and play with hers, and she moved closer, onehand curling round the back of his neck to anchor itself in his thick, dark hair.

She slid her other hand up his chest, enjoying the catch in his breath as her handglided over the silk of his shirt to rest over his heart. It was racing, and she smiledas she pulled away.

"That is so amazing," she murmured, and he smiled back.

"It kinda is, isn't it?" he said, his voice shaky.

She pulled back slightly, taking a deep breath. He made a soft sound of disappointment, but he loosened his grip just a little bit.

"Guess that qualifies as happy to see me," she said with a grin.

He looked confused for a moment, and then his face cleared as the memoryapparently surfaced. He grinned, and then he took her hands in his. "Yes. It does.

And it occurs to me I haven't said thank you for saving my ass."

"You're welcome. It's a cute ass." She laughed at his shocked expression. "Well,it is! Oh my God! Angel!"

The shock changed into alarm. "What?"

"You're blushing!"

It only made him blush more, and she laughed and kissed his pink cheek. Shetook a deep breath and then forged on with her next questions. She was terrified,but her voice was even as she observed, "So... no more Angelus. No morecurse."

"No..."

"And you could you know go for a a picnic, say, if you wanted." She wasthe one blushing now, with nervousness, and she stared down at the darkcoverlet on the bed to avoid his gaze.

His gaze was fixed on the blanket as well. "What about you and what's uhhim?"

She shifted on the bed. "It's not he wasn't we were just killing time."

Angel glanced up at her, and she met his eyes with a sheepish smile. "He's just Giles says he's a figure of balance. Sometimes he's on our side, andsometimes he's not. And I tried to keep that in mind, but he's charming, andfunny, and you know, I have this thing for reformed bad boys"

Angel wasn't smiling, and she cleared her throat. "He was in Italy, waiting for whatever needed to happen here to happen. We spent time together. That's all."

He studied her face, and she gazed back earnestly, letting him see the truth inher words. After a moment, he nodded, reaching out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "What about cookies?" he asked, and she had to tear herself


18/24

away from those gorgeous eyes before she could answer.

"What? Oh... cookies... cookies was all before the fight with the First. I had noidea what was going to happen, Angel I didn't know if I was going to live or die

I had no idea that in one day I'd go from The Chosen One to one of a couplehundred, maybe more. Can you tell me that anything you thought yesterdayabout the future before everything happened is still true?"

Angel blinked, and then his slightly perplexed expression cleared and he said indetermination, "The Senior Partners need to die."

"Okay, besides that."

He thought for a moment. "About the future?" She nodded. "No. I didn't think I'dhave one."

"Exactly. It's that kind of thinking that causes baking metaphors. But now you dohave a future, Angel, and..."

He stared at her, his brow furrowed in confusion. "So... does this mean you're

cookies now?"She sighed. "Forget cookies. I'm Buffy. And Buffy's decided I've decided that Iwant to be with you whether our lives are short and hard or long and happy.Okay?"

"I think... I think that I could go for that," he said, pulling her close and kissing her temple. She relaxed into his arms. "But Buffy, there's "

"A lot to talk about still? Yeah, and there's a lot to fight about and scream aboutand a lot to decide, and I'm sure there'll be a lot of tears, and maybe someviolence and strong language. Normal couples fight, Angel. They have screamingmatches and slammed doors. I don't know where you got this idea that we should

be any different.""I just wanted you to be happy, Buffy. That's all I ever wanted."

"Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up. I'm trying to listen to your heartbeat."

He laughed as she snuggled down into his arms, but he was quiet, and she wasglad. The heavy discussions and some of them would be could come later.

Angel stepped into the shadows of the Hyperion's lobby, sighing in relief. Beingout in the sun was an amazing experience, but it was still uncomfortable. His skinitched and felt tight, and his eyes watered behind the designer sunglasses Faithand Buffy had given him.

The lobby was cool and dark and welcoming. Spike was sprawled on the roundsofa, and Faith lounged at the desk behind the counter, talking with Buffy, whowas hidden from Angel's view, in the office. Faint noises came from upstairs thesounds of a team of Slayers packing up and preparing to leave or unpacking and


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settling in.

The scene shifted in Angel's head, and suddenly Gunn was relaxing on the couchwith his Game Boy as Cordy filed, bickering with Wes as he puttered around inthe office. The slight movement upstairs became Fred in her room and Lornesinging to a newborn Connor. Angel squeezed his eyes shut as the echo of hisson's cry drifted to him from the past."Look at the poncy bugger," Spike growled from the sofa. "Posing in the doorwaylike some sort of dark avenger."

Still struggling with the sudden express train of grief, Angel jumped when Buffy'svoice came from right beside him. "I don't think he's posing," she snapped, andSpike snorted. Her voice gentled as she asked, "Hey, you okay?"

He nodded stiffly, taking a deep, shaky breath. "Will be."

She looked up into his eyes, studying his face, and he willed away the tears heknew were there, ordering them not to fall.

"How was lunch?" she asked quietly, and his grim thoughts immediately easedtheir hold on him. He felt a smile quirk his lips an automatic response againthese days, it seemed, to thoughts of his son.

"It was... great," he told her truthfully. "He had a table in the back, the darkestcorner of the restaurant, and when I got there he was looking toward the kitchenentrance, obviously waiting for me to come from the back. You should have seenhis face when I came through the restaurant in the sunlight, reflecting in all themirrors..."

His voice trailed off as he remembered the shocked expression on his son's face.

Connor had been speechless for several minutes, and Angel had briefly worried

that his new, improved son would be disappointed that Angel was no longer asupernatural creature of the night. But even with his memories jumbled andrewritten, Connor still knew what this meant for Angel.

"Angel?"

He snapped out of his reverie as Buffy rested her hand on his shoulder. Sheglanced through the doors out into the late afternoon sunlight slanting throughthe garden.

"Long lunch, huh?"

He studied her face, trying to decide if she was angry, but she merely lookedcurious. "Sorry. Didn't mean to be gone so long. We went for a walk."

Angel had walked along in the sunlight, talking to his son about anything andeverything. He'd told Connor about his plans for a road trip, though he didn't tellthe boy why, and a mixture of emotions had flitted over Connor's face.

The relief had been painful to see Connor was evidently still unsure about Angel's place in his life but the boy's badly hidden disappointment had done alot to make Angel feel better.

He smiled at Buffy, who returned the smile. She slipped her arms around him,


20/24

hugging him tightly before leading him down into the lobby. "So... am I ever gonna find out who your mysterious lunch date really is?"

Angel's grin faded; he was going to tell her, he really kept meaning to, but it wasso much to explain, and so much of it was heartbreaking. He knew she wascurious, but she hadn't pushed, and he was more than willing to keep putting itoff. He glanced from Faith to Spike, who had briefly suspended their normalbickering to eagerly eavesdrop. "I... he's... Connor's not exactly he's... special. Ikinda took him under my wing after he and his f-family contacted Wolfram andHart "

He broke off abruptly, avoiding her gaze, and she watched him for a fewmoments before nodding solemnly. "Ah. One of the big ones, then."

He smiled half-heartedly, nodding at her. It seemed that during the days sinceBuffy's arrival and her and Angel's subsequent decision to try and work thingsout, they'd done more talking than in all the years they had known each other combined.

There were still several major talks coming he had yet to tell her about his sonor about the day he had given back. Angel could tell by the faraway expressionhe sometimes saw on her face when she thought he wasn't looking that therewere things she hadn't told him yet. It made him nervous, especially when heconsidered what he was still keeping from her.

They seemed to be saving The Big Talks for after they had left the hotel. Whichwas probably a good idea, he thought as he glanced at Faith and Spike again.Having what might turn into a screaming match was bad enough in a buildingshared with others; in a building currently occupied by a bunch of teenage girlswith supernatural hearing, the embarrassment factor went up exponentially.

The tension in the room broke as some of the girls came thundering down thestairs, bags in hand. With her hand still wrapped around Angel's upper arm, Buffyturned and smiled at them. The smile was proud, and wistful, and Angel's handcame up to cover hers.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Did someone already call Willow?" Angel asked, reaching toward his pocket for his new cell phone.

Faith half-raised a hand, gesturing for him to put it away. "'Bout twenty, twentyfive minutes ago. She said to be ready in half an hour."

"Someone please tell me again why we can't just take a plane like normalpeople?" one of the youngest Slayers asked nervously, clutching at her carryon."Because airport security generally frowns on large groups of heavily armedpassengers," Buffy reminded her, nodding at the axe Rona held.

"Hey... isn't that " Spike broke off as he glanced from Rona to Angel. The girlheld the hubcap axe tighter, and her tiny nod toward Angel was a promise to useit well.

He resisted the grief-filled urge to grab it back from her. He and Buffy couldn't


21/24

take his entire arsenal, so he'd shared out his weaponry and that of Gunn andWes between the team of Slayers going back to England, and the team of Slayers staying here with Spike. It had been difficult, but the girls had all beengrateful, and he had no one left to give it to.

Buffy's phone rang a single time Willow's signal. Buffy sighed. "Be careful," shetold them all. Faith rolled her eyes at Buffy as she gave the girls a wave. Buffyglared at her briefly and then told them, "And remember, the poi "

" nty ends faces out," the girls chorused, some of them groaning while otherslaughed. Everyone's ears popped as the pressure in the room changed, and thegirls vanished in a flash of white light.

Buffy was facing away from him, and he couldn't see her face, but he could seethe stillness of her body, and he could see her shoulders shudder as another sighgusted through her. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"They're still so... young."

"You were younger," he whispered. "Besides, they'll be okay. They have Giles,and Willow." After a moment, he bit out, "And Xander."

Buffy smiled, knowing what it cost him to say that. The animosity between thetwo men would likely never completely disappear, but Angel was much better athiding it. She leaned back into his arms. "You packed? Ready to go?"

He stared around the lobby. Now that their planned departure time had arrived,he suddenly realized he didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave the hotelwhere, if he tried hard enough, he could hear his family's laughter.

Buffy must have seen the look on his face because she said, "We don't have todo this, Angel. We could... stay."

Angel's gaze fell on the elevator, and his thoughts drifted to the basement, wherethe bodies of Gunn, Fred, and Wesley had lain side by side just a short few daysearlier. His face hardened. "Yes. We do have to do this," he told her, and shenodded. He glanced slyly at her. "Besides, stay here? With Spike?"

"Oh, would you bugger off already?"

Angel laughed, tugging Buffy toward the stairs. "Come on, it's time to get going."

An hour passed, and they were all gathered around the car as Faith fit the lastbag into the already packed trunk. She moved it and it clunked. They weretraveling pretty light in terms of clothes and possessions, but the Plymouth waseven more of a rolling arsenal than usual.

"I hope the cops don't stop you and search the car," one of the remaining Slayerssaid.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Angel said cryptically. Buffy stared at him.

"And how exactly did you explain all your toys away?"

"That is a story for another day," he told her with a smug grin. She shook her head in exasperation as she pulled the younger girls aside for a last little chat.Faith ambled after her, leaving Spike and Angel facing each other.


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They scowled at each other for a moment and then Spike rolled his eyes and lit acigarette. "Look, I don't give a toss about you, don't care if you want to go off on avengeance trip, but try not to get her killed."

Angel glanced at Buffy as Spike's words penetrated. Was he just going after Wolfram and Hart for vengeance? Was he going to get her killed? Was any of itnecessary? Maybe they could stay, maybe it would be better. He didn't care if hedied in the fight, but what about Buffy?

She laughed at something one of the girls said, and his heart clenched. No. No, if he didn't do something, the Senior Partners would come after her. They'd comeafter her and Connor and Faith. Nina, if they found out about her. Connor's family

his new family. Dawnie. And Willow and Giles and everyone even remotelyconnected to Angel. Before, he'd been either a nuisance or an intriguingpossibility. Now he was an enemy. And they wouldn't ignore that.

Angel took a deep breath, pushing aside his fears once more. He smiled slyly atSpike, who was watching him and grinning, smug that his words had rattled

Angel.His voice was even as he said, "Buffy'll be fine, don't you worry your pretty blondhead. Don't destroy my hotel. Enjoy the beach. And don't forget the sunblock thistime."

He smirked as Spike glared at him and reached a hand up to scratch at hispeeling nose. But the blonde's face lightened and he leered at Faith. "Oh, I will enjoy it," he said.

Angel laughed. "She could have kicked your ass up and down the street before . Ican't wait to hear what'll happen now. In fact, it's almost worth staying for!"

"What's worth staying for?"

He wrapped an arm around Buffy and pulled her close, dropping a kiss on the topof her head without losing eye contact with Spike. "Oh, just some plans of Spike's."

"Yeah? What's up, blondie?" Faith eyed him speculatively.

Spike blushed, and Angel snickered. His laughter faded but his grin stayed as heregarded the dark-haired Slayer. "Faith."

"Pasty."

"Faith!"

She laughed. "What? You are. And besides, next time I see you, you'll be alltanned and I won't be able to use it anymore. Now that's a thought... Big A allgolden brown. You'll have to send pictures, B."

Angel felt Buffy stiffen minutely and he saw the flash of jealousy in her eyes.Though it was gone in an instant, it warmed him, and he pulled her more tightlyagainst his chest. Her voice betrayed nothing as she said lightly, "Darn, nocamera. Guess you'll just have to use your imagination."

"I can do that."


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"Take care of yourself, Faith," Angel said seriously, and she nodded.

"You too, big guy. And you, B. Was just getting used to having you around."

"Don't get caught," Buffy told her sternly, but a smile hovered around the edgesof her lips.

"Ten four.""Spike." Buffy nodded at him, and her expression was warm and friendly, but shedidn't move from Angel's arms, and for that, Angel was supremely glad. "Becareful, okay?"

"Slayer." His voice was wistful, but he said nothing more.

The other girls all called their goodbyes as Buffy and Angel got into the car andsettled themselves. Buffy glanced around the interior. "You know, Angel, with gasprices the way they are... maybe you should consider getting a more fuel efficientcar. Maybe a Volvo..."

"Buffy!" he yelped. "I am not driving a Volvo!"

She laughed and waved goodbye to Faith and Spike and the girls as Angel pulledout into traffic. Halfway down the street, she looked back, smiling, and then shefroze.

Angel noticed her stillness, glancing at her reflection in the rearview mirror."Buffy?"

After a moment, she turned around and settled back into her seat. She didn't lookdirectly at him, but her gaze met his in the mirror. If he weren't so unsettled, hewould have smiled at the novelty of it. "What is it?" he asked quietly.

"It's nothing."

"Buffy," he admonished, his voice full of concern as he switched betweenwatching the traffic and glancing at her.

She sighed. "It's really nothing, Angel. Just a thought. I... it's I don't want you totake it the wrong way."

He pulled over, and she said, "Angel!"

"Tell me."

She mumbled something, and he frowned. He would have been able to hear itbefore... before. He took her chin in his hand, raising her gaze to his.

"I said, 'The sunset's back that way.' You know, you, me, riding off... there's a

beautiful sunset, Angel, and it's back that way." Angel's breath caught, his heart dropping into his stomach. "Buffy "

"See, I knew it. I didn't mean anything, Angel. It was just a thought. This? We'reriding off into the night, together, and that's even better. The darkness is ours,

Angel, it's always been ours. This is right. Even if you're human, and I'm human mostly we don't need picnics and walks on the beach. That's not who we are.This fight is who we are. It's who we'll always be. Together."


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Together, you were powerful...

He swallowed his doubts. "It's right, hmm?"

"Actually, it's left. Right up there." She pointed. "At that light. So get this hunk of junk going."

"It's not a hunk of junk! It's a classic!" he growled as he dropped the Plymouthback into gear.

She laughed as the car slid into traffic and disappeared into the night.

somefairytale's request:

Pairing (or none) (the pairing you would like written for you): Buffy/Angel

Genre You Prefer (no guarantees, but we'll do our best to oblige both reading and writing preferences, ie. shippy, smut, darkfic, slash, etc ): Angst/darkfic,shippyness.

Requests (1 or 2) (one or two things you'd like in your story, ie: angst, a phrase,a character): A hotel, a roadtrip.

Restrictions (1 or 2) (one or two things you would like not to be in your story, ie:no sex, no mention of a character): No Angelus. Mention of him etc is fine but noactual Angelus appearing in the fic.

a touch of gray

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