And yet another parallel universe...
Set in the same universe as Unforgettable. Warning: Fluff ahead.
A Beginning
Willow still couldn’t believe that the cute guy who’d been flirting with Buffy a few weeks ago had turned out to be an Initiative member. She wondered whether this was how people felt when they discovered that the quirky, tiny blonde could hold her own against a nest of vampires - or whatever monster happened to be about to eat you that night.
Riley checked his weapon again, but his eyes strayed to the couple holding hands ahead of them. “So, what’s their story?”
“Complicated,” Xander muttered.
Willow rolled her eyes. “Come on, it’s a new beginning. I think it’s sweet.”
A Day in the Life
He woke up to an empty bed and a feminine yelp followed by the crash of several bottles hitting the bathroom floor. “Not again,” he mumbled against the pillow, rolling onto his chest and giving up the position when his lungs started missing air. Breathing wasn’t so much fun when you were used to doing without.
“Sorry!” Buffy called. Then, in a lower voice, “unless the noise didn’t wake you up. In which case, no hair products have been damaged. At all.”
Angel winced. If they ever moved in together, separate bathrooms would be a must. And extra closet space.
A Hard Day's Night
After having tended to every scrape and putting the first aid kit back under the bed, Angel leaned back against the headboard and opened his arms in silent entreaty. Buffy looked at him in clear longing, but her eyes shifted uneasily to the bruises mottling his forearm. “You’re injured.”
He fought not to bristle. He’d been caught from behind and tossed aside. Meanwhile, she’d been kicked repeatedly while she was down. The only reason she looked marginally better was the Slayer’s rapid healing rate. “And a good night’s sleep will do wonders,” he reasoned.
“Just sleep?”
He grinned. “For tonight.”
A Little Rhyme
“Zero death threats,” Buffy sighed, watching the front door close behind her friends. “Happy birthday, indeed.” She glanced at the wall clock Giles had insisted on after she and Angel were late to too many meetings. Her half-buttoned shirt hadn’t helped their case. “Of course, there’s an hour left.”
Having locked up, Angel walked back to her. “Wrong,” he said as he picked up a slim book from the shelf. “That hour’s mine.” He settled beside her and drew her body against his. “I’ve waited a year for this, you know.”
She’d recognized the book, of course. “So have I.”
A Picture of You
Angel found his girlfriend on the couch, her legs folded beneath her as she studied the book in her lap. Having heard his entrance, her head lifted and she smiled - teasingly? “You don’t like photo albums?”
He was genuinely confused by the non-sequitur until he’d taken a couple steps forward and could see in detail the book she’d picked out. “Ah,” he breathed, still unused to the sudden flare of heat on his cheeks. “I can explain….”
Buffy took a last look at the picture hidden there and put the book aside, her smile growing softer. “I missed you too.”
A Taste of Honey
“Here,” Buffy handed him a warm cup.
“Thanks,” he said, curling his fingers around it. Intellectually, he knew that California’s weather dropped to mild temperatures at worst (except when it snowed, but that’d been an exceptional exception), but after two centuries of being comfortable in whatever season, his body had now taken offense at the advent of winter. Shivering, Angel sipped the beverage. Frowned. Looked accusingly at his girlfriend.
“We’re out of coffee.” Buffy shrugged prettily, almost making him forget she’d been in charge of groceries this week. “I added honey. You like honey.”
Angel laughed. “I do. On you.”
Across the Universe
Since his return to Sunnydale, Angel had come to this place several times to meditate. Here, he was reminded of the mistakes he could make without need of losing his soul first.
It was important to remember that.
But today he’d come for a different reason.
“How did you find me?”
Angel sat down beside her, probably on the same spot where she’d once begged for his life. “You looked like you’ve lost all hope. This place seemed appropriate.” Besides, he would find her across the universe if necessary.
Buffy leaned against him. “I wish a snowfall could help now.”
Hold Me Tight
Angel congratulated himself for having the foresight to bring two blankets tonight. Pleasant Hill still had a great view, as this corner of the cemetery grounds had yet to be dwelled by the dead, but sitting on the bare grass at midnight had lost its appeal right along with thick curtains and the taste of fresh blood.
Holding a contented Buffy under the thinner blanket was a habit he intended to develop instead.
“I haven’t come to stargaze since….” Buffy’s hand curled against his chest, right above his beating heart.
He nodded. He’d always been the one to bring her.
I'm a Loser
Doyle tiptoed out of the guest room, intent on dragging himself to the bus station and to LA before he regretted being sober enough to make that decision. If he kept quiet, Angel wouldn’t find out until he was out of reach, or, God forbid, Angel’s girlfriend. He’d survive his friend’s lecture, but that little blonde was saving a sucker punch for when the alcohol couldn’t haze the pain anymore.
Doyle shuddered to think of Buffy’s reaction if she and Cordelia were actually friends.
“Probably give her my head on a platter,” he muttered.
And he’d deserve it, too.
Damn.
Boys
Angel leaned against the doorframe, watching his former companion slurp down his dinner with noisy relish. He would bet that the performance was saved for him only; none of the others would understand what it’d taken to break the boy out of the habit. “I taught you better than that.”
“So did my mum,” Spike retorted, licking at the corner of the bowl one last time before glaring at him. “She also insisted I had a good meal.” The bowl went flying to the wall; as it was plastic, it only bounced down harmlessly. Spike smirked anyway. “Came to donate?”
Los Paranoias
At the time, it had made sense to rope up the weakened vampire and drive him across town to Crawford Street. The mansion afforded a privacy impossible to achieve at Giles’ - no matter that the sight of a bound Spike stuffed in the bathtub would make him chuckle for years to come.
The last thing they needed was some concerned neighbor calling the authorities if Spike yelled loud enough.
As he was doing now.
Angel’s headache flared against his temples. “Stop! Nobody’s torturing you.”
Spike lifted an eyebrow. “That means I won’t be?”
Angel rolled his eyes. “Don’t tempt me.”
Don't Ever Change
“So it’s true,” Angel breathed, watching the moment something restrained Spike and brought him to the floor with a groan of pain. A hundred years ago, the boy’s stubbornness had fit in with them, but his acting skills had been a disappointment. Many a potential dinner had rushed out of their grasp because William couldn’t mask his hunger.
Spike’s head snapped up, still clutched between his hands. “You thought I was kidding?”
“Faking,” Angel corrected. “The perfect way to infiltrate Buffy’s defenses.”
Spike gaped for a second, then bellowed a laugh. “You, bastard. You haven’t changed at all, have you?”
A Beginning
Willow still couldn’t believe that the cute guy who’d been flirting with Buffy a few weeks ago had turned out to be an Initiative member. She wondered whether this was how people felt when they discovered that the quirky, tiny blonde could hold her own against a nest of vampires - or whatever monster happened to be about to eat you that night.
Riley checked his weapon again, but his eyes strayed to the couple holding hands ahead of them. “So, what’s their story?”
“Complicated,” Xander muttered.
Willow rolled her eyes. “Come on, it’s a new beginning. I think it’s sweet.”
A Day in the Life
He woke up to an empty bed and a feminine yelp followed by the crash of several bottles hitting the bathroom floor. “Not again,” he mumbled against the pillow, rolling onto his chest and giving up the position when his lungs started missing air. Breathing wasn’t so much fun when you were used to doing without.
“Sorry!” Buffy called. Then, in a lower voice, “unless the noise didn’t wake you up. In which case, no hair products have been damaged. At all.”
Angel winced. If they ever moved in together, separate bathrooms would be a must. And extra closet space.
A Hard Day's Night
After having tended to every scrape and putting the first aid kit back under the bed, Angel leaned back against the headboard and opened his arms in silent entreaty. Buffy looked at him in clear longing, but her eyes shifted uneasily to the bruises mottling his forearm. “You’re injured.”
He fought not to bristle. He’d been caught from behind and tossed aside. Meanwhile, she’d been kicked repeatedly while she was down. The only reason she looked marginally better was the Slayer’s rapid healing rate. “And a good night’s sleep will do wonders,” he reasoned.
“Just sleep?”
He grinned. “For tonight.”
A Little Rhyme
“Zero death threats,” Buffy sighed, watching the front door close behind her friends. “Happy birthday, indeed.” She glanced at the wall clock Giles had insisted on after she and Angel were late to too many meetings. Her half-buttoned shirt hadn’t helped their case. “Of course, there’s an hour left.”
Having locked up, Angel walked back to her. “Wrong,” he said as he picked up a slim book from the shelf. “That hour’s mine.” He settled beside her and drew her body against his. “I’ve waited a year for this, you know.”
She’d recognized the book, of course. “So have I.”
A Picture of You
Angel found his girlfriend on the couch, her legs folded beneath her as she studied the book in her lap. Having heard his entrance, her head lifted and she smiled - teasingly? “You don’t like photo albums?”
He was genuinely confused by the non-sequitur until he’d taken a couple steps forward and could see in detail the book she’d picked out. “Ah,” he breathed, still unused to the sudden flare of heat on his cheeks. “I can explain….”
Buffy took a last look at the picture hidden there and put the book aside, her smile growing softer. “I missed you too.”
A Taste of Honey
“Here,” Buffy handed him a warm cup.
“Thanks,” he said, curling his fingers around it. Intellectually, he knew that California’s weather dropped to mild temperatures at worst (except when it snowed, but that’d been an exceptional exception), but after two centuries of being comfortable in whatever season, his body had now taken offense at the advent of winter. Shivering, Angel sipped the beverage. Frowned. Looked accusingly at his girlfriend.
“We’re out of coffee.” Buffy shrugged prettily, almost making him forget she’d been in charge of groceries this week. “I added honey. You like honey.”
Angel laughed. “I do. On you.”
Across the Universe
Since his return to Sunnydale, Angel had come to this place several times to meditate. Here, he was reminded of the mistakes he could make without need of losing his soul first.
It was important to remember that.
But today he’d come for a different reason.
“How did you find me?”
Angel sat down beside her, probably on the same spot where she’d once begged for his life. “You looked like you’ve lost all hope. This place seemed appropriate.” Besides, he would find her across the universe if necessary.
Buffy leaned against him. “I wish a snowfall could help now.”
Hold Me Tight
Angel congratulated himself for having the foresight to bring two blankets tonight. Pleasant Hill still had a great view, as this corner of the cemetery grounds had yet to be dwelled by the dead, but sitting on the bare grass at midnight had lost its appeal right along with thick curtains and the taste of fresh blood.
Holding a contented Buffy under the thinner blanket was a habit he intended to develop instead.
“I haven’t come to stargaze since….” Buffy’s hand curled against his chest, right above his beating heart.
He nodded. He’d always been the one to bring her.
I'm a Loser
Doyle tiptoed out of the guest room, intent on dragging himself to the bus station and to LA before he regretted being sober enough to make that decision. If he kept quiet, Angel wouldn’t find out until he was out of reach, or, God forbid, Angel’s girlfriend. He’d survive his friend’s lecture, but that little blonde was saving a sucker punch for when the alcohol couldn’t haze the pain anymore.
Doyle shuddered to think of Buffy’s reaction if she and Cordelia were actually friends.
“Probably give her my head on a platter,” he muttered.
And he’d deserve it, too.
Damn.
Boys
Angel leaned against the doorframe, watching his former companion slurp down his dinner with noisy relish. He would bet that the performance was saved for him only; none of the others would understand what it’d taken to break the boy out of the habit. “I taught you better than that.”
“So did my mum,” Spike retorted, licking at the corner of the bowl one last time before glaring at him. “She also insisted I had a good meal.” The bowl went flying to the wall; as it was plastic, it only bounced down harmlessly. Spike smirked anyway. “Came to donate?”
Los Paranoias
At the time, it had made sense to rope up the weakened vampire and drive him across town to Crawford Street. The mansion afforded a privacy impossible to achieve at Giles’ - no matter that the sight of a bound Spike stuffed in the bathtub would make him chuckle for years to come.
The last thing they needed was some concerned neighbor calling the authorities if Spike yelled loud enough.
As he was doing now.
Angel’s headache flared against his temples. “Stop! Nobody’s torturing you.”
Spike lifted an eyebrow. “That means I won’t be?”
Angel rolled his eyes. “Don’t tempt me.”
Don't Ever Change
“So it’s true,” Angel breathed, watching the moment something restrained Spike and brought him to the floor with a groan of pain. A hundred years ago, the boy’s stubbornness had fit in with them, but his acting skills had been a disappointment. Many a potential dinner had rushed out of their grasp because William couldn’t mask his hunger.
Spike’s head snapped up, still clutched between his hands. “You thought I was kidding?”
“Faking,” Angel corrected. “The perfect way to infiltrate Buffy’s defenses.”
Spike gaped for a second, then bellowed a laugh. “You, bastard. You haven’t changed at all, have you?”