Of Friends And Lovers

Of Friends And Lovers

Feedback: please let me know what you´re thinking about this!

Dedication: to Netti: for the fun while developing this! *lol* To HannahBee: I MISS YOU!! *sniff* the past week was great *hug* ok, I´ll shut up now.

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Prologue - When she was bad

Sighing softly she cuddled deeper into the seat. It was a long time she had felt this liberated and relaxed. They hadn't got much free time in the past eight months. It had been a good idea to take the weekend off and drive out into the country. She smiled at her husband to show him just how grateful she was. He had surprised her with the trip on Friday and during the past three days and nights she had made damn sure to thank him for that. With the baby taken care of by his aunt and uncle neither of them had to worry and they enjoyed being free of all boundaries and responsibilities for once.

He saw her smile at him and couldn't help but return it. She was so beautiful and attentive and after the past three days he felt like they were newlywed again. After the baby they hadn't had much time for each other, not to speak of any bedroom activities to both their dissatisfaction. And then she had been so happy about their little trip. Of course he'd enjoyed it, too. Being far from every civilization or other people always reminded him of his childhood at home. He reached out and took a glance at her.

"You're beautiful, you know that?"

Within this simple question, this simple gesture lay so much love and devotion, she couldn't help her thoughts from wandering back to their earlier activities that day when he'd told her the same words. He called her beautiful a lot during their lovemaking. Her mind drifted off further and a mischievous smile crept up her lips.

"What are you thinking, beautiful?", he asked her, slightly amused. He knew that look too well.

"Nothing. So, are you tired? We're on the road for quiet a while now."

"Getting impatient?", he chuckled.

"A bit, but that wasn't what I meant.", she replied. Sure she missed her baby son. Connor was not an easy child. He cried a lot as if he was never really satisfied. But then there were moments when he was just the cutest baby in the world.

"What did you mean then?", he asked her again, pulling her back to her original track of thoughts.

"Thought about how I could distract you, it'll be an hour ‘til we're home."

"Distract me? You have a new game to play?"

"Not exactly.", she whispered, as she inched closer to the driver's seat, her hands wandering a path up his leg.

"What are you doing?", he asked her, a little shocked. She couldn't possibly...

"Distracting you."

He sighed as her hand came to rest on his already semi-hard member, pulling down the zipper. She struggled a bit with his boxers but smiled triumphantly when his cock finally sprang free.

His hand came to rest on hers as he stopped her.

"You...we can't do that! I have to drive."

"Oh come on, darling, it's not like I never did this before", she wiggled her eyebrows and shot him a pointed look.

Memories of past activities didn't help him to calm down at all. So he gripped the steering wheel again, leaving himself to her mercy.

"So look at your little man", she teased him while she started to caress the object of her interest. "He's almost crying out for mama."

"Yesss, please", he hissed as she started stroking him rhythmically. She was so good at this, he wondered if he'd ever get enough of her. Maybe one day he might die from wanting her.

Pleased from his eager reaction to her touch, she shifted some more in the seat, unfastening the seatbelt in the process.

"So let's see if little Riley can take some more", she licked her lips, moving closer to him. He could already feel her breath on his hard cock, waiting impatiently for her to do the next move.

She did and engulfed him with her full and soft lips, licking and sucking, making him even harder. He fought hard to keep his concentration on the road, his lids heavy with lust.

"Oh god Cordy, yesssss", he hissed in pleasure, gripping handfuls of her long brown hair, thrusting up to meet her hot mouth. He would come any second.

She quickened the pace of her attentions, feeling his release was soon to come.

When he did, he spurted into her mouth, closing his eyes in pleasure while she continued to suck him.

Suddenly his eyes shot open. In the few seconds he'd lost control of the car and was heading towards the crash barrier in full speed. A nearing car honked, but managed not to hit them. But it was too late. The screams of his wife mixed with his own as their car shot over the cliff.

Tbc...if you like it Gosh, I´m bad! *g*

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Part 1 - Dead Men's Party

Rating: PG for this part

Dedication: to Netti, thanks for beta, discussions and encouragment *hug*, the rest of the pack, go girls! ;o), to Stilo who's haunted by ugly images since he read the prologue and is now lying at the beach somewhere (get a tan!), to all the people who read this and send me feedback.

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"Daddy, where's Mommy?"

"Wes, Sweetie, I don't know. She has to take care of Connor, you know?"

"Daddy, who are these people?"

"They are all friends, they come to say goodbye to Aunt Cordy and Uncle Riley."

Nervously, Lorne glanced at his watch again. The ceremony was to start soon and still there were cars searching for a parking place. His cousin Lindsey had arrived already, together with his fiancée Tara. They had cancelled there wedding planned for next week. Nobody was in the mood to celebrate right now. Arrived with them had his friend Angel, holding a crying Anya and Giles. The boy seemed to be nervous, he hadn't known Cordelia and Riley for long, but had wanted to come because of Lindsey.

The past few days had been busy, so busy Lorne didn't really have time to grief. His sister had died so sudden, she had been so full of life. Then there was Connor. He and Jenny had taken care of him since the accident. Poor baby, he wouldn't even know his parents. They had decided to adopt his nephew to give him the family he'd otherwise never have. Jenny and he had always wanted a second child, and little Wesley loved his cousin very much.

He glanced down at the toddler and had to smile. The boy didn´t really understand what was going on, but was determined to support his daddy nevertheless.

Suddenly Wesley ran, right into the arms of his godmother.

"Buffy!", he exclaimed happily.

She lifted him up into her arms.

"Hey little one.", she kissed him on the forehead. Then she walked towards Lorne and hugged him closely.

"I'm so sorry...", she whispered.

"I know, thank you.", he replied.

"I´ll take Wes for you, ok? You have so much on your mind...."

"Thanks, that would be great. I have to go help Jenny. Where are the others?"

"Coming, I guess. Gunn dropped me before he searched for a parking place. Faith and Dawn are with him, Xander and Kate were following us, they'll arrive any minute."

"Good, we have to start."

"Go, I´ll wait for them."

"Ok...oh god, that's gonna be hard...", he sighed and turned away.

Buffy looked after him. Poor Lorne, losing his sister and brother in law so sudden, being left with their baby, having to deal with all this. He was one of her closest friends and all she wanted to do was help him through this.

"So, Wes, we go watch if the others are coming?"

"Come to say goodbye.", he told her sternly.

"Yes they do. They all loved your aunt and uncle."

"Love them, too."

"I know, sweetie.", she smiled at him.

"My, Summers, you look good with the child!"

Buffy spun around startled.

"Gunn! Where did you park? Across town?", she replied, ignoring his comment.

"Nah, just five blocks away", Faith returned.

"We should really go inside now, Lorne´s waiting.", Buffy was serious again.

They turned and walked towards the small church. Time to say goodbye.

The ceremony was nice and quite, but not too serious. Especially Cordelia wouldn't have wanted that. So at the dinner afterwards people chatted quietly. Lorne had insisted that nobody fell into deep grief, but should rather remember good or funny moments they had shared with the dead couple.

Buffy and Faith had taken turns feeding and entertaining Wesley. They knew most of the people around. But one man had caught both their attentions. At the ceremony he had been holding his girlfriend who never stopped sobbing for a second. He was tall, with dark brown hair and the girls had eyed him with much interest.

"You know this guy?", Buffy whispered.

"Nope. But he's cute. And he's watching you.", Faith replied with a wink.

"No way. See his girlfriend?", Buffy slightly blushed.

"How do you know she's his girl? She seems rather chatty with Gunn there!"

"Please, he was holding her all the while, comforting her, handing her his handkerchief...."

"You really watched him that closely?", Faith nudged her best friend.

"Faith stop this. We're at a funeral. Why don't you give Jenny a hand with the baby?"

They were interrupted by little Wesley.

"Buffy!", he pulled at her skirt.

"What's up, muffin?", Faith asked instead of her.

"Wanna play...", the boy whined.

"Ok B., be a good godmother....I´ll tell Dawn to stop drooling into her cake over that guy there."

"So, what do you wanna play?", Buffy smiled at the boy.

"Catch me..."

"Ok, I´ll give you a head start."

With that Wesley ran as fast as his short legs would carry him.

Buffy grinned and took off after him.

After 15 minutes of hide and seek she was exhausted. The boy was pretty fast. And still running.

"Wes, be careful not to....", she called after him.

But it was too late, the boy already collided with two legs. Running forward to catch him, Buffy was surprised when two strong arms lifted her godson up in the air. Following the movement she soon found herself staring at the handsome guy she had been watching earlier.

He smiled at the toddler and adjusted him in his arms.

"Hey, little guy, be careful."

It was the most sexiest and smoothest voice she had ever heard.

"Oh, hi, thanks.", she managed to get out, already wondering what got into her.

But the awkwardness of staring at each other was again broken by Wesley.

"Buffy, who is this?", he asked with the curiosity of a three year old.

"Uhm, I don't...."

"Oh, I'm Angel.", he told the little one.

"Me Wesley.", he smiled back instantly.

"And you're Buffy then, right?", Angel stated the obvious.

"Yeah, that would be me. Hi.", she smiled. "Oh, I can take him now if you..."

"Oh it's ok....". He smiled at her.

"Hey Wes, why don't you go try if Gunn wants to play?", she inwardly pleaded Wes to buy that.

"Ok.", he slid down. "Bye Angel."

"Bye Wesley."

Left alone with each other both soon felt the awkwardness return.

"You're Buffy Summers then, right?", Angel made a try to break the ice.

"Yeah, right. But how do you know?"

"Oh, I knew your brother."

"Really. Should I remember you being around then?"

"It's been a while.", he could assure her. He surely would have remembered her if he had been around her more often.

"Wanna go outside for a while? I really need some fresh air."

"Sure."

Faith saw them leave and turned back to Xander, smiling.

"So, where's the Buffster? Kate wants to leave and I wanted to say bye.", he asked her.

"Oh, she just left with Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome."

"Really?", he cocked an eyebrow at her. "Ok, see you then."

"Yeah, bye." Faith replied.

After a short walk, Buffy and Angel returned back to the restaurant. They had both enjoyed the talk, but before they could get to know each other better they were interrupted by a sobbing dyed blonde.

"Angel, I can't stand this anymore. Take me home", she demanded, clinging to him.

"Shh...Anya, it's ok...", he took her in his arms, glancing at Buffy over her shoulder.

Well this was awkward.

"Ok, I gotta go, too. See if I can help Lorne.", she tried not to show her disappointment. "See you around then."

"Hope seeing you", he murmured as he watched her walk away.

Faith watched the scene from across the room as Buffy approached her.

"Well, nice one B., he's already falling for you, what did you do to him?", she grinned.

"Let him take his girlfriend home", her best friend muttered in response. Life was unfair.

"Such a pity, you two would make such a nice couple."

"You wish."

"No, you do Twinkie."

TBC... (see, I´m not always bad!*g*)

Who's Buffy´s brother? Who is the guy Dawn´s drooling over? What kinda pairing would be K/O? And what's happening with Buffy and Angel?

Send feedback and take a guess *g*!

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Rating: somewhere between PG and R for this part (rating sucks! *g*)

Dedication: to Hannahbee: duzi's not well at the moment but I'm sure he'll stick around!*lol*, to Netti: no more spoilers for breakfast, he? *shudders*, to Nina: feel better soon sweetie, you have us all worried!, Stilo gets nothing this time since I haven't received a postacard yet *pouts*, ok, to all people reading this (are you still with me?), aaah, one more: Tariq, I tried to send you an e-amil but they all came back to me (just wanted to say thanks for the feedback!) :o)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The Bronze was hopping. It seemed like every person in Sunnydale between the age from 16 to 30 had decided to be here tonight and see "The Dingoes". Rock music was playing and bodies were moving on the dancefloor.

Ben stood at a table with Gunn and Dawn, watching the two girls entering and moving towards him. With a smile he noticed the men staring at them, even if a part of him worried with protectiveness what these guys were actually thinking.

But the worries disappeared as Buffy closed the distance between them and jumped into his arms.

"Happy birthday, big brother!", she shouted over the music, beaming and hugging him closely in the process.

"Yeah, lot's of luck big guy.", Faith added as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, ladies", he smiled at them.

"So, what's with the big 26?", Faith winked at him.

She received a mock glare that said everything. It made her think for a moment about a time when he had looked at her *way* different, but they were over. For good.

Buffy had hugged Dawn and Gunn in the meantime and turned her attention back to her brother.

"So, how was your day?"

"Oh, my dad was in town, we had dinner."

"Wow, he actually made it? Like big daddy Spike chose to remember he has a son?"

"Yeah, he brought his new girlfriend, too. Her name's Amy something....don't remember much."

"And?"

"She's nice...not like the last one...I think she might be good for him."

"So you had a good time?"

"Yeah, we really had.", he nodded.

"Oh, what did Mom and Maggie get you?", she asked curiously.

"Got the DVD-player I hoped you would tell them about.", he winked at her. Little sister did a good job.

She gave him her brightest smile in response. Of course she had known.

"So, can I have this dance?", he held his hand out and she took it immediately.

Dawn and Faith followed them close behind.

Half an hour later they were back at the table, where Gunn had ordered some drinks for them.

Dawn kept turning her head in every direction, causing Buffy and Faith to exchange amused glances.

"Jeez, Robinson, what is it?", Gunn nudged her playfully.

Dawn only blushed a little, shaking her head, indicating it was nothing.

"Bet she's looking for the hunk she met at the funeral last week.", Faith mercilessly commented.

Buffy giggled. Dawn had been talking about this guy the whole week. How handsome he was and how nice his voice was. Somebody definitely had a crush. If only she knew his name.

The band had taken a break and soon a redhead joined their table.

"Hey, Rosenberg!", Gunn hugged his ex-girlfriend tightly.

"Hi Gunn. Hi guys", she waved at the others.

"Willow, you're great tonight!", Buffy told her.

They all had seen and listened to "The Dingoes" for a while now. Gunn had made sure they went to their gigs together. Willow playing the drums definitely was a sight. Nobody would expect the tiny redhead to be so in tune with two wooden sticks. Faith would probably stick more to the guitarist, Groo, Buffy smiled inwardly. The bassist Doyle was always good for a joke on stage. But what made the band so special, was the voice of the lead singer, Glory. This girl could really rock. Rumors said she soon would be offered a deal by some record company.

"Thanks.", Willow smiled back at her, sipping at her bottle of water.

They talked some more about the band and then the break was over.

"Hey, where's Xander and Kate by the way?", Dawn suddenly asked.

"Oh, right!", Faith hit herself on the forehead, turning towards Ben.

"They're really sorry but they have dinner tonight with Tara and Lindsey. Lindsey´s still feeling bad about Cordelia...you know...and Xander wanted to cheer him up a bit. After all they´re going to be family soon." As if Xander could really say no to something his sister asked of him. He would do anything for Tara.

"Oh, it's ok, of course....with all they have to deal with", Ben nodded.

Jenny and Lorne, too, had called him earlier, they were busy with their two little ones at the moment. All of them stared in their drinks silently.

Faith had been watching the band, or rather Groo, for a while when she suddenly asked: "Hey, where's Dawn?"

"She went to the restrooms. But it's been a while", Buffy answered her.

The look they shared said all. They were both thinking the same.

"Uhm, guys, excuse us for a sec.", Faith smiled, then took Buffy by the hand, pulling her towards the restrooms.

As soon as they were there, they already heard Dawn.

"Let me go!", she screamed.

"You wish, bitch. Money first. Faces like you should pay to be allowed to stay here."

"Did you ask for a credit already?", Faith chirped at Harmony, causing the blonde to step back.

"Care if we steal her for a sec, Ethan?", Buffy jumped in, pulling Dawn out of the boy's grip.

"You're really into picking on younger ones, are you?", Faith glared at the couple in front of her. It wasn't the first time Dawn got threatened by the two. Time to stop that.

"You wish I´d pick on you instead?", Ethan stepped closer, trying to threaten her. But not Faith. She closed the distance between them and then suddenly gripped his groin, squeezing it without gentleness, causing Ethan to whimper and Harmony to scream.

"I´ll think about it.", Faith winked at him before she turned on her heels and pulled Buffy and Dawn with her.

As soon as they were a few steps away Faith and Buffy burst into hysteric giggles, Dawn joining them after a second of confusion.

"Thank you, really.", she hugged her friends.

"Worked in Highschool every time. Seems like we don't lose our touch, B." Faith managed to get out between laughs.

Buffy could only nod, but then she stopped dead in her tracks, glancing over to the table.

"We're dancing. Now.", she commanded.

Faith took one look at he same direction and agreed.

"Where's Buffy?"

"Forrest."

"Yeah man, where is she?"

"Not here.", Gunn replied.

"You're lying, I saw her five minutes ago."

"Forrest, sod off."

"You tellin´ me that?"

"Yeah, and me, too!", Ben joined the not too friendly conversation.

"Think you can make me?", Forrest glared at them challenging.

"Actually, yes. But I don't want to hurt you, unless I have to."

"I just wanna talk to her."

"Yeah, sure!", Gunn snorted. "The last time you wanted to *talk* to her, she had bruises from your hands on her arms for a week." He wouldn't let this psycho near his friend.

"That's just because she didn't want to listen to me. I love her."

"It's over Forrest. Deal with it.", Ben raised his voice.

"Pah, what do you know? She's practically craving for me to return."

"She. Dumped. You.", Gunn shook his head. Didn't the guy get it? Sure, Buffy and Forrest had been together for a while in Highschool but that was over for almost a year now. Time to move on.

"I'm getting her back. You can do nothing against it. We're meant to be."

"Yeah, meant to be far, far away from each other. So, get your ass moving or I´ll call security."

"Fine. I´ll go. But she will come back to me."

He turned and walked back to his friends, taking a last glance at Buffy on the dancefloor.

Buffy saw him disappear and sent a grateful smile over to Gunn and Ben.

Angel made a face as he realized the Bronze was still that crowded. The younger ones were gone, but still they had a hard time to get towards the bar. Fred had called him earlier, asking if he wanted to come with her and Anya. So he had called Giles and off they went. A small part of him was probably anxious to meet a certain petite blonde. She had been on his thoughts for the whole week and he really hoped she was here tonight. After all there wasn't many places in Sunnydale to go out.

He reached the bar and was instantly greeted by the barkeeper.

"Angel!"

"Oz, hey man!". They shook hands.

"I´ll get you something to drink.", Oz greeted the rest of his friends with a smile. "What do you want?"

"Martini.", Angel replied.

Anya and Fred both ordered a Cosmopolitan and Giles insisted to drink the same as Fred until he was told that Cosmopolitan was something he was not allowed to drink yet. So he blushed and ordered a 7UP.

Angel grinned, the boy was head over heals into Fred and she didn't even seem to notice his puppy dog eyes.

"Here you go.", Oz returned to them. "Kendra´s here somewhere, too. I guess she'll show up soon."

"You let your girl go dancing alone on a night like this?", Angel mocked him but then turned towards his drink. He'd better start scanning the crowd as well.

He didn't have to search for long. The tiny blonde object of his interest was the center of every men's attention. Together with a brunette she left the guys around them drooling. He remembered seeing them together at the funeral. What was her name? Faith? But his attention focussed back on Buffy pretty soon. She looked adorable, wearing low cut blue jeans and a black halter top, leaving her midrift bare eventually. Her hair was tied up in a lose knot. The way she swayed her hips to the music almost made him dizzy. It shouldn't be allowed to be so damn sexy in public. He took another sip from his Martini.

"She´s hot.", Anya startled him by nudging him playfully.

The look he gave her in response said everything. He was used to comments like that, even if some people found it strange that his ex was picking out girls for him sometimes. But that was Anya.

"Go, talk to her.", she pushed him towards the crowd and made him feel like a 15 year old teenager.

"Yes, MOM!", he muttered but took of towards the table Buffy had returned to recently.

Buffy almost jumped when the voice that haunted her dreams for the past week suddenly whispered into her ear.

"Hey.", the voice said, sending shivers down her back.

"Angel.", she managed to get out, trying to ignore Faith grinning at her.

"Buffy, nice to meet you.", he smiled at her, intoxicated by her perfume and feeling like a complete moron.

"Yeah, it's nice. You're here for long?"

"No, just got here half an hour ago."

"Oh. Good." Great Summers, start the babbling again. He has a girlfriend, he has a girlfriend, he has a girlfriend.

"You're here with your friends?" Great, sure it's not her grandpa!

"Yeah. Uhm, that's Gunn, Dawn and Faith. They, too, were at the dinner last week. And you know my brother, Ben?" she pointed out the several figures at the table. "It's his birthday.", she whispered into his ear.

"Oh, Happy Birthday Ben. Ben Walsh, right?"

"Yeah, thanks. Angel, right?"

"Yeah. We had a couple of classes together, hang out a while at the beginning of..."

"Yeah, in our freshman year, right?", Ben smiled at him. Angel. Good-looking, able to have girls with the effort of clapping his hand. Hard to miss and hard to forget.

Angel turned his attention back towards the blonde goddess beside him.

"So, you're here alone?", she asked him, as Faith pushed her back from behind.

"No, my friends are at the bar.", he nodded towards them. "They´re not much into dancing, except maybe Anya."

"So, is she ok if you dance with other girls?", Buffy put all her self esteem together.

"Uhm, sure, why not?", he asked her, a bit confused. She didn't....

"Oh, I thought..."

"You thought she was my girlfriend?", he asked her amused.

"Yeah, kinda....after her clinging to you all the time at the funeral....", Buffy wished the ground would just swallow her.

"Oh, she was really down then. And we're not....we're ex. For good though.", he explained her.

"Wish I could say the same for me.", Buffy muttered to herself.

"So, you wanna dance?", Angel asked her. He didn't usually do things like that but what he was feeling right now didn't feel usual either. There seemed such a familiarity between them.

"That'd be nice.", she smiled at him and followed him towards the dancefloor.

Faith watched them and sighed.

"See, that's such a good fit!"

Ben stared at her. "You mean like Buffy and him?"

"Yeah cutie, what does it look like to you? She has him practically drooling."

Ben returned watching his sister, closer this time. After the incident with Forrest he'd make damn sure she wasn't hurt again.

After a while they returned to the table. Angel felt like floating. She was magnificent! If maybe, she would go out with him tomorrow night? There definitely had been something between them on the dancefloor. Like electricity crackling as they touched each other seemingly accidental during their dance.

"Uhm, Buffy, what are you doing tomorrow night? Would...."

She looked at him with big hazel eyes. Oh god.

Suddenly he was interrupted as Giles appeared behind him.

"Giles, what..."

"Sorry. Angel, your cell phone. You left it....", he handed it to his friend.

"Hi.", he said to the people at the table. He had met some of them at the dinner, he remembered. Especially the young girl with dark blonde hair had been watching him closely.

Angel cursed inwardly. Perfect timing.

"Hello?", he asked a bit harshly.

"Nice to talk to you, too, little brother!"

"Lilah, what do you want? I'm at the Bronze, I don't hear...."

"Ok, I´ll make it short. Dad wants us to have dinner together tomorrow. He expects us to be there at eight."

"Fine. I´ll be there.", he growled.

He slipped the phone into his pocket. Just great. So, no date tomorrow.

Buffy was still looking at him and he remembered that he had already asked her.

"Buffy, I'm sorry."

"It's ok. No big. Who was it?"

"My sister. Family dinner tomorrow night.", he looked at her, hoping she wasn't disappointed.

"Oh. Well, sounds like fun.", she tried to hide her disappointment.

Silence dropped between them. Then Giles whispered something into his ear.

"I'm sorry, I have to go....my friends want to....", he wanted to vanish right now.

"Oh, sure. I guess we'll call it a night soon, too." She smiled at him.

"See you the day after tomorrow?", he made a last step forward.

Her face lightened up. "We'll be here anywhere, so see you then?"

"Yeah, see you."

He smiled at her one last time and then made his way back to the bar.

On the other end of the Bronze Dru Williams grabbed the hand of her boyfriend Scott and sauntered over to Forrest.

"Looks like *your* girl has a new boytoy."

Forrest only glared.

Faith pulled her closer. "See Twinkie. I told you he's already falling for you."

"Nah...", Buffy wrinkled her nose and smiled. But she knew there had been definitely something.

She leaned on to Faith's shoulder.

"Ok. Tomorrow. You and me. Shopping. You need an outfit." Faith decided for her. "Dawnie, comin´ with us?"

Dawn only grinned absently. "His name's Giles."

"Help!", Faith mock-sighed.

Buffy only smiled, remembering the earlier dance with Angel. It would haunt her dreams tonight.

.....

Are you still with me? *g*

Will Buffy and Angel have a date? What does Forrest think about it? Who's Angel´s dad and why does he want a family dinner? AND: What pairing could be M/D? Send feedback and take a guess! *g*

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Part 3 - Heartthrob

Rating: same as the show if you ask me *shrug* somewhere between PG and R

Dedication: Bearhug for Hannahbee because she has to deal with my stupid mistakes during beta-reading !!!!!:o) , to Netti: I´m so excited that you´re visiting me so soon! *squeal*, to Tia because I *love* her mails :o), all people sending me feedback for this, you help me writing faster ;o)

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Buffy sighed and looked at the pile of bags next to her bed.

She and Faith had really gone at it today. They had started early with their trip to the mall where Faith tried to talk her into several outfits. Some of them were rather casual, things to wear to class. Some of them were so scandalous Buffy had felt practically naked in them. She ended up buying a really short, black leather skirt that barely reached the middle of her thighs and a blood red spaghetti strap shirt, that consisted more of a bra and a see-through section around her midrift.

After that she got matching black boots, some make up and a hair clip. Faith had been really pleased with her. Of course her best friend had bought some clothes as well, red leather pants and black shirt that left her shoulders bare and ended in a triangle that barely covered her belly. Just the killer outfits to wear tomorrow night.

Dawn had chosen to stay at home, knowing that the two girls were famous for their endless shopping tours. They had met her at the coffee shop late afternoon.

Now Faith lay sprawled over Buffy´s bed, playing with the comforter. They had decided it was time for a girls night including sleepover. They hadn't done that for weeks. So they ordered Chinese food and waited for life to return to their tired bodies.

Suddenly a knock on the door shook them out of their lethargy.

"Yeah?", Buffy answered it, leaning against a pillow.

The door opened and Ben stuck his head in.

"Hi!", he grinned, looking at the bags as well. "Wow, shopping?"

"Think we bought half the mall.", Faith grinned back at him.

"Can imagine that. You're not going out tonight, I guess?"

"Nah," Buffy yawned. "Chinese food, movie, girltalk. Did you want something?"

"Yeah, I'm going to meet my dad since he's in town. He asked for a rout map he supposed we had. So is Mom here?"

"Which one, yours or mine?", Buffy teased him. She knew damn right that Ben meant his mother, Maggie. Or like his dad, William Townsend, called her "The evil bitch from hell".

"Duh, Maggie of course.", he mock-glared at his stepsister.

"She's out, had to work late as far as I know."

"Oh, ok. So how about the other mom around then? Is she here?"

"Darla? No, she went out with a friend of hers....don't remember her name....maybe Maggie´s joining them later. Better call her cell phone."

"Ok, thanks. Guess Spike has to wait for this map for a while.", Ben shrugged. He silently wondered if his dad would use the opportunity to rant again about how careless his ex-wife was with his personal stuff. Ben more than once had to step in when Maggie and Spike had fought over casualties like that. He could really imagine the reason they never got along in their short and forced marriage. Except for Maggie discovering her growing attraction to members of the same sex.

"Maybe his new chick is able to calm his temper a bit?", Faith offered her help, receiving a grateful smile.

"That'd be good. Ok, I'm gone. Have fun!", he winked at them. He clearly remembered these evening of never-ending giggles.

As soon as the door closed, Buffy sighed aloud.

"What is it?", Faith rolled onto her back, looking straight into her face. Sighing usually meant deep thoughts.

"It's nothing. Just thought about how poor Ben might feel, constantly having to deal with this parents. They always run to him for help or rant. ´s just not fair."

"Yeah", Faith nodded. "But he's old enough to say no, isn't he?"

"Sure", Buffy had to admit. "But still. I'm so glad I'm not in his position!"

"Because Maggie and Darla never fight!", Faith snorted. She remembered only too well the nights Buffy called her, frightened and worrying about the constant yelling downstairs.

"That's different", Buffy protected her two moms. "They actually have a relationship. Maggie and Spike don't even see each other anymore. I wonder if Darla and my Dad would be the same."

"But you don't know where or even who your dad is!", Faith hated to remind her.

"Thanks sweetie, I know.", Buffy smiled at her. "Still, I do wonder sometimes."

"Your family's just funny.", Faith tried to humor her. A female couple living together with two children, one from an Billy Idol-wannabe of an ex-husband, one from an anonymous sperm donor, sounded like a damn soap-opera.

"Oh please, like yours is that much better!", Buffy joined her friend, laying beside her, propping her head on her left elbow.

"My family is my Dad and me, why is that funny?", Faith was curious.

"Oh please! Your mom ran off with this guy from the bank, what's his name, Ted? What woman would choose a banker over a lawyer? Even if Hank is almost never home."

"Ok, but your family wins the crazy-contest without effort. And about Hank? Not a word about him tonight. This guy kills my last nerve!", she exclaimed.

The doorbell interrupted their little contest, pulling Faith out of unhappy thoughts about her wannabe-dad and his monthly turns of trying to push her towards studying law as well.

"Oh, food!", Buffy squealed, running down the steps. Maybe some day she would find out who her real dad was.

Half an hour later they lay once more sprawled onto the bed, happily stuffed full with Chinese goodies.

"Oh please, the delivery boy *so* looked like Jet Li!", Buffy tried to convince her friend.

"If you say so. I thought you were more into tall, dark and glowery. Maybe I was wrong, mind if I take over?", Faith teased her.

"Don't you dare!", Buffy nudged her ribs.

"You're really into him, right?" Faith smiled brightly at her. It was good to see Buffy like that. She hadn't glowed like that in...forever. Not even Forrest had made her look so bright and happy.

"He's so cute. And his voice....", Buffy shivered by the pure thought about it. Not to mention her dream last night when same voice whispered sweet nonsense into her ear, making her lose track of time and everything around them.

Faith squealed in happiness. "See, I told you, you two are made for each other!"

"He's nice. I like his hands.", Buffy grinned like a fool.

"Fixation on insignificant details, definite first sign. Plus Dolby surround dreaming and that grin of yours...", Faith stated the obvious.

"Ok, stop it. I confess. It feels nice being around him. I might even be falling in love with him. No obvious psychoses or other uglies yet, plus he's not too self-conscious. I bet he could have every girl and didn't even have to ask.....oh god. Do you think I'm just another girl for him he leaves high and dry after he got what he wanted and ohgod, he's going to want.....".

"Ok, B. Stop it. Now!", Faith shook her friend lightly. "He's really nice, I don't know how many girlfriends he had but I do know how he looks at you. He really cares for you and I bet he's not the type to just use people. Uhm, girls. And if he would want to have sex with you it's your right to say no. You hear me?"

"You're right. Thanks. This is just me freaking out...."

"So would you?", Faith grinned at her again.

"Would I what?", Buffy stared at her blankly, then realization hit her and she blushed furiously. "You mean?"

"Yeah, would you?", Faith wrinkled her nose.

"I dunno know Faith. I really don't know. Ok, stop looking at me like that. We didn't even date yet!"

"Just asking, girlfriend.", Faith played the innocent.

"Yeah. Sure.", Buffy couldn't help but grin. "What would I do without you?"

"Mmh, still be stuck with Forrest for example?", Faith offered her a possible answer.

"True. Gunn told me he started bugging him at the Bronze yesterday. But he and Ben were able to make him go."

"Still, this guy's sick. Gunn and Ben are not always around to help you.", Faith worried about Buffy´s safety.

At first Forrest seemed to take the breakup well, but then he started stalking Buffy, whining about how he missed her and insisting that she still loved him. But Buffy missed her serious tone, or chose to ignore it. "Yeah, but maybe you can do that little thing you did to Scott last night!", she grinned. "Nice moves."

"Thanks!", Faith grinned for a second but then became serious again. "Buffy, this isn't a game. He is stalking you. This has to end. Well, maybe if he sees with own eyes that you have a new...."

Buffy interrupted her. "I want to leave Angel out of this. I don't want any more people involved in this mess.", she shook her head in determination.

"So, let's switch topics. Enough of my guys. How about yours? Still don't have the balls to call Groo?"

"No.", Faith had to admit. "But I want to keep it slow. I don't know what I want from him right now."

"Looked pretty obvious to me!"

Now it was Faith's turn to mock-glare.

"He's a really nice guy. But sometimes I just have enough of this whole dating-mess."

"Oh, come on.", Buffy exclaimed. "You make the boys crazy since Highschool. And suddenly when two guys are drooling after you, you just quit on men at all? And Groo *so* isn't like the others."

"Your words in God's ear, B.", Faith sighed.

"Though I saw Parker Abrahams stare at your ass the whole night at the Bronze...".

"See, I told you. This guy really creeps me out!", Faith sat up, crossing her legs. "I told him more than once that I'm not interested."

"Yeah, sweetie, I know.", Buffy faced her. "But he's just a moron. Not that I like that Owen-guy better. He's the "I worship you from the distance" guy that is "so much not like he others" but I bet if you would stand naked in front of him tonight he wouldn't say no either."

Faith nearly choked on her Coke at the image Buffy created.

"Jeez, when did you get so naughty, B.?", she faked a shock but failed horribly and burst into giggles.

"Oh come on, you know what I mean. Parker's a pain in the ass. He fucks everything he gets and everybody knows about it. He just wants to add you to his list, thinking every girl falls for his good looks and the way he talks. But we both know what he wants and that you are way too good for that.", Buffy talked herself in a rage. She didn't like the way Parker treated Faith. Maybe it was time to teach this boy a lesson.

"Damn right. I'm not like that Jasemine-girl who let him have her without effort and then whined about how bad he had treated her. She damn well deserved what she got.", Faith grinned as they both remembered the little incident last semester.

"Oh, and did I tell you that Owen send me yet another poem?", she asked.

"No. Another one? Was it better than the last one?", Buffy hoped that at least a bit of pity shone through her words.

"Better? I didn't think it could get worse but it did. It almost dripped of slime and the perfume he scented it with? Yuck!", Faith shook her head. What did she do to deserve this? The boys in Highschool had been sweet in their efforts to win both their love, but somehow Buffy and she always ended up with some losers. Ok, except for her and Ben, and then Buffy and Forrest at the beginning. But that was past for years nearly.

"Men!", both shook their head at the same time, bursting into giggles afterwards.

"I definitely need some distraction now.", Buffy decided. "Movie?"

"Big yep.", Faith agreed with her. Heath Ledger would definitely be a distraction.

On their way down to the living room they met Maggie and Darla in the hallway. They had just returned home from dinner with a friend as Buffy had suspected.

"Oh, hi darling. Hi Faith. Nice to see you.", Darla hugged her daughter and her best friend. Faith was almost a constant guest at the house on Revello Drive.

"Hi, Mrs. Summers. Hi, Mrs. Walsh.", Faith greeted the two women that never complained about her being around all the time.

"Did you have a nice shopping trip?", Maggie smiled at the two girls.

"Believe me when I say, uhu!", Buffy grinned. "I´ll show you tomorrow, ok?"

"I´ll call you on that!", Darla reminded her daughter. "So, what are doing?"

"Oh, we just wanted to start looking "A Knight's Tale".", Buffy informed her.

"Well, have fun. We're going to bed now. Well, have fun.", Darla smiled at her lover and started walking up the stairs.

"Good night mom, night Maggie!", Buffy shouted after them.

"Good night girls", came the answer before they turned towards the living room.

"Ice-cream?", Buffy asked her friend, already knowing the answer.

"Pretty please!", Faith chirped from her place on the sofa.

Buffy smiled and trotted towards the kitchen.

"I wonder what Angel's doing right now....", she thought.

Same Angel was sitting at the restaurant, facing his sister and impatiently playing with the keys of his car. Lilah glanced at him from time to time, wondering which chick was on his mind right now. She long ago had stopped catching up with the name of his newest obsession. He rarely brought them home anyway. Well, except for Anya. But that was long over now.

Today Holland Manners had invited his two children for family dinner. Or what had remained of their family, Angel thought. Sure, he still lived in the same house as his father and sister, but that was only because the mansion they owned offered all of them enough privacy. Holland Manners was rarely home anyway. His business trips kept him from bothering his grown up children much in their way of living. Lilah was 29 and a successful journalist, hopefully someday proceeding Holland's leading position at Manner's Enterprises. With the age of 25, Angel was still the baby of the family.

Mercifully the waiter chose the moment to serve dinner as the silence at the table started to become awkward.

This was how their dinners usually went. Holland invited them and then started asking a few questions, about Lilah´s latest article or about Angel's favorite seminar at college. But soon silence dropped down on them. Angel started to wonder if this would be different with a mother-figure in the picture. Sure, Lilah took care of them as good as she could but still. Joyce Manners hat died from cancer when Angel was two years old, he only remembered her vaguely. A song here, a smell there was all he recalled of his mother. Would she´ve been able at keeping the family together better? Sure, after his time of grieving Holland had started to go out again, but Angel didn't remember a constant female companion at his side. Perhaps he was just too much into business, Angel mused.

But lately he'd observed changes going on with his father. Nothing big, just a general happiness following him around. There were details, a new after shave, a new tie, but Lilah had noticed it, too. They'd talked about it earlier when they both had to wait for Holland to show up. Maybe he should just ask him.

"So, Dad, what about you? Anything new?", he started, attempting to sound casual.

Holland shook his head.

"Nothing big, things are a bit slow at the moment, but pleasantly slow. Gives me a bit more space.", he smiled at his son.

"Good for you.", Angel returned the smile. "So, no new woman in your life or something?"

Lilah grinned at him from across the table. She, too, had been about to ask that soon.

Holland looked a bit shocked, was it by the unusual forwardness of his son or because he felt busted. How did he know?"

"What do you mean?", he asked.

"Oh, come on Dad, he means this new scent of yours and the red silk tie you're wearing today.", Lilah jumped in to support her brother.

"Can't a man just change a few things on his own?", Holland tried to humor them.

"No.", his children replied in unison.

"Spill it, Dad, you're busted!", Angel told him.

"Ok, well, there might be someone.", Holland gave up pretending.

"Really? That's nice.", Lilah touched his arm. "So, do we know her?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Well, will we, soon?", Angel asked again.

"Maybe.", Holland stalled. "I just don't want to rush things."

"I have to admit, she has taste. And you seem to be happy. So, hope you make it work.", Lilah looked at him.

Angel nodded, his mouth filled with spaghetti.

"Thank you two, really. I'm really positive you'll meet her soon.", Holland spoke his hopes out loud. He truly loved this woman, so his children would probably love her, too.

Once more they ate in silence and Angel's thoughts wandered off to a certain blonde.

"I wonder what Buffy´s doing right now.", he thought. Probably going out again, dancing with all the men around her wanting to touch her. Would she take one of them home tonight? He shook that image off.

Would she be there tomorrow? The pure thought of her made him smile secretly. She looked like an angel, young and innocent. So full of life and shining with happiness, making it impossible to miss her. He sure wouldn't be able to deny her anything if she smiled at him only once. She had this cute habit of tugging a stray of her hair back behind her ear while they were dancing. And, god, the way she moved. Like she was born to do this. Fragile but powerful. The way she swayed her hips to the beat. Everything about her was just amazing. He was falling for her more and more with every second. But did she feel the same for him? He couldn't wait until tomorrow night to find out. Hopefully he'd meet her alone for a while, without his or her friends constantly listening and watching.

He didn't realize he was staring holes into the air until Lilah nudged his foot under the table.

"Your food's getting cold.", she smiled at him.

He blushed and pushed thoughts of Buffy away. She would be in his dreams tonight, he was sure about that. He just had to finish dinner first.

Lilah took of first. She wanted to drive to LA tonight. She was to meet a friend there early the next morning and would sleep at the Manner's flat in town.

Angel and Holland left the restaurant together as Holland's cell phone started to ring. So Angel just made a gesture that he was already going home, his father could follow in his own car later.

Holland pulled the phone out of his jacket, smiling as he saw the number on the display.

"Hello my sweet.", his voice rumbled.

"Hi Darling. I'm sorry, I couldn't call earlier....", the female on the other end replied.

"It's ok, sweet.", he assured her.

"So, how did your dinner go?", she asked him.

"It was good. We're busted though."

"What?", she almost yelled, panic welling up in her.

"Ssh, sweet, it's not what you think. They just know there is somebody. Still, they want to meet you."

"But that's not possible. Not now anyway.", she sighed. They had been over this more than once.

"I know. You're not ready to tell them and I totally respect that.", he tried to calm her.

"I love you. You're so understanding.", she whispered, shifting on the tub. Downstairs she heard the TV play.

"Thanks, sweet, I love you, too. And I miss you.", he almost whispered back.

"I miss you, too.", she blew him a kiss through the phone.

"We have to meet, soon as possible.", he demanded.

"How about Monday?", she proposed.

"Fine for me. Monday then.", he sighed. This had to end.

"Good night, darling.", she whispered.

"Good night my sweet.", he whispered back.

Darla shut her cell phone off and silently crept back into the bedroom. As soon as she slid under the covers, Maggie pulled her closer. With a sigh Darla shut her eyes and tried to find some sleep herself.

Tbc...

What's up with Darla and Holland? What will Buffy´s and Angel's first date be like? And what has the song "All the things she said" from T.A.T.U. to do with all of this? *g* Send feedback and take a guess! Really! Please?

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Part 4 - Bad Girls a.k.a. All the things she said

AN: Okay, it gets more and more confusing in this story, so I decided to give you a little update on the pairings and relationships so far *g* There is: Cordelia/Riley (married but both unfortunately deceased, he he), Gunn/Willow (ex), Faith/Ben (ex), Anya/angel (ex), Lorne/Jenny (married), Tara/Lindsey (engaged), Kate/Xander, Kendra/Oz, Maggie/Darla, Maggie/Spike (ex), Amy/Spike, Joyce/Holland (Joyce's dead though), Buffy/Forrest (ex) an dimplications of Darla/Holland *sigh* Buffy and Angel feel attraction for each other, Giles loves Fred, Forrest still loves Buffy, Owen and Parker want Faith and Graham feels something for Tara but all of them are not very lucky *g* Are you still with me? *lol*

AN2: You've been warned, this story's weired *gg* That's all I'm saying about this chapter

Disclaimer: I don't own the song "All the things she sais” performed by T.A.T.U., I hope you all know it :o)

Dedication: to Hannahbee: I'm looking forward to "Mate's Kiss”!!!, to Netti because she promised to fix me *g* Määääh! *lol*, to all people sending me feedback for this I love all of it, don't stop, please! :o)

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Dawn touched Gunn´s shoulder and indicated the direction with her head.

"Look who's here!”, she groaned.

"Oh, damn.”, Gunn rolled his eyes. Well, this was starting out nicely. Not only was Forrest once more moving towards them, there was also Parker Abrahams at the bar, talking to Graham Miller. They seemed to be waiting for something. Or more likely someone.

"Forrest.”, Dawn didn't even try to smile at him. She didn't like this guy, he was creepy. Not only did he hurt Buffy but he kept stalking her.

"Dawn, is Buffy here tonight?”, he asked her, trying to ignore Gunn´s glare.

"Yes, she is going to be here soon, but she'll still be far away from *you*! Leave her alone, Forrest.”, she spat at him.

"You're going to make me?”, he mocked her.

"No, but I will. Sod off, once and for all. She's not interested.”, Gunn stepped forward.

Forrest knew he wouldn't stand a chance and decided to leave. He would get to Buffy that was sure. She wanted him.

"Ok, I´ll wait. She can tell me herself. Tell her I said hi.”, he turned and left. He needed a better plan. One where her friends weren't always around to stop him.

"Did he just say something?”, Dawn asked Gunn innocently.

"Nah, didn't hear a word.”, he grinned.

"Just where are they?”, she was serious again.

"Oh come on, you know them long enough to know that they're always "taking their time” to get ready!”, he rolled his eyes. He wouldn't trade Faith and Buffy for the world and was used waiting for them. The results were worth it most of the time, so he didn't complain. He would never mind being seen with a bunch of beautiful girls.

"I haven't seen her for a while.”, Graham shook his head in disappointment.

"Well, then get over her!”, Parker supposed.

"You're telling me to get over her when you're moping around because of Faith? I tell you what, her wedding was cancelled. Maybe she just wasn't sure anymore...”, he explained, holding on to his beer.

"Leave Faith out of this.”, Parker warned him. ”She's hot and practically begging to be banged. I´ll have her tonight, you'll see. And stop lying to yourself about your girl. Her wedding was cancelled because Lindsey´s cousin died, that's it. I heard they already have a new date for the wedding.”

"No way. Please. Tara, she can't marry this fucker!”, Graham whined. "I mean what can he give her?”

Parker just shrugged. "I tell you get over her! You need distraction, buddy. How about Buffy? I mean she's damn hot, I see her with Faith all the time. And she's your type. And single, as far as I know.”

"Yeah, she's hot.”, Graham admitted, grinning like an idiot.

Both men went suddenly silent as the door opened and the crowd parted, letting through two goddesses.

Faith grinned at Buffy. She knew they would make a stunning appearance but the reaction topped her expectations. Soon there were cheers and whistles coming up behind them, so she stopped, turned around and faked a bow.

Buffy tucked at her arm.

"He's not here.” She sounded disappointed.

"He will be, Twinkie. Just enjoy the show.”, she waved over to the bar to greet Oz and almost lost it, when Parker raised his hand in a greeting gesture. What a moron, she thought and shook her head.

Finally they spotted Gunn and Dawn at their table and went towards them.

"Wow, girls.” Gunn barely hid his excitement. "Damn, that was worth the waiting. You look absolutely great!”

"Thank you.”, Buffy smiled at him. If Gunn liked it that much, Angel would hopefully like it, too.

"B., I tell you, it's just early. He's going to be here. Relax.”, Faith pulled an arm around her best friend's shoulder. Buffy had been a nervous wreck the whole day.

"Ok. After all we don't have a date. He just said he'd be around.”, she sighed softly, glancing around to see if Angel maybe *was* there, somewhere.

"If he misses that, he's not worth it.”, Dawn tried to support her friend. She only wished she could look that great. Buffy´s outfit was stunning. Everything seemed to support her small frame and her well rounded curves. Faith looked hot as hell. No wonder the number of boys close to their table increased visibly. The outfits they bought the other day really had the effect Buffy and Faith wanted them to have.

"If I´ll tell Xander that, he won't believe me.”, Gunn joked. He missed his friend.

"Where is the Xandman, anyway?”, Faith asked him, winking at a guy nearby in the process.

"Kate wanted to visit her parents, so he had to go with her.”, Gunn made clear what he thought of that.

"Damn, I miss him. We don't see him around much lately. ”, Buffy showed her support.

"Ok, guys, I'm going for the bar. Drinks?”, Faith asked cheerfully. With a bit of luck she would avoid bumping into Parker and Graham.

"Beer”, Gunn ordered. He was still the only one being allowed to drink since Buffy and Faith both had their birthdays later this year.

"Coke light.”, Dawn chirped.

"The usual”, Buffy just told her friend, watching her making her way through the crowd. If only Angel was already there.

"Faith. Hi.”, Parker tried his lady-killer smile. She was already his.

But she just ignored him.

"You look great tonight, wow!”, he made another try, moving closer to her.

Still no reaction from Faith.

Parker moved against her as if he'd touched her by chance, finally getting Faith's attention.

"Parker.”, she groaned. Of course she had heard him earlier. She'd just hoped he'd go away after a while. Well, apparently not. She felt Buffy´s eyes on her from over the room but avoided them and focussed on Parker instead.

"It should be forbidden to look that hot in public.”, he told her, grinning like an idiot while Graham watched him with interest. "Can I buy you a drink?”

"No. As you might have noticed I'm here with my friends and I just ordered drinks.”

"Damn. I bet a woman like you never has to pay for anything.”, he just hoped it sounded better than he thought. He usually never had trouble with woman or rather girls but Faith was different. Non of his usual tricks seemed to work. That challenged him.

"Yes, I do. My lawyer actually. He just told me again I should stop beating up guys that annoy me.”, she glared.

"And you're funny, ha ha.”, he faked laughter. He knew it was only partly a joke.

"Look, why don't you just go away and leave me alone. We could both have a nice evening.”

"Why, Faith? I just want to talk to you. I like you a lot. So why don't we have fun together?”, he tried again, unwilling to give up so easily. He knew she didn't have a boyfriend for quite some time now. All he had to do was make the next move.

Sighing Faith turned around. This wasn't going to work. She searched for Buffy´s eyes again and send her a pointed look, while she brushed back a stray of hair. Then she turned back around to face Parker once more.

"Guys, excuse me for a sec.”, Buffy grinned at Gunn and took off for the bar.

Gunn couldn't help but laugh as he watched her go. Dawn shot him a puzzled look.

"What was that?”, she asked him, completely missing the joke.

"Lean back and watch.”, he told her grinning, focussing on Buffy again. Dawn shook her head but did as he told her.

Buffy sauntered over to the bar where Parker still tried to hit on Faith, closely observed by Graham. Finally she stepped in behind Faith and encircled her waist with her arms. Thanks to her high heel boots she was able to rest her head on Faith's shoulder as her friend leaned into her.

"What's taking you so long, baby?”, she asked innocently and started to nuzzle at Faith's neck.

"Sorry, sweetie, I was just talking.”, Faith jumped in, enjoying the puzzled look on Parker's face.

"You know I hate it when you leave me waiting.”, Buffy whined and rubbed Faith's belly with her left hand.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it'd take that long.”, Faith leaned into the caress, trying to keep from exploding into giggles.

"Well, I missed you.”, Buffy told her, walking around her friend to look her in the face, turning her back on Parker.

"You did?”, Faith smiled at her, searching her eyes as her hand cupped Buffy´s cheek.

"Wanna know how much?”, Buffy whispered but still loud enough for Parker to hear.

"Absolutely.”, Faith replied as her face inched closer to Buffy´s until their lips met in a gentle kiss.

Parker Abrahams felt like a complete idiot. In front of him stood two of the hottest chicks he had ever seen, kissing earnestly. Not only did he fight a raging hard-on but also the urge to scream in frustration. It just wasn't possible. Faith and Buffy? Together? Why hadn't he noticed that before? Were people already making fun of him? After all that'd explain why Faith had resented all his advances. And wasn't Buffy´s mom gay as well?

Across the room Dawn blushed furiously as she watched her friends kissing deeply, drawing the attention of the whole room towards them. Gunn was laughing hard beside her, he didn't seem surprised at all.

"Wow, did you see his face when they started kissing?”, he asked Dawn.

"Well, yeah.”, Dawn replied. "They do this a lot?”

"Since Highschool, I guess.”, Gunn grinned. "It all started when Buffy just couldn't get rid of a guy. Since then they use it every time when there is an emergency. I think they just added some new moves to it.” He exchanged a glance with Oz at the bar who also was used to the scenario.

Dawn could do nothing but shake her head.

As they finally pulled apart, Faith grinned at Buffy. It was always fun. Some people might find it awkward kissing members of the same sex without actually being gay but Buffy and Faith grew up watching it and so it was nothing special for them. After all they were both pretty good kissers. And it worked every damn time.

"See, I missed you.”, Buffy told her with a sweet smile.

"I noticed.”

Suddenly Parker moved behind them. "You two aren't, are you?”

Buffy and Faith once more chose to ignore him as a new song started to play.

//All the things she said all the things she said running through my head running through my head//

"Dance with me?”, Faith asked the blonde.

"Always, baby.”, Buffy agreed. She gave Faith a short peck on the lips, took her hand and followed the brunette towards the dancefloor. Parker gaped after them with his mouth wide open.

//I'm in serious shit, I feel totally lost If I'm asking for help it's only because Being with you has opened my eyes Could I ever believe such a perfect surprise?//

Faith led Buffy to the dancefloor and started moving to the beat.

"You think he bought it?”, Buffy whispered into her ear as she leaned closer.

"Dunno, maybe he just needs a bit more teasing.”, Faith replied, pulling Buffy closer. "You're ok with it?”

"You kidding? You bet I am.”, Buffy smirked at her. The look on Parker's face was well worth it. And Forrest was watching, too.

//I keep asking myself, wondering how I keep closing my eyes but I can't block you out Wanna fly to a place where it's just you and me Nobody else so we can be free (Nobody else so we can be free)//

As soon as the refrain started to play again, Faith pulled Buffy roughly against her and kissed her deeply once more. Buffy moved her hips sensuously to the beat and tangled her hands in the dark brown hair on Faith's back. Totally lost in their public displays of affection they both missed the stares of the people around them.

//And I'm all mixed up, feeling cornered and rushed They say it's my fault but I want her so much Wanna fly her away where the sun and rain Come in over my face, wash away all the shame When they stop and stare - don't worry me ‘Cause I'm feeling for her what she's feeling for me I can try to pretend, I can try to forget But it's driving me mad, going out of my head//

They missed the stares, they missed Gunn´s laughter, they missed Dawn's uneasiness. They didn't notice Parker turning round and leaving the Bronze, Graham in tow, they didn't notice Forrest glaring at them.

//Mother looking at me. Tell me what do you see? Yes, I lost my mind.//

They didn't even notice that the door opened again and so they missed the expression of utter shock on Angel's face as his eyes finally settled on them.

//All the things she said All the things she said Running through my head Running through my head All the things she said This is not enough This is not enough//

Angel stopped dead in his tracks as he set his eyes on the couple on the dancefloor, causing Fred and Giles to bump into him. What he saw was the woman of his dreams in the arms of another woman. They both seemed completely unaware of the people around them, deeply involved in themselves. Faith was cupping Buffy´s face in her hands, kissing her on the lips and then moving deeper to nuzzle her neck while Buffy´s hands caressed Faith's bare back, drawing her closer. The picture was sensuous and frustrating at the same time. How couldn't he have noticed that they were not just good friends, that the woman he was starting to fall in love with was already taken, by another woman?

Finally Anya nudged him in the ribs.

"They're hot!”, she commented as the music stopped.

That pulled him out of his lethargy. He watched Buffy entangle herself from Faith, grinning at her. She turned around and her eyes suddenly met his over the crowd. Her eyes widened in shock and she looked at her girlfriend for help. Faith followed her eyes and dropped Buffy´s hand immediately.

Angel took one last look at her, hurt and shock covering his expressions. Then he turned around and exited without a single word, leaving his friends following him.

Buffy watched him go and tears sprang into her eyes. She knew what he was thinking thought, even if she didn't know for how long he'd been standing there. His eyes had said it all. Now he was gone and she most likely would never see him again. She started to sob as Faith pulled her into her arms once more.

Tbc....

What will happen to Buffy and Angel now? And what about Holland and Darla? Send feedback and take a guess :o)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Part 5 - Lover´s Walk

AN: Sorry for the irregular updates lately. I´m very busy at the moment with university stuff. Also my muse is a little bitchy. Wanna kick her ass? Feel free...*g* Dedication: to Netti, thanks again for the parcel, yay! Hannahbee: I just *love* Mate´s Kiss!! But I promise not to bite you...but Chris is not around, so be aware! And hey, *I* look like Lola and run all the time!*lol* kidding..., to all the people sending me feedback for this, especially TK and Tia, you´ll do great at your finals!! And last not least to Miri who manages to make me smile everytime she shows up *beams*

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She needed distraction. Preferably much of it. Her friends had offered to help but Buffy decided she really needed to be alone for a while. Since Angel saw her at the Bronze, kissing Faith, she had avoided the place, unable to deal with him. He had made his point pretty clear as he left. He didn't show up later, she didn't see him on campus and he didn't call to ask her about what happened. She knew she'd messed things up and the chance that Angel´d ever look at her again was probably far from her best hopes.

So after two days of moping around Buffy had considered what Faith had suggested earlier, maybe she should start searching for her dad.

Things between Darla and Maggie seemed to get worse these days, there wasn't much fighting, but that was probably because the two women barely saw each other. Maggie had to work really hard on a new project and Darla claimed there was trouble at her office and she, too, had to work a lot more. Only that Maggie looked really worn out and Darla, well, not. Buffy noticed she often smelled like smoke. She also never ate home anymore, claiming to be stuffed or too tired. These were just little aspects concerning their daily routine but Buffy started to worry that her mother probably had an affair.

She really didn't want to get between the two women she both regarded as a mother but couldn't help feeling loyal for Maggie. Ever since she was little she had looked up to her parents, glad about the harmony in their relationship. When she became older she realized that a lot of it was just a facade held up for her and Ben. But she had never feared a divorce like many kids of her age. And if Darla was screwing up her happiness with Maggie Buffy wasn't going to watch. "Ben?"

"Hey little sis, is that you?"

"Yeah, hi, how are you?", she asked her brother and cradled the phone closer.

"I'm five by five, as Faith would say.", he smiled unconsciously.

"Great.", Buffy squealed. Ok, just get it out and ask him, she thought.

"I heard about an incident at the Bronze three nights ago.", Ben continued. "But I'm sure you have nothing to do with it?"

Buffy groaned. "How did you find out?"

"Oh, Oz told me the ´slayers` were probably back", he teased her with her old Highschool nickname.

"Oz...", Buffy sighed. She should have known.

"So, did it work? Who was it anyway?", he asked curiously.

"Parker Abrahams and yes, it did work.", her thoughts instantly wandered back to Angel's reaction.

"Good to know. Sorry I missed the show.", he chuckled. He knew Parker Abrahams and his reputation.

"Well, thanks.", Buffy couldn't help but grin instead of her misery.

"Is there a reason you call or did you just miss me?"

"Uhm...there is...actually...I wanted to ask you if you have talked to Darla or Maggie lately.", she made the first move.

"Mmh, I met Darla two days ago, around lunchtime. Why?"

"Uhm, did you notice something? Was she probably acting different?"

"What do you mean? Yeah, when I come to think about it, she seemed a little stressed out. But she said she had a lot of work to do. Again why do you ask me that?"

"Uhm, dunno, guess it's nothing. I just thought she's acting a bit strange lately. Thought perhaps you'd know something.", she didn't want him to know the real reason for her little interview. She needed proof first.

"Mh, it's nothing if you ask me. You'd better ask her herself.", he suggested.

"Yeah, I´ll do that", she promised him. "Oh, it's late I gotta go. See you around?"

"Sure. Thanks for calling. Be good.", he replied.

"Bye."

"Bye, sis!"

Buffy hung up the receiver and started changing. Darla was soon finishing work and Buffy wanted to see if her mother really was going home as she had promised Maggie in the morning. So she headed towards the bathroom, leaving her confused brother on the other end of the line.

Darla did really finish work on time. But she wasn't going home, as Buffy could observed from nearby. Instead she headed for a small mall nearby. Buffy followed her, carefully not to get to close, feeling anxious and bad at the same time. On one hand Darla was probably just doing a quick shopping for dinner, on the other hand Buffy had the suspicion that she maybe was up to something very different. But after all it was her mother she was spying on and that was nothing she did with a song in her heart. After a while she saw Darla stop in front of a little café, obviously waiting for someone. Buffy moved closer, searching for a better spot to watch. She turned around and suddenly collided with a broad chest, stumbling back.

"Woah, careful!", the man grabbed her arms and steadied her. She looked up and paled visibly.

"Angel?", she whispered.

"Buffy?", he asked back in disbelief. This just wasn't possible. Both stared at each other, unable to react. Then suddenly Buffy turned around and looked over to the Café. Darla was gone.

Great, she thought and turned back to Angel.

"Uhm, I'm sorry.", she croaked out.

At the same time Angel asked her "Are you ok?"

"Yeah.", she replied.

Silence again.

"Wow, this is awkward.", she muttered after a while.

"Yeah.", he admitted. "I'm sorry, I should probably go."

"Yeah, uhm, no, look Angel I know what you think.", she made the move to touch his arm but dropped her hand as he inched back.

"You do? Well, great for you cause I don't know what to think.", he sounded hurt.

"I know you saw me...us....at the Bronze....", she blushed with embarrassment. How could she explain this to him?

"Yeah, damn right. I saw you. And I have to ask you something. Do you do this a lot?"

"What? Kissing Faith?" Oh god, no.

"I mean making fun of guys who like you. Does it give you a kick? Did you laugh about me? Was it a bet?", he talked himself in a rage not noticing the hurt crossing her features.

"Ok, stop it. Please Angel, let me explain."

"I'm not interested.", he growled.

"I´ll scream if you don't listen do me.", she threatened and grabbed him by the arm.

He looked at her in confusion but saw the resolve on her face.

"Look, you don't understand.", she started. "This has all gone wrong. Ok, Faith and I were kissing but we do that sometimes and it helps and now you'll never believe me a single word because this came out all wrong again."

Great, babbling now.

"I think I understand. And it's ok. I thought you were interested in me and...guess I was wrong....", he told her. This was it what she wanted to tell him, right?

"No, wait. I´ll start again. Ok, look. I'm not...gay. Faith and I are just good friends. And don't look at me like that, we kissed and it wasn't the first time, but it was only a charade for Parker. We do this from time to time if we can't get rid of a guy, and you weren't there, and then you were and you just left, and I didn't know what to do..." she looked at him pliant as she explained everything to him. What she didn't expect was that he started to giggle.

"Sorry?", she asked him.

"Oh, nothing. I just noticed something. You two are the `slayers´ then?", he questioned her. He'd heard of them on campus but had taken it as the usual gossip.

"How do you...well yeah....what's so funny?". Now it was her turn to be confused.

"Oh just realized how stupid I was. Sorry.", he grinned at her, making her knees wobbly. Maybe they weren't so over. She started grinning as well.

"Ok, now that it's out, you wanna go, have a coffee maybe? Look they serve some right here!", she desperately hoped he'd agree.

"Coffee sounds great.", he smiled at her.

And it was. They ended up drinking several cups of cappuccino, moccacino and milkshakes, completely losing track of time and space around them once they were seated at a quiet table and deeply involved in getting to know each other better.

When the café closed Angel knew about her somehow extraordinary family, about her friends, especially Faith, and that he really was falling in love with Buffy Summers.

Buffy knew Angel's mother was dead, that he lived with his dad and sister in the big mansion near campus and that he could make her brain to mush with a simple smile. They wandered through the mall, eating ice cream and then suddenly Angel took her hand. Buffy almost choked on her ice.

"So, can I walk you home?", he shyly asked, encouraged by her hand in his. He never felt like this before. It was like he never had a single date in his whole life.

"I´d like that.", she smiled at him. So they slowly walked across town towards the house on Revello Drive, talking and laughing together. As they entered the street Angel once again pulled his strength together. "So, what are you doing tomorrow?", he asked her.

"Nothing special yet.", she told him, again feeling her knees weaken. "Ok, I'm going to ask you if you wanna go out with me tomorrow. And I'm kinda nervous about it."

"Oh, if it helps, I'm gonna say yes.", she grinned.

"You wanna go out with me tomorrow?", he asked, grinning as well, squeezing her hand.

"Yeah, I really want to.", she squeezed back.

Both felt like singing and dancing in joy.

"So what do you wanna do?", he offered her the right of choice.

"Mmh, any suggestions?", she asked him. She didn't want to do something he probably hated.

"Well, what about ice-skating?", he offered. After all he'd manage to get through this without bigger complications.

"Oh, I love ice-skating!", she beamed. "I used to do it a lot when I was little."

So ice-skating it was.

"Ok, I´ll pick you up on seven?"

"Seven's great.", she agreed. "Oh, by the way we already walked past my house." Laughing they turned around and approached her home once more. It lay in darkness so everyone was probably home by now. "So, that's where I live.", she stopped near the front porch. "Thanks for walking me home.

"It was a pleasure.", he almost whispered, stepping closer so he faced her. She looked up at him expectantly, smiling sweetly.

"Goodnight then.", she whispered softly. "See you tomorrow."

She started to walk towards the two stairs when he pulled her closer once more.

"I'm gonna need this until then.", he whispered as his face moved closer and he slowly bend down.

She was completely silent, looking deep into his eyes until finally his lips descended on

hers and met them in a gentle kiss. She felt like fainting and flying at the same time. It was a sweet and chaste kiss but she already felt the fire of something bigger and sighed. Everything with Angel felt so natural, so familiar. As if he had been a part of her she'd been missing until now. Angel reveled in the kiss he'd dreamed of since he'd met the tiny blonde goddess in his arms. Even if his body screamed no, he slowly pulled away from her sweet, kissable lips.

"Good night.", he whispered and tucked a stray of hair back behind her ear. "I´ll see you tomorrow.", he added softly as he let her go and walked backwards, watched her standing by the stairs, in the moonlight that seemed to make her even more beautiful.

The next 20 hours were going to be hard. Angel called Buffy the following day telling her again that he was going to pick her up at seven. His call left Buffy excited and nervous so she decided to call Faith and tell her about last day's events. Faith's enthusiasm was a big help for her and as her best friend ended up coming over to help her chose a dress, Buffy was almost back to normal. It was a date, yes, but they wanted to go ice-skating so everything complicated or thin fabrics were probably not the wisest idea. Finally Faith chose a simple, low cut blue jeans and a blood red long sleeve shirt for Buffy to wear.

It was about six when Buffy was finally dressed and now dealing with her hair and make up.

"Doesn't matter anyway.", Faith commented from the bed.

"What do you mean?", Buffy replied.

"He'll like it no matter what you're wearing. He's so crazy for you he'll like anything."

"You think?", Buffy was still not so sure about it. Ok, the kiss they had shared last night had been nice, more than that actually, but still she just wasn't used to be treated like that by a man.

"Sure, Twinkie.", Faith assured her once more.

Angel stood on her porch right on time, holding a simple red rose, smiling as Faith opened the door.

"She'll be ready in a second. I'm gone.", she winked at a puzzled Angel and headed out of the door.

Buffy followed her down the stairs a minute later. Her legs were shaking but as soon as she saw Angel standing there, smiling at her everything seemed to click in place, everything seemed natural.

"Hey.", she greeted him softly.

"Hey. You look fantastic.", he told her, handing her the rose.

"Thank you, that's so sweet.", she had never received flowers before.

"That's nothing compared to you.", he smiled as he saw her blush and bent down to give her a kiss.

She melted against him as they deepened the kiss, both enjoying the emotions their contact created. It all felt so familiar, as if they had done this forever and yet it was all new to them.

"Wow.", she panted as she finally broke the kiss. "I'm gonna get a vase for this."

He smiled after her as she headed for the kitchen.

As they reached the skating ring Angel had to confess that he maybe should take it slow on the ice. The slightly guilty face he wore as he told her made Buffy kiss him softly. Somehow he had known that she liked skating and she was going to make him like it as well. She took him by the hands and guided him slowly upon the ice, facing him all the time, giving them more then one opportunity to get lost in each other's eyes. When he seemed to feel more comfortable she pulled him closer with a sudden move.

"You're doing great, you know?", she told him softly.

"Only because I have a great guide.", he returned the compliment and bent down to kiss her properly.

Luckily there weren't much people around them, so nobody toppled them over or was annoyed by the obviously lovestruck couple. They made quite a picture. Small, petite Buffy was standing on her toes, her arms around Angel's neck. He seemed to pull her inside the black duster he wore as he bent down and kissed her long and gently.

After a while Angel decided to take a break from skating, giving Buffy the opportunity to try a few moves she still remembered from her skating lessons. Angel watched her float over the ice, a picture of beauty and grace. Her long golden hair was falling down her back and she seemed so lost in what she was doing that Angel couldn't help but feel damn lucky he knew her. He was incredibly happy and also falling hopelessly in love with her. A strange sense of contentment and protectiveness filled him and he was so lost in his thoughts he didn't realize Buffy until she was standing right in front of him.

"Hey, no brooding.", she teased him, squealing as he pulled her into his lap a second later to kiss her again.

"Missed me?", she quipped as she was finally able to breath.

"Horribly.", he replied with a smile and covered her lips once more with his.

They chose to finish skating and go for a coffee instead. The evening seemed to pass much too fast and when the coffee shop closed Buffy snuggled into Angel as they walked back to his car. She didn't want this day to end, she already felt like she could spent eternity in Angel's arms, listening to his smooth voice, kissing his soft lips and hopefully more later. Sure, she knew they weren't ready for more now and she wanted to take it slow. He didn't seem to mind since he was constantly seeking eye contact, holding her hand or kissing her.

As they walked past a small diner Buffy glanced through the window and froze instantly. There was Darla, sitting at a table, holding the hand of a man. A man with gray hair who couldn't take his eyes off of her mom.

Angel realized Buffy´s stare and followed her glance. As second later he froze as well. There was his father, Holland Manners, holding the hand of a small blonde, smiling at her like Angel had never seen him smile before.

"Buffy, are you ok?", he finally asked her.

"Uhm, yeah, sure....I just thought I knew somebody in there.", she managed to croak out. What was Darla doing here? Was she really having an affair with that man? She knew her mother had relationships with men before Maggie and yet it was strange seeing her like that. Poor Maggie, she had no idea what was going on. A turmoil of thoughts started inside her head.

"Oh, ok.", Angel replied pulling her closer unconsciously, only partly realizing how she leaned into him. Was that the woman his father had spoken of at the dinner? Why were they meeting secretly?

And then at the same time Buffy and Angel had the same idea. They would keep an eye on what was going on there.

But they remained silent.

Finally Buffy kissed Angel on the cheek, asking him to bring her home and soon they forgot about everything else around them once more.

Tbc.....

Are Buffy and Angel playing detective now? Or do they just enjoy their happiness? And who's up for bowling? Send feedback and take a guess! ;o)

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Part 6 - I only have eyes for you

"And then everything seemed to come crashing down on me, the whole package. I swear I never felt this way before, it was just...."

"Would that be the kissing Angel part or the seeing your mom with another man part?", Faith asked from her place on Buffy´s bed.

Buffy stopped pacing the room for a second and turned to her best friend.

"I'm horrible. I just keep on babbling and you get all confused.", she apologized.

"Nevermind. Just needed a little break.", Faith grinned at her as Buffy dropped down to sit beside her.

"Ok, I was talking about Angel. Faith I swear, he's incredible. Just thinking about kissing him again makes me all..."

"Horny?", Faith offered and ducked the punch that was coming.

"I was going to say mushy, but yeah...kinda...I guess he might be the one. I mean can you believe this? We've only known each other for a few weeks.", Buffy hopped up and started pacing again until Faith grabbed her and forced her to sit down again.

"Stop it, B.. You're making me all dizzy. Tell me about Darla."

After Buffy had filled her in, a heavy silence settled on the room.

"So I guess it's true.", Faith stated after a while.

"She's really cheating on Maggie.", Buffy added.

"And with a guy.", Faith raised her eyebrows.

"Ohgod, I feel so horrible.", Buffy sighed. "I mean, should I tell Maggie? Talk to Darla first? I can't look her straight into the face anymore."

Faith moved closer and hugged her as she thought about an answer.

"Guess I would probably talk to Darla first. It's not your job to tell Maggie." She finally offered.

"Yeah. Right. I mean Mom's the one cheating here...", Buffy nodded, the whole events of the past days still unreal to her. On one hand she felt like she was in heaven, which certainly had to do with Angel and the kissing they were intensifying more and more. On the other hand she wanted to scream in frustration when she watched her family slowly fall apart before her eyes.

"I mean, do you know this guy?", Faith asked after a while.

"Nope, never seen him before. Although he looks kinda familiar to me but, no, I'm sure.", Buffy shook her head. They had spent the least half an hour thinking about reasons for Darla to risk her relationship with Maggie.

"Any phone calls or flowers maybe?", Faith went on.

"No, I guess not.", Buffy replied.

"Oh, maybe he sends her letters!", Faith exclaimed. "It was how my dad found out about Joyce betraying him."

"Mmh, I haven't noticed anything. But usually Mom's the one looking for mail."

"Maybe she hides them somewhere...", Faith suggested.

"But where? I mean it's not like they sleep in different bedrooms or something. Maggie would have noticed them in the drawer or the closet." Buffy thought about it aloud.

"Do you want to look for them?", Faith asked her, not trying to talk her friend into something she wasn't ready for.

"I dunno. Yeah, I want to know. But I feel like violating their privacy or something.", Buffy was twisted about it.

"But you don't have to read them. Just look...", Faith offered, feeling like planning a crime.

"Ok, then we have to do it now. They're not coming home for a while.", Buffy jumped off the bed again, suddenly determined. "You have to watch and warn me if they come back earlier."

"Deal. I´ll watch, you're going Miss Marple.", Faith agreed, following Buffy into the hallway.

Buffy searched the room, carefully to not remove anything from it's rightful place. The drawer was filled with clothes and nothing more, so were the closets. The secretary was stuffed with letters but only bills of some kind. Finally, when she was just opening a box she found underneath the bed she heard Faith approach the room.

"Maggie´s coming home, get out.", she whispered.

Buffy grabbed a pile of letters and shoved the box back under the bed before she ran out of the room. As soon as she met Faith in the hallway again they heard the front door opening.

"Buffy? Are you home?", Maggie´s voice called.

"We're upstairs, Mag.", Buffy shouted back.

"Hi, Faith! You girls want some pizza? I brought some.", Maggie called again as she closed the door.

"Sure. We'll be downstairs in a minute!"

Quickly Buffy shoved the letters into her drawer and followed Faith downstairs. Soon they were happily chatting over a large family pizza and the letters were forgotten.

Maggie had another meeting later and so the house was soon left to Buffy and Faith again.

"Oh my god. It's 6:30?", Buffy suddenly screamed.

"Quiet right, sister." Faith grinned.

"But, but Gunn will be here soon. And I'm so not ready yet!", Buffy started to panic. She hadn't even decided what to wear tonight.

"Relax, Twinkie.", Faith pulled her upstairs.

Soon Buffy was dressed in blue jeans, hugging her hips dangerously low, and a black spaghetti strap top, her hair swept up in a simple pony tail. Casual but sexy. Exactly what she wanted for tonight. Faith took another shirt out of the closet for herself and as soon as they had checked on their make up, Gunn was knocking on the front door.

"Wow, Ladies.", he greeted his best friends with a grin as they opened the door.

"Wow yourself.", Buffy answered with a smile, heading towards the car where Dawn was already waiting.

Buffy left the conversation to her friends on the short drive to the bowling center, too nervous about seeing Angel again soon. They had made up this group meeting to enable their friends to get to know each other. Besides it seemed perfect for Gunn and Anya to have an excuse to meet again.

Angel sucked in a sharp breath as his love climbed out of the car. She looked incredibly sexy and was smiling so brightly it mocked the flickering lights of the commercial on the roof.

"Angel."

"Buffy.", he replied, already used to their special way of greeting one another. "You look beautiful."

"You, too.", she mumbled as he swept her into his arms for a long kiss.

The others stared at them in a mix of shared happiness and envy.

Once they reached the alley reserved for them, Faith pulled Angel away from Buffy to talk to him for a second.

"So, you like her, huh?", she started.

"Buffy? Of course I do.", he replied without hesitation but a bit confused.

"You love her?", Faith went on.

"Uhm, yes. I think I love her.", he admitted. It was true.

"Good for you. Cause I love her, too. And if you ever, do you hear me, ever try to hurt her you'd better beware. Cause I will hunt you down and beat you dead with a shovel."

"Good to know.", Angel smiled at her. "Trust me, I´d never do anything to hurt her."

"Okay. Just saying. Now go back to her, she's waiting.", she grinned at Angel and pushed him towards Buffy again.

Gunn and Anya were already discussing bowling strategies while Dawn was starting to realize that the short dress she wore was probably not the best choice of an outfit for bowling. She anxiously looked over to Giles but the boy was busy staring at Fred's behind as she was slipping into her shoes.

Buffy and Angel noticed nothing of that because they were barely able to keep their hands off each other. Currently Angel was sitting on one of the chairs, Buffy in his lap. They were devouring each others mouths like their was no tomorrow.

So they didn't notice Dawn stumbling over her own feet as she was trying to impress Giles. They didn't see Gunn holding Anya´s hand under the table and they never noticed how Giles almost killed Fred by throwing his bowling ball at her accidentally.

Faith interrupted them now and then when it was their turn but as soon as the ball left her hands, Buffy was back in Angel's arms, kissing him or cuddling against his broad chest.

Fred won the first round, but nobody seemed to notice, except Giles. Suddenly Faith spotted a couple of guys next to them and started to tease them a bit, flirting with a big, blonde guy. At first he seemed to be nice, he smiled at her, commented on her bowling skills and ordered a drink for her. But soon his gestures got more of the obscene kind, until he stepped closer, asking Faith to come out with him for a quickie.

But before Faith could think of a proper reaction for that, Buffy showed up behind her, pulling her back against her chest. Faith worked with her and leaned in, her hair held back to give Buffy a better access to her neck.

Angel watched in awe as her tongue sneaked out to gently lick Faith's neck, nuzzling the soft skin under her ear. He was already aroused and apparently the guys next to them were, too. Their arousal seemed to grow into frustration when Faith turned around to gently trace the features of Buffy´s face. In a minute the guys left and Buffy and Faith burst into giggles.

Angel walked towards them and pulled Buffy back into his arms, kissing her hungrily.

"Wow.", she panted after she was able to breathe again. "Liked the show?"

"Like it better this way.", he told her with a grin before he kissed her again. "I´ll see you tomorrow?", Angel whispered into her ear, not intending to let her go again so soon.

"That'd be nice.", she smiled, kissing him softly.

"I´ll miss you.", he vowed.

"I´ll miss you, too.", she replied tenderly, leaning against him.

"Good night."

"Good night."

They shared a last, lingering kiss and then separated. Angel held her hand until she was out of reach.

"Don't worry big guy. I´ll keep her warm for ya.", Faith teased him as she pulled Buffy into her arms. The lovers shared a last look and then Buffy climbed into the car.

"Hey, and don't forget about the party next weekend!", Faith called before Anya closed the door of Angel's car.

"Wouldn't wanna miss it!", the blonde called back, waving at Gunn before the car disappeared into the night.

Buffy was staying the night at Faith's and so they had enough time to chat about the evening.

"Poor Dawnie.", Buffy agreed with her. "Giles didn't look at her once."

"It's a shame, she wore her purple panties.", Faith grinned. They all noticed Dawn's useless attempts to pull her dress down during her turns.

"Yeah, but this Fred-girl? She's pretty smart. She has to know he has a thing for her but never lets him see through it.", Buffy changed the topic.

"Oh please, he's a boy. She surely doesn't want that.", Faith agreed.

"Oh, but Anya and Gunn? Have you seen them hold hands?"

"What?", Buffy exclaimed.

"I swear I saw them. Of course it's a miracle you noticed anything tonight.", Faith nudged her into the ribs and gave her a pointed look.

Buffy blushed but said nothing. It was true. She had most definitely enjoyed the evening.

"Hey, I noticed this creep!", she added after a while.

"True and I´ll give you credit for that.", Faith sent her a grateful smile.

"No big. And Angel kinda seemed to like it, too.", Buffy grinned, remembering his passionate kiss.

"No doubt about that. Guys!", Faith rolled her eyes.

"So, you're pretty close, huh?", Faith asked later when they were lying in bed.

"Yeah, I guess.", Buffy replied dreamily. "I mean I know it's all pretty fast but I feel like I have to touch him all the time. He's just so kissable."

"No objections there.", Faith agreed. "So, do you think you guys will soon..."

"I don't know. I guess it's gonna take a while. Not that I don't like him. I think I love him. But still, I don't think I'm ready for that.", Buffy admitted.

"Then wait. I'm sure he'll understand.", Faith assured her.

They chatted on for a while until they fell into a peaceful slumber, forgotten were the guys that couldn't behave or the letters resting inside Buffy´s drawer back home.

Tbc.....

What's it with the letters? And how will B/A go on in their relationship? Will Buffy tell Maggie? And there's a pool party coming up. Send feedback and take a guess! ;o)

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Part 7 - Innocence

Rating: Strong R (yay!) Dedication: to Hannahbee because WiC just ROCKS! ;o), to prue 81 who brought me into livejournal and to whoever discovered coffee, I guess I wouldn´t have survived the last week without it. *lol* AN: I *love* feedback. Every author does. It gives us a response to our ideas and keeps us writing. So please don´t stop feeding us! :o)

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Buffy sighed and leaned into his touch as Angel nibbled on her lower lip, his tongue gently teasing hers, begging it to come out to play. She accepted the challenge immediately and they fought a lover's battle. Neither of them noticed the people around them, all that mattered was the other one, still not close enough. She wound her arms around his neck to pull him down to her as his hands started to play with her hair. They were hopelessly lost in sensations of pure love...and well, lust. Pulling only apart for a short breath here and there, they kissed each other for an eternity.

Finally Angel pulled away from her lips and whispered: "I love you."

"I love, you, too, Angel.", she replied gently.

"Close your eyes, baby.", he smiled at her.

She did as he requested immediately, curious to find out what he was up to. Nothing happened and after a while she got impatient and opened her eyes again. Angel was gone. She looked around but her love was nowhere to bee seen.

"Angel?", she called but suddenly found herself alone in the large labyrinth constructed of bushes.

"Angel, are you there?", she tried again. No answer. So, which direction should she turn to?

Buffy decided to go to the left. Between their kisses neither of them had cared much about finding a way back out. Well, she had to try anyway.

As she rounded one corner after another she started to get scared. Where was Angel? Was this meant to be a joke?

"Angel? Come out. This is not funny." She shouted but was confronted with silence. Without really noticing it, she stumbled further into the jungle of plants, searching for Angel, now panicking.

"Angel? Are you ok? Baby, please, I'm scared...".

She went on and on but only found herself completely lost inside the labyrinth. Every corner seemed to be the wrong one, Angel was nowhere to be seen and it was getting dark already. Finally Buffy broke down crying uncontrollably, sitting down on the ground, unable to walk another step.

"Angel...", she whimpered.

"Buffy?", a voice came to her ear.

"Angel?"

"Buffy, wake up. It's me, Faith."

"No...Angel....".

"Shh, it's ok, Twinkie. You're having a nightmare.", Faith's voice was now becoming clearer to her. Buffy blinked and slowly opened her eyes, realizing her face was stained with tears.

"Faith, what happened?", she whispered, still shaken from her dream.

"Dunno, woke up, heard you crying, calling out for Angel. So I decided to wake you up. Are you ok?", Faith looked at her worried.

"Oh god, Faith. It was horrible."

The brunette gathered her friend in her arms. She never had seen Buffy like that. "Yeah. Kinda figured that out already. Wanna share?"

Buffy slowly nodded her head and then the words came pouring out of her.

A few hours later Buffy entered her room back at home. She was feeling better now that she had told Faith about her dream. Talking to Angel earlier had certainly helped as well. She hadn't told him about her dream but his gentle voice was enough to make her feel better. Sitting down Buffy mused about the day to come. Faith would pick her up later for a shopping trip but now the house was once more deserted. She let her eyes wander around her room, trying to decide what to do when her eyes suddenly came to rest on her drawer.

Immediately last day's events came rushing back to her. Slowly she approached the drawer. Should she read the letters? Take them back to Darla´s room? Wait for Faith to come? Finally curiosity won and she pulled the bunch of letters out and sat down on her bed once more. The letters were all opened and looked like they had been read more than once. Carefully Buffy took the first one and started to read. After a while she stopped, too confused to go on. These were love letters. They all addressed her mother but they weren't from Maggie but in an unfamiliar handwriting. Finishing the letter she held Buffy found him signed with a simple H.. H.? Who was that? Would that be the man she saw at the diner, holding Darla´s hand? Buffy went through her memory but found no matching name. Reading letter after letter she had to admit that they were gentle and loving. Sometimes even sensuous. But they didn't reveal anything about the writer. Who would write such things to her mother? Obviously someone who seemed to care deeply for Darla and who knew her intimately.

Scanning the dates of the different letters, Buffy suddenly realized that the letters were from very different years. Some of them were about 20 years old. Wait, 20?

The room started spinning around her. If these letters were this old, would it mean that Darla had been betraying Maggie all this time? Or did Maggie know? No, no way. That was almost for sure. But how could Darla have kept this a secret from both her lover and her family for such a long time? And why? Buffy didn't know if she should cry out in frustration or break down sobbing. Suddenly a new thought dawned on her. If this H. was really a man, and taking the detailed descriptions of certain fantasies Buffy really didn't want to imagine into account, he certainly was, and if this man had been in an on and off relationship with her mother for over 20 years could it be possible...? Could this H. be her father? Maybe even living in Sunnydale?

Darla had never told her about the origins of her pregnancy with Buffy. She simple told her she had a sperm donation. But maybe this wasn't true at all?

Unable to decide what to do or think Buffy packed the letters back together and replaced them in the box under Darla´s side of the bed. Then she did the next thing she could think of and called Faith.

Her best friend managed to calm Buffy down a bit, distracting her with thoughts about shopping later. The thought of buying a new bikini for the pool party tomorrow indeed bothered Buffy. She wanted to look nice, no, sexy. Angel was supposed to drool when he saw her. The thought of her boyfriend looking at her without any real clothing on made Buffy both nervous and excited. Not to mention that Angel would most likely be halfnaked as well.

Her little fantasy was interrupted by the front door closing.

"Buffy, are you home?", Darla´s voice wafted up the stairs.

"I'm upstairs, Mom.", Buffy called back.

"Brought you some ice cream."

"Coming...", Buffy replied and headed for the kitchen.

Darla pulled her daughter into an embrace.

"Hey, sweetie. How are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks. You?", Buffy tried to sound as casual as possible.

"Work was a total mess today. I just managed to leave for an hour.", Darla sighed and handed her daughter the ice cream, scanning with her a long look.

"Mmh, heaven.", Buffy sighed at the first taste, recognizing the glance.

"So, what's up?", Darla asked her. "How was bowling?"

"Oh. Bowling was great.", Buffy managed not to blush, remembering her family was still unaware of her developing love life.

"Good. Did you and Faith have fun tonight?"

"Uhm, yeah. Nothing special. We'll meet later for shopping.", Buffy told her mother between two spoons of chocolate ice cream.

"Anything you need?", Darla smiled at her, knowing how the girls loved spending hours at the mall.

"Actually, yeah. Bikini. Remember the pool party I told you about?"

"Right. So, the big party tomorrow. Bet there'll be lots of boys?", Darla tried to get something out of her daughter. They had rarely seen each other for the past few days.

"Uhm, yeah. Sure.", Buffy blushed slightly.

"Ok, so I see.", Darla smiled knowingly. "Maybe I should tell Ben to watch out for you girls?"

"Mom, please!", Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Hey, I'm just kidding. I trust you. You'd tell me if there was someone, right?", Darla watched her daughter's expression carefully. She knew Buffy wasn't a baby anymore but she was still her little daughter and if there was something important happening in her life, she wanted to know.

"Oh, by the way, I met Forrest outside, he was just passing by. He says hi.", Darla added.

Buffy inwardly groaned. She was tired of being stalked by her ex-boyfriend. Especially with Angel in the picture.

"Oh, thanks.", she mumbled and occupied herself with the last bit of her dessert.

After a while Buffy couldn't hold back anymore.

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, honey, what is it?", Darla turned to face her.

"Uhm, actually it's kinda personal. But well...since it concerns me, too...".

"Go on, don't worry.", Darla fought a slight feeling of panic welling up inside her. She couldn't possible know, right?

"Uhm, I know we don't talk much about my father around here. That's ok. Well, I had this talk with Faith lately and I started wondering...Mom, did you know him or was it an anonymous donation?", she sighed heavily, now that it was out.

"Oh, sweetie. Well, you're right. It is quite personal. I know you are confused sometimes but I assure you, you don't want to know."

"Mom, please..."

"Buffy, stop it. I won't tell you. It would do no good."

"Why? I'm old enough. Don't you think I have a right to know?"

"I just don't wanna talk to you about it. Do you miss anything a father could give you? Do you really think that?"

"Mom, no. Of course not. I was just wondering....".

The ringing of the phone saved Darla as she headed to answer it.

A second later she reappeared in the kitchen, holding the receiver.

"It's a young man, he wants to talk to you.", she handed it to Buffy. "He has a really nice voice."

"Oh and I have to go back to work now. See you later, sweetie? Have fun with Faith!"

Before Buffy could even blink her mother practically fled from the house. She sighed heavily and took up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hey.", the deep, familiar voice immediately made her forget about everything that was on her mind a minute earlier.

The Marshall house was prepared for the party, so Faith and Buffy finally found time to get themselves dressed. Or better undressed. Hank had left the other day, reminding his daughter of her duties as a house sitter. Their little shopping trip had been very successful and soon Buffy and Faith were clothed in their new swimwear.

Faith had chosen an all black ensemble, simple but not leaving much for imagination. It matched her well tanned skin perfectly and all that was left to do for her was sweep her hair up and add some butterfly pins here and there. A little bit of make up and she was content with her reflection in the large mirror in the bathroom.

Meanwhile Buffy had stripped and put on her own ensemble. She had chosen a knitted neckholder bikini top in pink with white and purple stripes. The other part of her outfit were very small, simple pink bikini panties. Feeling a bit uncomfortable of showing so much exposed skin in public, she added a matching, short pareo tied around her hips. Her hair was falling down her back in loose curls, a single pin holding it slightly to the side and out of her face. Checking her appearance into the mirror as well she turned around to her friend.

"You think he'll like?"

"B., stop worrying. He'll love it.", Faith assured her. "Leave the worrying to me."

Buffy looked at her puzzled.

"Because, sweetie, I don't know what I can do to keep him from ripping it off of you the moment he sees you."

Seeing Buffy´s slightly shocked expression, Faith couldn't help bursting into giggles and was soon joined by Buffy.

"You know where the bedroom is, just in case...", Faith winked at her.

They both knew she was joking but somehow the possibility seemed to become reality sooner, the more Buffy and Angel were around each other.

The doorbell startled them and after a while the garden started to become crowded.

Gunn and Anya were the first to arrive, along with them came Dawn who had decided to wear something more decent this time and which in fact was a high closed navy blue bathing suit. Ben showed up a little later, complementing both girls on their outfits and shooting Dawn an amused glance. Willow had brought Groo, who became googly eyed at the sight of Faith. Even Xander and Kate made their appearance. Buffy was getting more nervous with every minute when finally the doorbell rang again.

Angel stood on the threshold unable to make a step or come up with anything resembling to conversation. He simply stared at his tiny blonde love, not noticing Giles and Fred passing them. Buffy looked right into his face and finally an amused smile played around her lips.

"You wanna come in?", she teased him but was suddenly silenced when Angel stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately.

"You look breathtakingly beautiful tonight, Miss Summers.", he whispered huskily into her ear and was glad he wasn't already in his boxers.

"So you like it?", Buffy grinned at him as he pressed her against the wall unconsciously. The kiss he gave her in response made her glad she was backed against the solid wall because her knees simple refused to hold her up.

"Tsk tsk, if this isn't naughty behavior in public...", a voice suddenly came up behind them.

"Lorne!", Buffy squealed and entangled herself from Angel to hug her friend closely. "You managed to come."

"Yeah, at least for an hour or two. Jenny says hi.", he smiled as he saw the radiating smile Buffy didn't seem to be able to wipe from her face.

"Well, that's great. How is everyone?", Buffy reached for Angel's hand, pulling him to her, indicating him to stay. She wasn't done with him yet.

"Oh, great actually. Wesley made something for you, he intends to give it to you soon.", Lorne winked at her. "But now tell me, where's Faith?"

Buffy showed him the direction and was once more left alone with Angel.

As the evening went by, everybody was enjoying the party. Groo was busy throwing Willow and Anya into the pool only to follow them a second later. Kate was sitting in a corner far away from the water, keeping Xander busy with little requests and errands which he fulfilled willingly, even under the teasing comments of Gunn and Faith. Giles finally left Fred's side to talk to Dawn. As everybody suspected he told her he really liked her but only as a friend. The girl disappeared for a short while inside the house and then returned, full of good intentions to get over Giles, mixing with the other folks at the party. Finally she ended up talking to Fred, who was more than glad to escape the puppy dog eyes of the young man following her around.

Ben talked to Lorne for a while and then slandered over to the couple making out on one of the comfy chairs near the pool. Buffy and Angel were once more occupied and entangled with each other and didn't notice him until he cleared his throat loudly for the second time.

"Don't you wanna introduce us?", he asked Buffy who was slightly blushing at the sight of him.

"Uhm, sure. Angel, meet my brother Ben. Ben, this is Angel, my, uhm, boyfriend.", she started. "Hey, wait a sec. You already know each other." Busted.

Angel smiled at Ben and shook his hand, glad that Buffy was in his lap, hiding the more evident parts of his body from her brother.

"So, you two are together.", Ben grinned, happy to see the way his little sister was glowing. His eyes met Angel's for a brief moment, shooting him his best if-you-hurt-her-you-gonna-have-to-deal-with-me-buddy-look.

"Uhm, yeah.", Buffy stated the obvious, reaching for Angel's hand again. He took the hint and pulled her a little closer into a loving embrace.

"Do Mom and Darla know about this?", Ben asked.

"Nope, not yet. I wanted to tell Darla today but she was all up and away all of a sudden."

"It's ok, it's just that I didn't want to get you two all busted.", Ben patted her arm in assurance, grinning.

Suddenly the door bell rang again. Faith, who was busy with pushing Groo under water called to her friend: "Buffy? Could you?"

"´k!", Buffy called back and hopped off of Angel's lap. At the front door she met with Gunn.

"Who would that be? Everybody invited is already here?", her friend asked her.

"Dunno, maybe it's.....Forrest?", she asked incredulously as she finally opened the door.

"Hi Buffy. Heard there was a party going on, thought I´d stop by.", he tried not to notice her barely existent clothes. Her body visible to everyone. She looked absolutely hot, though.

"Sorry, buddy. This is private.", Gunn glared at him.

"Hey, you all know me.", Forrest complained.

"Sorry, Forrest. Already told you. What do you want anyway?", Buffy made sure to keep a safe distance.

"You. Buffy, please. Don't tell me you don't want me back, cause I know you do."

"What?", she yelped. "Forrest, don't you get it? We're over. Once and for all. I have a boyfriend."

"No, you don't. It's not possible. You love me, Buffy.", Forrest moved closer, swaying slightly, indicating he was pretty drunk.

"Don't you take one more step.", Gunn warned him.

"Forrest, I'm telling you, you have to move on. I´ll never come back to you.", Buffy hoped he would understand.

"You're just saying things. You don't have somebody new. I saw your little show at the Bronze with Faith...I know you....".

"Buffy, baby, what's taking you so long?", Angel called from the other side of the hallway. He had started missing her and went searching.

Forrest´s eyes widened in sudden shock.

"I'm coming...it's just....", Buffy didn't know how to explain.

But Angel was already behind her, encircling her waist, planting a small kiss on her cheek.

"I missed you.", he whispered into her ear.

"Buffy, no....", Forrest shouted.

"Just leave him there.", Gunn suggested. "If he's making trouble we'll call the police."

"Forrest, I told you. I'm really sorry but...go home.", Buffy took one last look at the guy on the front step and shut the door.

"What a sick little fuck...", Gunn muttered under his breath as he headed back to the pool.

"Are you ok?", Angel lifted Buffy´s chin to look into her eyes. She seemed shaken.

"Guess I am. Thanks for coming after me.", she leaned against his bare chest.

"Was he threatening you?", Angel was still worried.

"It's a little more complicated than that.", she told him.

"Wanna talk about it somewhere quiet?", he asked her.

She thought about it for a while. Well, some day he had to know anyway. Finally she nodded and led him up the stairs to the guest room.

The sounds of the party were barely audible as they sat down on the bed, facing each other.

"Well...", she started.

"Well...", he echoed.

"Ok, as I said. It's a bit complicated.", Buffy started.

"It's ok, Buffy. You can tell me.", he tried to assure her.

"Well...ok. Forrest and I were together for a while, in Highschool. He's my ex.", she tried to make out an (the)expression on his face.

The thought of his tiny love involved with another man anything but pleased him but he looked at her, signalizing her to go on.

"It was nothing big, you know, this football quarterback and the cheerleader-thingy. It all started when he asked me out an a date once and it was nice."

"And then he started to change?", he asked her gently, not wanting to push her.

"Kinda. At first everything was great. And then he was getting jealous of every man or boy I looked at, even Gunn and Xander. He was crazy. So I realized I didn't really love him. I broke up with him."

"And then?", Angel sensed there was more to come.

"Well, he didn't take it well. He started following me around. I guess it was then that Faith and I invented this slayer-thing...Anyway. I told him we were over again and again, but he wouldn't accept it. Told me I still loved him...", she paused.

"Did he try to force you to...", Angel was suddenly alerted and thinking about ripping the boy apart.

"God no, I think Gunn and probably Faith made pretty sure of that not happening after..."

"After what?"

"He confronted me outside the Bronze one night, holding me against a wall. I don't know what he would have been capable of but I was lucky and Faith showed up."

Buffy was silent again, waiting for the statement to sink in. Hopefully Angel didn't think it was all her fault.

As if he'd read her thoughts, he told her: "Hey, it's not your fault, Buffy. Don't you ever think that.". He moved closer.

"I don't know. Maybe he thought he could...that I loved him. Maybe I made him believe that...", she whispered.

"Buffy, listen to me. It's not you. He's the one to blame.", Angel rested his forehead against hers, his thumb caressing her face.

"Thank you.", she whispered, looking deep into his eyes, moving in for a kiss.

What started as a comforting kiss soon became more passionate and after a few seconds they were molesting each other's mouths. Angel couldn't resist the urge to gently lay her down on the comforter of the bed. Her lips never left his for a second. She sighed into his mouth and pulled him even closer so that he was almost resting on top of her. Relishing in the feel of being skin to skin with him, she wound her arms around his neck and started playing with the short hair standing up there. Angel took his time exploring her skin as his hand traveled up her side and finally came to rest on her left breast. He heard her suck in a sharp breath as he gently cupped it and started stroking her through the thin material until he could feel her nipple harden under his ministrations. Never intending to rush her, he continued his actions on her other breast, gently kissing his way down her neck.

Buffy let her hands travel over his back, taken aback by the feelings he created inside her. It all felt so familiar and yet so new, like everything felt with Angel. She didn't stop him when he started untying her top, gently exposing her breasts, kissing his way towards them.

He looked her in the eyes as he started to undress her and finding no hesitation there he continued his journey, carefully encircling one of her nipples with his mouth, gently sucking it, taking a taste of her sweet skin. All the time he whispered little loving nonsense to her, telling her how beautiful she was. Filled with love for the woman in bed with him her he made sure she enjoyed the experience as much as he did and tended her perfect breasts with uttermost care and gentleness, relishing in the tiny helpless sounds she was making.

Buffy felt his evident arousal growing even more against her thigh, feeling both scared and excited at the new wave of pleasure he created with his every touch. An unknown ache was forming between her legs. How good he made her feel.

As he started kissing his way towards her belly Angel suddenly felt her stiffen with his touch and looked into her face. But she refused to meet his eyes.

"Buffy, love, are you ok?", he asked and shifted his weight off of her.

She didn't answer his question but suddenly tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Shh, baby it's ok. I didn't mean to rush things. I'm sorry."

She just shook her head in response.

"Love, it's ok. Talk to me. Is it because of....".

"No...", she finally whispered, trying to explain to him.

"What is it then?", he was seriously worried by now.

"It's just...I know I'm being stupid and that you know how to do stuff...you certainly want to...ohgod....Angel....I know that you have...experience...it's just that I don't."

"Buffy, love, what's wrong?", he didn't get what she was trying to tell him.

"I'm still a virgin, Angel. I've never done this before, never felt....ohgod and I know that you have a lot of experience, at least that's what people say and I understand if you don't....", she trailed off again, not knowing how to explain her lack of sex life to him.

"God, Buffy you really think that? That I don't want you now that I know that you never...love, believe me people don't know what they're saying."

"Are you trying to tell me that you...?"

"No, love. I've had sex before. But it's ok that you didn't. I didn't mean to rush you...I just got carried away because I...god I want you, Buffy. But not if you're not ok with it.", he paused.

"Oh good. Because it really felt nice.", she blushed furiously. "It's just...I don't think I'm ready to do...stuff... I don't know how...".

"Baby, of course you're not. We'll take our time. We have all the time in the world.", he softly kissed her on the forehead. "Just tell me to stop and I´ll stop. You okay with that?"

She nodded slightly and he moved in to kiss her tenderly. Angel was filled with love for this incredible woman in front of him, baring her heart to him. He would make damn sure it was never hurt again. As the kiss deepened both felt like crossing a boarder together, like an unspoken promise between them. He felt her relax again under his ministrations and soon felt his own arousal return. He willed it down as much as possible, worshipping her breasts once again until she was panting. Only then he allowed his hands to take up their journey again.

As one of his hands finally reached her panties he paused for a while, giving her the chance to say no. She didn't stop him and started to whimper as he explored her intimate curves through the material. He gently nudged her legs further apart to have better access to her feminity. He pushed away the pareo and started tucking down her bikini bottoms. As she was finally bared to his gaze she watched him with a mix of fear and pleasure, shivering.

"Don't worry, love.", he whispered before he started stroking her wet center for the first time, rewarded with a shuddering moan from his tiny lover. He moved up to kiss her once again, soothing her while he parted her legs a little further. Gently he traced her outer lips, avoiding her clit for yet a while as he slowly dipped one finger inside her. He gave her time to get accustomed to the unknown invasion until he pushed a little further, feeling her tight channel flexing around him

"Ohgod, Angel...", she panted between his kisses and found herself hungry for more. This was all so new to her. Sure, there had been heavy makeout sessions with a guy or two. She had tried masturbating, but this was different. Somebody was doing this to her and she craved for more and wanted to bail at the same time. But she trusted him.

And she wanted him to enjoy this as well so she reached for his obvious arousal and started caressing it through his boxers, pushing away thoughts of its size, concentrating on the feel of him. Her touch had the desired effect and he started slowly to move his finger in and out of her, dipping a little deeper with every move. At the same time her tiny hand made its way inside his boxers. The second her little hand touched his throbbing cock Angel thought he was going to lose it. He'd never felt like this before.

She didn't really know what to do but he seemed to like it, so she just followed her instinct and continued her ministrations.

Before either of them could think they were plundering each other's mouths with passion edging on desperation.

All thoughts flew from her mind when he suddenly added a second finger, stroking her clit at the same time his finger was moving in and out of her. Buffy´s eyes flew wide open, watching him as she came almost immediately, experiencing her first mind-blowing orgasm from his hands, unconsciously gripping him harder as she seemed to float on a wave of pleasure she'd never even thought was possible, taking him along with her.

After the sensations had subsided, both fell down on the bed. Angel kissed her tenderly, asking her if she was ok but all she could do was nod. He managed to pull the comforter up to cover them, pulled her against him and started whispering loving nonsense into her ear. Buffy might be new to the world of sexual activities but found herself liking it very much. Especially if he touched her like that.

She immediately relaxed against his chest, suddenly feeling very sleepy.

"Love you...", she mumbled before she fell asleep. It was almost inaudible but Angel heard it somewhere in his doze and smiled.

TBC... Well how will Buffy and Angel go on? Is Forrest finally out of the picture? Will Darla talk? Send feedback and take a guess!

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Part 8 - I fall to pieces

Rating: uhm...strong R heading straight for NC 17 I guess Dedication: to Netti: thanks for the talk, I´m feeling waaay better today *bearhug*, to TK, Shahid, spikey666, Tariq and other faithful feedbackers, you guys keep this going!, last but not least: the pack. Come out to play ladies ;o)

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Buffy stirred and blinked her eyes open, not immediately remembering where she was. She felt nice and rested. It was bright and sunny outside and she was in the guest room at Faith's house. As she tried to move, she discovered that she couldn't. Strong arms encircled her from behind, pulling her closer to a solid chest. Only then did she remember completely, snuggling deeper into Angel's embrace. He became more awake with her movements and placed a soft kiss on her left shoulder.

"Hi.", she whispered, still trying to grasp the fact that she was waking up in Angel's arms.

"Hi yourself.", he replied. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah.", she nodded. Actually better than well. She'd not felt this comfortable waking up for a long time. Slowly she turned around in his arms to look at him. She smiled, tracing his features, running her hands through his hair, still rumpled from sleep. He gazed at her in amazement, as if he couldn't believe she was really there. A radiating smile played around his lips and his hands started drawing circles on her bare back.

"You're beautiful.", he declared.

"Yeah, sure. I don't even wanna know how I look like...", she wrinkled her nose.

"Believe me, you are.", he whispered before he moved in a for a soft lingering kiss.

"Ok....", she quipped as they finally pulled apart.

They lay together in silence for a while, drinking each other in, a thousand unspoken words exchanged in one look. Eventually they kissed or caressed each other, still accustoming to the new level of their relationship. Last night hadn't just been passion, it was the beginning of something deeper, bigger.

"I wanted to thank you.", Buffy finally broke the silence, gently letting her fingers wander over his chest.

"Thank me? What for?", he smiled at her.

"For understanding. Last night...", she started and propped herself up on one elbow.

He silenced her with a kiss, pulling her closer. "I already told you. It's ok, Buffy. Just talk to me, when you don't feel comfortable, ok?"

"Ok.", she gave in and for long moments they let their actions speak for them, kissing, cuddling, until slowly things began to heat up again.

Suddenly Buffy moved and pushed Angel down into the covers, kicking the comforter away, baring him to her gaze.

"Baby, what are you doing?", he asked her a little confused.

"Maybe I'm taking advantage of you.", she grinned at him wickedly and started a trail of kisses on his chest. As she moved, she was well aware that she was naked and that her nipples were making contact with his skin now and then. She relished in the feel of it as well as he seemed to like it. Carefully she took one of his nipples into her mouth, sucking on it eventually until he groaned and relaxed under her ministrations. Slowly moving towards his belly she started tucking at his boxers, where a huge bulge indicated just how much he was enjoying this. But when she started to pull them down she found herself stopped and pulled away from him.

"Buffy, stop. You don't have to do this.", he tried to assure her.

"I know, baby. But what if I want to?", she pouted slightly and he couldn't resist her hazel eyes. So he released her wrists, leaving himself to her mercy.

Buffy occupied herself with his boxers again, finally tucking them down his legs. As her head came up again she gulped, suddenly not so sure anymore. Angel was laying naked in front of her, but all she could really look at was the throbbing erection standing up underneath his belly. He watched her carefully as she started wandering her hands over his thighs, inch by inch moving closer, arousing him even more. When she finally reached her destination, she tentatively reached out with her hand, following his length with her index finger until she reached the tip.

"Ohgod, Buffy....", he groaned, aching for her. His obvious pleasure encouraged her further and she gripped him inside her hand. Relishing again in the simultaneous hardness and softness of him, she started stroking him in a lose rhythm. He arched into her touch, his hand closing over hers, guiding her. She set up a pace on her own when she swatted his hands away and before he could stop her, her mouth was moving towards his throbbing cock. Curious what he would taste like she ran her tongue just over the tip of him. Encouraged and far from the disgust, she heard the other girls at school talk about, she started taking him into her mouth as deep as she could manage. He was thrashing and moaning under her caresses, telling her what he wanted. His hands were entangled in her hair, holding on to her for dear life, still unable to believe she was doing this, for him. When he sensed he wouldn't be able to hold back any longer, he pulled her up so he could look at her.

"Baby, stop...I'm gonna....", he whispered hoarsely. Buffy´s grin widened.

He was going to come? She, a total newbie to this, could make someone like him come? Buffy smiled at him and dipped her head down again. She wanted to finish what she had started, curious to find out what *it* would taste like.

Angel let his head fall down on the pillows again, groaning in defeat and pleasure. Soon she increased her pace on him, instinctively finding the rhythm he desired, never stopping until his hips jerked up and he came into her mouth. He finally lost it when he watched her swallowing his seed down to the last drop.

Before she could blink or feel shocked about her previous actions, Buffy found herself on her back, Angel devouring her mouth with fierce passion. He could taste himself inside her mouth and that alone was almost enough to make him hard again. Buffy moaned as his hands played with her nipples, already aroused by her earlier actions. She couldn't believe she just had performed oral sex, how good it had felt. And that he would kiss her immediately after it. Using one of his knees, Angel gently parted her legs, feeling the heat radiating from her center. He kissed his way down her body, his hands opening her to his gaze. When he finally settled between her thighs he looked up at her to see if she was okay. Her eyes were almost closed but her flushing skin indicated her pleasure, so he didn't stop. Softly one of his fingers was stroking her core until he parted her outer lips to push another finger inside her. She moaned again as he started building her up, her hips arching into his touch without her notice. He took his time and when he pulled his hand away, she whimpered in protest. Her eyes suddenly flew open with the new sensation of his mouth connecting with her wet core. She was thrashing uncontrollably as he started exploring her with his lips and tongue. When his other hand found her clit, he slowly stabbed his tongue inside her wet channel, mimicking motions yet to come. After mere seconds Buffy exploded, drenching him with her honeyed juices, letting out a shuddering moan.

"Aaaaangheeeeel......".

He licked her clean until she recovered and then moved up her body for a kiss. Now it was her turn to taste herself within his mouth and they kissed for a long time, collapsing on the large bed together, exhausted but happy.

"Are you ok?", he asked her, wondering if she regretted anything that had happened.

"More than ok.", she smiled at him.

"Really? I didn't want to push you...", he still wasn't convinced.

"Hey, I was present all the time. I could have stopped. Did you have the impression I did anything I didn't completely want to do?", she poked his nose gently. "It was nice, more than....I don't have a large repertoire to compare this to and it's all very new to me. But I like the way you make me feel and the way I can make you feel. I can, right?"

"Most definitely.", he kissed her softly. What did he do to deserve this incredible woman?

"Angel?"

"Yes, love?"

"We'll stay together, right?"

"Of course, baby, why shouldn't we?", he asked a bit confused.

"Dunno. Had a dream, few nights ago. You were suddenly gone.", she searched his face for an emotion.

"Hey, I'm not leaving. Don't you ever think that.", he stroked her cheek with tenderness.

"Good.", she sighed with relief. "Cause, I think I'm in love with you."

So, it was out. What would he say? How would he react?

"I love you, too, Buffy.", he replied. The kiss that followed felt like a promise, it was tender and filled with the love they both held for each other. It lasted several minutes long and breaking the contact again was almost painful. They only knew each other for weeks and already a life without the other seemed impossible or unbearable for both of them.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Hey, you two, are you decent?", Faith called from outside.

"Come in...", Buffy answered, quickly covering both of them with the comforter.

The smile Faith was wearing told Buffy that her best friend most likely knew everything. She was grinning like a madwoman as she looked at the couple on the bed.

"I hope I'm not interrupting something?", she teased.

Buffy and Angel shared a short glance, both slightly blushing.

"No....", Buffy replied, mentally begging Faith to stop asking questions.

"Anyway, I just wanted to ask if you're coming down for breakfast?", the brunette got the hint.

"Uhm, sure.", they nodded.

With that they were left alone to dress as Faith disappeared into the kitchen again.

As she opened the front door Buffy felt like singing and dancing, bursting with happiness. Humming a playful little tune, she observed that the house was, once more, deserted. Fine with her. Angel had just dropped her off, promising to call her later so she had enough time to take a long shower.

Walking over to the small drawer to check the answering machine Buffy, found her mother's cell phone laying next to the main phone. Darla rarely left it behind which was what made Buffy wonder where her mother might have left for so urgently.

Taking it up, suddenly a thought came to her mind. Okay, maybe she was violating her mother's privacy here but now that she was back at home past day's events came all rushing back to her. She remembered the letters and the mysterious signature. H.. Maybe, if it was her mother's lover, she'd find his number inside this little wonder of technology. Even if she wasn't sure what to do with it, she would have one more proof.

A few quick clicks led her to the alphabetical listing of her mother's friends and business partners. Buffy scanned down, growing more anxious with every letter bringing her closer to her destination.

When she indeed found an entry named with H. and a symbol for VIP beside it, she had to sit down. It was the only entry in the H-section and she was pretty sure she found what she had been looking for. Question now was, what to do. Should she put the phone back, pretending that she never had touched it? Should she ask her mother about it? Or should she call the number blinking up in front of her?

Before she even realized it, she had pressed "dial" and the connection was established. One sound, a second sound....then suddenly a voice.

"Holland Manners?.....Hello......Darla, is that you?........Hello.......?"

Buffy clutched the phone, not realizing that she was shaking like a leaf. Holland Manners? As in the Manner's enterprise empire? As in Angel Manners? The man on the other end of the line was Angel's dad. The mysterious H., the man, who had been having an affair with her mother for about 20 years, was Holland Manners? Angel's dad? Like in a trance Buffy put the cell phone back again and walked up the stairs to her room. She dropped her bag somewhere down the hallway, throwing herself on the bed. Only then she allowed herself to cry.

"Buffy? Is that you? What's wrong..."

"Faith, please, could you come over? I...something happened..."

"I´ll be there in a second."

Faith shook her head in disbelief. It just couldn't be possible. Darla Summers and Holland Manners? Having an affair? For more than 20 years? She handed Buffy another Kleenex as she tried to look through the chaos inside her head. Everything seemed to be upside down all of a sudden.

She had found Buffy crying inside her bedroom and slowly coaxed the whole story out of her.

"We need more proof.", she decided.

"What?", Buffy sniffled.

"If you want to know for sure, if you wanna know if Angel's dad is really the one having an affair with your mom, we need more proof.", Faith stated. A little action would help distracting Buffy.

After she had cleaned up her tearstained face, Buffy agreed with her best friend and together they were on their way towards Darla´s office soon. They sat down in the small café across the street and waited.

They waited for hours before Darla finally stepped out of the building. Scanning the road, she headed once more towards the mall. Buffy quickly dropped some money on the table and the girls followed the blonde in a safe distance.

Darla was heading for a small café herself, sitting down at one of the tables. Buffy and Faith watched her order a coffee until all of a sudden a man sat down beside her, kissing her softly on the cheek. Buffy recognized him as the same man she had seen at the diner. Scanning him, she tried to define if he looked like Angel. They didn't have to wait long for anything to happen. Holland reached behind his back and handed Darla a simple red rose. She took it from him with a smile, rewarding him with a long, passionate kiss.

Faith had to hold Buffy back from running straight to her mother, yelling at her what the hell she was doing. They watched the couple for 15 minutes, until Darla and Holland left the café, heading outside and for his car. Buffy felt the tears return and leaned her head against Faith's shoulder until the brunette pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Oh god, Faith. What am I going to do?"

"I don't know B.. Maybe talk to her?"

"I can't...", Buffy shook her head. She didn't even know what all this might mean.

"Would some ice cream make you feel better?", Faith asked her, totally helpless at the sight of her best friend hurting so much.

The grateful smile Buffy gave her in return was enough for her to drag the blonde along with her.

They had just finished their dessert, Faith talking to Buffy about the things she had missed at the party when suddenly Buffy´s face brightened up.

"Angel."

"Buffy."

He had spotted the girls just a second ago after he had seen his father leave with the mysterious blonde. Angel smiled down at his tiny love and pulled her into his arms to greet her properly.

"Mmh, Vanilla. My favorite.", he murmured, commenting on her choice of flavor.

"Mine's Angel.", she whispered before his lips descended on hers once more and all her sorrows left her mind for a second. Forgotten were Darla´s betrayal and her nagging doubt about deciding to do the right thing. But only for a second. As she let herself fall into Angel's caresses, drowning in his kiss, her brain suddenly came up with a shocking revelation.

If Holland Manners was her father, it would make Angel her brother.

Too painful to deal with it in any way as the thought crashed into Buffy it tore her away from Angel's arms and lips. She stared at him in shock, a tear streaming down her face before she turned on her heal and ran away. Away from her boyfriend, away from the mall, away from everything.

"Buffy...", Angel called after her but stopped dead in his tracks when he watched Faith running after his girl.

What had happened? One minute they had been kissing and the next second she was running away from him. He hadn't said anything....hadn't done anything unusual. What was wrong with her? Did she maybe realize all of a sudden that she didn't love him? That everything that happened between them last night and in the morning was too much for her to take? Should he run after her? Should he give her some space? Filled with sudden desperation and helplessness he sat down on the nearest bench.

Faith had left her alone, finally realizing Buffy wouldn't talk at the moment and that there was nothing she could do to make her feel better. Maggie and Darla had arrived an hour later and Buffy was still crying, not opening up to anyone.

Her phone rang but she didn't answer it, letting the answering machine pick up.

"Buffy? Baby are you there? I know you're home, please, answer the phone....", Angel's voice pleaded for the third time this evening. "What happened? Buffy, please, talk to me...." the machine ended his message only to start picking up his next one.

"I love you...", his voice was hoarse.

At the sound of his voice Buffy only cried harder, becoming more and more aware to the fact that everything was over. She could never have Angel....

"Sweetie, talk to me.", Darla pleaded but Buffy only moved away from her touch, unable to stand looking at her mother. Why? Why an affair? Why with Holland?

Darla tried for several minutes to make Buffy look at her but her daughter only told her to go away and leave her alone.

Another hour later Maggie softly knocked on her door and entered as she got no answer. Buffy was still curled into a tight ball on the bed, looking out of the window. She had finally stopped crying, feeling like there were no more tears left inside her. Maggie sat down beside her, stroking her back but not saying a word. After a while she felt Buffy relax and soon she finally drifted into sleep. Maggie pulled the boots from her feet and covered Buffy with a blanket.

"Sleep.", she whispered to the girl she loved like a daughter and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Buffy drifted into a short sleep only to wake with a start when another nightmare startled her. It was almost dawn when she finally fell into an exhausted slumber.

The next morning Buffy still refused to talk or leave the bed. Darla left for work and Maggie, not knowing what to do anymore, called Faith. The girl arrived within minutes and disappeared into Buffy´s room. She slipped off her shoes and lay down on the bed beside Buffy, pulling her close. The blonde allowed herself to be held for a while before she finally started talking. She told Faith everything, about her nightmares and fears, about wanting to die the second she realized Angel could be her brother. Faith listened to her until Buffy stopped talking, filled with sadness for her friend, unable to come up with a comforting phrase. So she just stayed at her side until Buffy drifted off to sleep again.

Tbc....

Ok, what will happen now? Will Buffy tell Angel? Send feedback and take a guess :o)

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Part 9 - Smashed

Rating: R? Note/Warning: This one almost gave Hannahbee a heart attack...so, you´ve been warned! Dedication: To Hannahbee, thanks for *that* reaction *g* I´m glad you´re still around!;o), the pack, all those lovely feedbackers....and prue 81: Happy Birthday!

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By the end of the following day Angel had left countless messages on her answering machine, begging her to talk to him, to tell him what was wrong with her. But Buffy simply listened to them. She was beyond crying by now, still unable to deal with her discovery, not to think of what Angel and she had done. Faith stopped by every few hours to check on her, see if she needed anything or wanted to talk but most of the day Buffy was alone in her room.

It was late afternoon and Buffy just stepped out of the shower when the phone rang again. But before she could pick it up, the answering machine kicked in.

"Buffy?", a familiar voice came to her ears. "Baby, I know you're there. Why won't you talk to me?" There was a small pause. "Anyway. I just wanted to tell you that I'm there for you if you want to talk. Whatever it is, whenever you feel like it, just talk to me...please...". His last words came out as a whisper and Buffy felt the tears welling up inside her again. Why couldn't he just let her go? Move on? She shook her head sadly and returned to the bathroom.

Darla softly knocked on the door to her daughter's room.

"Yeah?", a small voice answered her.

She pushed the door open and walked to the bed where Buffy was once more curled up. Gently she placed the tray of food on the floor before she addressed Buffy.

"Uhm, I brought you some food...", she started hesitantly.

"I'm not hungry.", Buffy replied.

"Honey, you need to eat. Look, I made you sandwiches...maybe just one?", Darla tried to persuade her.

"No, thanks...". All Buffy wanted was to be left alone.

"Buffy, what's wrong? You haven't talked to us since yesterday. We're worried. Did something happen?"

"Mom, please. I don't want to talk about it.", Buffy turned around but avoided to look at Darla´s face.

"I understand that, but..."

"But what? Why do you keep pushing me?", the words came out harder than Buffy had intended, but she could feel the anger welling up inside her.

"I'm sorry. I never wanted to push you. We're just worried...", Darla sounded hurt.

"Yeah, of course you are. But at least Mag respects my privacy. She doesn't push...", Buffy felt her cheeks starting to flush. Suddenly Faith's words from earlier that day echoed in her head. "Tell her.", the brunette had advised her. Maybe she was right.

"Buffy, honey...what's wrong..?", Darla repeated her question.

"What is wrong?", Buffy spat at her. "What is wrong? Oh, what could that be...maybe that I know about your little affair!" She looked at her mother to watch the words sink in.

"What?", Darla whispered in both shock and disbelief. "Oh come on, Mom. I know you're cheating on Maggie. With a guy. I just don't get why."

"How do you know?", Darla asked her.

"Is that all you can think of? You're cheating on your lover. Your *female* lover. With a guy. He's not even younger...".

"You've seen us?"

"Everybody with eyes could have seen it. You two were pretty close in that café...why, Mom? Why Holland Manners?"

Darla just stared at Buffy, her whole world falling apart. Her own daughter had just found out that she was cheating on her lover, with a man. And she even knew the name of the man.

"Did you tell Maggie?", she was finally able to ask.

"No. I didn't want to see her face when she finds out about it. That's your job.", Buffy stated.

"Buffy, I'm sorry you found out...this way. It's all very confusing but trust me I never wanted to hurt you or Maggie or...".

"I don't wanna hear about it, Darla.", Buffy replied, emphasizing her mother's name. "I just know that you are putting your family at risk for an affair. I know that you're cheating on the woman that loves you. Do you love him?"

"I...I, I don't know.", Darla started to cry.

"Mom, I think it's better if you leave. I don't want to talk to you now. Just one thing: you're going to tell Maggie. Soon. Or I´ll do it. If you can lie to her, fine. But I can't."

Darla just stared at her daughter, turned and left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her Buffy fell back on the bed, sobbing. She could here her mother talking on the phone in the next room a short while after. The talk was short and a while later the sounds of fighting and crying wafted up from downstairs. Buffy stood at the window and listened to the two women that were both her mothers. She heard the front door bang and watched Maggie´s car pulling out of the driveway, disappearing into the night.

Faith arrived five minutes after Buffy had called her and listened to her story of what had happened earlier.

"I'm scared, Faith.", Buffy admitted. She really was. Scared to not only lose Angel but Maggie, maybe even Ben as well. Scared that her life would never be the same again.

"Of course you are.", Faith nodded. "But trust me, everything's going to be fine."

Buffy smiled at her gratefully. At least for a moment she could pretend everything was ok. That was until the phone rang again.

Faith was next to it and she picked it up before Buffy could stop her.

"Hello?", Faith asked, watching Buffy´s anxious face. "It's Angel!", she mouthed a moment later with her hand covering the receiver. Buffy shook her head vehemently, but Faith shot her a pointed look.

"What, uhm, yeah she's here. Could you hang on for a sec?", she told Angel.

"Buffy, he's worried sick. You really should talk to him.", she addressed her best friend once more.

"Forget it!", Buffy yelped. "What am I supposed to tell him? The truth?"

"Nah.", Faith agreed with her. "Uhm, just tell him something....he said he'd keep calling until you talk to him."

Sighing Buffy held out her hand. She both dreaded and desired the moment she would hear his voice again. Faith pressed her hand assuringly and intended to leave Buffy alone. But the blonde shook her head, indicating her to stay as she pressed the receiver to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Buffy? Oh thank god. I was so worried, what's wrong...", he started questioning her.

"Uhm, Angel? I'm sorry but I ...need a little distance. That's why I never called you back. There's a lot of...trouble going on in my family at the moment and I...", she tried to sound calm.

"Let me help you. We'll talk about it...", he offered.

"Uhm, Angel, look, I don't want to talk about it. I think I just need distance...".

"I miss you.", he whispered.

"I miss you, too.", she whispered back, tears streaming down her face.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Buffy dropped the receiver, the emotions too much for her, and collapsed on the bed, sobbing. Why? Why did he love her? And why did she have to love him?

Faith took the phone back.

"Angel? It's probably best if you don't call again.", she told him. He was crying as well.

Gently she started to stroke Buffy´s hair until her best friend's sobs ebbed.

Angel put the phone down, broken. She refused to talk to him, wanted distance. Didn't she love him? Was what they did too much for her? Was she scared? Or was her family really having troubles? Visions of Buffy flooded his mind and he banged his head against the wall in frustration. He sat in the dark for a while, brooding and then went down to the kitchen to get a drink.

When he entered the room he found, to his surprise, his father sitting there, holding a glass of Whiskey.

"Dad?", he asked in disbelief. His father was rarely drinking the hard stuff.

"Oh, Angel.", his voice indicated that he'd already had more than one drink.

"Dad, are you alright?", Angel sat down beside him.

"I'm fine. Just a little trouble with the other sex.", Holland sighed.

"Want to share?", Angel asked. Just one more problem.

"She...she just called earlier...", Holland started.

"Would that "she" be the woman you didn't want to talk about at dinner?"

"Yes.", Holland nodded. "I didn't want to tell you because...she has a family."

"Oh.", was all Angel could think of. His father and a married woman?

"Yeah, and she told me that we couldn't see each other anymore because her family just found out and....she had to talk to them."

"I'm sorry, Dad.", Angel touched his father's shoulder.

"Thanks, son. If only I wouldn't love Darla that much....", he sighed and took another sip of his drink.

Angel was startled. "Did you just say Darla?"

"Yeah. That's her name. Darla. Darla Summers.", his father nodded.

And that was when Angel finally understood.

His father was having an affair with Buffy´s mother.

Buffy frowned as she entered the crowded place. After a week alone in her room it was the first time for her to go out and see other people again. Faith had insisted she came along and after a while Buffy decided that a little distraction probably was best at the moment. She was wearing simple low cut blue jeans and a black tank top, her hair swept up in a careless ponytail. Soon they spotted Dawn and Gunn on the dancefloor and before Buffy could blink, Faith dragged her along.

She closed her eyes and listened to the music, letting herself get lost in the rhythm, the movement an almost soothing experience. Everything around her disappeared and all thoughts flew from her mind.

They had been dancing for quite a while when suddenly a slow song started to play. Buffy´s eyes shot open and she almost ran from the dancefloor where dozens of couples were moving to the music now. She spotted their table and gulped down Gunn´s tequila at once. The liquid created a pleasant warmth in her empty stomach and she sat down, intending to watch her friends.

Angel held on to his third beer this evening when she finally sat down. He had spotted her the minute she had entered the club, as if he'd been able to sense her. Watching her move to the music was both pleasurable and frustrating. She was a goddess and he was unable to touch her. The last thing she'd want was to see another reminder of the man that destroyed her family. She seemed tired, her natural glow was missing. And watching her gulp down the drink only gave him a short glimpse of her bare belly and yet a little more frustration. So he just kept watching her like in trance and was startled when her eyes finally met his.

Buffy blinked in shock. Angel was here, watching her. He seemed to enjoy a drink but was sitting alone on one of the smaller sofas. She really intended to look away, she told herself. Just a short glimpse to see if he was ok. But she couldn't make her eyes leave his. And before she could stop herself she was walking over to him like drawn by a magnet. He looked like he hadn't been able to sleep for a few nights in a row but gorgeous as always. Finally she came to a halt in front of him.

"Hi.", she mumbled barely audible.

"Hey.", he replied, sending her a weak attempt of a smile.

She just kept staring, unable to speak or move.

"Uhm, do you want to sit down?", he finally asked her, moving aside to make room for her on the couch.

She nodded hesitantly and lowered herself on the sofa, carefully avoiding to touch him.

"I'm sorry.", he blurted out before he knew what was going on.

"Huh?", she shot him a questioning look.

"I'm sorry for...what my father did.", he explained. "Must have been a shock for you."

"Yeah.", she nodded. "You could say that."

"So, how are you? Your mother...s?", he asked her.

"Uhm, I think they're trying to work things out at the moment.", Buffy explained. Maggie had returned a few days ago after her first rage had calmed down. Both had taken a break from work and left town for a few days.

"Good.", he nodded. "I wish I had been there when you needed me...".

"I wish that, too...", she whispered before the realization of what she'd just said sank into her.

Angel turned around to face her. "Buffy, I miss you."

Was it the look in his eyes or the tequila warming her belly, Buffy didn't know. But she moved a little closer, whispering: "I miss you, too."

This simple statement was proof enough for her feelings and everything Angel needed was to pull her closer, his lips descending on hers. She tensed for a second but then she responded to his kiss. How many times had she dreamed about this for the last nights. She missed him terribly and now he was here, in her arms, kissing her. She allowed him access as his tongue sought hers and they clung together for dear life. It was passion filled with desperation neither of them had known before.

But suddenly Buffy´s brain started to work again and she struggled away from him.

"We...we shouldn't....", she stuttered as she looked at his hurt expression. Before he could reach for her, she turned around and ran from the Bronze.

Faith had observed the whole scene from nearby as she took a break from dancing and bolted off immediately after her friend. But Angel was able to catch her arm and spun her around.

"What's wrong with her?", he shouted.

"Angel, please, just leave her alone.", Faith pleaded before she headed for the door.

She found Buffy leaning against a wall nearby, crying. All she could do was take her into her arms and lead her home. Angel saw them walk away and sighed heavily. He could still taste herself inside his mouth and was more than determined to find out what was wrong with her.

Buffy hummed softly as she headed towards the living room. Today was the first day she was feeling close to normal after a long while. After the incident at the Bronze last weekend she had been shocked that she had let things go that far but then simply started to cut everything related to Angel out. She still avoided the Bronze, so Faith, Gunn and Dawn were coming over for movies and popcorn this evening. They would arrive in an hour, everything was ready and she was really looking forward to a little distraction. Gunn promised that he would pick some movies that didn't contain a single kiss.

She was halfway down the stairs when the doorbell rang. She headed for the door and opened it, wondering why the guys were so early. What she didn't expect was Angel standing on her threshold with an expression close to a maniac.

"Angel...", she gasped, all the emotions she'd suppressed too successfully for the past week welling up again inside her.

"Buffy.", he replied. His voice was missing his usual softness.

"Uhm...what do you want?", she tried after a while.

"Don't give me the casual crap.", he growled. "You know damn well what I want." He stepped closer and shut the door behind him.

"Angel, about what happened at the Bronze, I'm...I'm really sorry. This shouldn't have happ....are you alright?", she shot him a worried look. He scared her.

"I'm far from alright. I feel worse than I ever felt my whole life. You refuse to talk to me but you haunt my dreams. You shut yourself up but then you let me kiss you. I miss you, Buffy. I miss you every minute and I hate myself for it. Because we've only known each other for a few weeks and I'm already madly in love with you. And I want you...", he moved closer with every step until Buffy´s back collided with the wall of the hallway. His face inched towards hers and Buffy both feared and awaited what was to follow his outburst. He had trapped her effectively and so she had no chance to escape.

"I want you so much it eats me up inside, Buffy. I just can't understand....I can't stop...".

"I know the feeling.", she whispered, staring into his eyes and before she could say anything else he plundered her mouth with passion, desperation and almost brutally. But she didn't care. Again, everything around her disappeared as his mouth found hers and she kissed him back hungrily. God how she'd missed him.

He pressed her into the wall, letting her feel his growing hardness against her thigh as one of his hands moved down her shirt to roam over the naked skin he found there. Finally he could taste her, smell her, touch her again. A part of his mind objected to the way he treated her but the larger part of him didn't care. Neither did she. Her hands unbuttoned his shirt and her hands wandering over his smooth, silky skin. The wetness between her legs started to soak her panties and she couldn't soothe the ache between her legs. As if he'd read her thoughts he lifted her up and pulled her legs around his waist, grinding his erection against her warm center. She'd never felt this way before.

"You want it, too, don't you?", he whispered hoarsely as they panted for breath.

"Yesss...", she hissed before his lips covered hers again. They both wanted more, needed more. They stumbled towards the living room and kissed each other until they reached the sofa, their passion too long denied and stronger than ever.

When Angel finally lowered her down on the couch Buffy finally seemed to become aware of what was happening again.

"Angel, stop.", she pleaded.

He pulled away from her bare belly and looked at her quizzically.

"Oh god....what am I doing?", she whispered in shock. "What are we doing, Angel?"

"Buffy, love, everything's fine. Please, let me show you and I´ll prove it to you."

"Angel, we can't.", she whispered and moved away from him.

His expression softened, the look in his eyes free from madness. She wasn't ready. Well, he could wait. As long as she was with him he would do anything she wanted.

"It's ok, love. I know you're not ready.", he assured her, trying to touch her.

"No, Angel. You don't get it.", she searched for the right words. "We cannot do this. Ever again."

"Why? Buffy, I love you and you love me. Don't you want me?", he feared her answer.

"No. I think I want you too much...", she whispered.

"What's wrong with that?", he worried as she started to cry again.

"Everything.", she sobbed. "Everything's wrong, Angel. We mustn't...we can't."

"Why, Buffy? Just give me one good reason.", he pleaded, fighting hard not to take her into his arms and kiss her pain away.

"Because...god....you're my brother, Angel."

Tbc.....

How will Angel react to Buffy´s revelation? Can they deal? And what about Holland? Send feedback and take a guess?! :o)

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Part 10 - Wrecked

Rating: PG? Maybe R for language...

Note: sorry this took me so long, but now I'm finally on my semester break :o)

Note 2: Votes are open at the Shattered Frames Awards ;o)

Dedication: To Hannahbee and Leni, you girls sharing my craziness make my day, every single time! *g*, to Rain and anybody else sending me feedback on this, thanks!! :o)

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"What?", was all he could get out after a while of staring at her in utter shock and disbelief.

The hurt on his features was reflected in her own face. Now that she'd actually said it aloud there was no turning back.

"You are my brother.", she repeated and felt the statement sinking into him slowly as she moved away from him on the couch.

"How?", he felt that this wasn't a joke. He could see it in her eyes, watch the emotions on her sweet face, realize that she was creating a distance between them. "Buffy, please...talk to me."

This was hard. Where was she to start? If only he wasn't looking at her like that.

"Angel, listen to me. I know how you feel but you have to believe me.", she pleaded.

"Tell me...", he whispered.

"Ok, uhm... see my mom, she has an affair with your dad.", she paused, waiting for his reaction.

He sighed, a little relieved. She probably thought her parents were going to marry and that their relationship made them practically siblings. That was until she went on.

"They have been having an on and off relationship for like 21 years. I know they both had other relationships but they never really stopped seeing each other.", she looked at him again. He stared back at her in alarm. Was she just telling him that his father cheated on his mother?

Ok, she'd been already dead then but still, it felt like betrayal. That he had an affair with another woman for 21 years without anyone realizing it? Wait, 21 years? He stared at Buffy, realization dawning on him.

"No...", he whispered, barely inaudible. But she heard him.

"Angel, please...", she wasn't sure what she was pleading for. "I know this is hard for you and I hate to do this to you, but there's more to it. From what I know so far, there is no doubt in believing that your dad...is my father. Everything fits together...", she started to sob and all Angel wanted to do was take her into his arms. But she flinched as he touched her arm.

"Ssh...", he tried to soothe her against the lump in his own throat. So that was what she'd been hiding. "Maybe it's not true. There has to be something to prove...", he stopped as she looked at him though tearful eyes.

"You really want to know? I can show you...", she managed to get out. Buffy got up from the sofa, her knees so weak that she tripped. Everything seemed unreal to her. First she was kissing Angel and the next second they were having an almost rational conversation about their family bond? Slowly she went to her mother's bedroom and fetched the box with the letters that still, after all the trouble they'd caused, were in their old place, under the bed.

When she entered the living room again, Angel was slumped on the couch, finally crying. The image of uttermost despair presented to her was too much for Buffy. She stumbled over to the couch, clinging onto him, letting her tears run free, crying for the love they were going to lose. Angel pulled her closer and together they wept until their tears slowly ebbed.

"Are you sure?", she whispered to him, indicating the box.

He only nodded and watched her searching for the letters. When she finally handed one of them to him, he started to read.

Angel read all the letters, digging deep into his father's feelings for a woman that was a stranger to him. The more he read, the more evident became the truth of Buffy´s assumptions. Holland had to be Buffy´s father, even if it wasn't clear he knew of his second daughter. From the letters they had in front of them they could tell that Darla had avoided the contact with Holland during her pregnancy. When he finished reading the last letter he found Buffy staring at him, awaiting his reaction.

He slowly shook his head, unable to deal with the truth of his love being ripped from him like this. And somewhere in his brain, something snapped, catapulting him into denial. He turned to face her, his hand reaching up to cup her chin in his palm, his eyes searching for and finally finding hers. He was digging for something familiar in them, like he remembered Lilah´s eyes but found none. All he discovered there was the love and despair shining through the tearstained and reddened eyes of the woman he loved.

"How can you be my sister when I love you so much?", he whispered.

"I don't know.", she whispered back, moving closer to him. It was true. She didn't know why they had met like this or why they had fallen in love. Was it destiny? A cruel, heartwrenching choice of fate?

"God, Buffy.", he sighed and started to caress her face, tracing every beloved inch.

"How am I supposed to stay away from you?", she was almost crying again. "How can I meet you on the street and just say ´hi`? Do what, give you a hug like I say hello to Ben? Tell me what to do! How can I stop wishing to kiss your lips, to touch you? Please tell me, how can I stop loving you, cause I don't think I can..."

"Then don't.", the harshness of his words startled them both.

"What?"

"I said don't. Don't stop loving me. We can still be together, nobody knows, right? We could keep it a secret and nobody would ever know." The temptation of his plea stood between them for a while, both arguing whether to give in or be rational. But then Buffy shook her head.

"We can't. Faith knows...she wouldn't accept us being together. It's just not right."

"I know, Buffy, I know. But tell me how to stop and I will. I´ll do anything you want if just the pain will go away."

"Maybe...", she started and hated herself for it, "maybe it's better for all of us if we don't see each other anymore."

Angel stared at her. He knew she was probably right but the pure thought of not being able to see her broke his heart all over again. But he had to be mature. They couldn't keep it a secret, right?

"We could run away together...", he made a last desperate attempt.

"For how long 'til they find us? Where could we go, we have no money..."

"Don't worry about that, love. I've enough money...", he stopped, realizing what he was talking about.

"Angel, please. Don't make it harder...", she pleaded.

"You're right...I should probably go...", he stood up from the sofa, stepping away from her.

"Then go...", she whispered, but her eyes said something different.

He walked backwards, step by step, towards to front door but his eyes never left hers for a second until he collided with the wooden doorframe. The stared at each other, their feelings coursing between them with such intensity they could almost grasp it.

"Go...", she whispered.

He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, relishing in the feel of her against him for what was to be the last time. She was clinging onto him for dear life until their gazes locked once again. Slowly, so slowly his mouth was moving towards hers until their lips made contact. Bittersweet and tender was the kiss they shared. Something to remember, to reaffirm their love, to say goodbye and to express something forbidden. After an eternity of drinking each other in, Angel pulled away from her. They separated a little but their hands were still joined. Angel was the one to break the silence.

"You still my girl?", he whispered.

"Always.", she vowed, her eyes full of love.

They kissed for a last time and then Angel turned and opened the door. He released her hand as he stepped on the front porch.

"I won't look back and I won't say goodbye.", he told her and walked away from her. Out of her house and out of her life, leaving her as broken as he was himself.

`It is never over...` was coursing through both their thoughts as Angel's car disappeared.

Angel headed directly to a small pub near his home. The bartender shot him a look and asked: "Got trouble with your woman, eh?"

But Angel just put a hundred dollar bill in front of him. "Whiskey. Until I ask for no more. If I pass out call me a cab. I´ll pay for everything."

The bartender knew when he'd better keep his mouth shut and placed the first drink in front of the dark-haired man who looked like he just went through hell itself.

Buffy closed the door and leaned against it, slumping down. Tears were streaming down her face while she still felt his touch on her lips, had his taste inside her mouth and she sat there, rocking back and forth until Faith found her.

The brunette didn't ask any questions. She saw the letters spread in the living room and after she pulled Buffy down on the couch again she carefully put them back into their envelopes and placed the box upstairs. She returned to her best friend, handed her a handkerchief and a glass of water and waited for her to talk.

"He was here...", Buffy finally croaked out and it was all Faith needed to know.

"You want me to call Gunn and tell him not to come?", she asked gently.

But Buffy shook her head. "Please, I don't want to be alone now...".

So Faith pulled her upstairs, into the bathroom and helped her best friend wipe away the tears. Just when they were finished they heard Gunn´s and Dawn's voices from downstairs.

Two weeks later Buffy still looked like the walking dead. She refused to eat or talk to anyone except Faith about what happened with Angel. She shut herself off from Maggie and Darla who seemed to work out their problems slowly. Faith tried to go out with her once but every guy that looked the slightest bit like Angel left Buffy drowned in despair all over again. From what Anya knew Angel wasn't doing much better. He went out almost every night and got himself drunk.

Finally Darla couldn't stand the sight and behavior of her daughter anymore. She already suspected that her attitude had to do with their earlier talk and Maggie almost pushed into talking to Buffy. So one day she knocked on the door to her daughter's room and waited for the permission to enter.

"Yeah?", Buffy´s voice answered her knock and when she opened the door, Darla spotted her daughter lying on the bed in a fetal position, as usual.

"Sweetie, what's wrong with you?", she asked gently as she sat down beside her on the bed.

"Nothing.", Buffy mumbled.

"Come on, we both know it's something big. Buffy, you haven't been eating for weeks now. You don't sleep and when you do, you wake up crying. What's bothering you so much?"

Buffy sat up on her bed, a sudden wave of anger flooding her thoughts. "You really have no idea, right?", she almost spat at her mother.

Darla shook her head and remained silent.

"Mom, how stupid do you think I am. I've done the math. I know who my father is."

"What?", Darla almost shouted.

"Oh come on, don't tell me you don't know it. It wasn't an anonymous donation, right? I know that it was Holland Manners...", Buffy felt herself getting angrier with every minute.

"I don't know.", Darla repeated over and over again, close to tears. "Buffy, sweetie, you have to believe me."

"Mom, please. Just tell me. I need to know. I can stand it."

"Buffy, it's the truth.", Darla had to admit.

"So what? You've been screwing around so much that you don't remember who knocked you up?", Buffy asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, but as soon as she uttered the words she regretted them already.

"No, please.", Darla went on. " Yes, I had an affair with Holland but he didn't want any more children after his wife died. So Maggie and I...we were searching for someone willing to donate....and...", her voice trailed off.

"What? You found someone? Who?", Buffy had the strong impulse to shake her mother.

"There was this guy...Adam, a fellow student of mine. He was nice and...willing to donate. He was in need of money so we made a contract."

"And during all this time you continued to sleep with Holland?", Buffy asked, unable to believe what her mother was telling her.

"Yes.", Darla nodded, ashamed. "I know I've made mistakes, Buffy. But I wanted a child and....god I love you so much. Does it really matter who your father is?"

"It matters to me...", Buffy´s brain was close to a collapse.

"Haven't you got enough love from Maggie and me?", Darla sounded hurt.

"Mom, please. It's not that. I love you both, you know that. I just need to know."

"I guess then we have to make some tests", Maggie´s voice came from the door. I think you deserve to know who your father is if it's that important for you."

Buffy looked at her second mother and smiled gratefully.

Darla had to call both Holland and Adam to make sure they were going to do the test. Holland was thunderstruck by the possibility of having another daughter. To find Adam wasn't quite as easy. He was in New York as it turned out to be and less than delighted to hear from Darla. But after a while he agreed to do the test, making clear that he wasn't interested in the results, no matter if he was Buffy´s father or not.

The tests were made and what seemed to be an endless time of waiting started.

After four long weeks the results were finally there. Buffy opened the envelope with trembling fingers and there it was.

Tbc.... I know I'm evil but I promise to update soon!

So what do you think? Who's Buffy´s father? And can she really stay away from Angel? Send feedback and take a guess ;o)

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