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buffyfic-digest         Wednesday, May 6 1998         Volume 02 : Number 162



In this issue:

       BUFFYFIC:I'm Really Sorry
       BUFFYFIC: Hello  (1/1)
       BUFFYFIC: Change  (1/1)
       BUFFYFIC: Fledgling Part One of ???

See the end of the digest for information on (un)subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 19:33:25 EDT
From: Jaclyn Amy <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC:I'm Really Sorry

I'm really sorry, but my annoying little sister broke the disk I had saved the
rest of Angel's Memories on. Unless I figure out some way to fix the disk, I
can't finish the story. Anyone else who wants to can feel free to do so. Once
again, I'm really sorry.

- -Jaclyn

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 03:13:32 EDT
From: Redfire98 <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Hello  (1/1)

TITLE:  Hello
AUTHOR:  Tamara
EMAIL:  [e-mail]
FEEDBACK:  Yeah, sure.  I live for feedback.
DIST:  Eventually my page.  All others ask first.
RATING:  PG -although there is some racy talk.  Nothing too naughty.
SUMMARY:  It's the middle of the night (okay, really early morning) and Buffy
gets a phone call.
DISCLAIMER:  The characters do not belong to me.  They are property of
Joss Whedon, the WB and Fox.  I'm just borrowing them to have a little
harmless fun.

Note:  This is another Before Everything Got All Screwed Up story.  In other
words, things are happy.  It's mostly dialogue, because it is a phone call.
I made up some stuff to suit my purposes.  I wrote this a long time ago so
things definitely do not jazz with what's been happening since the big switch
happened.  Keep that in mind.  It's just a light hearted story to remind
myself
that once, a long time ago, I was capable of writing happy stories.

And I'm dedicating this to Tracy, who I apologize to profusely for all the sad
stuff I've been writing lately.  Happy now, Trace.  And to Lex.  I know you've
got a happy story lurking around somewhere.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello


Ring!  Ring!  Ring!  Ring!  Ring!  It was after the sixth jarring sound that
Buffy picked up the phone.   Sneaking a look at the clock, she groaned
as she noted how early it was.  After mentally cursing whoever was calling
her, she spoke.

"Demon, vampire, or giant bug?," she asked groggily.

There was a chuckle, a very familiar one, Buffy noted through a sleepy haze.

"Vampire," Angel answered his amusement clear.  "But he's not dangerous."

Buffy sat up when she finally registered the voice.  Running a hand through
her hair she sighed.  "Maybe not to you," she replied her voice husky.  "But
he's risky for me.  Bored?"

Another chuckle.  "More like lonely," he answered.  "I figured you'd be up.
Seems I was wrong."

Buffy smiled.  "Don't worry about it," she told him reassuringly.  "I'm always
awake for you."

"That's good to know."

Buffy laid back down in bed, situating herself comfortably on a pillow.
"So, you're lonely.  Why?"

Buffy heard movement and imagined he was lying back like she was.
"Why am I lonely?" he repeated the question.  "I guess I do it well."

Buffy chuckled.  "I'm sure there are plenty of things you do well," she said
to him.  "Try some of those."

"Okay," he agreed.  "There's brooding, lurking, stalking.  And if I were a
bragger I'd add killing to that list, but we both know I'm reformed."

Buffy couldn't help but smile.  "Okay, so maybe you're lacking in hobbies.
You haven't picked up something to do in all your years?"

"Some things."

The simple statement pricked Buffy's curiousity.  "Care to elaborate."

There was another chuckle.  "Reading," he answered.  "I read.  A lot."

Buffy knew there was something he wasn't telling her.  But she figured if he
wasn't talking, he wasn't talking.

"Okay, reading is good," Buffy said adopting the subject.  "I read.  All the
time."

This time a muffled laugh could be heard on the other end.  Buffy, slightly
stung, was not amused.

"Buffy, what was the last thing you read?," he asked when he'd stopped
laughing.  "That wasn't school related."

Buffy frowned.  "All right," she admitted.  "The last thing I read, that
wasn't assigned, was the latest issue of Cosmo.  But I had to sneak that one
in
during a Slayerette meeting."

"My point proved."

"Hey!," Buffy said indignantly.  "I happen to be a very busy person.  I don't
exactly have time to sit down and devote a couple of hours to great works of
literature.  I can just see myself trying to read Shakespeare by the light of
the moon in Sunnydale Cemetery."

By the silence on the other end of the phone she knew she'd made her point.

"You're right," he said contritely.  "I'm sorry."

Buffy sighed.  "Apology accepted.  Can we move on, please?"

"Yes, let's move on," he answered.  "What do we talk about now?"

Buffy smiled as she snuggled deeper into her covers.  "Let's talk about
why I haven't seen you for a while," she answered after shifting the phone
to her other ear.  "You don't return my phone calls, you avoid me at the
Bronze.  I stop by your place and you tell me you're busy.  What's the deal?"

There was another round of silence and Buffy was positive he wasn't
going to answer.  Just when she'd decided to give up he spoke.

"I've been doing some thinking," he answered softly.  "It's not something I
do well with you around."

"Should I be flattered?"

He chuckled again.  "Yeah, you should," he replied.  "Anyway, things are
going fairly well for us and I needed to think about what to do next."

"So what did you decided?" she asked, curious to know what his answer
would be.  "What were your choices?"

"Well, I could either give the 'we're doomed to failure' speech, but I figured
that would only upset you, and you upset means trouble for me." he
answered after a moment.

Buffy smiled.  "Okay, upsetting speech.  Your other choice?"

"I could be happy and leave things the way they are."

"And you chose..."

"I chose to be happy."

Buffy sighed happily.  "Which means I stay happy," she said.  "Good choice.
Does that mean no more avoiding me?"

He laughed.  "No more avoiding you.  I'll return all your calls and when you
drop by I won't be busy."

"So, if I said I was on my way over now..."

"I'd tell you to go home," he finished for her.  "One of us has a class
tomorrow."

Buffy groaned.  "You're beginning to sound like my mother."

"It's the age thing," he answered matter-of-factly.  "Speaking of mothers,
where
is yours?"

"My mom is out of town on gallery business," Buffy answered.  "The New York
gallery is having some big art show and mom had to make an appearance.
Such is the life of a gallery owner."

"That would mean you're all alone," he ventured.

"Yep," she replied.  "All alone.  I tried to wrangle an invite but suspected
vamp activity has me grounded."

"Giles being Giles again, huh?"

Buffy nodded.  "He's had me training extra hard for some upcoming event.
You should show.  It'll be bigger than Tyson-Holyfield."

"Is that right?" he asked an amused note in his voice.  "When did you take up
boxing?"

Buffy laughed.  "Boxing is cool.  I watch to learn.  Plus, it gives me a
happy.
It's nice to watch two sweaty, muscular men pummeling each other and know
that, if I were there, I could kick both their asses."

"We talked about my lack of hobbies.  Let's talk about your choice of
hobbies."

Buffy chuckled.  "Let's not.  Last week I spent all my free time practicing
how to effectively decapitate a vamp using only a butcher knife.  Giles won't
give me a sword.  Says I'll get blade happy.  I had to stop fighting him about
it when I realized he was right."

"What's the free time activity this week?"

"Knife throwing," she answered.  "I can't really use it for vamps but it's
fun.
The only thing is that my mom walked into my room right after I threw a knife
at my target.  The only thing she said was, 'Buffy, I don't remember buying
knives like that.'  Then she walked out of the room, but not before I heard
her mumbling, 'Buffy's throwing knives at the wall.  Should I be worried?"

He laughed and Buffy couldn't help but smile.  "You have customized knives?"

"Yeah," Buffy replied.  "Girl's gotta be prepared.  I've even got those cool
ninja
star thingies.  My next weapon is the whip.  Giles says I'm getting a little
carried away.  I told him if Catwoman can use one so can I.  Besides a whip
can come in handy."

"In handy for what?"

"My personal life.  Never know when you'll need to punish the ones you love."

Angel chuckled.  "Should I be afraid?"

"Do you need to be punished?"

"No," he answered firmly.  "Let's get off this topic.  Time to move on."

Buffy accepted the change in topic.  "Let's talk about the past."

There was a brief silence on the other end.  "Let's talk about those whips."

Buffy smiled.  "No chickening out," she told him.  "I want to know what life
was like when you were a kid.  I bet you were cute."

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything," she answered.  "Did you have brothers and sisters?  Where
did you live?  What did you do?  How many women did you seduce?  You
know, all the dirt."

He laughed.  "Okay.  I had two sisters.  I was the only boy and the oldest.
I lived in Ireland.  I had a mom and a dad.  I didn't seduce any women.  I was
a gentleman.  That's about it."

Buffy smiled.  "I can believe that."

"Believe what?"

"That you didn't seduce any women," she replied.  "We've been together
a while now and you still haven't put the moves on me yet.  The thing is I
don't believe it.  I bet there was some girl you had your eye on.  And I'm
positive you weren't pure and innocent.  It's not you."

He smiled.  "I said I didn't seduce women, I didn't say I didn't sleep with
them."

"So, finally we get to the truth," she said imagining juicy gossip.  "Alright,
spill it.  Were you a frequent visitor to the local establishment?  Did you
have
a naughty, divorced mistress?"

Angel laughed.  "Buffy, where did you get this?"

"Hey," she said smiling.  "I have little to work with.  My great source of
info
is the occasional Historical novel I can sneak in.  Clue me in."

"This doesn't bother you?" he asked, stalling for time.  Buffy thought she
heard him mumble, "It's bothering me."

Buffy shook her head.  "No," she answered truthfully.  "Why should it?
I happened ages ago.  Besides I think I have a right to know how you got your
experience.  It affects me."

Angel smiled.  "Will it?"

"Hopefully soon, but that depends on Saint Angel, keeper of Buffy's virgin
status."

"Keeper of your what?" Angel asked in a choked voice.

"You heard me," she told him.  "Now stop stalling and talk."

He sighed.  "No I was not a frequent visitor to the local establishment.
I didn't pay for sex.  And yes, I had a mistress."

Buffy was intrigued.  "How many?"

"You assume I had more than one?"

"Yeah," she said imaptiently.  "Didn't you?"

"Well yes, but I'm stung you assumed it."

Buffy grinned.  "Oh, get over it.  Your ego isn't that fragile.  Go on."

"I'm not telling you about mistresses, Buffy," Angel said firmly

"Loosen up, it's the nineties.  The 1990's," she reminded him.  "Besides, I'm
curious."

He was quiet for a moment.  "Do you even care that this is making me very
uncomfortable?"

"Not really," Buffy answered.  "But if it bothers you that much we'll skip
that
talk.  Better?"

"Much," he answered.  "How are Willow and Xander?"

"They're perfect," she responded.  "Spending some quality time together.
Away from their troublesome friend."

"You're not troublesome."

"I happen to agree," Buffy said smartly.  "So sad other adults don't feel the
same."  She sighed.  "Save their lives and they don't even appreciate it."

"Feeling sorry for yourself?"

"No," Buffy answered.  "Just a little unappreciated."

Angel laughed.  "Alright, next topic."

Buffy smiled.  "Okay.  What's the weirdest thing about our relationship?" she
asked him after a moment.  "In your opinion."

Angel chuckled.  "Besides the fact that I'm old enough to be your grandfather
a couple times over?"

Buffy groaned.  "I never thought about it like that," she said.  She had a
brief
flash of herself kissing an old decrepit man.  She shuddered.  "Thank
goodness you look young.  We're sick."

Angel smiled.  "Maybe just a little, he answered.  "But you like me anyway
right?"

"Yep," she answered truthfully.  "My only other alternative is Xander.
Or Spike."  She paused to think about it.  "I could get into Spike.  He's
sexy."

"I wouldn't," Angel told her.  "He's all talk.  No action there at all."

Buffy laughed.  "Look who's talking.  I'm not getting much of either out of
you.  What makes you so sure you've got what it takes?"

"We can always ask Dru," he told her.  "I'm sure she can fill you in."

Buffy grinned.  "No fair throwing up past demons in my face," she told him.
"It's bad enough knowing Dru's had you and I haven't."

"Be good," Angel warned.  "One more sex reference and I'll hang up."

Buffy sighed.  "Slayers honor, I'll be good."

Angel smiled.  "Alright.  Anything else you want to talk about?"

"Yeah," she answered after a moment.  "Are we still on for the weekend?"

"Yes.  My place or yours?"

"Definitely yours," Buffy replied.  "It's cosy."

Angel laughed.  "Okay, it's late and you've got school tomorrow so I'm letting
you go."

"Alright.  Your place, eight o'clock?"

"My place, eight o'clock.  Don't be late."

"I won't," she answered.  She snuggled deep into her covers, preparing
once again for sleep.  "Bye Angel."

Angel smiled.  "Goodnight Buffy," he said softly into the phone.  A second
later, he hung up.

Buffy replaced the reciever and sighed.  "Goodnight," she murmurred
before drifting off to sleep.


The End
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tamara, Mistress of the CtH   ~ [e-mail] ~
UCSL~F.I.C.!!!, Spikette, SGEB, SunS Worshipper, RABID
Webpage:   http://members.tripod.com/~Aramat1/fanfic.html
"We're so sick.  I love us!"   -Lex, My Evil Twin
"We're like artists and this is how we screw ourselves." -Jane, "Daria"
Laissez les bon temp roulez!

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 03:13:21 EDT
From: Redfire98 <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Change  (1/1)

TITLE:  Change
AUTHOR:  Tamara
EMAIL:  [e-mail]
FEEDBACK:  Yes, please.
DISTRIBUTION:  Eventually, my page.  All others, please ask first.
SUMMARY:  This is a Buffy POV.  It was written after "Prophecy Girl",
definitely Before Everything Got All Screwed Up.  It deals with Buffy's
feelings after she, Willow, Xander, and Cordelia graduate from high school.
That means it's one of those future events stories.
DISCLAIMER:  Characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer do not belong to
me.  They are property of Joss Whedon, the WB and some other people. I'm
using them purely for my own amusement and I'm sending it to the list in my
arrogant assumption that it will entertain you.  I'm kidding.  I'm not
arrogant.
I'm not.  Really.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Change


Change.  There are no words to express how much that word freaks me out.
Within that one word lies all my insecurities, all my fears, all my doubts.
Whoever said change was good, well, they definitely hadn't been a teenager.
Everytime I hear that word it reminds me of all the things I've been through.
My parents divorce, my hectic year in LA, my move to Sunnydale, my dying,
and now this.  The biggest change I've had in a while.

It's weird to me that high school's over.  Everything I've become used to,
everybody I've grown comfortable with, it's all changing.  There will be no
more late night sessions in the library with Willow, Xander, and Cordelia.
No more walks through the cemetery with my buds.  No more weekend
sleepovers with the girls.  No more crazed dance parties at the Bronze.
No more just hanging out with my friends.  I  think of all the things we did
together and realize we won't be doing them anymore.   Everything's changing
and I'm not liking it.

I think my biggest problem with this is that my friends are leaving.  Now,
don't get me wrong, I thinks it's great that they're getting out of the
slaying.  To be honest, it's three less people I have to protect.  But they've
been with me from the beginning, it won't be the same without them.  Who
will I call when I've got demons on the brain and I need to talk it out?  Who
will be there when things just get to be too much?

And what happens when they meet new people, new normal people,
whose lives don't involve vampires, slaying, demons, and facing death every
night?  I'm not afraid of being forgotten, who could forget he girl who placed
you in danger every night of your high school existance?  I guess I'm afraid
of being left behind.  They'll go on with their lives and I'll still be in
Sunnydale, fighting the forces of darkness.  Things will change for them, and,
for me, they'll stay the same.

I know I've still got Giles.  But it's just not the same.  For the past three
years Willow, Xander and Cordelia gave up so much to help me out.  Well, Will
and Xan, more than Cordy, but still, they've risked a lot for me.  I don't
know
what I'll do without them.

But in the midst of all this change one thing, at least, is staying the same.
Angel.  I'm grateful for his presence because, quite honestly, I really don't
know how I would have gotten through the last three months without him.
He's been there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, which happened just
about every time I let myself dwell on the fact that my friends were leaving.
When I needed to rant and rave about the unfairness of it all, that they
were allowed to leave, and I had to stay behind, he listened, smiling the
whole way.  When I sat and raged at myself for my selfishness, he held me.
And when I got the urge to run out in the middle of the night to do serious
harm to the undead population of Sunnydale, he followed me and made
sure my recklessness didn't end me up in the hospital.  Through it all,
he's been great.  And I thank him for it.

But now, as I look at the clock, I realize it's time to say my goodbyes to
the three best friends any not-so-normal girl could have.  I'm trying not to
cry, trying hard not to let their leaving affect me too much.  But I can't.
So I'll say goodbye.  I'll hug them and kiss them and tell them how much I'll
miss them, how much they mean to me.  And then when they leave, I'll head
over to Angel's and cry my eyes out.

Change.  I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

The End
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tamara, Mistress of the CtH   ~ [e-mail] ~
UCSL~F.I.C.!!!, Spikette, SGEB, SunS Worshipper, RABID
Webpage:   http://members.tripod.com/~Aramat1/fanfic.html
"We're so sick.  I love us!"   -Lex, My Evil Twin
"We're like artists and this is how we screw ourselves." -Jane, "Daria"
Laissez les bon temp roulez!

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 06 May 1998 12:18:20 -0700
From: Angel's Lover <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Fledgling Part One of ???

Subject:  Buffy and Angel find a fledgling vampire.. a half vampire if
you will and decide to raise her to respect life and turn her back on
her vampire nature.
Rating:  PG for the most part.
Spoilers:  Don't think so.. this takes place after Angel is returned so
I doubt it.
Posting:  At my webpage, Heaven's Gates
(http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/3863) under the Watcher's Diaries.
Please don't reproduce with out asking.
Comments:  Please.. to Lea at either:  [e-mail] or
[e-mail]  Good or bad.. just be kind! *g*
Disclaimer:  Characters aren't mine.. except Niamh (BTW:  pronounced
NEEV).. they belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, and WB.. I'm making no money
from this.. quite obviously. *G*

****************

Fledgling Part One



    The Fledgling

    They were walking through the graveyard hand in hand, slayer and
vampire, woman and man.  The night had been quiet, no vampires, no
demons, not even a fishy looking high school senoir.  Both knew it was
far too quiet to stay that way.
    It was then that the soft sobbing of a girl reached their ears.  Angel
stiffened as a sent infiltrated his senses.  "Blood."
    Buffy pulled a stake from her purse a frown on her face.  "Where
there's blood there's blood suckers.  Let's go fishing."
    They moved forward slowly, edging closer to the sounds of the crying.
With a silent gesture Buffy sent Angel around one side of the gravestone
before them and she circled the other side.  They both readied
themselves for whatever may meet their sight as they stepped out of the
shadows to see...
    A girl.  Two deep puncture marks marred her neck as the remnants of
blood dribbled from her lips.  Buffy shook her head in sadness, another
innocent destroyed.  She sighed and readied her stake.
    Angel's hand wrapped around her wrist.  "Wait."
    Buffy blinked.  "What wait?  Slayer, stake, vamp.  All's in order."
    "She's not a full vampire."
    "What?"
    Angel slipped off his coat and wrapped it around the girl's shivering
form.  "She's a fledgling.  She wasn't fully brought across.  They must
have heard us coming and made a run for it."
    "So what?  She's only half as dead?"
    Angel shrugged, "Well.. I wouldn't put it quite that way."
    "Half as inclined to suck the blood out of Sunnydale's living
populace?"
    "No... she still needs to feed on blood."
    "Only half of her will go explosive at dawn?"
    "Sunlight is still deadly, but she can take direct exposure for a short
period of time.. about an hour or so."
    "Crosses?"
    "Little effect."
    "Holy water?"
    "Burns but heals quickly."
    Buffy shook her head, "So.. does she only live half of forever?"
    "I don't know."
    "Heaven's be praised, I finally stumped the undead chump!"  She sighed,
"Okay, Ange, start talking.  What's the sitch?  How come you know so
much about Sunnydale's own personal answer to the metis?"
    He knelt beside the girl, quickly using a peice of her shirt sleeve to
stop the bleeding at her neck.  "I... I tried to raise a fledgling once,
a long time ago.  It was just after the cursing.. no more than fifteen,
maybe twenty years."
    Buffy snorted.  "Yeah, right after that cursing.  Hardly a moment's
passing.. blink of an eye."
    Angel raised an eyebrow but continued slowly.  "I found him a few days
after his attack.  He was living off rats and birds.. unsure of his
nature, knowing only the intense desire for blood.  I.. I thought that
if I took him with me perhaps I'd be able to train him properly.. how to
survive without human blood and all the senseless violence of full
vampires."
    "You defanged him.. err.. so to speak."
    "I suppose."
    "Did it work?  I mean were you able to train him?"
    Angel hesitated.  "For a while."
    Buffy sighed, "Got tired of rats did he?"
    Angel stroked the fledgling's hair gentley, staring out at the moon
sadly.  "He went insane.  Living between worlds isn't easy, Buff.  Your
nature demanding you kill again and again, something inside you telling
you that you can't.  He wasn't strong enough to handle the duality of
both callings."
    "Not like you?"
    He shrugged.  "He lasted six months before he ripped the throat out of
a woman who was just passing by."
    "What happened?"
    "I killed him."
    "Oh.. oh, Angel."
    Angel glanced up to meet Buffy's eyes.  "I can't help thinking that
maybe I got to him too late; if I'd only caught him earlier."
    Buffy nodded, but sighed.  "Ange, I'm sorry about what happened, but we
can't risk a repeat gore.  If we let Metis here live and she goes wacko
vamp on us, we could all be history."
    The girl whimpered softly, shying away from Buffy back into Angel's
arms.  "Please," she whispered, "Please help."
    Buffy bit her lip as her eyes travelled from the fledgling to Angel.
The determined look in her boyfriend's eyes told her everything she
needed to know.  She raised her hands in defeat.  "Fine!  But if she
goes on a mega blood binge don't come crying to me!  She's your
problem!"
    Angel grineed, "I knew you'd understand, Buff."
    Buffy softened, "Sure, sure.  Come on, let's get her to the loft and
I'll get her cleaned up.  That's one task you're not going to ahve a
hand in!"
    Angel couldn't resist.  "Jealous much?" he teased.
    Buffy only sighed in exasperation, shaking her head as she helped the
fledgling to her feet.  "Hon, when you're ready, I'm telling you now,
choose a human boyfriend.  Vampires have awful senses of humor."
    Angel grinned, "Only to humans.  We find ourselves quite witty,
actually."
    Buffy nodded, "And he demonstrates my point with a perfect score of
ten!  Winner and still champion!"

***********************

    Buffy helped the fledgling out of her clothing, turning to stop the
taps pouring warm water into Angel's tub.
    She smiled as the girl hesitated at the water level.  "Go on, I swear
it's not holy!"  The girl never blinked and Buffy sighed.  "Absolutely
no sense of humor what so ever.   IN!"
    Slowly the girl slid into the warmth of the bath and Buffy began to
pour the water onto her hair.  "So... Metis... what is your namy
anyway?"
    "Name?"
    "Yeah.. name.. me Buffy you...?"  Buffy rolled her eyes, the vamps must
have sucked out the kid's brain cells along with her blood.
    "Niamh."  She murmered.
    "Okie, Niamh it is."  Buffy poured some shampoo into her hand, and
began spreading it through Niamh's hair.  "So.. how old are you anyway?"
    "Sixteen."
    Buffy grew tired of the girl's one word responses.  "Not so chatty, are
ya?"  No response, so Buffy tried again.  "I know you don't go to
Sunnydale High, so where ya from?"
    "Nowhere."
    "Where are your folks?"
    "Somewhere."
    Buffy clenched her fists.  "Listen, you feeling okay enough to bath
yourself?"
    "Yes."
    "Good, I'm going to talk to Angel.  At least he uses more than one
word."
    Niamh looked at Buffy and shrugged so Buffy walked out shaking her
head.  Angel was sitting on his bed, pulling on a clean shirt.  Buffy
sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
    "How's she doing?"  he asked quietly as he softly stroked her back.
    "I can't tell.  She won't talk to me.  All I can find out is that she's
sixteen, her name is Niamh.. and I think she's a runaway."
    He nodded.  "Yeah, I thought so.  She's probably really confused right
now... and hungry.  When she gets out of the bath I'll give her a bowl
of soup."
    Buffy raised an eyebrow.  "Soup?"  She grinned.
    Angel chuckled.  "Well, it definately won't be tomatoe."
    Buffy smacked his leg lightly.  "I don't think I should leave her here
alone with you."
    Angel cocked his head, "Are you afraid she'll take advantage of my
innocence and lead me astray?"
    She laughed good naturedly.  "Uh uh.. that's my job!"  She climbed into
his lap and kissed him gently.  "You realize we're parents now?  We're
not going to have another moments peace until she grows up and moves out
on her own."
    Angel rolled his eyes and kissed her neck lightly.  "We'll just have to
find a babysitter, won't we?"
    Buffy grinned, "Mmmm.. find some quiet time for ourselves.."
    "Go out on a date here and there."
    "Maybe sneak out for a romantic weekend?"
    The bathroom door opened and Niamh walked out wrapped in a towel.
"Done."
    Buffy sighed at the girl's lack of modesty.  "I'll get you something to
wear."  She walked over to Angel's closet where within lay a drawer set
aside for some of her clothing.  She pulled out an old pair of jeans and
a sweater.  "Here.  They may be small, but they'll do until I can get to
the mall and get you some threads of your own."
    Niamh took the clothes out of Buffy's hands and dropped the towel.
Angel turned around quickly, but not fast enough to miss Buffy's pointed
glance in his direction.  He had to smile.
    "Hon, you and I are going to have to have a chat about where and when
to get dressed.  In front of Ange is a most definate NOT!"  Buffy shook
her head.
    Niamh shrugged.  "Whatever."  She disappeared back into the bathroom.
    Buffy walked up to Angel and waggled a finger at him.  "You were
looking, weren't you?"
    "Nope."
    "Tempted to look?"
    "Nope."
    "Why not?"  Angel merely shrugged.  Buffy punched him in the arm.
"Don't you start this one word thing, Ange.. If you do I'm gonna wig on
ya so bad you'll wish ya never came back, got it?"
    "Yep."
    Buffy scowled.  "Jerk."
    "But you love me anyway."  Angel smiled knowingly.
    "Don't get cocky."
    Angel pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply, letting her know
through his actions just how much he loved her in return.  Buffy shook
her head in exasperation, but kissed him back willingly.
    A new phase of their lives had begun.

***********************

End Part One.

- --
Angel's Lover (fondly known as Lea)
"Love makes you do the wacky!"
"I'm SO the net girl!"
Come visit Heaven's Gates: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/3863
Defender of David Boreanaz... you know, the man with the fangs!

------------------------------

End of buffyfic-digest V2 #162
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