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buffyfic-digest        Thursday, July 30 1998        Volume 02 : Number 283



In this issue:

       BUFFYFIC: "Starting Over" (5/13)
       BUFFYFIC: What The World Needs Now Is Love 1/1
       BUFFYFIC: Do You Wanna Dance? 1/1

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: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 18:44:57 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Starting Over" (5/13)

"Starting Over" (5/13)
Section 1
by Jaclyn Link


TITLE: Starting Over
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first, but I=92ll probably say yes.
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: None, but if you haven=92t seen Becoming, you might not want to=
 read
this.
SUMMARY: Buffy had left Sunnydale via bus after sending Angel to Hell. On=
 the=0Abus she met the next Watcher in line, Andrew, and decided to live =
with him and=0Ahis Slayer, Shy. After a visit from Drusilla, Andrew is in=
jured.
DISCLAIMER: Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Telivision, 20th Century=
 Fox,=0Athe WB, Kuzui Productions, etc. own all the character from the sh=
ow Buffy the=0AVampire Slayer.
FEEDBACK: Please send it to me.
AUTHOR=92S NOTE: This story is in two sections. The second section will b=
e a=0Asequal to this under the same name. Also, special thanks to AleXand=
er=0A([e-mail]) for the use of his wonderful ep transcrips whi=
ch can be=0Aaccessed at http://slayerfanfic.com/transcript.html.
***
=09Buffy quickly ran down the stairs towards Shy and the lifeless Watcher=
 next=0Ato her. "Is he=85?"
=09"No," Shy said, "he=92s just unconsious. A lot of blood was lost." She=
 took a=0Atablecloth and pressed it against his wound. "That vampire-Drus=
illa did you=0Asay?-must have scratched his neck like your face." Buffy a=
gain stuck her hand=0Ato her face. She had forgotten the scratch. "She di=
dn=92t kill him, though."
=09"That=92s how she killed Kendra, by slitting her throat. Thank God you=
 came=0Adown when you did. I=92ll call an ambulence. I=92ll tell =91em th=
at he slipped and=0Afell on a knife or something."
=09Buffy quickly ran into the kitchen and dialed 911. "You have reached-"
=09"I need an ambulance sent over to 313 Moreno Drive. My cousin fell and=
 cut=0Ahis neck. He lost a lot of blood."
=09"We=92ll be right over."
=09"Thanks."
=09About ten minutes later, an ambulance arrived at the house. They quick=
ly=0Arushed Andrew into the ambulence with Shy and Buffy.
=09"What=92s the man=92s name?" one of the EMTs asked.
=09"Andrew," Shy answered, "Andrew Potter. Is he going to be all right?"
=09"I=92m not sure."
"Please, I need to know that he=92s going to be okay."
"Please calm down, m=92am. He=92ll probably be fine." He took a deep brea=
th.=0A"What=92s your name, and how are you related to him?" he asked mech=
anically.
=09"Shy Walker. I=92m his, um, niece. I live with him."
=09"Who=92s the other one?" he asked pointing to Buffy.
=09Shy started to answer. "Bu-"
=09"Ecky," Buffy answered. "Becky Swanson. I=92m Shy=92s cousin. I=92m ju=
st visiting=0Atemporarily."
=09"Do either of you know how Andrew cut himself?"
=09Shy gave Buffy a confused look, so Buffy started to answer. "Well, um,=
 I, I=0Athink he cut himself when he was, uh, cutting a steak. He slipped=
 and the=0Aknife cut his neck."
=09They soon entered the hospital. Buffy and Shy just watched as his body=
 was=0Awheeled through doors they were told they couldn=92t go through. T=
hat=92s when Shy=0Alost it.
=09As she tried to run through the doors, two male nurses grabbed her and=
 held=0Aher back. "No," she cried, trying to pull away from their grasp. =
"Let me go! I=0Aneed to see if he=92s alright. Get off of me." Suddenly s=
he sunk to the floor in=0Atears. Buffy ran over to her and signaled for t=
he nurses to go. She hugged the=0Afragile girl as the weeped.
***
=09A few hours later, Buffy and Shy were allowed to visit Andrew.
=09"How=92re you feeling?" Shy asked.
=09"I=92m okay. A little light-headed. The doctors say I=92ll be able to =
go home in=0Aa couple of days."
=09"Thank God," Shy said. "I=92m sorry. I'm sorry I wasn=92t able to sens=
e her=0Adownstairs."
=09"It=92s not your fault. I should have been more careful."
=09"You couldn=92t have known," Buffy said. "You=92re not the Slayer."
=09A nurse came in. "Visiting hours are over."
=09"Okay," Buffy said, "we=92re going." After the nurse left, she spoke t=
o Andrew,=0A"I=92ll take care of her until you=92re better."
=09"Thanks," he whispered back. "I=92ll call you tomarrow."
=09When Buffy and Shy arrived home, they found the door partially open. "=
Wait=0Ahere," Buffy said.
=09"No, I=92m a Slayer. I can handle whatever=92s in there."
=09"Fine. But stay behind me."
=09They slowly walked through the foyer to the living room. Buffy sensed=
=0Asomething behind them, so she turned around with a stake in hand. She =
didn=92t=0Aexpect what she saw, though.
=09"Giles?" she threw herself into his arms. "Oh my God." After she pulle=
d away=0Afrom him, she asked how everyone was doing.
=09"Everbody is very worried. The police dropped the charges after Xander=
 and=0AWillow both said that you were not the murderer. Principal Snyder =
was forced=0Ato let you back in school after the Board of Education ruled=
 that there was=0Anot enough evidence to throw you out." He looked at her=
 sad face. "Buffy,=0Aaren=92t you happy?"
"How=92d you find me?" she ignored his question.
=09"Andrew called me. He, he, told me you were here. You were, um, stayin=
g with=0Ahim."
=09"What?! He promised me he wouldn=92t."
=09"It=92s was his duty, Buf-"
=09"Maybe I didn=92t want you to come. Maybe I don=92t want you to try an=
d take me=0Ahome."
=09"You have to come home. Xander, Willow, Cordelia miss you terribly, no=
t to=0Amention your mother."
=09"Giles, I let everyone down. I sent Angel to Hell. Not Angelus, but An=
gel. I=0Afinally got him back, and I stuck a sword through him. I can=92t=
 face that=0Aagain."
=09"Buffy, you have to put that behind you. You have to move on. You have=
 a duty=0Ato the rest of the world-"
=09She hit him hard. "How dare you! How dare you try and tell me to forge=
t what=0Ahappened. To forget Angel. Not once did I say, =91Get over Jenny=
.=92 Never. I knew=0Athat you-"
=09"Buffy, there=92s an easy way to put this all behind you what."
=09"Enlighten me."
=09"I=92ve found the ritual to bring Angel back from Hell."
***
End Part 5

"It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passi=
on,=0Amaybe we=92d know some kind of peace. But we would be hallow. Empty=
 rooms,=0Ashuddered and dank. Without passion, we=92d be truly dead." -An=
gel, Passion

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

Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 04:20:36 -0500 (CDT)
From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: What The World Needs Now Is Love 1/1

TITLE:  What The World Needs Now Is Love 1/1
FEEDBACK:  I would be thankful.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT:  Ask and you shall receive.
AUTHOR:  Alex Queirolo
E-MAIL ADDY:  [e-mail]
SPOILER WARNING:  BBB, S/I..the whole Angelus fiasco.
RATING: PG...
CONTENT: Nah..maybe some mental imagery.
SUMMARY: "I let Buffy dress me," Xander said..
***

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE
By: Alex Queirolo

AUTHOR'S NOTE:This vignette takes place after the teaser of BBB but before the scene where Xander gives Cordy the
locket. This stays true to the actual aired ep.

DISCLAIMER:Joss is God. I am a peon. The title is taken from a song by Jackie De Shannon and the lyrics are by the
Eagles.

***

"You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise."

***

It was well after midnight when the third obnoxious ring from the cordless situated next to her bed brought her to her
waking senses. She glared at it as it sounded a fourth ring and then decided that a fifth would be daring her mother to
ground her again. Reaching across, she picked it up and jabbed at the "on" button. "What?"

"I'm naked."

She blinked. Her mind was foggy with sleep but something told her that those words were not ones that she should be
hearing. A moment later a bell rung in her head and she was able to put a name to the voice. "Xand, I think you hit the
wrong button on your speed dial. Number three is 1-900-Spank-Me."

"Buff, I'm serious," Xander Harris cried, sounding almost as if he were about to cry. "You gotta help me."

"Wait, are you still naked?" Buffy Summers asked as she sat up. "Nevermind...don't answer that. Are you okay? Where
are you?"

"I'm in my room and it's horrible. You've got to help me."

"What's horrible, Xand?" Buffy asked calmly, her mind slipping into Slayer mode. After all, she could detect panic in
his voice. Something was sure scaring the hell out of him.

"Valentine's Day." Xander said breathlessly. "I'm gonna..oh God...I have nothing to wear."

Buffy blinked again. "You have nothing to wear? You woke me up at.." she glanced at her clock, "Twelve thirty to bitch
about clothing."

"Buff, please. I don't want to look like an idiot." Xander pleaded. "I'll do anything."

She smirked, "Anything?"

"Anything."

"Alright. You're on." Buffy said with a grin.

                        ***

He smiled at her akwardly as he led her into his room. It was somewhat neat as long as you didn't look into the corners
where everything was piled. She saw the arm of an old broken GI Joe sticking out of his drawer. A second look revealed
there to be a small wooden toothpick embedded in it's chest. She grinned over at him. "Practice?"

"Something like that," he muttered, grabbing at the toy and shoving it into the drawer. He looked over at his bed and his
eyes went wide when he noticed that it was wrinkled. He chuckled nervously and then grabbed her arm and led her to
the closet. "Help."

"Calm down, Xand, I'll have you looking edible by the time you go to meet Cordy. Not that I would..uh..ya. So, this is a
nice jacket."

He stared at her a moment longer but she had already averted her eyes. With all that she was going through, was it
right of him to ask her for even the slightest bit of help?

"Here, try these on." She said suddenly, pressing a bundle of clothing into his hands. "Once we decide what you're
wearing,we can iron and all that."

"Iron?"

She laughed, "Don't worry, Xand-man, I'll take care of you."

                    ***

He was taking forever. Sighing dramatically, the little Slayer tipped backwards on her good friends' bed and rested her
head against his pillow. She closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to sweep away. It was Valentine's Day...a
thought she neither needed nor wanted. Without Angel..well...it wasn't gonna be a day for the scrapbook.

Angel. Her beloved. Swept away in a night of passion and now just basically not a very nice guy. Love pretty much
sucked as of late.

"Um, I think it's too tight." Xander said, stepping out of the bathroom. Buffy blinked and turned her head. She coughed
as her eyes locked on his pants.

"Tight. Too. Ya. Ya." Buffy murmured, a chuckle seeping out. "Um, new pants." She turned quickly towards the closet
so he couldn't see the grin on her face. "We'll go, uh..darker." She grabbed at a pair of slacks and handed it to him.
Reaching back into the closet, she took out a nice silk shirt and then held it against the slacks. After a pause, she lifted
both against his face to see if the tone was right. Finally she smiled and with a nod of her head, urged him towards the
bathroom.

As soon as the door shut, she turned and sat back on the bed, her hand gently and absently stroking the soft comforter.
Her eyes strayed to a stack of piuctures on his nightstand. Leaning across, she picked them up. They were recent. Oh
God...

"This was the picnic," she murmured. Three days before her birthday, before they'd known anything about the Judge,
they'd all gone on a picnic at the beach in Santa Barbara. It'd been so beautiful and just after sunset, Angel had joined
them.

She picked up the first pic and blinked. It was of Cordelia and Xander. Huddled together. This was at least four to five
days before their secret had been revealed. God, how oblivious had they been? She ran her finger lightly over the
glossy paper. The looks on their faces were happy. Easy-going. Not cautious. They had no idea.

She looked at the next pic. One of her sleeping on Xanders' chest. The sun was still out and they both looked wet. A few
feet away in the pic, Cordelia stood watching as Willow built the beginnings of a sand castle. Buffy flipped a few more
pictures until she got to the one of all four of the kids working on the castle, covered in mud.

And Xander and Cordy helping each other. Giles or Ms. C must have taken the pic. Xander was looking at Cordy with a
dopey grin and now looking back, it was so obvious.

And yet she had missed it. Been so absorbed with her own world that she had missed the obvious signs of Xander and
Cordy getting together. She sighed and dropped the pictures back down. Closing her eyes once more, she laid back.

A few moments later, she heard the door open. Without looking up, she whispered, "Xand, do you love her?"

"What?" he asked, sitting down next to to her.

She sat up and rested her head on his shoulder, "Cordy. Do you love her?"

He blinked. "I..I dunno." He chuckled lightly. "I'm not sure what I feel. She drives me crazy but I'm always thinking
about her. Whether it's wanting to smack her upside the head or kiss her..I don't know."

She smiled at him,"You're a good guy, Xand." Then she took her head off his shoulder and looked up into his dark
eyes, "But be sure what you're doing. Whether it's just about kissing or maybe it's something more. Make sure you
know what you're doing."

He looked at her for a long beat and wasn't all that surprised to see that her eyes were becoming glassy. Reaching out,
he pulled the little Slayer into a hug. "It's gonna be okay, Buff. We'll make it through this. We all will."

After a moment, she pulled away and favored him with a smile. "I know." Then she frowned. "Your shirt's not buttoned
right."

He almost pointed out the lack of segue but then realized quickly enough that it was her way of coping with something
she was not yet able to completely deal with. Her hand moved forward with un-natural speed and began to rebutton his
shirt. She stood back and frowned again. "What?"

"We're missing something. The slacks and shirt look great..wait wait wait..I have just the thing. Drive me back to my
place."

He gave her a strange look and then nodded. As he reached for his car keys, his fingers glanced over the pictures
she'd been looking at and his eyes locked on the pic of he and Cordelia lying exhausted and covered in sand in the
surf. The signs had all been there. Denial was no longer an option. Perhaps Buffy was right. It was about more than
just kissing.

                    ***

He stepped into the Bronze, pulling at the collar of the jacket nervously. Buffy said it looked good. The mirror confirmed
it so why was he so sure that Cordy was gonna start laughing like a hyena.

The jacket had been the final touch. Hung with reverance in her closet. She'd pulled it out and said that it had been the
jacket her father had been wearing when he had taken her mom out on their first date eighteen years earlier. It  was
pretty fashionable but then it seemed that the Summers very much were.

Buffy had smiled at him, trying to be strong as she had draped it over his shoulders and then marveled at the perfect
fit. She'd told him to turn around and then whistled in appreciation. "Damn, Xand, you're pretty hot." Reaching up to
kiss him on the cheek she'd said, "Good luck."

And now here he was, tugging at the collar of Hank Summers' eighteen year old amazingly well-kept jacket and
wondering what the hell he was doing here. And why his heart was pounding so fast. She was just a girl. A simple girl.
So what that she was the one he's wanted to grab and throttle since they were kids. So what if he had wondered what it
would be like at times to kiss her just to shut her up. So what...a kissy here..a kissy there. What did it matter?

"Xander!" Willow called out, waving at him. He smiled at her, suddenly feeling very sick in the pit of his stomache. No,
he had to leave, he had to get out of there. This was insanity.

He pushed his fingers into the pocket of the jacket and felt his fingers graze the necklace. And then suddenly he
couldn't leave. Swallowing hard, knowing he was damned one way or another, he stared up at the band and rehearsed
what he was going to say to Cordelia once more.


- -FIN

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

Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 04:13:13 -0500 (CDT)
From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Do You Wanna Dance? 1/1

TITLE:  Do You Wanna Dance? 1/1
FEEDBACK:  I would be thankful.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT:  Ask and you shall receive.
AUTHOR:  Alex Queirolo
E-MAIL ADDY:  [e-mail]
SPOILER WARNING:  Um. None.
RATING:  PG..some mild language.
CONTENT:  A little bit of kissing. Some flirting and some playing.
SUMMARY:  A battle of wills between Buffy and Angel and the whole gang is looped on Mountain
Dew.
***

DO YOU WANNA DANCE


By Alex Queirolo


AUTHOR'S NOTE:This story takes place in the "I Will Survive" timeline and for now follows after "Even The Nights Are
Better". However I suspect that there will be a story placed between them.

DISCLAIMER:Joss is God. Yada yada. No sue. The title was taken from a Bobby Freeman song. The lyrics from a Don
Henley one.



***


 "All she wants to do is dance, dance, dance
and make romance."

***

"So, was it like I told you?" He asked softly, moving around so that he was sitting next to her on the bed. He picked up
his hand in hers and gave it a squeze. She smiled back. Her eyes twinkled with energy and life even though she
wasn't exactly looking her best.

"It wasn't fun."

"I imagine not. Hurts like hell. People don't do it for kicks." Angel replied with a chuckle. "I suppose telling you that
what you did was stupid wouldn't go over well."

"You're a sharp one," Buffy Summers replied, groaning as she stretched her body. "Besides, I don't want to talk about
me..."

"You just don't want to talk about what a stubborn mule you are," Angel said, grinning. He reached out and brushed a
strand of hair away from her blue eyes.

"I am not a stubborn mule," Buffy shot back.

"Of course not. What was I thinking. My bad."

"Oh, don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Say 'my bad'. It's like surfer talk..it's Xander talk. It's me talk.."

"I can talk like you," Angel replied defensively.

"You can but don't."

"What if I want to?"

"Don't argue with me, lover. I'm hurt. I get to win all arguments for awhile. By default."

"Says who? You're the one who got yourself shot with that idiot stunt.."

"Don't start again. Like you have any room to yell at me about loner stunts."

"I didn't say it was a loner stunt..but now that you mention it.." Angel started, lifting a glass of water up to her lips. She
drank from it and then shot him a dirty look.

"We won, didn't we?"

"Yeah..we won. We beat the big bad leprechaun and you got a whole in your stomache. I'm so proud."

"How the hell was I supposed to know that the little creep had been watching those Leprachaun movies?"

"Gee, maybe the fact that he was carrying around a rifle and a hunting knife woulda tipped me off. Hell, it was a dead
give away."

"That sucks," Buffy pouted. "Bad enough that I don't get to fight any cute demons.." The little Slayer flashed him a
brilliant smile, "Present company excluded." He nodded. "But now I also have to deal with psychotic demons who
watch too much television. Do they have V-Chips for demons."

"No, they make us all watch that Indian TV channel you all are so fond of. That's all it takes to muddle our brains and
make us looney."

"Oh..see now that makes sense," Buffy chuckled. Then she winced. "I'm sick of laying down."

"That's too bad."

"Angel..." Buffy said, allowing her lower lip to tremble. Her large blue eyes grew to roughly the size of plates and her
entire face took on a decidely little girl look to it.

"Nuh uh. Won't work. The power pout doesn't affect me. No wa.."

She reached out and grabbed him, pulling him to her and kissing him deeply. He moaned against her mouth and then
moved to deepen it. She pulled away.

"Let's go for a walk."

He growled,"Flag on the play, lover."

"Uh uh, this ain't touch football."

He narrowed his eyes,"Two can play this game."

"Oh shush. Stop being so sensitive. Just pick me up and let's go somewhere..the Bronze."

"You're in no condition to dance."

"Did I say I was gonna dance?"

"You didn't have to. I know you. No way."

"Please?"

"Nope. Nada. No way."

She traced a finger over his jawline and then whispered, "Please? I just want to spend some time out a club with my
boyfriend. Like two normal kids."

He sighed. She had him. She'd pulled out her ace and damn was it good. He recognized defeat looming about him.
"Fine, alright. But promise me you won't try to dance."

She smiled. Too sweetly. The victor. The Slayer. "Deal."

 ***


"Hey Wills."

"Hey Xand."

"No seriously."

"Okay seriously."

"Will you two knock it off," Cordelia Chase said with an impatient sigh. The Mountain Dew truck had come in earlier that
night and was giving away cases upon cases of free soda. And both Xander and Willow had taken full advantage of it.

Oz lifted an amused eyebrow,"I think she's trying to say..at least I think she is..is that what you're trying to say?"

"You didn't actually say anything," Cordelia muttered. Willow for her part nodded enthusiastically.

"That's exactly what I was trying to say. Exactly."

"I understand," Xander replied, looking as though the great secret to life had just been revealed to him.

"There's a first," Cordelia put in. Then she looked up, "Hi Buffy. Angel."

Angel sighed. "Mountain Dew Night at the Bronze?"

"More like idiot night. Why is she out of bed?"

Buffy threw her a look. "I may be..shot..but I can still dance."

"You said you weren't going to dance. You promised." Angel said quickly, tightening his grip around her arm.

"No, what I said was 'deal'. The word 'promise' was never actually in that sentence. But if it makes you feel better, I
have guilt about.."

"Lying?"

"I didn't lie...not technically."

"You lied." Cordelia said, lifting her hand and signaling for the waiter.

"No..I merely stated a misrepresentation of the acknowledged facts known as truth."

"You lied." Cordelia said again as the waiter approched.

"Ok, so I lied. Deal. Let's dance."

Angel shook his head. "Nope, you lied."

She frowned, "That blows. This is not over."

"What can I get for you guys?" the waiter asked, flashing all of the girls his brightest smile. Angel instinctively felt a
flash of jealousy but Xander just grinned back. Of course Buffy returned the smile, very much enjoying the fact that
Angel wasn't pleased by her flirting.

"Prozac," Cordelia muttered as Willow reached up and grabbed the waiters' shirt.

"Mountain Dew."

"For me too." Xander said, still grinning like an idiot. Angel felt a compulsion to smack the boy upside his head. Like
that was anything new.

"Hey, you're a  poet..." Willow chirped.

"And he doesn't know it," Oz said nodding.

"Wow..I'm a poet!" Xander yelled, raising his arms in victory. Cordelia smiled up at Angel and Buffy.

"Oz hasn't even been drinking that toxic stuff."

Oz laughed, "Nah, but it's fun."

"As long as you believe that. So Buffy, why are you out of bed. If Giles finds out, he'll go postal."

"Giles is a postman?" Xander asked.

"Shut up, dork boy," Cordelia said quickly.

"Hey, it's not my fault Giles is a postman. Not the career path I would have picked.."

Cordelia snorted derisevely and then looked back up at the waiter, "Tea. Thanks." He nodded and moved away.
"So..Buffy..for the third time..this time without help from the peanut gallery.."

"I wanted to get out and party. With my buds."

"I thought we were the Scooby Gang?" Willow asked, looking at Xander as if her life was falling apart. "Aren't we the
Scooby Gang?" Then she looked at Oz, "Aren't we?"

"Yes,baby, we're the Scooby Gang."

"Either that or we're the Planeteers." Xander put in, cracking open another can and tossing it back.

"This is insane," Angel said, wide-eyed.

"Oh I dunno, I kinda like it." Buffy said grinning. "Of course, if you wanna get away, we can always dance."

"Nope," Angel said. "I can put up with this."

"As long as you believe that, lover. But remember, I always win. And if I win tonight well.." she reached up and grabbed
his ear and pulled him down to her. Grinning wickedly, she whispered into his ear. Almost immediately, his eyes went
wide.

"Buffy!" Then he choked. "Um..no..we can't..you're hurt."

"I'm shot."

"That's right. So..I win."

She laughed. "Not in this life-time." Then she winked, "And that's the only one that counts."

"You know she's gonna win, bro." Oz said as he opened a can for Willow and then poured it into a shot glass. He did
the same for Xander and then counted out three fingers on the table. They both knocked them back and dropped the
shot glasses to the table.

"I need a chaser!" Xander cried out.

"It was Mountain Dew," Cordelia said, not quite believing that she was still caught up in the middle of this insanity.

Leaning over, he grabbed her and kissed her. Then he backed away and grinned. "Chaser..Chase..works for me."

"Oh yuck, Mountain Dew breath." Cordelia said, grabbing at the glass of tea that the waiter had brought. Absently she
wondered when he had come and gone. Not that it mattered.

Then again, maybe he hadn't come and *gone*. Cordelia craned her head over to where Buffy and Angel were standing.
He was looking annoyed, even frustrated. She was having a ball. Flirting with the waiter like mad. The girl was good.

"So, you're name is Todd. Hi Todd." Buffy said, smiling. She reached out and took the glass of soda from him, lingering
just a moment too long and yet grinning at the same time. Her other hand reached out and gave Angel's bottom a
playful squueze. His eyes widened and before he knew it, he had squealed.

"Okay that was embarassing," Cordelia said.

"I agree, bro. I feel embarassed and I'm not the one who just squealed like a stuck pig." Oz put in.

"Aw..did da big bad dead geriatric guy squeal like a baby?" Xander taunted, his eyes never leaving the shot glasses
as Oz filled them up again.

"I didn't squeal." Angel hissed.

Buffy looked away from Todd long enough to say over her shoulder. "You squealed. That's okay, usually you're
louder."

Angel coughed loudly. "You wanna dance?"

She smiled. "Yes. with Todd. Todd, would you like to dance?"

Todd smiled, "Sure. Great. Cool. Let me get Jonathon to cover me for a few minutes." He grinned at Angel and moved
away.

"Buffy," Angel started.

"No no. If you won't dance with me and take care of me like I deserve..then I'll just have to find me a man who will. And
who doesn't squeal." She reached over and gave him a peck on the cheek and began to move away.

Reaching out, he caught her arm. "You're hurt. You've got a hole in your stomache. Be sensible." Taking her hand, he
brought it down to where the bullet-hole was taped over. She winced and pushed his hand away.

"I am sensible." Buffy said with a smile. She winked at him and then moved towards Todd.

"This is a night of firsts," Cordelia muttered, reaching out and taking the shot from under Xanders' nose. Oz gave her a
look and then shrugged and counted out the beats. She knocked it back hard and then smiled. "More."

"Are you sure?" Oz asked. "This stuff..it can do dangerous things to a person..sometimes you don't recover."

"More. If I have to be stuck in the middle of Tweakos R Us..well."

He nodded, understanding. "More."


 ***


"Do you really squeal?" Xander asked, sauntering up to the tall vampire. Angel turned and shot him his most effective
"I'm gonna rip your throat out" look but the boy seemed unperturbed. "I never would have guessed you for a squealer."

"This really isn't a conversation you want to have with me."

Xander shrugged. "Oh I don't mind."

"Isn't that special." Angel grunted, eyes locked on the fluidly moving form of the Slayer. She was on the dance-floor,
moving in time with Todd. He might as well have been Don Juan.

"They're cute. They make a cute couple. I bet he doesn't squeal."

"I'm going to kill you." Angel hissed, clenching his fists. Damn girl. She was so stubborn. She always had to win. He'd
thought that her injury, the one she'd sustained after she'd flipped a coin to decide whether or not to rush the little
demon leprachaun dude, would allow him to gain the upper hand. But no...damn girl.

"Hmm. Not tonight. I have plans. But I can pencil you in for Wednesday. I have just one request."

"What's that?" Angel growled in reply, his eyes still locked on Buffy. Todd was moving his hands. Not too much but
enough.

"Promise me you won't squeal when you kill me?"

Angel reached over and grabbed the boy by the lapels and was about to shake him when he felt someone tap his
shoulder. Oz.

"What?"

"Um, that might be an idea that's well..not of the good."

"Oh but I would like it," Angel muttered.

Oz shrugged,"Ya, but think of the blood everywhere. On your clothes. On your shoes. Those look new. Are they new?"

Angel looked down at his leather boots. Then he nodded. "Bought them a couple days again."

"Then it would be of the suck to get them stained with Xander blood."

Angel nodded and dropped the boy. "Only because I like my leather."

"I bet you do." Xander said, moving to a distance. He crossed behind Cordelia. "Leather and squealing. Well that fits."
Angel narrowed his eyes at Xander but then looked away and back at Buffy.

Who was walking away from Todd, smiling but holding a hand at her side. She crossed over to the table and gave
Angel an amused look. "What's the matter, lover?"

"What's the matter? She says what's the matter?" Angel ranted.

"She said what's the matter." Willow and Xander said at the same time. They looked at each other and whispered, "She
said what's the matter."

"Are you people sane?" Angel asked.

Willow and Xander looked at each other and then looked across the table to where Buffy was sitting. She'd pulled out a
nail file from God only knew where and was casually going about filing down her painted nails. "Buff, are we sane?"

"No," she answered instantly. "But that's okay."

Cordelia looked up, "Says you. I'm sane."

Buffy lifted an eyebrow. "Uh huh, right. Okay, Cordelia's sane."

"Thank you."

"Anytime," Buffy chirped back. Then she looked up at Angel. "Ready to admit absoloute defeat."

"Never."

"That's too bad. I was really looking forward to doing that thing I told you about. I had..ideas."

Angel swallowed hard. "I will not surrender."

"Oh but why not? My terms are always..humane."

"Says you.Oh God..i didn't say that. I'm hanging around you people way too much." Angel replied, looking down at his
leather boots. The ones that had kept him from killing Xander. Who was now cackling at him.

She lifted an eyebrow. "Fine. I'm gonna go dance again."

"Buffy, come on.."

"White flag, lover. Wave it and we'll talk."

"Not gonna happen."

"Your choice." Buffy said with a smirk. Reaching out, she grabbed both Willow and Xander's hands. "Dance with me
guys."

Angel looked at Willow for help but saw quickly that the girl was bouncing off too many walls to be the voice of reason.
Dammit.

Buffy led her friends towards the floor, followed by Cordelia and Oz. Angel scowled and then fell into the seat that
Willow had vacated. Picking up the green can of soda, he began to idly drink from it.


***

By midnight, the caffeine was wearing off. They were young and the energy highs didn't last long. Sighing, Willow
wrapped an arm around her best friends' shoulder and helped her over to the table. Where Angel was sitting. Building
a castle out of Mountain Dew cans.

"Whatcha doing, lover?" Buffy asked, curling against him. She was tired and her stomache hurt. All she wanted to do
was wrap herself in his embrace and fall asleep.

He looked up at her with a goofy grin. "I'm building. It's fun. I'm building." He stood up abruptly and she fell from his
lap. She would have slid to the floor if Xander hadn't grabbed her arm.

"Angel?"

"Hey, Buff..let's dance." Angel said, grinning. "I want to dance. You win. I want to dance."

"Well I don't want to anymore. And I know I win. Duh, I always win." Buffy moved over to him and pulled his arms
around her. "So let's go back to your place.."

"Later. I want to dance." He grabbed her arm and spun her. She winced and fell against his chest.

"What's up with you?" She asked, glaring at him. He smirked and leaned over so that his lips were brushing against
her ear.

"You left me alone with the caffeine. Now it's time to play." He ran his tongue across her ear and she shivered.

"Ugh. I'm going home," Xander muttered. "Make out sessions of the the Slayer and the Dead Man aren't my idea of
good prime-time."

"Angel, love..I need to get home and rest. Remember..me..bullet hole in stomache. Giles finds out I was out and about,
he'll skin me."

"You should have thought of that earlier," Angel whispered, still nibbling on her ear.

"Okay, I think you two just defined the PDA. Gross." Cordelia muttered, picking up her purse and grabbing Xander's
hand. "Let's go. This night is already a future therapy bill."

"The night is young," Angel whispered, his hands moving too fast. His feet were barely touching the ground as he held
Buffy tighter. Yup, definate caffeine high. Oh boy.

"Angel, lover, honey..we're gonna go home and we're gonna go to bed and you're gonna sleep off this weird..whatever
this is..and then I'm banning all of you.." She looked at Willow and then at Xander, "All of you from caffeine. You people
are far too dangerous."

"But.." Willow began.

"No."

"Buffster.." Xander protested.

"No way."

"Honey.."

"Let's go, Dead Boy."

"Hey!" Angel cried indignantly. She reached around and grabbed him by the ear.

"You're cute when you're caffeinated. Almost like a little boy. Did I ever tell you I hate kids?" She smiled at him. "Now
take me home. I want to sleep."

"What about..that thing you were gonna do to me. You know the part where you.."

"Angel, shut up or I swear to God, I'll stake you."

"But..I mean all you do is.."

"Don't push me."

"I wanna know..what does she do?" Xander asked. Cordelia grabbed his hand harder and led him out into the street.

"Just hit him, Buffy. He won't know the difference. They never do," Cordelia shouted over her shoulder before she
yanked Xander towards her car.

"I don't get it," Angel said innocently, still hopping on the balls of his feet. "Before, you were all hot to..."

She grabbed his ear and pulled him down to her. She pressed her lips against it and hissed something to him. He
blinked. "I'm shutting up."

"I knew you'd see it my way. I win again. Let's go." Buffy said, wrapping his arm around her. He sighed and helped her
outside.


***

"Do you feel better?" The little Slayer asked, gazing up at him as he exited the bathroom. He was wearing only a pair
of loose sweat-pants and his hair was wet.

"That was..unique." Angel replied, settling down next to her on his bed. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a
kiss to her neck. "I felt like I was seventee again. And a total idiot. I felt like what Xander must feel everyday. God, what
a horrifying reality."

"Be nice," Buffy said with a chuckle.

"No. He..you...you humilated me."

"You liked it," she said, kissing him hard. "Grab me that first aide kit."

He grabbed it off the counter and brought it over next to her. Lifting her shirt up, he began to inspect the small circular
wound. "I didn't like being asked if I squeal."

She chuckled, "I think it's cute. You don't hear me objecting."

"You said you had to find a real man.."

This time she full out laughed. "Oh come on, Ange. Don't tell me you're such a baby about all this. I was having fun.."

He grinned. "So was I. Until you started dancing with Groping Boy."

"Todd never groped me."

"His hands were near your butt."

"My hands were near yours."

"Your hands were *on* mine."

"Your point? It's a nice butt."

"What would you have done if I'd let someone besides you squeeze my butt?"

"Todd didn't squeeze my butt."

"Flag. Aversion."

She scowled at him and then said simply. "Depends on who it was. If it'd been Xander, I would have cheered him on."

"You're sick, you know that?"

"I know. You love me."

"I do. Okay, what if it had been...Cordelia?"

"We would have compared your butt and Xanders'."

"You've touched his butt?" Angel asked indignantly.

"No comment. Do you have anything to drink?"

"Lay down. I'm not finished with you."

"Ooh. Sounds kinky."

"You wish. I need to finish changing this dressing. You touched his butt?" Angel said, looking at her as he cleaned the
wound.

"Only a little."

"Only a little meaning?"

"Are you worried that I liked his butt better than yours?"

"I'm not jealous of Xander!"

"You are. Oh God...that's rich. you're not jealous of Xander..you're jealous of his butt."

"Am not!"

She leaned forward and kissed him, lingering for a few moments. "Are too. It's okay. I'd be jealous of his butt too. It's a
nice butt."

"Can you stop saying butt?"

"But.."

"Dammit! Mine is better!" Angel growled as he finished taping the gauze pad down.

Buffy lifted an eyebrow,"You've been comparing butts? And you say I'm sick."

"As a matter of fact, yes I do and yes I have."

"Who?"

Angel swallowed. "Uh..you and..Cordelia and Willow's."

"What?" She looked momentarily shocked and then said, "Well?"

"Um, they're..nice.." Angel stammered.

"But?"

"Would you stop saying that?" He pleaded, kissing her hand.

She shrugged, "Okay. We can always compare other body parts."

"What? Where else have you touched Xander?"

She laughed,"Ooh..you are hot when you're jealous."

"What?"

She winked at him. "And so terribly predictable." Reaching across, she pulled him to her. "I just wanted to see if I could
get yout all hot and bothered."

He blinked,"Hot and bot.."

"Yep. G'night, lover." Buffy said, grinning as she pulled his blanket over her and laid down on his bed. She winced
slightly but willed the smile to stay in place.

He scowled at her for a few minutes, running through the possibilities in his head. Everything from rolling her out of
bed to jumping her to just wrapping his arms around her and going to sleep crossed through. Finally, with a sigh he did
the latter. Kissing her forehead, he rested his chin against it.

"Angel?"

"Hm?"

"I love you even if Xander does have a better butt," Buffy said with a giggle.

He lifted his head and stared down at her in disbelief. Shaking his head, he sighed. "Go to bed, Buffy."


                        -FIN

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

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