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Chapter 2: What's my destiny? uffy sat in Giles’ living room giving the report of slaying, Giles had been more than happy to hear about the slaying in LA and even though he knew it was childish, he couldn’t help but feel small pride of the fact that Wesley couldn’t pronounce the demons name. But his smile faded as soon as Buffy told him she was going to buy a car. “Do you think it is wise, we do know your... umm... experiences with cars are... something to improve of. And chasing vampires with a car isn’t very practical”, he protested somewhat awkwardly. Buffy smiled at his discomfort. “Relax, Giles. Angel is giving me driving lessons and it’s not like I’m gonna use it for slaying, just to drive from Sunnydale and LA. You have nothing to worry about, I’m a sworn pedestrian but a walk to LA is a little bit too long even for me.” “Buffster on wheels, remember to let me know before you start the car so I can stay inside”, Xander quipped and Buffy send a glare at his way. Ignoring Xander, Willow send a quirky smile at Buffy. “So Angel is teaching you to drive”, she questioned and a smile rose to Buffy’s lips. “Yeah, he even let me drive his car. He lets no one drive his car”, she said and the two women shared a laugh before moving to the kitchen where they could talk more privately. “Oh come on! Giles, aren’t you going to do anything about that”, Xander turned to Giles for support. Giles shook his head tiredly and removed his glasses, starting to clean them. “And what do you suppose I do, Xander? Buffy is an adult, she is a independent young woman, there is nothing I can do to make her change her mind about seeing Angel”, Giles explained to the boy but he didn’t seem satisfied with his answer. “You’re her watcher”, he protested and Giles turned sharply to look at him. “Yes I am and she is a adult woman, she can make her own decisions and could you please get over the irrational jealousy against Angel”, Giles said loosing his patience and Xander looked at him like he had slapped him. “I am not jealous of that blood sucker! How can you all just forgive and forget, he killed miss Calendar, don’t you remember!?” Giles jumped to his feet and gave Xander a look that resembled very much of Ripper and he pointed at him accusingly. “Don’t you dare bring Jenny into this”, he said to the boy nearly threateningly. Wisely he cowered in font of the older man and he knew he had gone too far this time. “I’m sorry, Giles”, he said repentantly and the older man watched him carefully. Slowly he started to calm down. “Apology accepted”, he said and removed his glass’ starting to clean them. “You really should try to think before you act, Xander. Buffy can make her own decisions, and in this case she is going to do them did we like it or not. I do know I have some hostilities against Angel but I also realize that it was a different being that murdered Jenny. There is no more danger of bringing Angelus forth, so it is really not our business if she wants to spend her time with him”, he continued as the voice of reason. “But...” Xander tried to protest but Giles shook his head, silencing him. “There is no but. If you want to keep your relationship with Buffy as it is, I recommend that you try to accept Angel as a part of her life. She is in love with him, like she always has been and it might endanger your friendship if you keep up with the open hostility towards him. I know you have feelings towards her and you don’t want her to get hurt, not one of us does, but she is also a woman deeply in love, there has been many obstacles between her and Angel and they have survived them all, that should be enough to show that it isn’t a passing affair.” Xander didn't respond, just directed his gaze to the Willow and Buffy who returned to the room with wide smiles blasted on their faces. He clapped his hands together and made way to the couple. “So, how 'bout we hit the Bronze tonight? Have a real girls night out”, he suggested and the girls raised their eyebrows in question. “Come on, I'm practically one of the girls these days, I'm out numbered now that Willow is with Tara. What you say?” Willow and Buffy glanced at each other and nodded at him. “Okay, could be fun”, Buffy said, she was hoping this could be the way to try to make things right between her and Xander, things between them hadn't been the same since Faith took over her body and she missed the friendship they shared. “Uu... Just like old times”, Willow said excited and her smile just widened. The gang met at the Bronze after Buffy made quick sweep through the cemeteries. When she arrived, the others were already in the table, Willow and Tara practically glued to each others sides and Anya sitting in Xander's lap, Buffy couldn't help but feel like a fifth wheel and she hadn't even sat down yet. “Hey guys”, she said and gave a quick wave. “Hey. How was patrol?” Willow asked turning his attention from her girlfriend to her best friend. “Okay, just one vamp, out of towner”, she answered and sat down to the table. “So, when are you planning on buying the car?” Xander asked. “Don't know yet, Gunn is going to help me with the checking once we find something, unless its after sundown.” “Gun?” Xander asked trying to keep the hostility out of his voice. “He's a friend in LA. Helps with the slaying and all that. I was sure I had told you about him.” And she had, not just to Xander since their relationship had been so tense lately. “What kind of a name is Gun? Is he in a gang or something?” Buffy chuckled at the jealous behavior Xander was showing. “It's his last name, with two N's. He's a good guy”, she explained. “Why the sudden rush to get a car, I thought we all know that Buffy and four wheels is not a good combination?” Xander said jokingly, trying to get his mind off of the fact that she had a new friend in LA. “Angel doesn't like me taking the bus and having to wait for a ride at the station. Besides, he's been teaching me to drive”, Buffy said with a smile playing on her lips, she and Willow shared a look. “Is that a code word for sex?” Anya shot and Xander shook his head in embarrassment. “No, he's actually letting me drive his car”, Buffy said to her seriously, but kept to herself what else they had been doing. “Then it's no interest to me. Xander, I wanna dance”, Anya said bluntly and pulled Xander out of his seat leading him to the dance floor. “Do you think everything is about sex to her?” Buffy asked turning to the two women still sitting at the table. “And money, ever since Giles bought the Magic Shop, I think she's been more into the money than sex. Although I feel it's less awkward subject to us, so it's really a relief”, Willow said with a awkward smile. “So, can we see you to the bus station on Friday?” she changed the subject but frowned as Buffy shook her head. “Sorry, Angel's picking me up. He's really going all the way in the 'not letting me use the bus'. Not that I'm complaining”, Buffy explained not managing to suppress the smile that mentioning Angel brought to her lips. ”I detect someone likes the overprotective Angel?” Willow smirked and Buffy tried to play coy with her, not succeeding. “Well, yeah. Overprotective Angel means more time with Angel and I take all I can get, we've already been apart for too long in my book.” She glanced at the dance floor where Xander and Anya were dancing, forgetting their friends in the table. Buffy sighed deeply and turned back to the other couple. “I'm gonna go get a drink. You guys want anything?” she said and rose to her feet. Both girls shook their heads. “No, I'm fine”, Willow said and pointed at the half drunk glass of coke. “No, thank you”, was Tara quiet answer. Buffy nodded and made her way to the bar but turned to walk to the other end of the club. Willow turned to Tara with a quirky smile playing on her lips. “I bet she's going to call Angel”, she said and Tara nodded in agreement. “Where'd Buffy go?” Xander asked as he and Anya returned to the table. “To get a drink”, Willow smirked not telling him the truth knowing that it might put a dent to the newfound peace between them. Xander looked at her suspiciously but didn't say anything. Buffy waited by the public phone for someone to answer and soon she heard Cordelia's voice: “Angel investigations, we help the helpless.” Buffy couldn't help but chuckle. “Hey Cordy”, she said to the phone. “Buffy! Can't you just come back here right now cause the brooding is seriously getting on my nerves. And now dish all the gossip”, Cordelia said excitedly to the phone. “Sorry to tell you this, Cordy, but Aura isn't fat, she's just working at a fast food joint”, she said to the phone and heard Cordelia huff. “Well, I guess that is good enough”, she said and Buffy heard her slap something. “Get away! You're not getting this phone!” Cordelia yelled at Angel and tried to get away but he blocked her entrance and grabbed the phone away from her. “Buffy?”, he said to the phone and she laughed on the other end. Cordelia huffed and crossed her arms in front of her glaring at him. “Fine, hog the phone. You better tell her to call me later since it's impossible to talk to her even for five minutes without you stealing the phone. I need to know about Aura's situation!” she yelled at Angel and stomped out of the office. Buffy couldn't help but laugh again. “I take it you heard what she said?” Angel asked and sat in front of the desk. “Yeah, I heard. Tell her I'll call once I get back home.” “Where are you?” he asked, carefully listening to the sounds in the background. “Bronze. We're having a girls night out, Xander is our unofficial girl, he claims he's outnumbered. I think things are getting between us”, she answered, leaning to the wall next to the phone. “That's good.” “You don't have to pretend, I know Xander isn't your favorite person”, she said with a smile. “No matter how I feel about him, he's your friend and you were suffering because how the things were between you too.” “You really should stop being so rational and sweet all the time”, she said his words clearly making her slightly emotional. “I've been accused of worse things”, he chuckled at her, picking up the pen and starting doodle to the piece of paper that was laying on the table. “Anything new there?” “Not much, we're tracking a demon that's been preying on some high school students, fortunately it hasn't killed anyone.” “Need any help?” Buffy asked perking up. “Nice try, Buffy. You're not getting off your studies that easily”, he chuckled and she let out a sigh. “Well it was worth a shot”, she smirked and continued with the shop talk: “You have any trouble finding the thing?” Angel nodded absently. “Yeah, some, it's a slippery devil. We went to Caritas to find some information.” “Did you have to sing?” Buffy asked with a wide smile. “Yeah.” “Let me guess, some corny ballad.” “Mandy”, he said closing his eyes as he heard Buffy laughing. “I wish I had been there”, she said, she could just imagine him awkwardly singing in front of a herd of half drunk demons. “No you don't”, he said, a small crooked smile rising to his lips. “I can't wait for Friday. But I have to go, I just called to hear your voice, I'm supposed to be just getting a drink”, she said not really wanting to hang up the phone. “Okay, go back to your friends and have a good time. I'll see you on Friday. I love you.” “I love you too. I'll be counting the days and hours. Bye”, she said and grudgingly put the phone down. She closed her eyes sighing deeply, Friday was too far away. Angel hung up the phone and his eyes landed on the doodle he had been mindlessly working on during the phone call, a small smile rose to his lips as he stared at the sketch of Buffy's smiling face. Buffy pushed herself off the wall and started walking towards the bar, remembering she was supposed to go get a drink. She didn't get to order anything when a unstable looking woman grabbed her arms forcing her to look her right into her piercing blue eyes. “They are coming”, she said hauntingly. “Who?” Buffy asked confused but the woman didn't answer, she let go of her arms and quickly disappeared into the crowd. She tried to see where the woman went but there was no trace of her. Finally she made her way back to her friends, still scanning the room. “I thought you were getting a drink?” Xander said and looked at her suspiciously. Willow noticed the distracted look on her friends face and was immediately worried. “What happened? Is something wrong?” she asked, worry marring her voice. Buffy shook herself out of the haze and turned to look into Willow's concerned eyes. “A woman stopped me, said they are coming”, she said absently, looking around the room. “Who are coming?” Xander asked, he too realizing something was going on. “She didn't say, she just disappeared. She just said 'they are coming'.” She shook her head and ran her hand through her hair. “I'm sorry, it just threw me”, she apologized and sat into the chair, still keeping alert eyes scanning the room.
Buffy couldn't get her mind off of what the strange woman had said and it truly bothered her. Not even several long phone calls with Angel eased her mind and by the end of the week she feeling like she was going crazy. She was lounging on the couch when she heard a knock to the door. “It's open”, she yelled, she rarely locked her door when she was home. Willow and Xander walked in with their girlfriends. “Still thinking about what the woman said?” Willow asked seeing the look on her face. She nodded solemnly and sighed. “Yeah, it's driving me nuts.” “Maybe Angel can take your mind off of it, from the look of him, I bet he gives great orgasms”, Anya said and Buffy blushed, so much for her just thinking about money. “Anya, please could you stop, nobody wants to know about the orgasms Angel gives Buffy”, Xander said firmly to his girlfriend. “Oh, but I want to know”, Anya answered with her usual lack of tact. “Not gonna happen, Anya”, Buffy said wryly. “Could we please change the subject?” Xander cried out, he had never wanted to know how far Buffy and Angel went in their relationship, he wanted to live in the sweet denial of thinking they were still in celibate. “When is Angel coming to pick you up?” Willow asked, changing the subject. “About now”, Buffy answered with a smile. “Your Angel sense is tingling?” she teased earning a incredulous look from Xander. “That too, but I can see him standing on the door that you left open”, Buffy answered chuckling. Everyone turned to look at the door where Angel was leaning against the door frame. “Hey”, he said with a crooked smile playing on his lips and he made his way to Buffy after she signaled him to come in. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, still feeling a little awkward kissing her in front of her friends. “Well, my carriage is waiting”, she said and stood up from the couch others following her to the door. She was about to pick her suitcase but Angel beat her to it, picking it up easily and heading to the car. She locked the door on her way out and as soon as she turned around, Willow pulled her into a tight hug. “Wills, I'm only gone for two days”, she chuckled and smiled at her friend who finally let go of her. “I know”, Willow said slightly embarrassed of her clingy behavior that occurred every time she was seeing Buffy off to LA. “Okay, guys, I really should be going”, she said and they made their way out of the building. Angel had put her suitcase into the trunk and was now waiting for her by the car, leaning into the passengers door. “I'll see you guys on Sunday”, she said with a wave of her hand and went to the car. Angel pulled away from it and opened the door for her, earning a smile from his efforts. He walked around the car and sat behind the wheel, ready to drive away when Buffy pulled him into a passionate kiss. When she pulled away, she was breathing heavily from both lack of oxygen and from the intensity of the kiss. “After nearly a week of not seeing you, I needed a little more than a quick chaste kiss from you. Don't worry, I checked, they are already gone”, she said with a cheeky smile and leaned into a quick kiss before leaning back into her seat. Angel drove off but after a long silence and several glances at her way, he had to break it. “What's wrong?” he asked tentatively. “Nothing”, Buffy tried to dodge it but Angel wouldn't have it. “Really, tell me”, he encouraged and she sighed heavily closing her eyes before opening them again. “What the woman said at the Bronze has really been bothering me. It's probably nothing but I still can't get it out of my mind. It's driving me nuts”, she said and he took her hand into his, giving it a small squeeze. “If it bothers you so much, we could stop by in Caritas and ask the host to read you”, he suggested. “Would I have to sing?” she asked with a grimace. “Yes you would”, he chuckled and she couldn't suppress the groan from surfacing. “It might help”, he added. “Yeah, I bet this is just a payback that I laughed at you for singing Mandy.” “That too. But I want you all to myself, without your mind wandering into some cryptic old lady”, he answered and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles.
Buffy and Angel went straight to Caritas which was a strange place for a slayer to be, her senses were screaming to her but she forced herself relax. The green skinned demon with a outrageous suit walked to them with his arms wide. “Pumpkin, you're back”, he said and Buffy raised her eyebrow in amusement. “Pumpkin?” she asked Angel fighting not to burst out laughing. Angel send her a half glare and then glared at the demon in front of them. “And you brought the girlfriend. Oh sugar, you are one lovely piece of art”, the host said turning to Buffy and pulling her into a warm hug. “No wonder he has his boxers on a twist every time you leave the city”, he continued and looked at her like she was a fine sculpture. Buffy could only stare at him. “Oh where are my manners, my name is Lorne, sweetness”, he said and offered her his hand. With a brief hesitation she took it and introduced herself: “Buffy.” “Oh, I know. You wouldn't believe how much all the people here talk about you. You're famous, honey, the notorious slayer and the all so bittersweet romance the two born enemies in love.” “They talk about me?” Buffy asked incredulously raising her brows in surprise. “Yes they do. You're so much prettier than I expected but I'm guessing you didn't come here for small talk”, he said and Buffy nodded. “Yeah, you would be guessing right. Angel said you read people.” “That I do. I can't wait to hear you sing. What will it be? I can squeeze you in after a chaos demon with a slight drinking problem”, Lorne chatted, pulling her under his arm and leading her towards the bar, away from Angel. Twenty minutes later and a embarrassing singing from a drunken chaos demon, Buffy made her way out of the stage to the corner table Angel was residing. “Are you going to torture me for the next ten years of my life now that I sang Wind beneath my wings?” she asked him only half jokingly. “No, I kinda like that song”, he answered sincerely and slightly embarrassed. Buffy raised her brows and looked him straight to his face. “You're scary”, she said deadpanned but soon the seriousness was gone and she leaned over the table to give him a quick kiss. “Aww”, they heard Lorne's cooing from behind and quickly they sat back to their seats. He was standing next to the table with a drink in his hand and a wide smile blasted on his face. “You two are the cutest couple I've ever seen”, he said and nervously Buffy stood up, she needed to know what was ahead. Seeing her nervousness, he smiled at her warmly and pulled her into a warm hug. ”Congratulations, sweetie pie”, Lorne told her, his smile just widening seeing her surprised 'deer caught in headlights-look'. ”What? What did you see?” Buffy asked now even more nervous than before. ”Can’t tell you yet, it wouldn’t be a surprise. But I can tell you this, it’s all good”, he assured her and she let out a sigh of relief as did Angel. “So you're not gonna tell me what it is you saw?” “Nope, but you'll find out soon”, Lorne said cryptically his smile not wavering a bit. “Lorne's very... bubbly”, she continued, for a moment searching for a word that would describe him. Angel just nodded in conformation, a smile rising to his lips also. They reached the car but before he could even open the door for her, she attacked his lips, her arms winding around his shoulders and she kissed him feverishly. Without a moments hesitation he returned the kiss with as much passion. After the air was coming a problem, he pulled away, both breathing heavily even though he didn't need the air. “Wow”, she whispered breathlessly and gave him a bright smile. “Yeah.” “How 'bout we go to celebrate now that we know nothing bad is coming right now. I promise my mind won't be wandering anywhere”, she whispered to his ear before giving it a small gentle nip. He suppressed a groan and pulled her into another hot kiss full of passion.
“Let's go”, he breathed into her ear and opened the passenger door.
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