Buffy knocked loudly on Angel's door. Angel clumsily got out of bed and cursed who ever it was. The knocking got louder and louder. Angel tripped over his book as he tried to get out of the sheets. "I'm coming!" He finally made it over to the door and pulled it open. Buffy looked at Angel. He was wearing nothing but boxers and the sight definitely made her forget about her troubles for the moment. Angel looked at Buffy who looked like she hadn't slept for days. But even through that Angel couldn't help but noticed how beautiful she looked. Suddenly he became worried. "Buffy, what's wrong?"

She fell in to his arms and embraced him tightly. She began to sob uncontrollably. "My mother kicked me out!" She told him the story leading up to the night he got his soul back one by one. "So I was going to look for yo-well, Angelus. But I had to kill a vamp in front of my mother and Spike was there and I had to let him in so we could get to Angelus so he wouldn't get to Giles about Acapita or whatever his name is. So Spike and I came up with a plan and as I was about to go she told me not to go and that I needed some therapy and she couldn't accept who I was so I told her to open her eyes. And she said that if I left then I couldn't come back. But I had to leave. I had to and now I have no where to go to."

Angel took this all in. This was all his fault. This would have never happened had it not been for him. "Angel I know what you're thinking but it's not your fault."

Angel shook his head. "No, Buffy it is my fault. You should have killed me when you had the chance."

Buffy gazed into his eyes. "I would be more hurt if I killed you before knowing that you could be saved. I would die. It's not any of our faults. I thought we were passed this anyway." Angel smiled. They stood there for a good six minutes silent in their own world. Buffy thought about everything that had led up to where they stood at the moment.

Angel was a 242 yr. old vamp with a conscience. She was the Slayer. The one girl in every generation that fought against the vampires and other unfriendly demons. First he just started warning her about the new vampires in town. But then it was like they needed to see each other more. Buffy didn't find out who he was until one night, after Angel rescued her from The Three, after they kissed passionately, that Angel was a vampire. Then Angel was set up so it would look like he bit Buffy's mother. She went to fight him but gave him a chance to explain. He told her about the curse and why he had it. Once again Angel rescued Buffy when Darla, Angel's sire, came to kill Buffy. They finally meant at the Bronze and said they could never be anything. And they kissed for what was supposed to be the last time.

That was over a year ago. And they had finally realized that fate and destiny wasn't something to be reckoned with. They finally became a couple. It worked for a while. One night, on her 17th birthday, out of fear of losing each other and passion, they made love. They didn't know that he would lose his soul if he had just one moment of pure happiness. But Jenny, who was really a member of the Romani, knew. Buffy blamed Jenny for what happened and left her unprotected. Months past and Angel was still evil. Jenny found a curse for Angel, but Angel found out and destroyed everything the curse was on, except for the disk he didn't see, and then he killed her.

Giles was called to the museum to check out a stone statue and discovered what it was. The demon was Acathla and only someone who's blood was worthy to set him free by removing the sword from his chest that was put there by a knight in order to turn him into stone. Angel had found it too and he went to take it.

A bunch of things happened after that. Willow had found the curse to restore Angel's soul. He had found out about it and he set her up. She went to find him but realized that he sent Dru out to the library. She wound up killing Kendra, the other Slayer that had come to help Buffy with Acathla. Willow and Xander had been injured, and Cordelia had escaped. Buffy was too late coming back to the library and had found Kendra dead. A police officer had arrived and held her under arrest. She had escaped but was now a fugitive.

Once she found out about Willow and Xander at the hospital, she went to Giles' house and found the Whistler in there. He warned her cryptically but she wouldn't listen to him. She left and saw Spike on the way who wanted to help her stop Angel because he was sick of Angel trying to take Dru from her. She agreed to help him and as they came up to her house her mother pulled up and told her about her being a fugitive. A vamp came out of no where and Buffy had to kill him in front of her mother. Her being the Slayer was exposed but she couldn't explain everything to her mother at that point.

They agreed that Spike would keep Angel from killing Giles and if anything happened to him then Dru would die. Spike returned and was able to hold Angel off. Angel was trying to get the answer out of Giles on how to wake Acathla because his first attempt had failed. Giles wasn't letting up and he decided to use Dru to get to him. She cast some sort of hypnotic spell on him so he would think she was Jenny. She got it out of him and he realized what he had done.

Buffy's mother who still didn't understand everything told Buffy that if she had left she could never come back. Buffy choose to leave knowing that she would have had to anyway. The Slayer stopped at the school to get the sword and had brief words with Snyder, who happily told her she was expelled. She said that she would come back to school and he couldn't do anything about it. She pretended that she knew something about him and threatened to tell everyone if she he didn't do what she told him. She then went back to Giles' house knowing that the Whistler was waiting for her to come back. She asked him how to kill the thing. And he told her that Angel was the key.

Buffy got to the mansion in time enough. Xander had caught up with her and told her that Willow was going to get Angel's soul back. They reached the mansion and Xander had gotten Giles out. Just as Angel was about to take the sword out of Acathla he dropped to his knees. Buffy stopped in her tracks. He was in pain and had not noticed that she was standing there.

The first minutes were confusing because he didn't know what was going on. The last thing he remembered was that they were in bed together sleeping. He realized that Buffy was standing there. And it was awkward of course. Just like when they had first started admitting that they couldn't stay away from each other. Buffy and Angel stayed there for a minute and finally he remembered all the things he did and broke down. They just stood there while Buffy comforted him. Eventually all was forgiven because everyone knew that Angel and Angelus were two different people. But it did take time.

Angel too had been pondering the events that led up to now. Realizing something he looked up at her. "Buffy that was over 8 weeks ago. Where exactly have you been staying if you haven't been home?" Buffy started to get fidgety.

"I didn't think you would realize that. Well, several. Most of the time I stayed outside of your apartment and slept or I would sleep in the school auditorium," she said softly as she looked down at the floor. She knew that Angel what he was about to say.

"WHAT? BUFFY! Neither one of them are the most safest places to sleep. Outside my apartment?! Do you know that you could have gotten killed? You aren't exactly the lightest sleeper around."

"Look I know that you're worried but I'm fine. Last night Willow found me and she threatened to tell my mom because she said she was looking all over for me. But Angel listen, I'm not going back there, she told me basically that if I didn't stay and not save the world then I was gone for good. And I don't want to go back. She doesn't listen to a word I say. So I was wondering if I....," Buffy's voice trailed off. She didn't know what to do if Angel would say no.

Right away Angel knew where Buffy was headed with this. And he didn't like it. "Buff no. No, no, and no. You can't stay here. When your mother finds out where you are she'll blame me and I don't want to hurt you anymore than I have. And after all that happened here I do-"

Buffy interrupted with another sob and then spoke softly, "I love this place. This is where I gave my heart to you. Remember how I told you I didn't regret anything we did? Even if you weren't here, I would still do it over. And I know this is hard for you but please Angel. You're all I have left. Let me live with you."

She saw him began to melt and a spark of hope rose within her. She held her breath. "I'm gonna regret this, but yes you can stay. Just so you know I sleep through the day most of the time, and I don't have any food other than blood," he said reluctant but happily.

His girlfriend smiled. "As if I didn't already know that."

"I do have Cheese Doritos. Don't ask why. I just like the way they taste. Oh and don't be greedy with the closet space."

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. "Angel, thank you. I love you. And I won't be greedy." Angel slightly amused nodded. "Besides," she continued, "this is good practice for us. We'll be together and you can protect me. I'll get to see what it's like living with you and you'll get to see what it's like living with me. It could prepare us for when we get married." Buffy smiled inwardly. She waited to see his reaction.

Angel smiled. He knew what game she was trying to play. "You're right. It won't be that bad. But as long as we can have a night wedding. You know I burn easily in the sun." Buffy laughed. This was going to be fun.

Buffy and Angel were quietly sitting on the couch. Her head resting on his lap. This was nice, he thought. The times when no danger was around and they could just sit there and be happy. Happy. A word that was music to his ears. He was purely happy and for once he knew it couldn't be taken from him.

Buffy finally broke the solitude. "Angel?", she spoke with her eyes closed.

Angel lazily stroked her soft hair. "Hmm?"

Buffy opened her eyes and looked at him. "I know we were joking earlier but do you really think that one day we could get married? I mean would you want to marry me?"

Angel had contemplated this before. Someday when she was older, if they were still alive, he would ask her. But he never really took it seriously. It might cause a lot of controversy. But if she wanted them to get married, he would do it. If she wanted him to eat horse manure, he'd do it. "Yes, I think we could. I mean we already broke every rule in the book as far as the Vampire and the Slayer dating. We've...you know. I mean it would gain more enemies on both sides. But I would marry you anyway. Why are you asking all of this?"

Buffy shrugged, "Because um...well I was thinking.....Never mind just drop it," she said in a final voice like manner. Angel knew it was time to just let it go, even though he was curious to here what else she was going to say. Buffy took another deep breath. "Which brings me to my next question, would you still. . .you know if I was okay with it and all? I mean you don't have anything to stand in your way right? I mean the soul is there forever so um...would you still if I would still?"

Angel didn't really want to get into that right now. They were avoiding the subject so well lately. "Buffy I want you very much. But don't you think we should give it a little more time? I mean a relatively recent event caused me to lose it. But it's not that. It's that I hurt you while it was gone. And what if Giles and Willow was wrong? What if it doesn't work the way they say it does? I don't know about you, but I couldn't live with myself again knowing that I took the chance to hurt you. Aren't you scared?"

"Why should I be? Angel because we made love had nothing to do with the curse being lifted. It was just a part of that. When you told me you loved me and I said that I did too all of that was part of it. And yes I'm ready. I trust Willow and Giles and I know the curse is right. Deep down you know it too. I know you're afraid of hurting me," Buffy paused, "but you won't. Remember before the Whistler left he said that it was written that no matter what we had everlasting love?" Angel nodded. "Well, it also meant this. Angel that night was so incredible. If I could have chosen another guy or my first time to be another way I wouldn't. You made me feel so good. I'm ready and I know you are too."

Angel was awe struck. It was amazing that she felt the same way he did yet, how could she trust him? Knowing what he had done to her. She wasn't afraid but he was. He looked into her eyes. He loved her so much. More than anyone he could have ever loved. He could have had anyone. Yet he fell in love with a 17 year old junior, a Slayer at that. She was right. They were ready. She lived such a short life yet she taught him things that not even at his age he would dare to know. He wanted to do this. He needed to. Because he loved her.

Angel smiled. As he reached down to pick Buffy off the sofa she motioned him to wait. "Angel I-I've been wanting to do this since you got your soul. But I was waiting for the right moment when everything would be settled and all. But um, well, hold on," Buffy said as she slowly reached down in her pocket. In her hand was the ring Angel gave her. She started to cry. "I took it off when you changed but I never stopped carrying it with me. It was a symbol of our love and it was a symbol of everything we had gone through." Buffy took Angel's hand and put the ring in his. "Most of all it was a symbol of hope. I said that I was ready and that I knew you could never come back, but in my heart, I knew you would soon come back to me. So put it on me." She smiled through her tears. Angel ever so gently put the ring on as if it was the most fragile thing in the world. He touched her face and then her hands. Buffy grabbed the back of his head with one hand and kissed him with all her pass! ion.

Angel broke away from the kiss and picked her up. Buffy gleefully laughed. "Ay!", she said as he spun her around a few times. Smoothly he carried her up to the bed. Laying her down on the bed he laid on top of her and slowly they began to work off their clothes.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked at the clock. Then she got scared. She was afraid that she would turn around and see Angel gone. Don't be silly. All that persuading you did to stop his fears and now you're afraid. Buffy smiled as she turned over and saw Angel lying there sound asleep. She moved closer to Angel. She closed her eyes again. Angel turned over and moved even closer putting his arm around her. He felt so warm (despite his cold hands and body) and safe. She was about to drift off to sleep when the phone rang. "Just ignore it," Angel murmured as he shifted position. But after the tenth rang Buffy couldn't take it anymore.

"You better have a good excuse for calling at 7:41 on a Saturday morning. Some people actually sleep during this time of day," Buffy replied groggily. There was a short pause on the other end. Then a timid and surprised person spoke up.

"Uh...Buffy? Is that you?" It was Willow Rosenberg. The shy computer hacker who was Buffy's best friend.

Buffy laughed inwardly. "No, this is Drusilla. Who else would be here in the morning? What's up?"

Willow switched the phone to the other ear. "Well, its about your mother. Buffy, she's really worried about you and I think she deserves to know whether or not you're okay at least. I mean don't you think you owe her that much?"

Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing. "First of all I don't owe her anything! She's the reason why I left. If she can't accept who I am then I can't help her. And since when did you start defending her? She's the bad guy. She kicked me out for saving the world! She could have died. I didn't expect her to just shrug it off and say, 'Oh that's nice honey, do you want a bagel with cream cheese?', but she could have been a little more supportive. And now she wants to know if I'm alright? She should have thought about that before she decided to make me a homeless teenager so forget it."

Angel began to get irritated. "I know that you're mad, and you have a right to vent, but why don't you try it around a time when I'm trying not to sleep?" Buffy forgot about Angel. She mouthed a sorry to him. She focused on what Willow had to say.

Okay here goes nothing. "Uh Buffy? I know this isn't a good time to tell you this but the reason why I called was to ask Angel if he had seen you. I figured he was the only person you would talk to about this, but I didn't know that you'd be there. . .um overnight. . .with him. I just thought that you would have came over and told him about it. Although I kinda had a feeling that you might be."

Buffy became impatient. Angel was up and put his arm around her again. "Willow stop babbling. Have you been drinking coffee again?"

"Okay, your mother knows that you're at Angel's and that you guys got back together and she is on her way to his house right now so please tell me you'll be out by then."

Buffy shot straight up from her sleep position. "WHAT?! She can't come here. How did she know? And I'm not going anywhere. I live with Angel now and she can say whatever she wants but she can't tell me what to do. I'm no longer under her jurisdiction. She can't tell me to do anything."

Willow sighed she knew this was going to happen. "She said that you told her about your slaying and that she had a feeling you would be at Angel's. I sort of let it slip that you two were back together. And then I kind of told her where he lived. When she called she just asked if I had seen you around and I said not as much as I used to since. . .you know. When she hung up I drunk a whole pot of coffee. She called the second time and that's when I told what I knew. Please don't be angry with me but I just thought that I was doing the right thing for everyone. Buffy, I know you're mad but. . .be good."

With that, she hung up. Buffy put the receiver down and looked at Angel. He knew that look and simply asked, "What is it this time?"

Buffy laid back down. "It's not what but who. My mother knows I'm here and she's coming."

Angel didn't even bother worrying. When it was time to cross that bridge he would. "Are you going to get dressed and sleep on the couch?"

Buffy got up and went to unlock the door and hopped back under the covers with Angel. "Nope. She can just walk in and see for herself since she was so apt on coming. I don't care. She won't do anything to me. Besides I want to stay right here with you. You don't have a problem with this do you?"

Angel gave one of the trademark half smiles that made him look mysterious. "You know, I've learned that you never listen to me. So whatever I say doesn't matter. Besides I have to back you up on this one. Your mother was way harsh and it's your choice. And I'm just starting to get used to you being with me."

Buffy smirked at the comment. "Good Answer. Thanks for sticking by me." He kissed her forehead. Once again they drifted off to sleep together holding each other in their arms.

"Buffy open up! I know you're in there with him!" Joyce Summers banged on the door. She tried the knob and to her surprise it was open. She looked in and then took a step inside. She thought she would see pornography on the walls and all kinds of stuff. But what she saw was enough to make her impressed. She walked over a statue of a Buddha in a glass display case. That must be worth millions. It looks 18th century. A few lovely paintings and a simple but elegant, cherry wood desk. In the middle of the room was a big sofa. She didn't see a TV or a radio even.

She shook all of that out of her mind. All she wanted was her daughter back. She really didn't mean what she said. She had a talk with Willow and she seem to be able to understand what was happening a little more. She knew she was wrong. Finally she stepped into the bedroom area and she almost had a heart attack. There her child was lying in bed with her 'history tutor', or the vampire, whoever it was, he was the older man trying to corrupt her innocent daughter. He did corrupt her innocent daughter. The point was they were lying there in each others arms. Buffy had on her night gown and Angel had on his boxers (the sheet was halfway over his leg). Buffy said she didn't want to be totally disrespectful. But it was apparent that something did happen. They were lying under the covers just sleep.

"Wake up! Young lady get dressed and get into the car right now! And you!" she pointed at Angel with a disgusted look, "I don't know what kind of games you play with young girls but this is sick. How dare you take advantage of my daughter like that? I hope you know I'm calling the police." Buffy opened her eyes and smiled.

"Mother get a grip. You have no right to talk to Angel that way. He didn't take advantage of me. He's a 242 year old vampire with a soul. I happen to love him very much and he loves me. As a matter of fact he was against it. It was me who convinced him."

Buffy stopped for a minute to see how her mother was taking this. Then she continued. "He lost his soul the first time we made love. That was because of the a curse that was put on him. He wasn't supposed to be happy but he had a moment of happiness and he lost his soul. Willow and Giles came up with a cure that gave him his soul forever and he can't lose it. So he can be happy from now on. And no he wasn't happy just because he slept with me. It lies deeper than that. Something you'll never understand because you never take the time to listen to me." Angel just listened and held Buffy as tight as he could.

Joyce stepped back. "So you think that this makes it all okay? Just because he's a vampire with a soul? Buffy just because you love someone doesn't mean you sleep with them. Whatever happen to marriage? I raised you better than that. Now this is not open for some kind of debate so just get your clothes on and let's go!"

Buffy began to get angry. By this time Buffy was standing in front of her mother. Angel was standing across facing them. "Mom, I'm going to die. That's a given. I'm the Slayer and that's how it works. One slayer is born to every generation and she dies and the next comes forth. I was happy just to turn 17. I probably won't get old enough to be married and have children. I'm the longest living slayer in the history of Slaying. But luck can change. I love Angel and he loves me. And I know that I should have gotten married first, but I can't. Fate and Destiny says we're to be together. But my fate also lies in my time as a Slayer. This might not justify anything for you, it doesn't for me either. But it's enough."

Buffy moved over to Angel. She took his hand. Joyce saw him gaze at Buffy adoringly. She knew that they loved each other. Deeper than she could ever know. Deeper than they could ever know. Buffy spoke up again. "And as for leaving, I will not. I belong here with Angel. I was told never to come back. So I'll hold you to that promise. You can't tell me what to do anymore. It's over. I'm here with someone who loves me and will take care of me. So I suggest you let the door hit you on the way out. Maybe you'll realize what you did."

Joyce couldn't believe this. But she wasn't able to do anything about it either. "You'll see when things get complicated. You'll want to come back. I just want you to know that the door is always open for you anytime." She looked at Angel. "You take care of her. I know you love her. So don't disappoint me or her." And with that she turned around and left.

Angel and Buffy stared at each other. She was glad that she had did this. It was what she wanted. She was with Angel and had everything she needed. She would always visit her mother and even miss her. But Buffy was a girl of no regrets. If she wanted something and got it, and later suffered from it, she wouldn't regret, she would just get stronger. Right now she needed this. She needed to see what it was like being with Angel all the time. It was good for her and him. She knew that he would take care of her and she would take care of him too. As long as they had each other it would be okay.

Angel kissed Buffy on her forehead and hugged her tightly. She didn't seem to be feeling doubtful. He would be with her until his dying day. He would risk his life for her. And he knew that Joyce wasn't kidding when she told him not to disappoint the both of them. As far as he was concerned he wasn't going to. He needed Buffy more than anything in the world. He needed to wake up with her and feel her arms around him. He needed to feel her breath tickle his chest. He didn't know what the next few months or weeks even, would be, but he did know that he was ready for it no matter what happened. As long as he could protect her, as long as he could love her, as long as he could make all her doubts go away. As he pulled away from the embrace he said out loud, "I won't disappoint you."