Job Hunting
By Felicity

Disclaimer: They’re not mine ::sniffle::
Author’s Notes: This is the second in my fluff series! It’s the sequel to "New Beginnings" and has spoilers for my story "End of Days" as well. This is just completely harmless fluff, though it probably border on R for sex-themes…but not actual sex or anything…This is for Serena, cause she completely corrupted me and I can’t even write a scene without putting a sex reference in! Scary much?
Feedback is required!!!

"Angel," Buffy announced. "You need a job."

Angel’s eyebrows arched and he looked up from his paper to her with amusement playing on his lips. "And why would that be?"

"Look around this place," she said, one hand waving to indicate the large front room of his mansion. He looked obligingly.

"Not enough color?" he hazarded. She rolled her eyes.

"Actually, I think it’s fine. I was talking about the fact that everything in this place is triple indexed. There is not one speck of dust in the whole house! Everything is organized in categories within categories within categories!" Buffy exclaimed.

"And you want it messy?" Angel asked, looking a little bit confused.

"Well it’s not like I enjoy living in a pig sty, but it might be nice to be able to put down a magazine on the table without having it dissapear within five seconds to some category within a category where I will never see it again," Buffy pointed out, a teasing smile lighting her eyes.

"I can see how that might be troubling," Angel admitted. "But what does that have to do with me getting a job?"

"Uh…out of the house?" Buffy suggested. "Aren’t you bored? I mean, what do you do all week?"

His look said it all. She grinned triumphantly and picked up her section of the paper again. "See, you need a job."

The Slayer and her now-human boyfriend were curled up on the couch reading the Sunday paper. Angel was reading the editorials. Buffy was reading the comics.

"I just don’t know what I should do," Angel admitted after a moment. Buffy set down the comics again with a sigh.

"Well, you like…books and…history and…what do you like honey?" Buffy asked. Angel chuckled softly.

"I like you," he purred.

"Good answer."

***

They resumed the conversation as they picked up sandwiches at the Espresso Pump.

"Seriously, there must be something you’ve always wanted to do…if you ever became human…" Buffy cajoled, sipping her mocha.

"I never really thought about it much," Angel said. Buffy arched her eyebrows at him and he laughed. "Okay, I never really thought much beyond you."

"Darn tootin’," she muttered. "Do you have a diploma?"

"I got my GED before I came to Sunnydale. There aren’t many places that’ll hire you on just that though," Angel pointed out.

"Well…you don’t want to go to college. Believe me. You’d go insane in my classes. I’m sure you know more than most seniors in undergrad. Maybe you can get a fake degree."

"Buffy!" She grinned mischieviously at him.

"Well you certainly know plenty about history and different cultures…I mean, you’re right up with Giles in—you could be the new librarian!" she exclaimed.

"New librarian?"

"At Sunnydale! They’re building a new campus not on the Hellmouth, and they need a librarian. I bet you could get the job. Giles would give you references."

"Not without a degree," Angel pointed out.

"I bet Doyle knows a guy…"

***

"Of course I know a guy," Doyle said with a grin. Buffy grinned triumphantly at Angel, who was siezed with the sudden desire to acknowledge her victory and let her do what she would with him right there…Buffy arched her eyebrows at him and he shook it off, trying to hide a blush.

"Oh my god," Cordelia said. "He was thinking about sex!" Angel and Doyle exchanged glances.

"What?" Angel asked.

"You were thinking about sex! I could tell! That’s just…" She shuddered, showing just how distasteful she found the thought. "My god, you can’t keep your mind off it for like two seconds? I finally got this place cleaned of all disgustingness from when you were moving out!"

"You did what?" Buffy asked, looking around the office. She and Angel had taken a day trip to L.A. to pick up a few things he’d forgotten and ask about the diploma.

"Like I couldn’t tell you two made with the nasty all over the place!" Cordelia exclaimed, shuddering again. Doyle’s eyes widened in horror and he looked around uneasily. Buffy and Angel exchanged glances, trying very hard not to laugh—in between controlling the surge of desire at the memory.

"We did not!" Buffy insisted, trying to hold down her giggles. Cordelia gave her a flat look.

"Don’t lie to me. Please, I think I can tell. Can we discuss something else now?"

"The diploma," Angel said quickly, turning to Doyle. "You know a guy that can get it?"

"Sure. Not for the big colleges y’ know…but maybe somewhere small in Ireland or England so there wouldn’t be a lot of questions?" Doyle suggested, then smiled. "You can go to my old alma mater, I’ll tell you all about it. You’ll just have to fill out some things, I can tell you about the school on the way."

"Sounds good," Angel said, glancing at Buffy. She shooed him away.

"Me and Cordy’ll go shopping. Have fun College Boy." He stopped and kissed her quickly, leaving her breathless and staring after him when he and Doyle walked out the door.

"Buffy, if you are thinking anything nasty I swear I’ll—" Cordelia began. Buffy cut her off, laughing.

"I wasn’t thinking anything bad…Really…" Cordelia looked unconvinced. Buffy decided it was time to change the subject. "So, shopping now?"

***

"I think this was a lucrative day," Buffy announced, setting her bags down on the couch. "I got clothes. You got a diploma."

"It’s actually being made," Angel pointed out. Buffy shrugged.

"Well, you have school records and the diploma’s coming soon. Oh, and I got shoes too."

"Did I mention that I spoil you?" Angel asked. Buffy’s eyes went dark and she released the bags entirely, walking over and sliding into his lap. Her arms twined around his neck, her green eyes inviting.

"You want to see how spoiled I can be?" she asked in a whisper. Angel’s mouth turned up in a slow, sexy grin. "So what exactly were you thinking about in the office earlier?"

The grin widened.

"Oh, you’ll see."

***

"Angel, can I drive the car over to Giles’s?" Buffy asked, walking into the garden where Angel was sitting reading.

"My car?" he asked, looking a tad alarmed suddenly. She sat down on the edge of the fountain.

"I thought we were sharing everything…"

Obvious pain crossed Angel’s face.

"Of course we are honey. But…can you even drive?" Buffy avoided his eyes.

"Sure I can! In a way…it’s such a cute car!" she whined.

"Which is why I’d like to keep it in one piece. Besides, Giles lives within walking distance," Angel pointed out. Buffy sighed heavily, then got up and perched herself on his lap instead.

"You’re right, I just had to ask…me and cars are really like…"

"Unmixy things?" Angel suggested. Buffy laughed.

"How did you knows?"

"I know you."

"How well do you know me?" she purred.

"I thought you were going to see Giles." Buffy’s eyes widened and she slapped his arm, then got off his lap and crossed her arms.

"You…you…! I was going to see Giles to ask him to give you a recommendation! My god, a little gratitude here?" she asked.

"I just want to read my book in peace!" he laughed. She stuck out her tongue at him.

"Beast. Fine, I’m going. Witness me going…Oh, and your diploma came in the mail. You’re now officially a graduate of Galway University. But since you obviously don’t want to celebrate…" she murmured, beginning to walk away.

Seconds later Angel’s book was on the ground. As were Angel and Buffy.

***

"Giles? You home?" Buffy asked, opening the door and walking in.

"Buffy? What are you doing here?" her former Watcher asked, emerging from the next room in his bath robe. Buffy quirked her eyebrows.

"Interesting attire. You do realize it’s two in the afternoon, right?" He had the grace to look embarrassed.

"Yes, well, I was up late," he replied shortly.

"Where’s Spike?" Buffy asked.

"Right here luv," the vampire replied, coming out of the bathroom, thanfully fully clothes.

"Do I have to beat you?" she asked. He smirked.

"All right…Buffy. What are you doing here?" he asked. "Don’t you and Soul Boy have things to be doing?" Buffy, in turn, had the grace to blush. After which she gave him an extremely quelling look.

"I can’t just stop by to say hello? Yeesh, what is it with you people and being friendly?"

They gave her identical looks. She nearly laughed, except she was annoyed.

"Okay, fine, I have a favor to ask. But it’s not for me, really, it’s for Angel."

"The poof needs a favor?" Spike asked. Buffy gave him a look.

"Not from you," she snapped, then turned to Giles.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Well, Angel needs a job and—"

"What?! What happened to his millions?" Spike demanded. Buffy spun around.

"He has millions?" she asked.

"Uh…last I checked."

"Wow," Buffy breathed. She knew he had money, but…wow.

"Could we get back on subject?" Giles asked. "What precisely do you want from me?"

"Well you don’t have to use that tone. Yeesh, it’s not like I’m asking you for money or anything…Well, he needs a job so he can get out of the house, cause he’s going a little stir crazy. And we were considering what he likes and…I thought, since the new high school is like complete now, and they’re starting classes this week and they still don’t have a librarian…"

"Angel’s going to become the new high school librarian?" Spike demanded, beginning to laugh. Buffy ignored him, looking to Giles, who was looking faintly interested.

"What does he need my help for?" he asked.

"Well, he knows like every book ever written, but he’s not big on the Die decimal system or whatever it is…"

"Dewey."

"Right. Plus, I thought maybe you could give him a recommendation, since he doesn’t have a lot of previous work experience," Buffy suggested.

"Does he have a diploma?" Giles asked, frowning slightly.

"Yes!" Buffy exclaimed. "He uh…got one in a special program a few years ago. Before he came to Sunnydale. So…what do you think?"

"Soul Boy’s going to be a bloody high school librarian!" Spike exclaimed, doubling over with laughter.

"I’d like to see you get a job Wimp Boy," Buffy returned. "You can’t even bite anyone."

He sobered up and went to slump on the couch, glaring at her.

"I suppose I could give him a recommendation," Giles said when Buffy looked back to him. Buffy grinned and went over to kiss his cheek.

"Thanks Giles!" He watched her, slightly perplexed as she twirled away.

"You’re welcome…how are things going?" he asked. "Activity is low?"

"I’ve seen one vamp in the last two weeks," Buffy replied. "I’d say low is exaggerating it."

"I want to kill something," Spike whined. "Why aren’t there more demons?"

"This is a good. Remember, less hellmouth activity, less people dying?"

"Whatever," he muttered.

"So, you two bachelors having fun?" Buffy asked, looking from Giles in his robe to Spike.

"We uh…we’re fine," Giles replied. Buffy arched her eyebrows again, smiling slightly. "Faith was over last night."

"How’s she doing?" Buffy asked. "She knows she can come stay with us, right?"

"Yes, she said she wants to try being on her own, sorting things out. But she said hello."

"Yes, well she’s booked for a dinner date on Friday," Buffy said, "And I’m calling her like every day twice a day to make sure she’s all right."

"Good. She seems reformed but—"

"Faith’s good. Don’t worry," Buffy assured him. She glanced over at Spike and smile ferally. "Are you sure he isn’t bothering you? I could stake him?"

"Hey!" Spike yelled. The Slayer and Watcher grinned at each other.

***

"I’m off to school sweetie," Buffy said, leaning over the large bed and shaking Angel slightly. He squinted up at her, trying to shake off sleep. "Promise to call me this afternoon and tell me how the interview went?"

"Uh-huh," he murmured sleepily. "Do you have to go so early."

"Angel, it’s nine thirty. I have class in a half an hour. You’re just being lazy," she informed him. He rubbed his eyes, a half smile twitching over his mouth.

"You did keep me up a little late last night," he reminded her with a grin.

"Well too bad for you," she replied smugly. "Just cause you’re a regular old human now that needs sleep…Would you rather I left you all by yourself? I mean, I’m sleeping at the dorm tonight, I could stay tomorrow too…"

Angel growled at her and she giggled, letting him pull her onto the bed beside him. Two days a week Buffy’s first class was at ten, so she stayed at the mansion. The other three days she had a class at nine, and slept in the dorm room she shared with Willow.

"Skip class," he suggested.

"No way mister. I’m already dreading getting my finals back. I’m not misbehaving anymore!" she exclaimed, pulling away from his grasping hands. "Angel, you’re going to mess up my clothes."

"Good," he growled, fully awake by this time. Buffy laughed and escaped, eyeing him from a safe distance.

"You should get up and get dressed. Your interview is in an hour. Try not to wear anything too depressing." His stomach rumbled loudly. "And you have to have breakfast." Angel moaned.

"You’re a termagent, did you know that?"

"What’s a termagent?" Buffy asked, escaping his hands again as he sat up and reached for her. She picked up her book back and pulled it over her shoulder. "Never mind, don’t tell me, I’m going."

"Not even a kiss?" he asked pitifully. Buffy laughed, but softened at the look in his eyes. She walked over and pulled him up to stand beside her, pulling him into a deep kiss which lasted for quite a while, getting deeper and deeper. Finally Buffy pulled away. She glanced down and her eyes widened, then she grinned.

"Have a nice day Angel," she laughed, running out the door before he could follow her.

"BUFFY!" he yelled, but was answered only by the sound of laughter.

***

"Mr. O’Reilly to see you," the secretary said, peeking her head in the office.

"Show him in," a woman’s voice called. The secretary, a rather harried looking woman in her thirties stepped back.

"Mrs. Nikovicz will see you now," she said. Angel smiled thanfully and walked in, wondering if Buffy would qualify his black suit as "too depressing". Behind the desk sat a woman in her forties or fifties, with brilliant red hair mixed liberally with white. She looked up and smiled as he entered, revealing a kind face and bright eyes.

"Please sit down," she said, gesturing to one of the chairs in front of her desk. Angel took the seat rather awkwardly.

"Good morning," he said, unsure exactly how this went. He’d never been to a job interview before—at least, not since interviews consisted of asking whether he was a good worker, and then setting him to work. He usually got fired from those jobs anyway.

"Good morning…Mr. O’Reilly is it? Are you Irish?" she asked.

"I was born there," Angel replied, "And I went to college there. I’ve spent a lot of time in America though, so I’ve lost the accent…and I’m a citizen, in case that would be any problem."

"No, no, it’s all right. The last librarian was English…which you must know, as you have a glowing recommendation from him," Mrs. Nikovicz said.

Glowing? Angel hadn’t read it, but that sounded good. "Yes, we’ve worked together quite a bit."

"So he says. I see you don’t have much experience…"

"Not formal, but I have spent a lot of time working in libraries, I just wasn’t an official employee," Angel said, semi-truthfully. He’s spent a lot of time in libraries…not necessarily working.

"Yes, well, you know how to index and so on, it says. And you’re familiar with a large variety of books?" Mrs. Nicovicz inquired.

"Oh yes. I’ve had a lot of time to read in the past few years. I can safely say I would be able to help anyone looking for a book. I’m also very familiar with history, literature and a fair number of languages," Angel assured her.

"Oh really? How many languages do you speak?" she asked.

"I’m fairly fluent in eight," Angel replied, "And I can get in on quite a few others."

"Eight?" she echoed, looking impressed.

"Like I said, I’ve had a lot of time to study. I’ve also traveled…a lot."

"So I presume. What languages do you speak, if you don’t mind me asking?"

"Oh no, not at all…I speak French, German, Dutch, Italian, Latin, Greek, Russian and Irish Gaelic. And English, of course. And then a lot of other ones, but I’m rusty on those."

"Oh, I see. And impressive list."

"I…pick up on things easily."

"Yes, I can tell. So, tell me why you want to be a librarian. It’s not exactly a desired position by young accomplished men such as yourself," Mrs. Nicovicz pointed out. Angel smiled despite himself at her description.

"I’ve spent a lot of time…being wild, and traveling, and seeing things. I’d like to settle down here for a while. And as to being a librarian…I love books and reading, and I would like to help others learn to love it as well. I’m quite willing to take on the mundane tasks. I think they’ll be a relief actually. Before this, I was a private investigator in L.A."

"Yes, so it says on your resume. I must admit, Angel—is it all right, if I call you that?"

"Yes, please, Mr. O’Reilly makes me think of my father," Angel admitted. He hadn’t used the name for two hundred years, but he was glad that he had begun again…it made him feel more human, and that in some way he was carrying on his family legacy, even though he had been the one to end their lives. This was, he would always remember them, and someday his children would have the name too…Children, now that was an interesting thought. He could see them now. Buffy’s golden hair and gorgeous green eyes…As long as she was agreeable of course. He smiled at that thought and turned his mind back to the interview.

"Good. Then you must call me Nico, everyone does. My real name is much too unpronouncable I’m a fraid. Well, I find it a little mystifying why you would go from being a detective, to working as a high school librarian," Nico admitted, a smile taking away any insult the words might hold. Not that Angel took any.

"My life has gone through a big change lately. I’ve gone through a very big change. My world kind of…ended. And now it’s started over. So I’m starting over. I’d like to do so here," Angel replied, finding it easy somehow to talk to this woman though he was sure he’d never met her before. "If you don’t mind me asking…did you teach here before the school was blown up?"

"Blown up?" she repeated, her eyes sparkling. "You know, they’re calling it an accident now."

"Oh."

"I just didn’t expect you to know anything about it…now I didn’t. I went here years and years ago, and then I moved away and became a teacher. I’ve been a high school principal for eight years, and when I heard they were looking for one here, I applied for the job. Why? You seem to know something about the place," Nico said.

"I lived in Sunnydale for a few years before moving to L.A. I…knew people that went here. And I helped Mr. Giles."

"Right. Well…the pay’s not much, I’m afraid," she said apologetically. Angel shrugged.

"I don’t need much," he said, "It’s more for something to do than the money."

"Well, that’s good to here," she laughed. "Refreshing. I think that’s all, for now. Thank you for coming, we’ll call you. I just have one more person to see." Angel stood up as she did and reached over to shake her hand.

"Thank you. It was very nice to meet you," Angel said sincerely. He hadn’t really met anyone since…since December, before the End of Days.

"And you Angel. I hope to see you again," Nico said, a genuine smile on her face. Angel gave her a small bow of the head and left, smiling at the still-harried looking secretary as he walked out of the office into the school halls.

"Who’s that?" a girl whispered as he passed. He looked around at the bright, airy halls—they’d rebuilt the school quickly, but it was well designed and very pleasant. For a school anyway. Everyone was staring at him. A corner of his mouth twitched upwards as he saw a group of teenage girls whispering furiously nearby. He wondered what it was like when Buffy was here. He’d never been part of her daytime life, not really. This was completely new to him.

He’d have to ask her sometime.

***

"So?" Buffy prompted, twisting the phone cord around her finger.

"They just called," Angel replied. "I’m in." Buffy squealed, bouncing on her bed, then started laughing at herself.

"I can’t believe I’m this excited that you got the job of librarian," she giggled.

"What? What’s wrong with being a librarian?" Angel asked.

"Just that my view of ‘high school librarian’ is extremely Giles-like. I can tell you truthfully I never imagined I’d be semi-living with one," Buffy said firmly.

"Are you unhappy about it?" Angel asked in a deep, sexy voice. Buffy looked around the room and then got up and locked the door before flopping back on the bed.

"Well…since I’m not coming over tonight…do you want me to prove to you just how unhappy I am?" she replied wickedly.

"I’m looking forward to it."

The End