SUMMARY: I've named this series Friends and Lovers so this is Part 4. The date. This directly follows "Heaven On Their Minds". Buffy and Angel are going on their first date in years. It's up to you guys to tell me after this if you want it to continue or not. If it does, I'll stop doing just fluff and move it into the drama/plot realm. But it's up to you.
NOTES: Takes place after FLOODED but is ignorant of the musical and anything after CARPE NOCTEM.
DEDICATIONS: To Cim and Nate who I adore and who keep me sane. Thank you for the beta-reading and the fantastic convo. To Trin, when I see you, you make me laugh. And to the fantastic writers like Ducks and Margot who inspire all of us.
MUSICAL NOTES: The Eagles are responsible for the title. Tim McGraw has the lyrics and they are from the song, "My Best Friend".

I never had no one that I could count on
I've been that down so many times
I was tired of hurtin' so tired of searchiin'
Til you walked into my life
It was a feelin' I'd never known
And for the first time I didn't feel alone

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Every time I look at you
I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend

You stand by me you believe in me
Like nobody ever has
When my world goes crazy
You're right there to save me
You make me see how much I have
And I still tremble when we touch

*******

He was wearing silk. That was the first thing that she realized as he moved towards her, his body poetic in it's fluid movements. She tried to say his name but it easily could have doubled as an expulsion of air.

He smiled at her; not a full one but something like his trademark smirk. His eyes seemed to be gleaming and if asked to describe him, she would almost say that he seemed to be leaping towards her.

Like a graceful cat.

"Buffy," he said, voice soft but with just a bit of rumble. Almost like a growl. Almost primal.

Her mouth felt like cotton. Which was stupid. She'd seen him just the week before. They'd spent the night together; she curled in his arms in the back of his convertible until nearly sunrise. She licked her lips and tried to get his name out again but after another failed attempt, she settled for simply extending her hand towards him.

He took it and lifted it to his mouth, brushing a cool kiss over it. She shivered a bit then, her body electrified by even the slightest bit of contact. He chuckled. "My lady?"

"Hi," she whispered, leaning up to peck his cheek. He moved his head just slightly and she ended up kissing him fully on his lips. He laughed beneath the contact and yet his arms moved out to pull her closer to him.

She broke away and looked up at him, studying the contours and shadows of his face. She knew this man and yet somehow looking at him was like opening a gift on Christmas morning. She ran the length of her palm down his face, feeling the light stubble gently prickle her fingers.

"Still the same," he assured her, enjoying her warm touch. He folded a hand over hers.

"Not so much," she murmured, looking up into his eyes. "We're both different."

"We're not," he replied, suddenly alarmed. He felt his heart begin to sink and his insides had an abrupt icy cold touch to them.

She smiled at him, oddly calm. "We're different, baby. Older. Wiser." She pulled his head down to him and whispered in his ear, "More in love."

He chuckled, feeling the ice in his stomach start to melt. "Is that possible? I mean we did kinda already do the sword through the gut metaphor."

She laughed, heartened at his ability to joke about his visit to hell. "That was a metaphor?"

He shrugged. "Something like that. Take my hand."

She lifted an eyebrow, "Okay.."

"Shush, don't argue with me. Take my hand."

She studied him for a long beat, almost thoughtfully and then replied solemnly, "Always."

He turned to look at her and smiled softly, "Not tonight, love."

"What?' she queried, openly confused. "I don't.."

"You and I...we always have so much pain between us." He took her hand and turned her to face him. "We do."

"Gee, thanks for the reminder.." Buffy murmured, trying to look away. He caught her chin and turned her face back towards his.

"But that's not tonight. We're creatures of the night, Buffy. We can't escape that. We never will." He paused and caught her eyes. Leaning up, he brushed a kiss over her eyelids. "Except for tonight."

"Tonight?"

Angel reached into his jacket and pulled out a piece of white paper. On it was several lines of typed writing. "Dinner, dancing..."

"I know where that next line is going, buster and until you get adequate protection, we're strictly above the belt."

He laughed then. Loud and clear. And she laughed as well. He wrapped an arm around her and hugged her close, enjoying the feel of her against his body. The warmth, the love. God, everything. He dropped a kiss down on the top of her head, just barely resisting the urge to lift her into the air and swing her.

"Careful, honey..you're getting giddy," she joked, taking his hand. Then she sighed, not tiredly but rather expectantly. "Okay then, I'm in your hands."

He smirked at her, eyes dancing. "Oh..I like that."

****

"You look great," he assured her, pulling her towards the door.

"Angel, you didn't tell me you were bringing me to a fancy restaurant," Buffy protested. She pulled her leather jacket tighter around her body, attempting to hide what she was wearing.

He placed a hand over hers and peeled the jacket away. She was dressed simply rather than elegantly but she might as well have been wearing diamonds from his perspective. "You look amazing. Now stop."

She looked up at him and pouted. He moved closer to her and nipped her lip. "That won't get you anywhere."

She snorted and then offered him her hand. "Okay, I'm yours."

"Yes," he replied in almost a breath. "You are. Now come on." He pulled her through the front door into the restaurant with him.

"Wow," she gasped, looking around.

He smiled at her, "Do you like?"

She gazed around, taking in the rich decor and the elegant surrounding, delighting in the smells and visuals. "Oh yes."

"Good," he said. He motioned towards one of the waiters and then spoke in French to him. The man leaned close as if to listen and then nodded eagerly. To Buffy he said, "Can I take your jacket?"

She looked up at Angel and then finally nodded and allowed it to slide down and off her shoulders.

A few moments later, they were seated. He leaned closer to her. "There's a reason that I don't want you dressed all the way up.."

"Oh?" she teased, eyes dancing.

"You be good.," he warned, narrowing his eyes at her. "I have to watch you every moment don't I?"

"Something like that. Ok..so what are we doing after this?"

"Nope."

"Nope?" she queried, clearly puzzled. "What the hell does THAT mean?"

"It means I'm not telling you and..wait.." Angel looked up as the waiter approached. He ordered in French. The waiter smiled and nodded and then departed. It was all very quick.

"That was...that was like how it in movies..weird..."

"It was weird?"

"Yes. No. Yes. Dammit, you're confusing me. Where are we going..and don't say 'nope' or I'll beat you.."

"Promises, promises," he sighed. Then he looked at her, eyes narrowed just a bit and a smirk lifting his lip. Leaning just a bit closer he hissed, "Nope."

She growled at him and then swatted his arm. "I'm so gonna kick your ass.."

"You know honey, I think you have anger management issues," he teased, leaning across the table to plant a soft kiss on her lips. He pulled back and picked up her hand, caressing it with his own.

"Mmm hmm..wonder where I got those," she replied, tone dry with sarcasm.

He chuckled and then stopped to study her face. She looked tired and beat down. Like the world was down on her. No matter how nice and calm things were between them now, he knew she was still struggling with her return from heaven.

"You're still not sleeping," he said softly.

She looked down and away. "No. Not really."

"Hey..hey...look at me. You have nothing to be ashamed about."

"I wish it were that easy, Angel. I feel like..they want me different."

"They want you Buffy.."

"Maybe I'm not so much her anymore."

"Is that what it feels like inside?"

"Sometimes," she admitted. "Sometimes I'm not sure who I am anymore. Only that I feel..itchy."

"Itchy?" he queried, eyebrow lifting.

"In my own skin. I look in the mirror and it feels like I'm looking at someone else..only I know that face. I know what my skin feels like." She took his hand and ran it over her cheek to emphasize her point. He just closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensations. "But I'm different," she said softly, drawing him from his haze.

"Sir?" the waiter said from above him. Angel looked up and saw that the elderly French gentleman was holding a bottle of wine. Angel nodded to him and then poured a bit into the bottom of the wineglass. Angel sipped it, closed his eyes for a moment and smiled.

"Please."

"Yes, sir." The waiter poured two glasses and then stepped away.

Angel smiled across at her, "You're not so different. Just changed.."

"Huh? Semantics?"

He chuckled. "No, baby." He squeezed her hand and brought it up to his mouth. "Look, it's like a big road with all these pikes.."

"You're getting wise.."

"Yes..shush.."

"Fine..fine," she pouted.

"You always interrupt me.." he said, smirking at her. "Ok..where was I.."

"You were scolding me.."

"I was not. I was offering wise advice.."

"Uh huh..sounded like scolding. I know scolding when I hear it."

"Are you gonna listen..anytime soon?" Angel exclaimed in exasperation, narrowing his eyes at her and trying to give her a look of irritation. She just stuck her tongue out at him. "See," he said softly. "You're not so different after all."

She blinked and looked at him.

"You're just on a different part of the road, love. That's all I'm trying to tell you. It's not the road you ever intended but it's the one you're on..and you'll make it.."

"How do you know?" she asked, her voice almost a croak.

He smiled softly if not a bit sadly, "I know. Honey, if I've learned anything over the last few years is that whether you're up or down, eventually you come back to earth. Eventually you put your feet flat on the ground. And you just are where you are."

"And where is that?"

Angel shrugged, "I don't know, baby. I just know you're not alone."

She looked at him for a long moment and then she stood up, picked up her chair and moved around to the other side of the table so that she was sitting next to him. She took both of his hands in her and then dropped her head against his chest. "Angel?"

"I know," he whispered.

"You always do."

"I do," he promised. "Now, come dance with me."

She grinned and allowed him to pull her to her feet. "Gladly. Try to keep up, Old Man."

He snorted. "You wish." He moved out to the floor and then extended a hands towards her. Bowing slightly he said, "My lady?"

She giggled and took his hand. "My Lord. Do lead on."

He spun her in a circle and dipped her. "Just promise me that I don't have to sing."

"Oh no," she sure assured him solemnly. "I would never make you do that." She laughed when she saw him lift an eyebrow. Allowing him to pull her back to his chest she added, "After all, no earplugs."

He growled at her, eyes laughing and then spun her again. Dipping her down, he kissed her. Hard and fully.

****

"Where are we?" Buffy asked, walking with him through the park. "I mean..I know where we are but where are we going?"

"You'll see," he told her, reaching down to hold her hand. He flashed a smile at her and was rewarded by one in return.

"You know..I've seen just a few too many horror movies.." she stopped and paused, "I've lived just a few too many.."

"Not following," he said, ducking his large frame under a row of low-hung trees.

"Never mind love," Buffy chuckled. Her eyes widened a bit as they approached an opening among all the trees. "Shakespeare?"

"In the park," he added, sounding pleased. Then he looked at her, some of the certainty fleeing, "You like?"

"Tell me it's not Romeo and Juliet.."

He chuckled. "No. Taming of the Shrew."

She snapped her eyes up towards him, "Is that a hint?"

He laughed then. "Are you a shrew, honey?"

She scowled at him. "Better not be."

"You've never seen this one have you?"

"I was supposed to read it in high school," Buffy offered, brightening.

"But did you?" Angel prompted, smirking at her.

She smacked his arm, trying to distract him. Finally she sighed when she saw that he was still watching. "Will did the report. I just signed my name."

"Bad Buffy," Angel said, trying very hard to be serious but looking just a step away from laughing.

"Buffy bad," she admitted. Then she grinned. "But Angel like Buffy bad.."

He chuckled,"You know I'm lost, right?"

"Aren't you always. Ooh..blankets." Buffy moved away from him and went off to a concession stand. "Honey..I need money."

Angel reached into his wallet and removed his wallet. "How much?"

The man behind the counter held up a green and black blanket and said, "Twenty dollars."

"Isn't that kind of.." Angel started.

Buffy swatted him gently. "Oh gimme," she said, taking his wallet from him. "I need two of them." She handed over two twenty dollar bills and then happily accepted the blankets. "Stop being cheap."

"I'm not cheap," he protested. "I just don't.."

"Think we have much use for a twenty dollar blanket?" she said, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Much less two but yeah.." he admitted. She patted his cheek, pausing a moment just to scratch her nails over his flesh.

"Let me show you how very wrong you are." She took his hand and walked him over to an open patch of grass. Tossing the one of the blankets down, she bent to smooth it. Then she reached up for his hand. She pulled him down beside her and then spread the second blanket over them. "Just like normal kids, Angel."

"We're not normal kids, honey.."

"No and I'm getting that but you wouldn't have brought me out like normal kids if you didn't think that for five minutes..maybe we could be."

He laughed,"Something like that."

"Yay for Buffy," she said with a grin. She pulled the blanket tighter around them both and then snuggled into his chest. "Now..what is this play about?"

"You mean besides a shrew?"

"Yeah..besides that."

****

He watched as people moved around him, congregating into small groups but somehow managing to move as a single large herd. They all began to make their way back through the park towards the parking lot.

He chuckled a bit to himself, amused by the pack mentality and the vision of the sleepy people dragging themselves towards their beds. Looking down, he smiled when he saw that his beloved was one of them; Buffy was sound asleep.

"Honey," he said, shaking her just a bit. Her reaction was to wrap her arms around his torso and dig deeper into his chest. He felt fire rush up through him and had to take a deep breath. Even thought it was un-necessary."Buffy..it's time to go.."

"Cold," she murmured, curling closer to him. He laughed at the irony of it. She was a hot-blooded woman whose body pulsed with heat. He was a cold as ice man who could supply none. And yet she was pressing herself against him. Insisting by her body language that he could chase whatever cold was bothering her away. Whether it be the night or the ghosts in her head.

Looking down at her, watching her sleep, he was struck with the vision of just how beautiful she was. How incredible and breath-taking. His heart aching, he couldn't bear to wake her. To ruin this moment of simple elegance. He kissed her lightly on the head and whispered, "God I love you."

Breaking away from her, he bent low enough to lift her into the air. She seemed to wake for a moment but as soon as her head hit his chest again, she was out. He chuckled and carried her; his precious one, towards his convertible.

*****

"I keep ending up in the back of your car," she said, coming awake as she heard the first chirps of the morning birds. "There's a bad joke there..I know it."

He smiled at her and she realized that he was wide awake and watching her. She brushed a stray tendril of blonde hair away from her eyes and then bent down over her to kiss her softly on the lips.

"How long have you been awake?"

"About an hour. You were sleeping so peacefully."

"Really?" she said, eyebrow lifted. "Dawn says I've been tossing around like crazy."

He shrugged, "Don't know what to tell you..it's been like watching a baby. So calm and at peace."

"Must be something about your arms," she said, reaching up to trace his cheek with her fingers. He captured her hand in his and kissed it."So Angel" she said, shifting a bit against him. "Where do we go from here?"

"I don't know, love. I don't..can you accept my limitations?"

"You mean your..problem?" she asked, grinning at him.

He looked confused by her mirth but finally she nodded, "Angel..I never had a problem with it. You did. I accepted what we couldn't do. I just wanted you. I always wanted you."

"But...don't you want to have a normal.."

"Stop. Right. There. For Gods' sake, Angel..how many times do we have to talk about being normal? How many times do we have to accept that we will never be that? I could die again tomorrow. Today..I just want to know that I'm loved."

"You've always known that," he whispered. And then pained he added, "Haven't you?"

She pointed to her heart," In here, yes, of course." Then she indicated her head. "Here is a different story." She sighed. "I've been so alone. Even when I'm being held by someone else..I'm alone."

He swallowed hard, trying not to imagine her lying in someone else's arms. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Angel. Just love me. And promise not to leave me again. Promise me that we'll find a way to make this work."

"I..can't..."

"You can." She rolled over and cupped his face. "Stop being scared of hurting me. You can't. Honey..I've died and come back..I can't be hurt worse than that."

"We don't know what comes next though.."

"I don't care what comes next, Angel. It's going to be something. There is always something. I just want one thing that is steady. One thing that makes sense. I want you."

He sighed and pulled her back against his chest,"Then we'll find a way to make this make sense."

She smiled. "See, I knew you'd see things my way."

He chuckled, "Don't I always, eventually?"

"Yep. Well except when you do that nasty thing called thinking too much. You always mess yourself up with that."

"Heavens no. Thinking bad."

She grinned and then rolled over to face him again. "Mmm. Thinking bad. Buffy good." Leaning down, she kissed him and he wrapped his arms around her.

Breaking away after several long moments he whispered, 'Morning is coming. The sun will be up soon."

"I know," she said. Then she brightened. "Have breakfast with me."

"Breakfast? I don't.." he stopped short when he saw the pleading in her eyes. Finally he nodded. "Come back to the Hyperion with me. Everyone is gone for the day. I'll make you breakfast."

She squealed and then reached into his jacket and grabbed his car keys. "I'm driving.."

"You car is here," he reminder her.

"I know," she grinned. She tossed her keys at him. "Race ya."

He sighed and then shook his head. He started to walk away but was stopped by her hand on his elbow. She spun him back towards her and then kissed him soundly on the lips. Then into his ear she whispered, "Watch out for the clutch, it's wicked stubborn; sticks like crazy." Then she pulled away and made a mad dash for his car.

He smiled at her and then said softly, "Yes, it sure does."

Go to the next story Interlude - Lean On Me

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