Angel dug his hands in his pockets and accelerated pace, similar to an Olympic 500 metre race when the competitors tried to make the finishing line in a last burst of energy.

This was his last burst of nerve.

Of confidence.  Of gall.  Of stones.  If he didn't have it to do it now, it would be never.

He shoved his hand out against the offending block in his way and swiftly moved on.  The door of Stevenson Hall was thrown back with such force that the hit off the wall caused it to shatter.

Angel was already in the stairwell and a few steps up before that happened.

Now was supposed to be the time for the Why and What-The-Hell-You-Doing's? He half ran along the second floor, knowing exactly where she was.  He could feel her.  Her body calling to his heart.  Her coldness needing warmth.  Something he could give her.

Nothing not even a passing red head could stop him.

"Hey Angel," she said, walking closely with a blonde.  Then she stopped, and ran back after him.  "Angel, what are you doing here?  Is Buffy in danger?  Is she--"

"No," Angel finished, not skipping a pace.

"Then why with the here?" Willow asked, having difficulty keeping up.  They finally screeched to a halt in front of Buffy and her own dorm room.

Angel faced the brown polished door with a hung head.  "I miss her."

"Of course you--"

"No.  I miss her.  It's all I do Willow.  I can't do anything else but miss her.  It's driving me insane.  I need her.  Does she.. mention me?"

"She doesn't have to Angel," Willow said gently, trying to pry him away from the door.

"Guess that's a no.  Shoulda known.." He shook his head.  The delayed reaction of the What-The-Hell-You-Doing  was kicking in.  Then he felt it surging inside of him again.  The want, the need.

"No Angel, she doesn't have to.  She's always thinking about you.  Me and Xander call it the Angel-Face," Willow smiled, touching his arm.

"Cordelia calls it my Buffy-Face," Angel said softly.  His hand reached for the door handle but Willow pushed it away frantically and covered the door with her body, sacrificing herself.

"Willow, who's in there?" Angel asked directly, not under an false illusions what was going on.

"No one!  Ha!  No one's in there Angel!  It's just her!  Sleeping.  She's been.. Uh.. Busy and she needs her rest."

"I'll wake her for a little while," Angel countered, making Willow's face scarlet with desperation..

"No, No Angel she'll probably decapitate you."

"I don't care," Angel shook his head soundly.  "I don't care.  I'm better off dead than without her.  Please Willow, I won't move you but I will go through you.  I don't wanna do that Will," Angel murmured, touching her cheek.

"Angel.. You can't do that..  Don't make me... Uh.. Wake Buffy," she groaned.

"Please Will, I love her," Angel murmured, even quieter.  "And I'm not afraid to admit."  Angel stepped back and opened out his arms.  "Everybody, listen up!" He yelled to all the college students through the doors.  "I love Buffy Anne Summers in room 214!  I always have, and I always will!  I love her!"  He smiled and looked at Willow. "Will you let me past now?"

Willow closed her eyes and stepped aside.  Angel reached for the door handle again.

"For your own good Angel, don't go in," Willow whispered.

Angel ploughed on ahead, opened the door, knocking slightly.  He bit his tongue and cursed inside his head.

Buffy.  Was there.  Not asleep.

Sitting on her bed with a blonde boy with floppy hair.  The boy he seen at Thanksgiving.  His hand was on her knee and they seemed to be talking and laughing while music played in the background.

Buffy immediately looked at Angel, feeling him enter her atmosphere at once.  Gently, she nudged Riley's hand off her knee and stood up.  Was she dreaming?  Must be a dream, right?

"Angel?" She asked, squinting.  Oh God it felt like Angel.  It must be Angel.

"Buffy," he exhaled.

"Angel.." She sounded out again.  He flickered a smile before directing his attention to Riley.

"Who's Angel?" Riley's voice said behind her.

"Oh.. Oh.." Buffy shook her head, trying to get out of the Angel Haze.  Naturally, she turned her attention to Angel's inquisitive looks first before Riley's question. "Angel this is Riley, a friend.  And Riley, this.  Is.  Angel," she said slowly, not sure if he was there.  Only touch would confirm this.

"Her boyfriend," Angel finished, confidently.  He seen the surprised look on Buffy's face, a questioning raising of eyebrows and twitch of her lips in a smile before she laughed.

"Your boyfriend?  You have a boyfriend?" Riley asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Buffy nodded.

"Why?  Why didn't you tell me?" Riley asked, stung by a Buffy-Bee.

"He's been MIA for a few months," She explained softly, transfixed on Angel.  No.. Wait.. Can't be hurt again.  Can't let Angel burn me again.  Stopstopstopstop.

"NO!" Buffy shouted out loud.  "No, Angel.  No," she babbled.  His face crumbled like a thousand year old wall.  "Not again.. I can't let you hurt me again."

Angel took a sharp breath. Now or Never..

Oh great, puns,

He walked a few steps.  "Never again.  I'm never leaving again.  Even if it's a sunny day, out on the beach, I'll not leave your side."

"Now that's just plain stupid," Buffy chuckled.

"Is it?" Angel made a serious face, pursing his lips and narrowing his eyebrows.  "Oh.  Oh, OK," he stepped forward a little and reached for her hand.  He entwined their fingers and let her feel everything through their touch.

"You're really here," she sighed.  Then paused, feeling his hand with her free one.  Then she felt his forehead and then placed her hand on his chest.  "Butbutbutbut," she choked out, tears bursting through the floodgates as fast as she could make them.  Her words were a mass as she was sobbing and laughing at the same time.  "Angelyou'rewarmican'tbelieveyou'rewarmwhydoesyourheartbeatareyoucanyoube
howdidithappenohgodiloveyougodiloveyou," She cried in his lips, as she curled her legs around his waist.  He laughed as he returned his kisses.  They were messy and strewn all over his face but Angel didn't care.  A kiss from Buffy could last an eternity in memory and touch.  He took hold of her waist and wrapped his arms around her, finding his lips with hers.  And they shared the tears and passion and heat of their bodies in the kiss.  Everything blurred, it wasn't in focus; like a microscope.

Not that it was even a consideration.

"Oh god I love you," she sighed into his shoulder as they hugged.  Angel stroked her hair and tried to soothe her hiccuping body.  He caught sight of Riley watching them, open mouthed.  Angel resisted the urge to bare his teeth, before he remembered it didn't look frightening without his vampire self, just dorky.

He just gave the boy a look.  The look that said it all.

You thought you had a shot with her?  A chance to love her?  Sorry, but I got a second one and I'm never giving it up.  Oh, and come near her again and I'll set Cordy on you.

Riley read as much as he could and left silently.
 

Willow waited impatiently outside the door, anticipating Angel leaving near to tears.  Instead, it was Riley who emerged dumb founded and wounded from 214.

But that's what was supposed to happen, right?  Riley never stood a chance.
 

When Buffy reluctantly let go of Angel, he took them over to her bed and lay her down.  She lay on top of his chest, trying to regain composure from her overly emotional, frantic show of love.  Angel her her arms and had his arms around her body.

"You came back for me.  I knew you would.  I knew you could," she whispered, locking his lips in a kiss.

"I knew I had to."

They lay there for seconds.  "I should get pregnant, you trap you," Buffy suggested idly.

"You probably should," Angel agreed.  Then a thought occurred to him.  "Sunnydale has a registry office, right?"

"Well yeah.  Are we planning on having our first born here?" Buffy asked.

"No," Angel sat them both up and turned her towards him.  "They marry people there."

"What are you saying?"

"You know what I'm saying." Angel's eyes did the Dance Of Joy.

"Are you asking?"

"You know I am.  Are you accepting?" He asked, biting his tongue, tensing himself for her answer.

"You know I am," she broke down in more Happy Tears.  Angel cupped her face in another kiss.  Buffy grabbed his hand and pulled him off the bed.  Her zealousness ended up with him in a heap on the floor.

Damn Slayer strength, Angel swore.  He pushed himself up with help from Buffy and they ran out of the dorm.

"Maybe we should do it in a church.  Not afraid of them anymore," Angel suggested as they ran down the halls.  They passed Willow and Tara but they were in the distance before any words could be spoken.

"I don't want to wait.  We need to do it now."

"Don't you want anyone there?"

"No time!" She grinned foolishly.  They burst into the stairwell and Buffy flew down step, her hand still in Angels as he struggled to fully keep up with her.

They ran through the smashed door and out to Angel's car before pausing for a kiss.  Angel opened the door for her and then stopped.

"Nah, I don't want to get married anymore," he shook his head.

"Shut up and do what you're told for once Angel," Buffy ordered, shutting the car door.  "And get your cute Soon-To-Be-Wed ass in the car."
 
 

"Anyone have anything.. Of relative importance to add?" Giles asked everyone. sighing and taking off his glasses.  Willow sat alone, smirking.  Xander shot her a questioning sideways glance, puzzled at Willow's broad smile.  Anya yawned and whispered to Xander something about sex.

For once, Xander's ears didn't prick up at her husky tones and he continued studying Willow.

"Well.. I got a phone call.." Willow mused, before the door burst open.

"Buffy.  Is something--" Giles started, thinking something was wrong because of her sudden entrance.

"I have an announcement," Buffy grinned insanely at the group.  Angel came in from outside and they looked round everyone.  "Angel and I are married."

"WHAT?"

finis