The door bell rang to Giles� house. "I�ll get it!" Buffy bounded up, eager to get away from the rest of the Scooby Gang in their research mode. However, she was still nervous. It had been eight months since she last saw Angel through the smoky aftermath of graduation. Eight months since she had started the process of the state of denial which had eventually lead to Riley. In other words, eight months of mental hell. Buffy now stood at the door, eyes closed, clenching and unclenching her fists. She sighed and opened the door and the eight months of denial came crashing down around her as she looked deep into her lover�s eyes. The two stood there in complete silence, feeling the shock of finally being complete again in each others� presence after eight months of withdrawal. That is, until the May Queen had something to say about it. "God, Buffy, how long�s it take for you to open a door?" "Hi Cordy." Buffy murmured, looking away from Angel�s intent gaze. Cordy and Doyle bustled past the love-struck couple and deposited themselves in the middle of the research party. "So what brand new grizzly has come to plague my favourite Hellmouth?" Riley walked anxiously to the door. He had heard about Angel. Kate tugged at Angel�s shirt, "Honey, it�s not polite to stare. Aren�t you going to introduce us?" "Oh," Angel snapped back to the real world, "Buffy, Kate; Kate, Buffy." Riley enveloped the Slayer in his arms as Buffy flinched away by instinct. "Oh, erm," she started uncomfortably, "Kate, this is also-" "Riley," Kate jumped in, surprised to see the boy. "Kate." Riley answered tersely. "So, I see you�re finally back to dating girls your own age." "You two know each other?" Buffy asked curiously. "Oh, we go back." "Way back," Riley hastily added, "So far back, it�s not even worth mentioning." Riley quickly flashed a smile. "Buffy, why don�t you start filling Angel in on Rimmon while I have a word with Kate?" "Sure." Riley lead Kate to the hall, "What the hell are doing here? I thought we agreed we�d never see each other again." "Whatever. I�m here with Angel, okay? We�re going out. See, I finally found someone who genuinely cares about me. Deal with it." Kate looked over to where Angel and Buffy seemed to be having an argument of their own. "Whatever happened to Walsh? I thought she was the majorly possessive type." "Oh she still is." Kate narrowed her eyes, not understanding, so Riley continued, "She let�s me go out with Buffy. It�s more of an alliance than anything; convenience. She fights the Big Bads and so does the Initiative. Plus she�s just so darn cute."* * * * * "So," Angel tentatively started, "How�ve you been?" "Cut the small talk, Angel, I know you don�t give a damn." "Buffy, what the hell are you-" "�This doesn�t mean I don�t love you�?" Buffy snorted as she nodded in Kate�s direction, "Gee, feeling the love here." "Buffy, you know it wasn�t like that." "Wasn�t it? �Cos it all just seems a little too convenient to me. You get rid of me and-" "Buffy," Angel stopped her rant, "You know I�ll always love you." Angel held her gaze. Something clicked. Of course she knew. "Yeah........I know.........." she conceded, "But we can�t." "Can�t?" "Shouldn�t. You�re with Kate now, and I�m with Riley. It just wouldn�t be fair." Angel nodded, then remembered, "But, hey, if you ever need me-" "I know," Buffy smiled, almost sadly, "You�ll be there." "So," Kate�s voice brought them back to the group, "this Rimmon....." "Yeah, who decided to resurrect him?" Doyle added. "Did we mention Spike�s back?" Xander quipped in his usual manner, "In a big fat I�ve-got-an-unstoppable-demon way?" "Unstoppable?" Cordy whined, "Why doesn�t Slay Gal just take him out with a bazooka?" "Tried it." The Sunnydale Gang replied in unison. "Oh," Cordy moaned, "This means more research, huh? Anyone for donuts?" "Ooh and coffee," Kate added, "Who wants-" "Uh, how bout some tea?" Buffy interrupted. "What, Buff, and here I was thinking you liked Columbian lighter fluid. I�ve seen you wolfing down mochas by the dozen." Xander commented. "No, it�s just," Buffy jerked her head toward Angel, "makes him over there all jittery." * * * * * Four rounds of lighter fluid and English stereotype down and still no luck. "This is hopeless!" Willow cried out, burying her head in Oz�s shoulder. "Will�s right," Xander joined in, "Look, if the heavy artillery can�t get it done-" "Wait, tell me more about the last time you confronted him. It might help in analysing any weaknesses." Angel suggested. "Umm okay..." Buffy stumbled, not quite sure where to start. "Well..... we got to the Bronze with that wonderful little bazooka and all he does in his great big chunks of metal-" "Wait," Doyle stopped her. "metal?" Buffy nodded. "�Cos last I checked, Rimmon had not been introduced to the Bronze age." "Maybe he got upgraded." Oz offered. "I�m guessing Spike got himself a whole other bunch of friends after Dru." Willow agreed. "Good thinking guys. I think maybe Angel and I should go back to the factory and check these guys out." "Why you two?" Kate asked, possessively squeezing Angel�s hand. "Well, you guys are welcome to come along, I just don�t want to put any of you guys in danger." "So, what, the ex is expendable?" Riley joked behind Buffy, perched on his lap. "No," Xander replied, understanding, "the ex has super powers." |