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First Night
Author: D. M. Evans
Disclaimer: I own nothing, none of the characters, none of the
songs. The characters belong to Joss, the lyrics to Sarah McLachlan and
Auld Lang Syne belongs to Robert Burns.
Rating : PG-13
Spoilers : None, set third season Buffy after Amends
Author's Note #1: Thanks to Kreipke for the lyrics, Fallen. I do love
this song. I had another challenge I'm doing and I totally forgot this was
due so I sat and wrote this in under two hours. Thanks to SJ for editing it
after the fact. The lyrics are at the end and I bolded the ones I used. Oh
and the California Conservation Corps referenced in here is a real group.
Check them out
Author's Note #2 : Thanks to everyone who's read my work and gave me
feedback this past year. I truly appreciate it. Here's to a bright new year
just don't expect my New Year's Resolution to update my stories faster
"You are coming to the Bronze tonight, right?" Willow
bubbled, shifting on Buffy's bed where she was sitting, getting a jump on
the classes for after the holiday break.
Buffy was far more interested in putting her Christmas goodies
away, especially the clothes, trying to sort over the ones that would come
clean and what would hold onto those nasty blood stains. She grunted
something non-committal to Willow.
"Buffy." Willow shot her a perturbed look over the edge
of her chemistry book.
"Sorry, Will." She flopped down on the bed with her
friend. "I'm not sure if I can make it."
Willow's face fell. "Buffy, it's New Year's Eve. The Dingoes
are playing. And have I mentioned that half the night's proceeds go to a
great cause?"
Buffy grinned. "About every ten minutes. I think that it's
great that the Dingoes are putting on a concert for save California
furries."
"The California Conservation Corps," Willow corrected.
"And they do more than save the cute furry creatures. They save all
sorts of life. Why, the shifting sands of the Coachella Valley
alone..."
"Willow!" Buffy broke in, rolling her eyes. "It's of
the good and I'm all for that but it could be a busy vamp night."
"Xander could use a little moral support," Willow said,
cautiously.
Buffy understood Willow's concern. It wasn't even a week since Oz
agreed to give Willow another chance after catching her with Xander. Willow
was going overboard to keep Oz happy. "I know. I'm just not into the
Cordelia bashing, which you know, I never thought I'd be saying. But she
did get impaled and all."
Willow bobbed her head, her hair swinging. "I'm okay with
Cordy's wrath being justified. Still, Xander needs a little extra
friendly€stuff. Okay, you know what I mean," she said and Buffy
nodded, tightening her ponytail, keeping thoughts to herself about how
Xander was so not supportive of her where Angel was concerned and it made
it hard to be supportive of what he had done to Cordelia. "Ooo,
Faith's going to be there," Willow added.
"Yeah, I figured that much, what with the hot male bodies
jiggling around and a chance to score alcohol."
"So you'll come." Willow reached over and gave Buffy's
hand a shake.
Buffy's eyes clouded. "I don't know. After the whole 'I'm
going to greet the sun' drama with Angel, things have been weird. I mean,
the sun getting blotted out by a freak snowstorm is one heck of a sign from
above screaming, 'Hey I'm here for a purpose.' Which is obviously to brood
over it until it turns you nuts." Buffy sighed. "I know, I should
just give him space but what if he tries it again?" She tugged at her
hair again and Willow seemed unusually sympathetic. "I know I'm
obsessing but that doesn't mean we're back together or anything," she
added, hastily. Buffy knew how her friends felt about her being with Angel.
"You have 'but' face," Willow observed.
Buffy collapsed back against the pillows. "I know. It's just
that I don't think anyone believes me when I say that. And then there was
something Spike said when he was here."
"I wouldn't listen to anything Spike says." Willow
pouted, knowing the vampire was the reason she and Xander were in trouble
with their significant others.
"He said Angel and I would never just be friends," Buffy
barreled on as if she hadn't heard her friend. "That we could never be
just friends."
"You're afraid he's right," Willow said, her pretty eyes
filled with compassion for Buffy.
Buffy covered her face with her hands. "I don't know. I know
how everyone feels, Willow, and they have every right to."
"Sometimes the heart doesn't care, Buffy. It's not a
reasonable organ." Willow managed a smile.
Buffy sighed. "You don't have to tell me that. I mean, a
Slayer and a vampire."
"Or even more unlikely, Xander and Cordelia." Willow
grinned wryly. "Which I know I shouldn't joke about given that she's
dumped him but still."
Buffy snorted. "No kidding. It's just€I don't know, I wish the
past could be undone."
"We all feel that way sometimes Buffy but it can't be,"
Willow said.
"And no one knows it more than Angel. I just don't think he
should be alone on a night when everyone else is out having fun and he
knows he's not welcome."
"Then bring him," Willow suggested. Buffy's mouth dropped
in surprise. "I know that Xander and Faith don't want him around.
Cordelia won't even be looking at us and Oz€well, werewolf and all. He
knows what it's like to have a killer inside. I think he'd support you,
Buffy. Your life is so hard, so bleak, sometimes I don't know how you
survive it. You deserve to be happy."
Buffy sat up and hugged Willow hard. "I survive because of
friends like you."
"Then you'll come? I worked extra hard to find the right
dress. I bet even Cordelia won't be able to find anything snarky to
say," Willow said.
Buffy smiled. "I'll try to get him there. Besides, Mom is
adamant I'm not in the house tonight. I think she thinks I have no fun. I
half expect her to toss me out if I try to stay here and watch the
festivities in Times Square."
"It'll be fun," Willow promised for the hundredth time.
Buffy could only hope she was right.
"Is everything set, Mr. Trick?" the Mayor asked, leaning
back in his desk chair, surveying the assortment of blow-ticklers and
noisemakers on his desk.
"Couldn't ask for better." The vampire wrinkled his nose.
"The Ama€whatever."
"Amsusaung demon," the Mayor offered.
"Yeah, him, wants your tithe to be in emotions, the happier
the better right?" Trick made an expansive wave of his hands.
"Nothing puts a bigger smile on his face, so to speak, than to
have a gaggle of happy people to drain." Mayor Wilson spun a
noisemaker, ignoring Trick's eye roll. "Of course, it will leave a lot
of dead bodies to account for."
"Fire," Trick said. "The place will burn to the
ground. The Bronze will be filled with happy teenagers and college kids
partying like it was 1999." He grinned at his little joke then scowled
seeing the pop reference was lost on the Mayor. "Besides, they're
planning on doing good works, saving the spotted owl or some damn thing so
there's that bonus good emotion of self-satisfaction."
"Excellent, Mr. Trick. That tithe brings me one step closer to
the ascension. Happy New Year's." The Mayor blew a horn in the
vampire's ear and Trick just smiled, knowing this was the price he had to
pay for his lucrative position.
Buffy had pooled her Christmas money with the cash Joyce was
willing to pony up to get her daughter out on Night Year's eve and she
headed for the mall. There wasn't much selection left but what was there
was seventy-five percent off. She got a plain, straight dress that flared
at her knees in a rose silk that complimented her coloring and had money
left to get a passable string of fake pearls to go with it.
She headed to Giles' place just in case he had other plans for her.
She was walking on eggshells around him over the whole Angel thing. She
knew he was warranted in his hatred of Angel but Giles had tried his best
to help him defeat The First Evil. Buffy knew it was more because Giles
knew first hand the dangers of Angelus if Angel lost the fight for his
sanity and soul, but she liked to think it was because of her that he
helped as well.
He was more than a Watcher. She should tell Giles that, tell him
that he meant as much to her as her own father, maybe even more. He was
the one there to lead me through the fire, she thought as she knocked,
shifting her overnight bag and department store bags into one hand. Giles
looked shocked to see her when he opened the door. Smells of cooking wafted
out, making her mouth water.
"Oh, Buffy, I wasn't expecting you." Giles shoved his
glasses up.
"So I can see." Buffy grinned at him. "Got a date
tonight."
"As a matter of fact, yes." He ducked his head, blushing
a bit.
Buffy couldn't have been more stunned if he announced he was
actually from Pluto. "Anyone I know?"
"Uh, no, no I d-d-don't think so," he stammered, looking
acutely uncomfortable. Buffy wondered why. "Is there something you
wanted, Buffy?"
"Sounds like you want to get rid of me, too. You and Mom, I'm
starting to feel unwanted," she joked, noticing his eyes widen a bit
at the mention of her mom.
"It's n-n-not that."
"I'm kidding, Giles. I came by to see if you wanted me to
patrol. If not." She shook her department store bags. "I'm going
to the dance at the Bronze."
"Go to the Bronze. Have fun€and if vampires are out tonight, I
can't imagine a more attractive meal than a club full of young kids,"
Giles said reasonably, going back into his kitchen to tend to the dinner.
"Thanks, Giles. Can I change in your bathroom? I'll just go
from here."
"By all means," he said, distractedly, pouring a little
more whiskey into a saucepan.
The phone rang while she was changing. Giles answered. "Hello?
Oh, yes." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "She's here getting
ready to go out with her friends. Give it a half hour€I'll see you then,
Joyce."
Buffy reemerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later and
pirouetted for him. "How do I look, Giles?" She caught his
expression."Why do men always get that look on their faces when we ask
that question?"
"Because no man knows why you're asking it since there is only
one answer we can give that won't get us in trouble. You look lovely,"
he assured her, his blue eyes twinkling.
Buffy wrinkled her nose. "Thanks, I think. Have a nice date,
Giles," she said, heading for the door, high heels in hand, tennis
shoes on her feet. "And happy New Years."
When Buffy arrived, the mansion was quiet and dark except for a
solitary light in what she knew was Angel's bedroom. She entered, calling
his name so he wouldn't mistake her for an intruder. She knew it was
unnecessary. They always knew when the other was around. It was one of the
things that made her think Spike was right. She and Angel were more than just
friends and always would be.
He didn't answer her and she found him on his bed. He was sitting
up, obviously waiting for her, a book that looked handmade in his lap. His
eyes opened wider, seeing her in her dress. She had paused outside to
change her shoes so he could see the full effect. "You look€that's a
beautiful dress."
"Thanks. Last minute thing," she said, coming over to
him. She sat on the edge of the bed, far enough away so not to be too much
of a threat intimacy-wise. "What are you reading?" She snatched
the book before he could stop her. The pages were covered with prim,
hand-written poetry. He grabbed it back before she could see more of the
name besides 'William.'
"Just some English poet dead a hundred years. You wouldn't
have heard of him." Angel shoved the book into his nightstand.
"What are you doing here, Buffy?"
"I came to see you and drag you out of here for the
night." She tried to smile but felt it trembling.
He seemed somewhere between amused and annoyed. "Why?"
She gave him an exasperated look. "You know what night this
is."
"First night," he said. "What? You expect me to go
out partying, sing a little auld lang syne?"
Buffy recoiled from the bitterness and pain in his voice. "I
thought you liked Irish stuff."
"Scottish, auld lang syne is Scottish," he
corrected more gently. "Old times are not going to be forgotten
where I'm concerned, Buffy, as much as I might want them to be." He
propelled himself to his feet, heading out of his room.
Buffy followed him into the other room. It was cold. She wished he
had built a fire in the marble fireplace to banish the chill. He probably
didn't even notice it. "No, Angel, they're not and we're not having
this argument again." She grabbed his hand, yanking him to a halt.
"Then maybe it's better that you don't come round here and
tell me I told you so," he said bitterly, pulling free.
"Is this where you tell me what a righteous man you are again,
Angel? We've been having this talk all week. You're exhausting me,"
she said, feeling tears already beginning to build. She should have known
better. It was probably just as well for her to go away, pretend she never
loved him and spare herself the agony.
He looked at her sadly, stroking her cheek. "Why can't I make
you understand that I have messed up? I have sunk so low."
Buffy caught his hand, wiping away her tears with it. Angel pulled
it back, putting his hand to his lips. "I understand that, Angel. We
all mess up."
"You aren't the one who has left people with the bitter taste
of losing everything," he argued.
"No, I was the one thinking, 'this is all my fault. I'm the
one who brought the wolf to the sheep. I'm lost to those I thought were
friends.' And there's nothing I can do to change it." She sniffed,
getting herself back under control. "All we can do is go on and try to
do better."
"If only I knew why€" Angel turned from her, leaning
against the mantelpiece.
Buffy put her arms around him, laying her face against his back.
His shirt smelled like he hadn't changed in a few days and now that she
thought about it, it did look like the shirt he had on the last time she
saw him. "You may never know, Angel. Hell spat you out and some power
darkened the skies so you wouldn't die. You have to just trust that there
was a reason and you're the one who has to make sure it's a good one, not
an evil one. Sitting around here, brooding all day and night will just
depress you. Once hope is gone, what's to stop Angelus from looking like a
good thing to be?"
Angel turned in her arms, looking down into her eyes. She saw he
wanted to kiss her. She wanted him to so badly it made her shake. Willow
was right. The heart was an unreasonable organ. Love was raw and young just
like she was.
"Angel, when we just held hands in the snow and walked, it felt
so good. I knew it was probably the wrong thing to do but it didn't feel
wrong. The more I think about what Spike said to us, the more I think he
might be right, whether or not we want him to be," she said.
Angel grinned. "Well, there's always a first time for
everything."
She laughed. "It's nice to see you smiling. Come on, get
cleaned up and changed and let's go to the Bronze."
He shook his head. "I don't think your friends will like
that."
"Well, Xander won't but Faithwill have so many hot bodies
around, I doubt she'll even notice. Besides, it was Willow's idea to ask
you," she told him.
Angel's eyes went wide. "Willow? Really?"
"Really. Please, I want you to come. Giles told me I have to
keep the club safe. Faith and I could use a third strong body. We can just
tell everyone that, we're expecting trouble and we aren't going to let it
ruin the evening." He smiled and brushed a hand over her hair lightly.
"Okay, but just because we're expecting trouble," he said in way
that told her he knew exactly what it was; a date.
She waited for him to wash and dress. She snuck back into his
bedroom and tried to read the poems he had hidden away by William but the
words were all big and old-fashioned and reminded her of the time she had
to read Dickens in school so she put it back and waited for him in the
living room. He came out dressed in black leather pants that made her melt
and what looked like a deep blue silk shirt. It was most definitely not his
usual but it made her want to skip the Bronze altogether and stay in. That,
she knew, was the true danger of being around him.
"I'm going to be peeling girls off you all night," she
said.
He snorted. "I doubt there's a worry."
"Trust me, there's a worry." Buffy took his hand and led
the way out.
"Are you sure about this?" Angel asked, all but screaming
over the Dingoes' music and the noise of the crowd.
"Getting less so," Buffy said, as someone jostled into
her. She saw it was Harmony and another Cordette she could never remember
the name of. They both shot her a jealous look and she wasn't sure if it
was for her dress, her date or both. "Do you see Willow?" Buffy
hopped up and down on her heels, too short to see over the crowd easily.
"This way." Angel caught her hand and pulled her closer
to the stage. Willow had a front row table, doubtless reserved just for her
and her friends. The redhead was looking out into the crowd. For a moment
Buffy thought she was looking for her then saw that Willow was watching
Xander dance with Faith. Buffy didn't doubt that it was a pity dance since
Faith looked bored or maybe it was embarrassed. Xander did have a tendency
to dance like a frog in a blender.
"Hey, Will," Buffy shouted. Willow whirled and Buffy saw
her friend was right. She had found the perfect dress. It was strapless,
emerald green, which brought out her eyes and hair, dotted with a spray of
pearls. "You made it. Oh, hi, Angel."
"You look gorgeous, Willow," Buffy said.
"You do," Angel added.
"Thanks. You two look good. Sit," Willow insisted, pulling
out some chairs. "We've already raised over a thousand dollars."
"That's great." Buffy leaned against Angel's shoulder.
"Did I mention this party is raising money for the California
Conservation Corps?"
"No, that's good," he said, distractedly watching Xander
and Faith approach. Both of them stopped short of the table, looking
defensive.
Buffy popped up and went to Faith. "Hey guys, looking good.
Faith, Giles thinks there could be trouble here tonight, a prime target and
all that. He wanted us to be on alert. Angel's here to help if trouble
shows up."
"Helping? Trying something different tonight?" Xander
asked, his lip curling.
"Xander!" Willow snapped.
Angel held out a hand to her. "It's okay, Willow."
"Look, I'm all for back up," Faith said. "If you
need me, I'll be out there." She nodded her head toward the dance
floor then disappeared back into the crowd.
"Want something to drink, Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Willow?"
"They have raspberry hot chocolate with whipped cream
tonight," Willow said, trying extra hard to be perky.
"Sounds yummy," Buffy said.; ; Angel just nodded and went
to get the drinks.
Willow caught Xander's hand. "I know what you're going to say,
Xander so just keep it to yourself. It's a party. We're here to have fun.
We all need some so just be nice."
Xander held up both hands. "No need to say what everyone
already knows." He shot Buffy a meaningful look then sat down stiffly.
"Have you seen Cordelia?" He nodded towards the back where
Cordelia looked like a reigning queen in deep amethyst velvet.
"Guess she survived skiing in Aspen," Buffy said.
"And right back on her throne as Queen C."
"And then some." Xander sighed.
Angel returned with drinks in hand. They listened to music, talked
a bit about the thrill and fun of the freak snowstorm and did their best
not to give in to the tension of having Angel there. Buffy felt obliged to
dance with Xander at least once that night, Angel looking jealous even
though he said he wasn't. She danced in groups with Willow and Faith. Once
even Cordy and the Cordettes had joined in. She was beginning to think that
her night was going to go just right and problem free. She headed back for
the table for a breather and to collect her reluctant date. Even Faith
headed for a pit stop, having snagged : as predicted : a beer from
somewhere. "You have to dance with me, Angel," Buffy insisted,
trying to haul him off his seat. He was rooted like a Sequoia.
Angel cocked a head toward the stage, listening to the driving beat
the Dingoes were offering up. "I don't think so."
Buffy pouted. "Why not?"
"I don't dance."
"We've danced before," she argued.
"Slow danced. I can do that€sort of. I don't fast dance,"
he said, strongly. "Ever."
"Oh, come on. What's the worst that can happen?" Buffy
asked and Angel's eyes went thoughtful then turned quickly to dread.
"Even Xander's out there," Faith said.
"Hey, what does that mean?" Xander huffed, shooting her a
hurt look.
"Xander dances better than me," Angel admitted, looking
embarrassed.
"What?" Buffy, Faith and Willow chorused.
"And what does that mean?" Xander asked, turning
red around the ears.
"It means that no one wants to see you shaking your
booty," Cordelia said, sailing past their table. Her eyes flashed to
his backside. "And that's a whole lot of booty to shake."
"You liked it well enough when I was in that Speed-o,"
Xander zinged back.
Angel leaned in close to Buffy and whispered, "There's an
image I didn't need."
She slapped him playfully. "You're sure you don't dance?"
"Don't dance, don't sing. My talents lie elsewhere," he
assured her.
Buffy settled back with a disappointed huff. The Dingoes only
played a few more songs before taking a break. While Devon worked the room,
Oz came and sat with the group. Willow gave him a quick kiss.
"You guys are rocking," she told him.
"Thanks."
"Has to suck," Faith said, "working while everyone
else is having fun. B and I know a little about that."
Oz just shrugged. "Could be worse."
"Hey, there's something wrong with some people in the
alley!" someone screamed.
"Speak of the devil," Buffy said, getting up. She and
Faith hustled for the side door. Their friends went with them along with a
few other curious souls.
"Is that a couple of mannequins?" one on-looker was
asking.
Buffy pushed past him and saw a couple lying on trash bags. Their
skin had been shriveled like a mummy's. She touched one and it crumpled
into dust. The air was ripe with the smell of raspberries. "This looks
familiar."
"I know this," Angel said.
"Incan Mummy Girl?" Xander asked.
"What?" Angel looked at him. "No, Amsusaung demon.
The scent is a dead giveaway."
"How do we kick its ass?" Faith asked.
"It's an emotion eater. It likes good, happy emotions, unlike
the Thesulac demon," Angel said. "A party like this is like a
banquet. It'll leave a hundred corpses, drained dry, mummified."
"That doesn't tell us how to kill it," Buffy observed.
"I can't call Giles. He has a date. I mean, think of what I might
interrupt."
They all shuddered as Xander said, "A date? You're
kidding."
Buffy held up her hands as if to banish the mental images. "I
wish."
"You can't kill it, not in its current form. It's a wraith. We
need to make it solidify then you Faith and I can pull it apart. It hates
sad emotions so we have to sour the milk." Angel clamped a hand on
Oz's shoulder. "Oz, we need to bring the party down. Get your band
together and play the saddest stuff you know. Willow, Xander, see if you
can convince the management to change the TV's from the festival telecasts
to the news, any news, that's depressing enough for anyone. Buffy, you and
Faith be ready to attack as soon as it takes form."
"What are you going to do?" Buffy asked.
Angel's lips pulled into a grim line. "I keep it busy until
then. It can't kill me."
They all raced back in to do their respective tasks. Angel pointed
to the ceiling where a bluish ghost-like thing danced in and out of the
lights, dippingdown into the crowd and back up again.
"It's just sampling. As soon as it goes into full eating mode,
people are going to die," Angel said darkly.
"Do your thing then," Faith said.
As the Dingoes started up singing, Zero by the Smashing
Pumpkins, Angel leapt to the second floor, managing to get in the path of
the Amsusaung demon. It pulled up short, its face more or less a mass of
blue fog. Still, Angel could tell it was perturbed. It swiped at him and
Angel felt the chill of its touch. It recoiled from him and he followed it.
"Come on. Have another taste," he taunted. "What's
it like nibbling on the world's saddest man?"
He could have sworn the thing said 'rancid,' as it flitted away. He
followed it, moving fast, all but clinging to the walls and support struts
as he kept pace. Every time the Amsusaung demon swooped down on someone, he
bounced into the way. People were yelling at him. Others seemed to think
the demon was a special effect the band was putting on while others were
shouting at the Dingoes to quit with the funeral music as they drifted into
another mournful tune.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Buffy following him. Faith was
across the room, keeping the demon in sight. It was beginning to go darker
blue, becoming corporeal. Angel jumped it and almost had something to hang
on to. It howled, slipping from his grip, enveloped in his dark emotions.
It hit ground completely solid. Faith was closer, swarming over it. The
Amsusaung demon swatted her across the room. Buffy tried not to laugh as
she landed on the Cordettes' table,dousing them with a potpourri of drinks.
Buffy executed a spin kick, catching the thing in its newly formed jaw. It
lashed out and she felt like years had been drained away from her in an
instant.
Angel dragged it away from her, bending it back in a bow. She and
Faith, now wet and furious, gut kicked it at the same time. The sound of
its spine snapping was audible even over the Dingoes. The Amsusaung demon
slithered out of Angel's hands and turned into a puddle that resembled
nothing more than thick raspberry snow cone syrup. Angel's hands were
streaked with it.
"Eewww," Buffy said, giving the thumbs up to Oz.
He said something to Devon who in turn said into the microphone,
"And now to kick it up a notch, something new, a Dingoes
original."
The music took an upbeat turn as Willow and Xander filtered through
the crowd. Everyone stared at the blue puddle.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, demons are pretty
much gross," Xander said.
"No argument," Buffy said. "Angel, go wash your
hands."
"Hey you!" Harmony shrilled, grabbing Faith's arm.
"You owe me a new dress. Just look at what you did to this one!"
"Whatever." Faith turned her back to the girl. "That
was fun."
"You have a strange sense of fun," Willow said as Harmony
fumed at being ignored.
"This isn't over," Harmony said, stomping away.
"Cordy!"
Faith watched her go. "Which one is her boyfriend again?"
"I don't think anyone's foolish enough to admit to it,"
Xander said.
"She has her eye on Mark Cotter," Buffy said.
Faith's lips peeled back in a wicked grin. "Who?"
Buffy and Willow pointed him out and Faith made a beeline for him.
"Maybe someone should clean this up," Willow said,
looking back at the puddle.
"I'll tell management there's a spill," Xander said,
cutting through the crowd.
"Another disaster narrowly averted," Willow said.
Buffy bobbed her head. "I'm glad I took your advice and
invited Angel."
Willow nodded frantically. "Otherwise we all might be
dead."
"I think I'll wait until tomorrow to call Giles about
this."
"Still worried about what you might interrupt?" Willow
smiled.
Wide-eyed, Buffy replied, "Oh yeah."
A staff member came out with a mop and Buffy and Willow went back
to their table. Angel, freshly washed, and Xander were both already there
but luckily both men were absorbed in watching Faith make short work of any
loyalty Mark Cotter might have to Harmony.
"We should get Faith back over here. It's almost time for our
complimentary champale," Willow said, opening the bag that was on the
table. She started handing out party hats, blow-ticklers, horns and
noisemakers.
Xander donned a gold crown and grabbed two blow-ticklers.
"I'll fetch her."
"I'm not wearing a silly paper hat," Angel said.
Buffy picked up a purple glittery top hat and placed it on his
head. She snapped him with the elastic band. "Oh yes you are and at
least you can't see how stupid you look in it." She kissed him
quickly, taking him by surprise.
"I see." Angel picked up a rainbow colored cone hat with
matching tassels and put it on her head. "Perfect."
"He picked the gaudiest one in the bunch." Buffy sighed.
"Yep." Willow grinned, putting on a blue one with silver stars.
To their surprise, Xander was successful in rounding up Faith.
Devon came out to the apron of the stage. "Quiet everyone.
Quiet!" he demanded then pointed to the clocks. "Everyone ready?"
he asked as Oz helped Willow onto the stage.
"Ten!" Devon shouted.
"Nine," the crowd roared back.
By six, Faith was giving Xander and Angel kisses. By three, Buffy
had the champale poured. "Two! One! Happy New Years!"
The Bronze echoed with the happy sounds of the crowd. Confetti fell
like snow from the rafters. Buffy grabbed Angel in a tight hug.
"Happy New Year's," she whispered.
Angel kissed her, deep and long, unheeding of who might be watching
and be angry with her. Buffy melted into him. They broke the kiss as Auld
Lang Syne kicked off, the Dingoes doing a passable version of it.
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to
mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot....";
"I should be so lucky," he said softly.
"Someday you'll be remembered for the good you've done. If not
for you tonight, all these people would be dead. There's good in this world
yet for you to do," she assured him.
"And I'm glad I have someone like you to keep reminding me of
that." Angel wrapped her up in his strong arms.
Buffy cuddled against him, kissing him, drinking him in. She knew
she was choosing a hard path but she didn't care. It simply felt right.
Confetti hit her on the nose and she laughed then reached up and pushed his
purple top hat to a more jaunty angle. Life was hard. It was the people in
it that made it worthwhile. She'd worry about the troubles she'd face
tomorrow. Tonight it was confetti and champale, friends and warmth. And
damn it, she was going to get at least one dance out of Angel tonight if it
was the last thing she did.
Fallen
- Sarah McLaughlan
Heaven
bent to take my hand;
And lead me through the fire;
Be the long awaited answer;
To a long and painful fight;
Truth be told I've tried my best;
But somewhere along the way;
I got caught up in all there was to offer;
And the cost was so much more than I could bear;
Though I've tried, I've fallen...;
I have sunk so low; I have messed up;
Better I should know;
So don't come round here;
And tell me I told you so...;
We all begin with good intent;
Love was raw and young;
We believed that we could change ourselves;
The past could be undone;
But we carry on our backs the burden;
Time always reveals;
The lonely light of morning;
The wound that would not heal;
It's the bitter taste of losing everything;
That I have held so dear.;
I've fallen...;
I have sunk so low;
I have messed up;
Better I should know;
So don't come round here;
And tell me I told you so...;
Heaven bent to take my hand;
Nowhere left to turn;
I'm lost to those I thought were friends;
To everyone I know;
Oh they turned their heads embarrassed;
Pretend that they don't see;
But it's one missed step;
You'll slip before you know it;
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed;
Though I've tried, I've fallen...;
I have sunk so low; I have messed up;
Better I should know;
So don't come round here;
And tell me I told you so...
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