AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place within the same time stream as END OF THE INNOCENCE. In other words, Angel is a good guy again, he and Buffy have a strong romance and Jenny Calendar never died.

STORY NOTE: The title comes of of the Air Supply Greatest HIts album, the quotes are taken from CCR and Sarah McLachlan . Peace friends...and do tell me what you think.

DISCLAIMER: Joss is God. Do I need to say anything beyond that?

It'd been raining for almost four days with each night getting progressively worse. Every morning someone would mutter with increasing aggresion, "Damn El Nino." All around campus, kids appeared wearing heavy sweatshirts and rain coats. Even the flashiest of dressers were decked out in simplest of outfits. The rain made looking suave hyper un-neccesary.

"This blows," Buffy Summers muttered as she jumped up onto the check-out counter and began to leaf backwards through a magazine. She was dressed in her overalls and a blue zip-up sweatshirt. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a carefree ponytail. She pretty much acknowledged that her hair was going to get ruined so it looked like she hadn't even bothered and yet in her own way, she still looked good.

Rupert Giles looked up from the table and blinked,"Er, yes..blows?"

"Yep," she chirped, tossing the magazine and sighing loudly. "Do you know much I hate the rain?"

"It's actually a rather beautiful occurence, Buffy." Giles said, straightening up. He narrowed his eyes when he saw where she was. Then he sighed. For as many times as he'd asked the kids not to sit there...well..even he accepted that they weren't going to listen. Ever.

"Right. Beautiful. Giles, do you have any idea how long it takes me to do my hair in the morning?" Buffy asked, a light tip to her tone. She glanced down at her nails and then reached into the backpack next to her and pulled out a silver file. When after a beat she realized that Giles hadn't replied, she looked up. "That's right..awhile."

"But ya still look great," Xander Harris chirped as he and Willow Rosenberg walked into the library, both looking a little sluggish and wet but otherwise fine. Buffy nodded at him, a large smile on her face.

"Hello you two," Giles said softly.

"Hi," Willow grinned. Then she looked at Buffy. "So, since you're not gonna slay t'night...I mean with the floods and all...we gonna go to the Bronze? I mean..Oz is playing..."

Buffy smiled," Ya. Sounds like fun."

"And that wouldn't have anything to do with a certain dead guy who might show up to play Smoochie Boy, now would it?" Xander quipped.

Buffy looked at him innocently, "Hmm..hadn't thought about that. You know Angel could show. I should be there.." Then she looked at Giles. "With the floods and all..."

He sighed dramatically. "Fine." He knew when it was a lost cause. Besides, it was either let her party with her friends or let her play in the cemetary with Angel anyways.

She squealed, "Yay."

"Where's Buffy?" Angel asked, crossing over to the three Slayerettes who were sitting at the groups' usual table by the bar. Xander was idly stirring a drink and watching Cordelia dance with some jock. He didn't look too happy about it.Angel vaguely recalled Buffy telling him something about Xander making a bet that if Cordy danced with someone else, he could keep himself from being jealous. Looked like he was losing. For her part, Willow seemed oblivious. The small hacker was gazing up at the stage watching Oz with a large smile on her face. When Angel appeared in front of the table, she grinned at her best friends' lover.

"She should be here any minute," Willow replied.

"Unless she ran into trouble," Angel muttered, gazing over at the door to the Bronze. He shook her head. "I'm gonna go.."

"Home?" Willow squeaked. "I mean..she's only ten minutes late?"

"No..I'm gonna go look for her...make sure she didn't run into trouble. A normal vampire would stay in doors during a storm like this but Spike's boys are kind of on the idiot side."

"There's a surprise. Idiot vampires."

Angel gave him a look. "I'll see you guys in a bit."

"Oh sure, right. That's what you say now..next thing we know you and Buffy will sail off on a raft together.."

Angel threw him a dirty look and then turned and moved back through the crowd. After a beat, Willow turned to Xander. "A raft?"

She moaned as the vampire straddled her small waist and pressed her harder into the mud that was already coating her like a cloak. He reached back and hit her across the face. Before he could do it again, she grabbed his wrist and twisted it until he screamed. Moving slightly, she kicked him off of her. "Do you have any idea how long it's gonna take to get the stains out of this? Or..or how I'm gonna explain them to my mom?"

"Try explaining the blood stains," a second vampire hissed as it lashed out with it's fist and hit her across the face. "Oh right, you won't have to..you'll be dead." He hit her again from the opposite side. She spun back a few steps before regaining her balance.

"That hurt," she growled, reaching up to wipe away a stream of rain from her eyes. It was coming down hard. Not good. Her boots were sunk down into the mud and she was drenched all the way through. This sucked.

"Aw, too bad..wittle Slayer hurt?" The first vampire said as it attacked, a large metal pole in its' hands. She ducked the blow and lashed out with her foot, dropping him to his back. And then she slipped.

She felt herself falling and then a moment later she was lying in the mud again, wincing at a pain in her side. She started to rise but was knocked back by the pole hitting her mid-section. "Ow.." Reaching up, she caught the pole just before it collided with her skull. She pushed back on it and shoved the vampire away. Unfortunately as she tried to sit back up, the mud held her tight. She groaned loudly as she saw the two vamps advancing on her, both wearing large grins.

"Need help?" A voice called out. She looked up and smiled.

"It'd be nice."

Anything for you, my love." Angel said as he spun and kicked one vamp into the other. Reaching down he pulled Buffy out of the mud. He lifted an eyebrow. "Wow, you're beautiful."

Pulling back, she decked the vampire who charged her. Then she pointed a stake at Angel,"You want to be ash, lover?"

He winked at her. "Nah but these boys look like they do." Standing back to back, they quickly took out the vamps. As he rubbed the dust off of his clothing, he looked back up at her. "Are you okay?"

"Fine..well..kinda not fine..but fine."

"Right. You're soaked..we need to get you out of those clothes...before you catch pneumonia that is."

"Uh huh. I bet."

He was lying on her bed, staring out at the rain that pounded the cement when she re-entered the room wearing an oversized tee-shirt and sweats. She wasted no time in moving to lie next to him.

"You feeling better?" he asked softly as he stroked her hair.

"Ya..I'm a little sore and I'm gonna have one helluva bruise on my side but I'm fine. Especially now." Moving herself up onto his chest, she kissed his mouth. He returned it fully and then brought her head back to his chest. She smiled and curled herself into his arms. "I'm glad you're here..it always gets so..lonely..when mom's out of town."

He kissed her hair. "No problem. Now get some sleep."

"Okay," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him. Just before she dozed off she whispered, "I love you."

"Hello?"

"Hi, Will. Have you heard from Buffy yet?"

"Nope. She's probably with Angel."

"Oh my God..she's probably with Angel. We have to go save her immediately."

'"Go to bed, Xander."

Her eyes wrenched open in un-natural horror as the thunder cracked in the sky. Whimpering, she fell off of the bed, pulling the blanket with her. She moved quickly to the corner of her room and curled up in a ball.

"Buffy?" Angel said softly, gazing over at her. "Are you awake or dreaming?" A flash of lightening illuminated the room and he saw that her blue eyes were in fact open. "Buffy?" Standing up, he moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you alright?"

She looked up at him and offered up a nervous smile. "Ya..fine...I just like sleeping in the corner better than..my bed."

He narrowed his eyes at her,"What? Buffy..you're not making any.." Before he could even finish the sentence, the sky cracked with thunder once more and he felt her wince sharply in his arms, involuntarily curling tightly against him. "God, you're shaking.."

"I'm cold.." she murmured, face still pressed up against his shoulder. Sure enough, he felt her shiver against him but he had a strong suspicion that it was about more than just a case of temperature related chills.

"Buffy..are you scared of thunder?" Angel asked, not quite believing his own words. It was insanity. She was the Slayer. Strong. Brave. Courageous. Scared of thunder?

"Of course not. That's silly," she stammered. She watched from her position held tightly against him as the room lit up again. "See...I'm fine."

"That was lightening." Angel said dryly, pushing her back so that he could see her face. Placing a finger under her chin, he smiled. "It's okay if you're scared. It's actually kinda cute.."

"I'm not sca.." She winced again as another clap sounded loudly in the distance. Much more quietly she muttered, "I am not scared."

Laughing, he lifted her up into his arms and brought her back over to the bed. He laid her down and then kissed her. "You are scared. It's okay." He laid down next to her and whispered, "Don't worry, I'm here."

She sat up and pushed him off the bed. "I am not!"

He hit the ground with a thud. "Ow." He looked up at her. "Okay, you're not scared."

"Hi, Will."

"What now, Xander?"

"I can't sleep."

"Of course not, you're talking. To me. So I can't sleep either."

"You know Buffy's afraid of thunder."

"I know this. I wouldn't tell her that you know this unless you want to be hurt."

"She's very sensitive about this, don't you think, Will?"

"Wouldn't you be? She's the Slayer...she's a warrior afraid of a noise. That's okay, Angel is probably with her."

"Oh yay."

"Goodnight Xander."

She gripped him to her, their lips pressed tightly together as their tongues danced to the music the rain made as it hit the metal drainpipe on the side of her house. She could feel his strong hands rubbing at the bare flesh of her back, creating a point of fire against ice.

Finally he pulled away, acknowledging her need for oxygen. Still hovering close he whispered, "You're scared." Before she could protest, he crushed his lips to hers again and shoved her back against her pillows. After a beat she pushed him away.

Grabbing a pillow she smacked him upside the head, "I..(smack) am (smack) not!" He put his hands up to defend himself and then turned his wrist and disarmed her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to his chest.

"I feel you shake everytime we hear thunder." He pressed his mouth against her forehead and kissed her softly. Then he frowned. "You're kinda hot."

"So you keep saying. All talk and no action, lover." She quipped. He threw her a dirty look so she sighed dramatically. "This room is hot," she murmured, shifting so that her head was against his chest. She nuzzled into the nook of his arm.

"Buffy, it's freezing in here." Angel commented, placing the flat of his palm against his forehead. "I think your little adventure t'night got you sick."

"That's not how it works," Buffy protested, another tremor working it's way through her, this time seemingly involuntary, as thunder crackled in the sky. "You go to bed and then wake up all stuffed up."

"You've already slept a little and you do have a fever." Angel said softly, pulling her tighter. He ran a hand lightly across her cheek. She smiled up at him.

"Is this your way of trying to get me to say I'm scared of thunder..cuz I'm not.." Buffy said softly. He tilted her chin up so that he could see her face. Sure enough it looked rather pale.

"You're sick." He reached down to the foot of the bed and grabbed her green and black throw blanket. He pulled it tightly around her and then brought her back to him. "So, why don't we talk for a little bit. Maybe it'll help you sleep so you don't get quite so sick."

"Talk. Nice."

"Like...what's up with your thunder phobia.."

She reached back to smack him but her hand struck his chest with barely any strength at all. He lifted an eyebrow and then moved his hand to her forehead. "You really are heating..."

"I lost a friend to a vampire during a storm," Buffy interupted. She rubbed a hand past her nose. "More than a friend."

He lifted an eyebrow, "A lover?"

"A boyfriend, yes...the first one I had that knew about me being the Slayer...the only one besides you."

"Did you love him?"

"As much as I could at the time." She coughed and curled harder into him. "I needed him...Pike. He understood...he wasn't a lover though. I mean we did make out a couple...hey not so tight..."

"Sorry," he whispered sheepishly as he loosened his grip. He kissed the top of her hair. "Go on."

"Wait..I'm thirsty..I'm gonna get some water." She pushed him away and tried to stand but almost immediately lost her balance. "Or not."

Smiling he pushed her back down. "I'll get it."

"Will?"

"Ungh."

"That wasn't my name. Not tonight anyways."

"Die."

"I'd prefer not to. I'm sure it's painful."

"Xander Harris...go away."

"But Will, what about Buffy?"

"Hopefully she's asleep. Or out killing whoever's keeping her awake."

"Nah..she'll never stake him. Maybe we should help.."

"Goodnight Xander."

She shook against him as the sky errupted into an angry roar. He looked down at her, still not quite believing what he was seeing. After a moment, she continued to speak, her voice now slightly hoarse.

"We were lying on the grass. I guess it was gonna be our last night. The school board had decided that I was gonna..well..not go there anym..."

"Buffy?" Angel blinked and looked down at her. Then he laughed. She'd fallen asleep mid-sentence. He dropped his hand to pull the blanket tighter around her but was immediately stopped.

"He decided we should do something...make memories..."

Chewing his lip thoughtfully, he watched as her eyelids blinked shut again and she dozed off. And then a moment later, they reopened and she was talking again. "We were..doing stuff...it started to rain.." She looked up at him through hazy eyes. "Have you ever made out in the rain? We should try it..it's very erro.."

Leaning forward he pressed his lips to hers and kept his mouth there until she dropped back against him. Then he smiled. "So it was raining.."

"Rain?"

"Yeah, lover...rain."

"No rain.." she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him atop her. "Kiss me."

He did so and then turned her back around so that her head was on his chest again. "You are sick, Buffy..you need sleep...not rough-housing...you're either gonna wake up with a hideous flu-bug or a monstrous cold..either way...you're not gonna be fun to be around."

"You're gonna make me pout.."

He laughed, "You're cute when you pout.."

She opened her mouth in protest but never got out the words before another crack of thunder sent her curling back into his arms. "He died, Angel..a storm started and we got attacked and I couldn't save him...so much thunder..it drowned out him crying out for me.."

He brushed a hand past her cheek. "You can't save everyone."

She looked up at him, infinite sadness in her eyes. "I haven't saved enough. Pike wouldn't have died if he hadn't been out there with me."

"He knew who you were...he chose to be there." He held her tighter, rocking her. "People die, Buffy.."

"Why?" she asked, her voice innocent and young. He glanced down at her and for the briefest of moments, he forget who it was lying in his arms. Not that it was Buffy..he could never forget that. That she was also the Slayer. Looking small and fragile. Tired and youthful, he found it hard to believe that she'd been through more hell than most armies.

"I don't know. I don't think any of us do."

"Is there a great beyond. I mean..heaven and hell?"

"I wish I knew.." Angel chuckled humourlessly. "And yet I dn't ever want to. It won't be good for me."

"Hey...I'm sure they know it wasn't you."

"Shh...don't worry about me.."Angel soothed, pressing his lips against her hot forehead.

"I remember when I died...all I saw was dark..nothing else..I was so scared...when I heard...only I didn't hear..I felt it...that I wasn't ready to go...I was happy...scared but happy.."

"Believe me, lover, so were we."

"Can you sleep Will?"

"No."

"Wonder why that is."

"Gee...hmm.."

"Maybe you're wondering...where is Buffy.."

"Or maybe where's a good hitman when you need him.."

"You know Angel could be feeding from her right now.."

"And I could have my hands around your throat and be strangling you."

"Will, I can't sleep!"

"Could that be because you won't stop talking."

"No..it's restlessness. I'm worried about her."

"Have you tried calling over there?"

"Heh he..um..no."

"Don't. If she is with Angel. She'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll root as Angel kills you. Goodnight."

"God...you're cranky when you can't sleep."

He pulled the drapes across her window to keep the sunlight from streaming in. Not only for his own good but for hers. She was curled inside a mountain of blankets looking miserable and quite like she wished she were dead. He sat next to her on the bed and reached down to touch her face. "You'll be okay."

"Go away." Buffy grumbled as she pulled a blanket over her eyes. He heard her sneeze three times before muttering. "Kill me..just kill me now."

He laughed. "I'll make you some tea."

"I hate tea."

"And soup.."

"I hate soup."

"And since your mom is out of town and you're sick, I'll call Giles and you can stay home today."

"I hate school."

He laughed. "You'll like my tea...I promise."

"Bite me." She muttered, sneezing again and then trying not to swallow. The pain of her throat felt like sandpaper gnashing together.

He shook his head and then walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Just before he got there, he heard a knock on the door. Sighing he yelled, "Who is it?"

"It's us." Willow's voice called back.

"Come on in."

The door opened and Willow, Cordelia, Oz and Xander entered. Xander looked up at him and smiled. "Where's Buffy?"

Angel narrowed his eyes. "I killed her and drank her blood."

Xanders' jaw dropped down. Willow laughed. "Um...where is Buffy?"

"She caught something last night...got in a fight with some vamps and got pretty sick. She's upstairs in bed...and not loving it."

"That sounds like not a good thing," Oz said, taking an involuntary step backwards.

"You have no idea," Angel laughed. Then he turned to Xander, "Go on up. She'll be happy to see you."

Xander threw him a dirty look and then turned on his heels and grabbed Cordelia's hand. He pulled her up the stairs and into Buffy's room. They'd barely made it in before Mr. Gordo smacked him in the head. Hard.

"Ow!" Xander squealed, blocking a flying rabbit. "Hey." He plucked one of the animals out of the air and threw it back, disarming her in the process. She whimpered from underneath the blanket and reached for a stuff turtle but Xander grabbed her arm before she could lift it. "Real princess when you're sick, aren't ya?"

She poked her head out from under the blankets and stared at him with tired blue eyes. She looked miserable almost to the point of it being comedic. Pointing a finger at him, she growled in a hoarse voice,"Just keep it up laughing boy...."

"You don't look good, Buff." Xander grinned.

"I'm gonna kill you. I'm gonna rip out your spleen and stuff it down your throat and then I'm gonna tear off your ba..."

"Okay...don't need to finish that thought," Cordelia chirped brightly, grabbing Xander by the hand. "We'll be downstairs." She pulled him after her, laughing at his open-mouthed expression. Finally, as they reached the foot of the stars, he turned to her.

"Ow?" Xander said in a very small voice. "I think I'm gonna be sterile for the rest of my life." He made several pathetic moaning noises and then followed her into the kitchen.

"Well Buffy's in a good mood," Cordelia said, leaning over Willow's shoulder. "What are you guys doing?"

"Mixing her tea," Willow said with amusement. "Angel's using whiskey."

"You're gonna get her drunk?" Xander asked, finding his voice again.

Angel flashed him a look. "It's to help her throat. Lemon tea with honey and whiskey in it. It'll knock her out too...she'll sleep right through any buzz she gets."

Oz dipped his head. "Cool. That's good stuff."

"They're expecting two more days of this," Xander groaned as he led the group up the steps to Buffy's house.

"On the upside, the death count has been well..not." Willow said, looking at Giles. After a beat, he nodded.

"Y..yes. Uh...there have been no reports of suspicious deaths since the storm began." Giles confirmed as he pushed the door open and stepped in. He looked about, expecting chaos and then breathed a sigh or relief when upon scanning over to the living room, he saw Angel holding Buffy in his arms on the couch. "How is she?"

Buffy looked up at him and smiled. Crazed. "G-Man..wuz up?"

"She's a little drunk." Angel admitted sheepishly as he pulled her head back against his chest.

"Drunk?" Xander said. "I thought she'd sleep right through the buzz?"

"Not buzzed..flying." Buffy said, nodding. Her expression was sincere but he couldn't stop laughing.

"Well she would have except that I had to go out right after sunset for some soup and when I came back, she'd knocked back the entire pot of prepared tea I'd made for her...she's drunk.." Angel said, moving her hand as it pawed his face.

Cordelia tipped her head and waved two fingers in front of Buffys' eyes. The little Slayer pouted and then said, "Stop moving the room."

"Wonderful," Giles muttered. "Good thing her mother is out of town. This is not something I'd want to explain. We just came by to check on her..."

"She's ok." Angel said, pulling her back to him. "Or at least she will be by morning. I'm gonna give her some NyQuil if she doesn't knock out soon."

"But...more alcohol.." Willow started to protest.

"Uh guys...I don't think we're gonna have to worry. She's out," Oz said as he looked at the Slayer. The others turned and saw that he was right. The Slayer had in fact passed out against Angel's chest.

It was well after midnight when she turned over in his arms and opened her blue eyes. Immediately she wished she hadn't.

"Ugh."

"I don't think that's an actual dictionary word."

"Bite me."

"Only if you ask pretty please."

Buffy turned to him and squinted. "Do you really want to fit in ash tray?"

He laughed. "Shh.." Pulling her closer, he pressed his lips to hers. "I'm not scared of you, Slayer."

She pushed him off and then fell back to the pillow. "Why is my head spinning?"

"Um...that's what they call a hangover."

"I know hangovers. This is not a hangover. This sucks."

"It's a pretty big hangover."

"It can't be..I did't drink anything.." she whined as she buried her head in his shoulder.

"That would be.." He sighed, knowing she wasn't going to like this. "I put whiskey in your tea. But you felt better, right?"

She looked up at him. "You got me drunk?"

"Technically." Angel said, moving her clenching hand away from his lower regions.

"I have this hangover because of you?" she asked, her hand grabbing at his stomache.

"Hey careful.." Angel said, grabbing her hand and dipping her back. He pressed his mouth to hers, hoping to make her forget her homicidal urges. A moment later he squealed in disbelief. "Buffy!"

"You got me drunk...you're not getting out of this so easy...I have the Main Street Parade from Disneyland running through my head...you are gonna pay.."

He grinned, "That could be fun."

"Oh no.."

He shoved her back, knowing that if he couldn't distract her, he was really gonna get it. Threading his hands up and under her shirt, he began to kiss her passionately. He heard her whimper in protest and then her arms pulled him tighter onto her. He grinned and moved his mouth to her shoulders She arched back in his arms and persuaded him on with her moans. And then just as he did, she kneed him in the groin and kicked him off the bed.

"Not tonight, lover. You get the floor."

Swallowing back the pain, he fell to the floor. "Right. Floor. Ow."

"Goodnight, Angel." Buffy chirped just before she sneezed four times straight.

"Will, it's raining."

"You don't say."

"Yeah, I do. I think we're gonna have more thunder t'night."

"Yippy."

"Are you okay, Will? You sound kinda..well..half asleep."

"Imagine that."

"Hm..anyways...I can't believe Angel got Buffy drunk. What a shmuck.."

"Probably a sound asleep shmuck."

"No...Buffy's probably whooping his butt.."

"Well then at least he'd be unconsious."

"You're kinda cranky. You should get some sleep, Will."

"Really..I should get some sleep?"

"Yeah..it's three morning? What the hell are you doing up?"

"Oh I don't know? Planning your murder?"

"Aw shucks, Will, I'm touched.."

"Did I mention that I'm doing it in graphic detail?"

"I really think you need sleep. I'm gonna let you go..you should start taking better care of yourself..all these late nights can't be good. Night."

He watched her sleep. She was still so beautiful. Even caught in the middle of a dream she didn't want to be having. He watched her closely, searching for a sign that he should wake her before the dream became too intense.

As soon as she had passed out again, he had crawled back onto the bed and pulled her under the covers with him. Now he held her as she whimpered. Her breathing was labored from being stuffed up and she didn't look exactly comfortable but he was reasonably certain that she was alright. He watched over her shoulder as sheets of rain pounded down. Curling against her, he whispered into her hair. "I love you."

"You're still in trouble, lover." She murmured, her eyes still shut. He blinked and looked closer. A moment later, she flattened herself against him as thunder crackled, "But that can wait."

"Yeah." He said, helping her into the sitting position. They moved over to the window-sill. "Trust me, it's beautiful if you just watch. I promise you..I'm not gonna leave you. I just wanna sit here and watch it with you."

She sighed and rolled her head back so that it was on his shouler. "Okay." A moment later she murmured, "This is nice. Just you and me. No fighting or battling weird demons."

"Even if you are sick?"

"I feel better. I should be reasonably okay by morning. But that's not what I'm talking about. Just you and me. Right here. Not fighting demons or fate...just being here."

"I know what you mean. Seems like we're always fighting or running or trying to explain things. Sometimes it's nice to not have to."

"Sometimes?"

"Okay..always...but I think 'sometimes" is all we're gonna get."

"Yeah." Buffy said quietly, clutching onto his arms as thunder sounded. "I don't...I don't even think I realize I do it.."

"I know. It's okay." Angel said, stroking her hair. "I understand. But you do know you weren't to blame for his death, right?"

"I can say that but y'know.."

"Buffy, you both chose to go there. And he fought well. There were at least six vampires on...you got overmatched."

She blinked. "How did you know that?"

He swallowed hard, his mouth twitching nervously. "Uh..heh..I guessed."

"You guessed..that there were exactly six vampires on me...how did you know that?"

"Would you believe I dreamed it?" Angel asked weakly.

"No." She turned away from him. "First you get me drunk...giving me one mother of a hangover and then I find out you were stalking me.."

"Not stalking..watching." Angel whispered, softly. He pressed his lips to her cheek. "I fell in love with you from the moment I laid eyes upon you...the night you found out that you were the Slayer...I saw you. I should have walked away then...but I couldn't..I fell head over heels...but I never planned to ge involved..never.."

She smiled. "I'm glad you did."

He kissed her again. "So am I." He closed his eyes and pulled her to him wher she just laid, staring out the rainy night. And then suddenly she pushed away.

"Wait a minute..if you'd been watching me for months...then why when I met you did you say you expected someone with bigger muscles?"

He laughed nervously and then stood up and walked back over to the bed. Falling against it, he put his hands over his eyes and began to shake his head.

"Hey Will."

"Oh God, Buffy, not you too."

"You sound kinda tired. You okay?"

"Good question..shouldn't you be in bed."

"I am in bed."

"I don't wanna know. I don't wanna know. I don't wanna kn...wait...I do wanna know. No I don't. I wanna sleep."

"What's stopping you?"

A moment later all she heard was maniacal laughing and then a click as the line went dead. Buffy looked over at Angel who was dead to the world and then back at the phone. "Well that was rude."