Speak No Evil

If you want to see Buffy's next dress I use, go here:
http://www.sensibility.com/vintageimages/1800s/images/lacedress.jpg


Buffy sat alone on the train that would take her to downtown Sunnydale. She had no idea who would be at the ball. She wished she could have invited Willow. A ball in her honor and she didn't even know who would there. She could only guess and hope that Giles was among the guest. Maybe Ms. Calendar too.

The train stopped and Buffy got off. She began to feel a little nervous. This was her first time outside the Council walls alone. An advisor had taken her to the train station and told her to take a taxi to address he gave her. The city seemed so dark and lonely- and it was only 8:00pm. She found a cab and got in.

When she arrived at the ball room she began to really started feel nervous. She was right on time, it was 8:10pm.

"Ah Ms. Summers, I am so happy to see you.. You look lovely." A stranger greeted her as she walked into the hall.

He opened the door and Buffy walked into the room. She looked around. It mostly looked like Council members and their spouses. Everyone smiled and gave her a light applause.

"Buffy?" A man's voice called her.

She turned to see it was Angelus. No. It had to be someone else. He would have never called her name so tenderly and calm. Usually she heard him scream at her to run faster or that she was a pioor oor student.
But it wasn't someone else.

"Yes?" Buffy asked. She almost couldn't speak. He looked so good. He was wearing a pitch black tux that fit him so good. So very, very good.

"You look nice." Angelus voice dead sexy now. Buffy couldn't help but smile. She could smile, but she couldn't talk.

"So, Buffy, do you want to go sit down at a back table- or..." Angelus trailed off. Clearly he was slightly nervous too.

"Um..um yeah I guess so." Buffy replied, still aw struck.

The two of them sat down. Around them Council couples, both high and low members, danced. The decor was all white and the tables were all white marble. Buffy looked around the room closely.

"Looking for someone?" Angel asked

"Um...yeah, my advisor, Mr. Giles." Buffy turned back to Angelus, realizing she was being rude.

"I don't believe I know him." Angelus said quietly.

"Oh..um it is no big deal. I am sure he is around here somewhere." Buffy still didn't want to appear too rude, Angelus was Council.

The waiter came a served Angelus some wine and Buffy some hot tea. Buffy found it amusing that, even days before she turned 18, the Council still wouldn't allow her to have so much as a glass of wine or a soda.

Buffy decided to stop playing games.

"I want to know why--"

"I asked for you." Angelus's words stopped her.

"What?" Buffy said, a hint of anger coming through.

"When the Council decided that you were going to marry instead of leave, I asked to marry you- before someone else did." Angelus explained.

"Oh." Buffy looked down embarrassed . She had only assumed that it had worked the other away around. That Angelus had asked for her and the Council had found a reason tke hke her marry him. A tear formed in Buffy's eye. All her advanced training in remaining calm and emotionless in difficult situations was not being used. So it was her own fault she wasn't going to be a leaving. She had no one to blame but herself. She turned slightly, as if to still be searching for Giles, but really to hide the fact that she was almost crying.

"Umm..Do you want to out on the terrace?" Angelus wasn't fooled, he knew she was upset.
"Yeah." Buffy said in a low voice.

Once they were out of the terrace, neither of them spoke. They just stood by the rail and Buffy continued to look down.

Angelus broke the silence.

"You are upset. You are upset because you are marrying me instead of leaving." He stated the obvious.

Buffy could only nod for fear she would cry.

Angelus put his arm around her to comfort her.

Buffy remained still. His reassurance felt nice. It felt odd, but nice.

"Wh- I always thought you wer" B" Buffy stopped herself before she said the wrong thing.

"You thought I was a bastard?” Angelus laughed softly. "It is okay, the person that instructed you in Council school was not me. I had to be that way to train you girls."

Buffy still couldn't speak. She just moved closer to Angelus.

"Angelus I-"
"Angel." He said. "Call me Angel."
"Angel, I feel overwhelmed. I don't know what to think anymore." She confessed.
"Do you want to go some place private?" Angel asked.
"Won't they miss us?" Buffy was confused.

"No. The Council members attend a few of these things ever month. It is no big deal if we step out for a moment or two." He answered.

"I got you a birthday present. It is in the room beside the ball room. Let's go in there."
Angel led her through the ball room and into the hall. They walked into a small little room and Angel turned on the light.

"Here." Angel showed her a dress that was laying out on the table.

The dress had a light green lace overlay. It looked early 19th century.

"You are suppose to wear it to your birthday party. It was a Slayer's ball gown in the 1910. After tonight, you will give your ball gown to the Council. In 50 to 100 years another slayer in training will wear it to her 18th birthday party." Angel explained.

"So Slayers get new ball gowns and then wear the birthday dresses of past Slayers." Buffy stated.

"It is beautiful Angel. I love it. Thank you." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she turn to hug him.

They hugged. They held each other for a few moments. Then Angel broke away, but didn't move too far. Reluctantly, he lowered his mouth to hers. He captured her lips. Slowly his tongue parted her lips open and moved in. Buffy responded. To Angel's shock, Buffy began to kiss back. The kiss became intense, full of need and desire. the they finally broke apart Angel smiled down at her.

"So does this mean you aren't upset about the marriage anymore?" He asked.

"No, not anymore." Buffy said with a smile on her face.