Title: Midnight Kiss

Author: Kristi

Email: kristi@allengames.com

Summary: New Years Btvs S3 Buffy/Angel

Rated: PG

Disclaimer: They belong to Joss Whedon and a bunch of people who really like the words ‘gypsy curse’

 

 

 

            The music was loud enough that if one didn’t listen too carefully one wouldn’t realize the band was leaning toward the we suck sound. It wasn’t that they were bad. They just weren’t good. Buffy twirled the paper umbrella the bartender had put in her cherry coke, her elbows on the table, firmly claiming it.

 

            “You know, Buff, I’ve heard its bad luck to start the new year out with a bad case of the mopes. They’ll continue right through the rest of the year,” Xander said as he tossed his gangly body into a chair beside Buffy.

 

            Buffy managed a brave smile at her friend. “I’m not mopey, really…just reflective?”

 

            Xander cocked an eyebrow at her. “That’ll come in handy for the midnight jogs.”

 

            Buffy giggled. “No…thinking about things…you know.”

 

            Xander nodded. “Yeah, like the freaky weird snow we had.”

 

            Buffy got even quieter at that comment. “Yeah, like the freaky weird snow we had.” It was almost a whisper. Xander didn’t know the reason for the snow. He had no idea that it had saved Angel’s life and Buffy didn’t feel like telling him. Willow knew, of course and Buffy was pretty sure she had told Oz, but per her request the information had been kept from Xander. She didn’t need to hear a comment like ‘why’d they save him? Woulda been better off they’d let him burn.’ She loved Xander, but his extreme dislike of Angel was difficult to deal with, especially right now.

 

            Willow and Oz were swaying together on the dance floor. It couldn’t be called dancing really, more like holding each other with music. Buffy smiled at the couple. They were completely lost in WillowOz land. It was good that someone was happy.  The song ended and the couple broke apart, well as apart as they got these days. Their hands were still tightly linked.

 

            “This is so exciting!” Willow said as they sat down at the table. “A brand new year, the brand new year we graduate in!”

 

            “If all of us can pass our SATs,” Buffy grumbled.

 

            “We will. I’ve made it my personal mission to make sure you and Xander both pass with flying colors…or at least pass. I’ve even given it resolve face and you know what that means.” Willow grinned at them and then did a shining example of her resolve face.

 

            “Yup, no messing with her once she gets that resolve going on,” Xander confirmed.

 

            “You know, I could have used some of that last year,” Oz said.

 

            Willow immediately looked guilty. “Sorry…but hey, then you wouldn’t have gotten to go through Senior year with me.”

 

            “Definite plus,” Oz agreed.

 

            “And bonified reason for not graduating with the rest of your class,” Xander declared.

 

             It was close to midnight when the waitresses at the Bronze started circulating with glasses of sparkling cider. Xander procured glasses for all of them along with silly hats and noise makers.

 

            As the Bronze patrons readied for the counting down of the New Year, Buffy’s thoughts drifted to Angel and how he was spending the evening. Not that they had to drift very far, it seemed her thoughts were never far from Angel. The band stopped playing in the middle of a song and began the countdown.

 

            Panic rose up inside of Buffy. Her heart pounded and her throat closed up. She felt feverish and she couldn’t breathe.  She had to get out of here. Willow and Xander both protested as she got up, fleeing from the table. Buffy saw Oz grab Willow’s elbow to keep her from following. She saw the currently brunette guy shake his head and whisper something in Willow’s ear. Understanding dawned on the redhead and she stopped Xander from going after Buffy.

 

            Buffy pushed her slayer speed to the limits, afraid she was going to be late; she was going to miss it. She kept a mental countdown as she ran.

 

            8

 

            7

 

            6

 

            5

 

            4

 

            3

 

            She collided with him, taking them both down in the middle of the street in a tangle of arms and legs.

 

            2

 

            1

 

            Her lips caught his greedily, not allowing him to protest. They didn’t have time for him to lecture her on how this wasn’t allowed, this couldn’t be. She kissed him hard enough to feel her lips bruise. Her hands tangled in his hair and his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. One hand snaked up her back and cupped her head, pulling her deeper into the kiss. He nibbled at her bottom lip hard enough to make her gasp and then he traced the swollen fullness of it with the tip of his tongue. She cursed her own need for air, pushing away from him to lie gasping on her back in the middle of the street. She glanced over at him, pleased to see he was reacting the same way.

 

            When they could finally speak, it was in tandem.

 

            “Didn’t want to start the New Year without you.”

 

            Her eyes misted and she sat up, tracing the line of his eyebrow, cheekbone and lips with her fingertips. She smiled softly.

 

            “You know, they say the person you kiss at midnight is the one you’ll spend all year kissing.”

 

            He gave her his sexy, half grin. “Why do you think I was on my way to find you?”