September 14th

Even though she could see the sunlight creeping out from under the curtains, Buffy couldn’t quite force herself to get out of bed. She lay there in a blissful state of semi-consciousness before the door burst open and a very angry Andrew stood before her, is hands on his hips.

“Can you please go downstairs and convince the owner of this establishment that it is completely safe for me to use his immensely over sized kitchen. We have thirty very hungry girls waiting for their daily berry pancake fix.” Buffy groaned, as much as she, as well as everyone else loved Andrews handmade, from scratch, berry pancakes, she was liking her bed a whole lot more right now. “Buffy now.” Andrew pleaded. She sighed again and dragged herself to her feet.

“I’ll be down in five minutes. Hold the rabble off until then.”

After she was dressed and standing on the landing that overlooked the lobby, she had to stand and admire the view. Angel was standing with his arms crossed across his chest. Literally daring any of the girls to try and het passed him. Buffy chuckled and he automatically looked up to her.

“It’s alright Angel.” She smiled at him, reveling in the ability to say his name again, for the first time in such a long while. “Andrew knows his way around a kitchen. We nominated him our in house chef back in Sunnydale.” He looked at her, uncertain for a few seconds then stepped aside and let him and several of the potentials through into the kitchen

“Never took you for the territorial type.” Buffy said, descending the stars and accepting the steaming cup of coffee Angel held out for her. Angel chuckled.

“We let Cordy try out the kitchen a little while ago, big mistake.” He said, smirking.

“I heard that.”

Buffy and Angel spun round to see Cordelia coming down the stairs. She sauntered straight to Angel and planted a not so subtle kiss on his lips. Faith walked passed and chuckled,

“Geez Cor, don’t they feed you at home.” Cordy pulled away and aimed a swat at Faith’s arm. But she easily dodged it and rolled her eyes. Sniffing appreciatively at the air she said to Buffy,

“Andrew making breakfast?” Buffy nodded and Faith happily trotted off into the kitchen.

After breakfast, Fred and Gunn suggested that, for all those who didn’t know their way around, they would take them on a tour of the city, let them get to know their surroundings. As it turned out, ever the ones who knew where they were going jumped at the chance for a field trip. Leaving only the people who could be considered in charge to occupy the hotel. Giles and Wesley were happy to spend the day holed up in Wes’ office catching up and comparing notes. Faith had gone with the girls to keep them in line, and Cordy was back upstairs sulking leaving Buffy and Angel downstairs in the lobby in an awkward silence. Breathing in the delicious smells of Andrews continuous baking.

After nearly an hour of sitting in silence Buffy got to her feet, so fast t made Angel jump.

“I have some energy to burn. Do you have somewhere I could train?” She asked, stretching her arm muscles. Angel nodded and gestured to the door to his tripped out basement. He had even fixed a lock on the inside of the door. He didn’t like people interrupting his training.

“On one condition.” Angel said, his hand on the door handle. “I get to join in.” Buffy grinned at him and headed down the stairs, tying her hair into a loose pony tail as she went.

Buffy tried really hard not to stare when Angel removed his shirt and took up a defensive position on the other end of the padded mat on the floor.

“No holding back.” He said, smirking a little. Buffy nodded once and stepped towards him. He struck out first and the dance began. Buffy hadn’t had a work out like this in years. He really made her work to stay on her feet. Even back when she used to train with Reilly and more recently with Spike, they had all made it too easy for her. She remembered the nights she and Angel would train in his mansion back in Sunnydale, in front of his open fire. It used to be a way for them to vent some of the sexual tension that would build up between them. As well as a way to build up a whole lot more. Now, fighting him again, she could understand why. It was hard to stand opposite him now and not pay attention to the way his muscles flexed when he moved; the way the sweat glistened on his skin. The second she let the thoughts enter her head she found herself flat on her back, Angel was leaning over her his hand lightly to her throat. She was breathing heavily and couldn’t help noticing that his face was only mere inches from hers. She could smell his skin.

“C’mon guys, we’ve only been here a day.”

Angel jumped to his feet when he heard Xander’s voice from the top of the stairs and cursed himself for not locking the door. Granted the distraction had been just what he had needed at that moment to stop him doing something stupid. Not something he would regret, just something stupid. Buffy got to her feet shakily as well, blushing furiously.

“We were training.” She said defensively. Wrapping her arms around her stomach, something Angel remembered she did in situations that made her uncomfortable. Xander raised an eyebrow suspiciously and just nodded.

“Giles is asking for you.”