Title: Twilights Promise
Author: Eleni Angel (eleni9724@juno.com)
Rating: R
Couple: Buffy/Angel
Synopsis: Congressman Angelus Devereaux has been sent to Washington to quiet one Elizabeth
Summers, the bulldog lawyer of an environmental group. What happens when sparks begin to fly?
Spoilers: None, AU
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series, Mutant Enemy Productions, Kuzi Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, and or the actors and actresses who portray the characters on television and the writers who create the dialogue. No profit will be made from this story; it is for entertainment purposes only. All lyrics included hearin are property of their marked artists.
Distribution: Your Eyes, Perchance to Dream, Land of Denial, and Fanfiction.net. If there is anyone else who wants to archive my stuff and is not currently doing so, please e-mail me with the URL of your site before you take it, things like that help me keep track of where my stuff is.
Dedication: Here's another one for the wonderfully funny people at Television Without Pity because they make me laugh when all I want to do is throw my TV out the window and run screaming in the other direction.
Feedback: Yes please. It's the source of ultimate pleasure.
Author's Note: I'm sorry guys, I've been reading all these romance novels lately, and they're kind of influencing my writing. I'm also not quite so sure why I've been writing so many AU Fics either, it probably has something to do with my hatred of these current seasons. Out of the last like six stories I've written, only like two of them have been episode based. I've got a couple of other AU ideas that I'll probably write when I'm done with the ones I'm working on. So much for trying to get all of my WIPs finished before the end of the year. Maybe I'll have the time this summer or something.
Note 2: I'm looking for some good AU fiction as it is. I've been to Over the Rainbow and a few other sites, but does anyone have any standout recommendations? I'd appreciate if you'd send them to me off list.
Chapter One
Everything's so blurry
and everyone's so fake
and everybody's empty
and everything is so messed up
pre-occupied without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
Blurry - Puddle Of Mudd
"Attention all American Airlines passengers, final boarding for flight 351 to Washington DC is now in progress," the woman announced, watching the bustle of the crowd around her. Fast approaching, she noticed, was a handsome man in a suit waving a ticket as he ran towards them. "You just made it sir," she smiled at him as she processed his ticket and ushered him into the terminal before closing the airport door and returning to her desk. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the plane begin to move away from the building until it taxied down the runway and took off in a burst of speed that always took her breath away. One of these days it was going to be her flying a plane like that, it had always been her dream. One of these days...
"Excuse me?" a small, timid voice asked, startling her out of her reverie. She turned to look at a twentiesh young woman with blonde hair and startling green eyes. "Has flight 351 left yet?" Her eyes begged the attendant to say no, but it was impossible to appease her pleading.
"About ten minutes ago miss," she confirmed. "I'm sure if you contact our desk at check in we can get you on another flight in the morning." She cringed as the young woman swore and slammed a fist against the desk.
"I need to get there tonight," she complained. "It's all that stupid cabby's fault, if he had taken Lincoln like I had suggested, we would have been here in plenty of time, but noooo...he had to take the canal, and now I'm going to miss my meeting. This is great, just great."
"Uh, miss," a deep voice interrupted. She spun to see a devastatingly handsome man in jeans and a gray sweater standing there with a canvas duffel bag. "I think I may be able to help the both of us. You see, I missed that plane as well and I was about to see about chartering one to take me up tonight, but the pilot doesn't want to waste his time taking just one person, so if you wouldn't mind sharing with me, we can both get there before dinner."
"Oh thank you," she breathed, her face lighting up with a smile as she embraced the man who had just saved her career. "You've just saved my career, I'm forever in your debt."
"Nonsense," he replied, a hearty chuckle coming from within his chest. "Let's look at it like we're doing each other a favor. No thanks necessary." Placing a hand on her shoulder he guided her to the private terminal of the airport, reserved for small chartered flights and flagged down an older man as they approached. "I found us another passenger Wes, now you can work your magic and Marie won't get an angry letter from me when I get back."
"Some brother-in-law you turned out to be," Wesley grumbled. "Minute we met you started drooling over that pilot's license of mine, just a beggin' for me to run trips for you when you miss a flight. But God help ya, you're kin, and you donna jus turn your back on family." He continued this small tirade until they were strapped into the small Cessna. Neither man noticed the young woman's fists tighten around the armrests of her seat until her knuckles were almost white.
In fact, neither of the men paid her any mind until they were well into their journey and had run out of conversation. "So what's your name, anyway?" he asked, giving her a rakish smile.
"B-buffy," she stammered, meeting his smile with wide-eyed fear.
"I'm Angel, and that up there is my brother-in-law Wesley," he explained. "Now wanna tell us what has you so petrified?"
"I'm afraid of flying," she confessed in a meek voice, chewing on her lower lip and clenching her fists tighter. To her surprise, he looked astonished at her revelation. "I know, it's true and dumb as it sounds, I don't like entrusting my life in the hands of a small metal tube and praying that the weather will hold."
"Keep that up and Wes is going to feel mighty offended," his smile lessened but did not fade completely away. He pried one hand away from the poor armrest and squeezed it in a comforting manner. "So, Buffy, where are you from?"
"S-sunnydale," she answered. "It's a small town about twenty miles from LA."
"I'm an LA man, born and bred," he told her, glad to get her mind off the flight and onto something else. "Married?"
"No," she answered.
"Children?" he countered.
"But I just told you that I wasn't married," she protested. "So how could I have any children?"
"You don't have to be married to have kids, sweetheart," he said gruffly. He looked apologetic at her hurt look, but did not voice it. "So tell me all about you." He was shocked at how naive she was. He listened to her sultry voice relay a tale of growing up in a small town, going to school, moving to Los Angeles.
"When my mom finally died a few months ago I got guardianship of my little sister, Dawn," she said finally, bringing his attention back to her. "We've been... managing, to say the least. She was sick for such a long time that it was almost a relief to see her go."
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely, squeezing her hand. "I've got two sisters, Marie who's married to Wes, and Faith who has a lucrative career as a writer." He stroked her palm soothingly until Wesley announced that they were about to land. That in its self was an event, because Buffy shrieked when the wheels hit the runway. She was shaking so badly that Angel had to help her off the plane. "Hope you have an enjoyable trip while you're here in Washington," he said as he walked off to collect his baggage. Sighing in relief, Buffy went to retrieve hers as well.
Upon reaching her hotel, she was grateful to find that they had not given her room away. She practically collapsed on the soft bed the minute she reached it. Her thoughts were plagued by the incredibly handsome man who'd held her hand and tried to give her something other to think about than the airplane. How could she have been so stupid as to open up and talk to a total stranger? She was supposed to keep a low profile while she was here, at least until the hearing.
Because she wasn't here to sight see, or to make friends, she was here to save Sunnydale. For decades now, Los Angeles industrial companies had dumped their waste in a dam built for them, but it was old and decrepit, and it was leaking into the town water supply, and people were getting sick. Children were born with serious illnesses, and sometimes with birth defects. She had seen more than one family devastated by the chemicals, and she had vowed to stop it at all costs, and to get some of these companies to pay for what they'd done.
It was a lofty goal, some of these companies had deep pockets, and could keep them tied up in legislation for another couple decades, just long enough for it not to matter if they could save Sunnydale or not, because within a year, it would be a barren wasteland. Everyone who currently lived there had been given the order by the health department to clear out and move somewhere else. But how long before some of that sewage leaked into Los Angeles, or even San Francisco for that matter?
The next morning she woke with the rising sun and left the building intent on going for a quick run before she had to get ready for her meeting on the Hill. Her hotel provided an indoor track, but she found those usually overcrowded and limited. The Concierge pointed her in the direction of the nearest park, and she took off, aware that people were staring at her scantily clad body. The park was fabulous, something she hadn't expected to find in the middle of downtown Washington DC. There were numerous jogging paths, a few older people walked along as they held hands, and some walked their well groomed dogs on designer leashes. Clearly it was an upscale park, because they glared at her garments.
Her feet pounded down the pavement, freeing her mind of everything but the exhilarating feel of the wind pushing the stray hair away from her face. She loved the feel of her well toned muscles stretching and releasing, the pressure of her lungs expanding in the cool, early morning weather. It was much colder here than it was in California, not so much that it was a shock to her system, but enough that it kept her going in an attempt to test her limits.
She was almost positive that if she'd been watching where she was going instead of being lost in thought, she would have seen the man jogging towards her. But alas, the collided with a loud smack and both went tumbling to the pavement. Stunned, Buffy looked up to see whom she'd hit and "You!" she said.
"And you," Angel teased right back. He stood and offered her a hand up. "Didn't think I'd run into you again, DC's a big city."
"Didn't think I'd be here this morning," she shrugged. "But I had time before my meeting up on the Hill, so I figured I'd run a little. The gym at my hotel is nice, but there are too many people using it. The Concierge pointed me in this direction, but all I've gotten was dirty looks from old people."
"Probably 'cause they're jealous," he snorted, leading her over towards a water fountain so he could drink. "You have time to grab some coffee before your meeting Buffy?" He watched with a grin as she checked her watch.
"Sure, I guess," she sighed. "But I've got to be back at my hotel in an hour so I can change." She rolled her head to relieve some tensing muscles. "Is there anywhere nearby?"
"I think I can recall a Starbuck's just down the street," he confirmed. "They're in overabundance here too. Makes me think we're in Seattle." He smiled as she laughed softly, enjoying the way that it made her pretty face scrunch up and the sound of it trickling into his ears.
They shared a cup of simple coffee, talking over a mutual dislike for the fancy stuff they tried to pass off as a good caffeine jolt. Buffy actually enjoyed Angel's company, and she wished that she had more time to spend with him, but her schedule for the next two weeks was absolutely jam packed with arguing her cause to close-minded Congressmen and an army of over paid Conglomerate CEOs. He was kind enough to see her back to her hotel and surprised her by kissing the back of her hand before letting her go up to her room. It was small by most standards, but it was bigger than most of the bedrooms in Sunnydale, that's for sure.
Buffy smoothed the hem of her black skirt nervously. She'd picked this suit because it made her look slightly older than her twenty-two years. In the year she'd been practicing environmental law, she'd been laughed out of more than one courtroom because of her age. She had been a brilliant child, the pride of the city for many years because of her accomplishments, she had graduated two years early and gone straight to college, and law school from there. For a moment she wished that her hair were not held up by a faux pearl clasp so she could try to pull it out. Rolling her eyes at the nervous tick, she took a deep breath and walked inside the massive building that sat atop Capitol Hill.
Swallowing, she admitted that she had defeated one part of her internal battle, the next part was facing the committee and not loosing her nerve, or her breakfast, all over the podium. She walked down the hall, oddly soothed by the sound of her heels clacking against the marble floor, until she recognized Congressman Davis, the head of the legislative committee, standing outside a room that she assumed was the one they would be in. He saw her and waved, so she approached, unprepared to hear the voice of the man he was speaking with. He turned around to greet her, and she felt her heart leap into her throat. "Angel?" she whispered. The world around her spun and she felt her face growing hot. There was no sound, just the face of the man she never thought she'd see again. She blinked several times and the vision remained. "Angel?"
Part 2
Chapter Two
You could be my someone
you could be my sea
you know that I'll protect you
from all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing
imagine where you are
there's oceans in between us
but that's not very far
Blurry - Puddle of Mudd
"Ah, I see you've already met Congressman Devereaux," Davis said with a smile. Angel looked at him in confusion, and then turned to look at Buffy with a slightly bashful smile. He watched her nod mutely, as if she were discovering something she didnt want to know. And that confused him, because shouldnt that be something of interest, and not something to recoil at. The look on her face was amusing, as if shed swallowed a big bug or something. But he dared not laugh.
Truth be told, when hed met the young woman at the airport in Los Angeles, he hadnt thought in a million years that she would belong to the same world as he. She seemed far too innocent and light hearted to participate in the world of politics. He wasnt sure what he was going to do about the fact that she clearly didnt like people like him, but he was certain that he wanted to see her again.
"Hello again," he said smoothly, not missing a beat between that and shaking her hand politely. She still seemed stunned, which was a little odd. Didnt she ever pick up a paper and read it once in a while? He watched the muscles in her beautifully tapered neck work as she swallowed compulsively.
"Shouldnt we start?" she asked finally. Angel watched her gesture to the room, and raised an eyebrow. He was supposed to be meeting with Elizabeth Summersand then it all just clicked in his mind. Buffy was the environmental lawyer he was supposed to argue against. Oh no, this wasnt awkward in the least.
"Yes, of course," Davis mumbled, leading them both inside where the others were waiting. Angel sighed as he watched her look around the room aimlessly. This room was designed to intimidate people like her. One long table for the committee and a single undecorated podium for her to stand at.
She seemed calm and composed as she approached her stand and gave her little speech about wanting to preserve her town for future generations, and helping the people that have been badly hurt by the chemical dumping. Vaguely, he could hear corporate suits tearing away at her arguments with no mercy. And he was proud of her for not loosing face the way that many people did.
She practically burst from the room when Davis called the session to a close. He had a difficult time not lunging from his seat to follow her, to explain. There were three more days of testimony, and then they would both be sent back home to await a decision. Angel was mostly there to listen in and get an understanding of these types of hearings. His heart ached for him to follow her, but he could not without risking everything that had been between them. As soon as Davis dismissed him, hed go to her hotel and try to reason with her.
Buffy had never felt more humiliated in her entire life. How could he just sit there and let her make a fool of herself, knowing all along that they could never be together. She cursed fate for tempting her and then placing them on opposite sides of an enormous divide that she had been unable to, as of yet, cross. In less than lavish hotel room, she drew a steaming bath and practically collapsed inside the claw footed tub.
The heat of the water relaxed every single one of her tight muscles. If she had been in her small home back in Sunnydale, there would be soft music playing from a hidden speaker system and the lights would be set on a dimmer. Her parents had always down played it, but they were some of the more well to do people in town, and their enormous home reflected it. Somehow they managed to escape the large ego that could have come with it, and saw to it that their children were kind as well.
She had been just about to doze off when someone knocked on the door to her hotel suit. Sighing, she pulled one of the supplied terry-cloth robes around her naked body and stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of mist. Buffy peeked through the peephole and groaned in frustration. She had come here to avoid hashing out the tense situation between herself and Congressman Devereaux, and here he was. Standing impatiently in the hallway, hair ragged in a rakish sort of way, he tempted her almost to her limits.
Buffy stepped back and opened the door, careful to keep the robe tightly knotted around her waist to hide her smooth, aroused flesh. The towel wound on her head kept her wet hair from dripped down her back. "Can I help you Congressman?" she asked coolly, leaning against the doorframe.
"Youre not going to forgive me for that, are you?" he grumbled. He casually tried to look into the room behind her, searching for other occupants. "Can I come in?" he asked finally. Nervously, she stepped back and allowed him entrance to her room, shutting the door behind them. Things could go from bad to worse if someone saw him knocking on her door, especially when things were so tense.
"You lied to me!" she replied.
"How did I lie to you?" he demanded. "When did I ever?"
"I asked you what you did for a living and you said oh this and that when instead youre a Congressman who was probably just trying to find out how much fight Id put up!" she cried. "Dont worry, youre not unique in that. Its happened before, only this time I found out before something serious happened."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Angel asked. If someone had taken advantage of her to stop the anti-dumping campaign, he could understand her reluctance to even be friends with him after finding out. "Who are you talking about?" Anyone that hurt her, he wanted to rend limb from limb. She was just an innocent girl who wanted to save her home. There was no crime in that, no matter what anyone else may have told her.
"A year ago I was here doing the exact same thing that Im doing now,"she replied. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the wall. She could see his eyes going from the bed and back to her in a millisecond. She rubbed the heel of one foot against her other long leg, trying to sate an itch. "I wasnt really paying attention to what could happen if reporters saw me doing something a little strange. I went to a club, and I met a guy. Things seemed happy for a while, I thought I was in loveboy was I wrong. The day of the hearing came, and there he was, wearing a suit and a nametag and he pretended not to know me. I found out later that he already had a wife and two kids."
"Look, Im sorry that guy was an asshole, but I promise you that Im not like that," Angel said, taking a ginger step towards her. When she did not shy away, he took another and another until he was standing close enough to reach out and put his hand on her arm. She stiffened slightly, but he rejoiced when she did not pull away. "Im not trying to be your friend to get between you and your cause. I think that its a very noble one. I just want to be your friend because I like you."
"Friend, yeah," she snorted, finally drifting away. The tips of her fingers came up to caress the nape of her perfectly arched neck. "I probably could use one of those now. Not many people where Im from quite trust me enough to be my friend."
"Whys that?" he asked, dropping into one of the many chairs strewn in the living room area of the suit. He couldnt imagine anyone meeting her and not wanting to spend more time with her. She had one of those magnetic, charismatic personalities that drew people to look when she passed by. The fact that she was gorgeous probably aided in the matter.
She shrugged almost imperceptibly as she moved to sit across from him, always careful to keep the robe tugged over her to prevent a flash show. Angel almost smiled at her modesty, but stopped himself when he saw the troubled look on her face. "I was a child prodigy," she said eventually. "Youve probably read my file by now, so you most likely already knew that." She looked him straight in the eye, and he was amazed by the amount of emotion he saw contained there. "I was the first person to get out of Sunnydale, to become someone other than some mans wife. A lot of people resent me for it, some steer clear because they arent fond of my father. Or his companies. Either way, I get screwed out of a lot of relationships."
"So prove them all wrong," he replied. "Have dinner with me tonight. I havent been home much over the last few years, and I dont know much of whats going on in California. You could fill me in, and we could talk some more."
Buffy chewed on her lower lip as she mused over his offer. Moments later, she licked her lips and nodded. "Sure, why not," she answered. "Whats the worse that could happen? I know were both a little homesick."
"Wonderful," he said with the first genuine smile Buffy had seen in a long time. "Ill leave you to get ready, and Ill come back to pick you up at 7:30, hows that sound?" he asked as he stood and made his way to the door.
"Sounds heavenly," she admitted, following him to lock and bolt the chain after him. When he was gone, she slumped against the door with a heavy sigh. She wasnt sure just what shed gotten herself into this time. But she knew it was sure to be interesting.
When he came to collect her later that evening, she was wearing a blood red gown that fell elegantly to the floor, leaving a tiny train. Her hair fell in golden waves like a cloud around her, and she wore just the slightest amount of vanilla cologne on her pulse points. He lost all train of thought when he saw her, unaware that she was almost drooling at the sight of him in a jet black suit. "You clean up nice," she managed, offering a weak smile.
"You look lovely," he replied as she went to get her wrap. Helping her into it, he offered his arm. "Shall we?"
"We shall," she answered with a smile. She took his arm and they made their way down to the front lobby. All the while she was aware that they probably should exercise some discretion while the hearing was still going on. The press could still get a hold of this story and smear it all over the papers. Shaking her head, she pushed all of those horrible thoughts away. "Where are we going?"
"Its a surprise," he answered mischievously. "Youll have to wait and find out."
"Oh, youre evil," she glowered, even though she was smiling for the first time today. He had a way about him that put her at ease and made her want to keep a silly grin on her face all day long. She drew her full lips into a seductive pout. "No hints?"
"Naughty girl," he teased, thumping her lightly on the arm. "Fishing for clues that Im not about to give."
"What can I say," she murmured, batting her eyes coyly. "Im not one for patience."
They continued their playful banter until they reached the street, where they were met by a sleek black limousine. Buffy gasped at the sight of it, and turned to Angel with a tickled look on her face. He grinned and helped her into the long car with a flourish, then climbed in after her. "I take it youve never ridden in one of these before?" he asked, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Not ever," she admitted, pulling her hand away with a look of discomfort on her face that made him apologize. "No, Im sorry, Im still just a little edgy. Im worried about the hearing."
"Dont worry," he pleaded. "No work tonight, just the two of us. Just imagine that were old friends going out for a night on the town."
"Well," she hedged, shifting in her seat. "Okay."
"Wonderful," he grinned. "So hows your appetite?"
"Im ravenous," she confessed, blushing shyly as he laughed.
"Perfect," he said, clasping his hand on her shoulder. "This place is great, I discovered it on my first trip to DC. I was starving and every bit homesick, and this place helped."
"So is this place still a secret, or are you going to fess up?" she prodded.
"No need," he replied as the car came to a smooth stop. "Were here."
"Where is here?" she persisted, even as he climbed out of the car. He offered her a hand, and when she took it, she found herself pulled out into a world of sparkling lights and soft noises. She found herself staring at a glittering building with Marcels written prominently across the entrance. "Snazzy," she said with a grin, allowing him to lead her inside.
"There arent many French restaurants that I know of in DC, but this one is special. They do an amazing coq au van."
"Just as long as you dont try to talk me into eating escargot, I wont have a single problem," she replied, giving a mock shudder. "Another bad experience from high school. I was dating this idiot that didnt know what he was getting into, and while I was in the powder room, he ordered for us. Which would have been fine, except he didnt speak or read French, and hed ordered escargot. Snails are only good for the garden."
"Here here," Angel smiled, pretending to toast with an imaginary glass. He approached the maitre d with an exaggerated swing of his hips, much to Buffys amusement. The man got a little star struck when Angel gave his name, but managed to seat them in a nice table just off the patio.
Each ordered the coq au van, and Angel chose the wine from a list of superior burgundies that each had their own special qualities. Buffy watched in amusement as he cut each piece of his chicken with the skill and precision of a surgeon and savored each bite. "Shall I leave you alone with the food?" she asked, trying to keep a straight face as he groaned at the taste.
"Quiet wench," he grumbled. "You have no appreciation for fine food."
"Poor didums, did I hurt your feelings?" she cooed, scooting closer to him with a silly grin on her face. He looked up at her and she burst into laughter, he had the strangest look in his eyes before he finally joined in.
"Didnt your parents ever tell you not to make fun of your elders?" he glared half-heartedly. He was unable to stay mad at her for any length of time, and he knew that she was just teasing because it was in her fun loving nature.
"My parents often joined in when I was making fun of the dignitaries," she informed him, leaning over the table as she propped her chin on her elbows. "They encouraged my independence, something quite rare in those days. Children were to be seen and not heard, especially not in my kind of family."
"Your kind of family?" he asked.
"Wealthy socialites," she elaborated. "My family was one of the richest in town before the dumping began and all of our crops were ruined. But enough of that, I dont dwell on the past anymore. What about your family?"
"My mothers name is Susan, shes a teacher at one of the many high schools in Los Angeles. My father is Edward, and he owns some sort of technology company, I never really cared to look into it much. Ive got two younger sisters, Marie and Danielle, and one brother, William.
"Sounds interesting," she sighed, delighted that he was opening up to her. Her hand snaked across the red checked tablecloth to grasp his. He squeezed her fingers in response.
She was almost surprised at the lack of reporters following them. Usually when she was in town, and there was a Congressman around her, the press thought that theyd ask her if she were going to hit him too. Just as she had Parker Abrams one year ago.
She let Angel walk her up to her room, despite her ever-growing paranoia at being spotted. They lingered at her door, hands clasped tightly together, faces inches away from each other. "I had a good time tonight," she sighed.
"Me too," he agreed.
"See you tomorrow?" she asked, eyes pleading and curious.
"Of course," he replied. "First thing on the hill. Want to grab some lunch afterwards?"
"Definitely," she murmured, head tilting her lips closer and closer until they were just too much of a temptation for him to pass up. Slowly, he bent his head down so his lips brushed hers and electricity sparked between them as their mouths met.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him with a moan of delight. Her lips parted in invitation and his tongue slipped inside, stroking the roof of her mouth and tracing every curve in an attempt to memorize her. Several long minutes later she pulled away, panting. "Thanks for a wonderful evening," she whispered into his ear.
"The pleasure was mine," he answered easily. He kissed her again briefly. "Goodnight Buffy."
"Goodnight Angel," she said, retreating into the haven of her room
TBC
