Title: Destiny...Or Something Like It - Part 1: Chances

Author: Sara at buffyased20@yahoo.com

Spoilers?: Hmm, dunno. I got inspired by the movie Serendipity and though it's not word for word, the basic plot is the same, with a lot of twists and turns, BtVS style.

Authors Note:**This is my first go at an AU fic. I don't know how I'll do, but you can tell me!** There is no Hellmouth (that anyone is aware of anyway). Angel is a normal guy, Buffy is a normal girl.

Synopsis: Buffy and Angel meet by chance one night and spend an incredible evening together...unfortunately, the time isn't right for them and they go their seperate ways...until years later, coincidence, or destiny, brings them back together.

Feedback: I love it I love it I love it. Er, sure why not?

Distribution: Take it if you want it, but send me the URL of where it will be!

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San Diego, California 2001

Buffy Anne Summers was twenty one when she met the love of her life. Unfortunately, she didn't realize it then.  

It was a brisk October evening in San Diego. Well, brisk by California's standards anyway. A high of seventy one....Buffy couldn't help but snicker at a few women passing by her, complaining of the 'chilly' weather.

Buffy didn't mind it, in fact, she preferred the warm weather as opposed to the scorching heat wave San Diego had been beaten down with the last couple months. It was one of Buffy's goals that when she finished law school, she would move out east...somewhere where snow actually fell during the winter, and the four seasons weren't interchangable.

Walking briskly up 10th Street, Buffy kept glancing at her gold watch. Bebe's closed in six minutes...and if Buffy didn't pick up the white gold jewlery set for her aunt's birthday the next day, her mother would throw a fit. And Lord help anyone who was around when Joyce Summers wasn't happy.

Picking up a quicker pace, Buffy rounded the corner towards Bebe's, and seconds later, landed on the sidewalk with a hard thud. She glanced up through her bangs that had strayed from her once perfect bun, in slight irritation. She accepted the hand that was offered, surprised at the strength of it, as he pulled her to her feet.

Bending over, she grabbed her bag and finally took a good look at the clumsy man who had bumped into her. Clumsy, although Buffy preferred it, wasn't exactly the right word to describe him. He stood at about six foot one, with a nice wiry build that wasn't too overbearing. His brunette hair was short, and like many men's hair today, semi-spikey on top. His brown eyes gazed into hers, amused and apologetic.

"Sorry about that," he began, "that was completely my fault...I guess you should always be looking where you're going, which I rarely do."

Buffy smiled politely, trying to ignore that fact that he had a beautiful poet's mouth. "Don't worry about it, I don't mean to be rude, but I really need to get inside before they close..."

She began hurrying past him as she spoke, grabbing the door handle to Bebe's just as the salesclerk began twisting the lock into place.

"Sorry, we're closed." the woman called to her stoutly. Buffy kept her grip on the door handle.

"Please! I promise it'll only take a second, I just need to pick up some an order!" Buffy begged, secretly wanting to bash the sales clerk over the head with her bag.

"Sorry, we're closed." the woman repeated, ignoring Buffy's pleas. The man who knocked Buffy down stepped up next to her and smiled widely at the sales clerk.

"Hi...June." he greeted, glancing down at the woman's name tag, "Can't you help us out...it'll only take a second to pick up the jewelry...it was already ordered and everything...wasn't it?" he asked Buffy quietly, who glanced up at him, then nodded quickly with a smile at June.

"We're not suppose to let anyone in after closing." June protested weakly, her resistance melting at the young man's charming smile.

"Aw, come on. We won't tell on you, besides, you techincally haven't closed since the doors aren't locked. If you help us out here, I'll be forever grateful." he informed her, adding a small wink to the deal.

June fought against it, but ended up grinning anyway, feeling the blush on her cheeks. She opened the door, allowing Buffy and the young man inside. She beamed up at him as he patted her shoulder lightly, then immediately scowled at Buffy as she followed her to the counter. Ten minutes later, he and Buffy were walking out of the store, one bag in Buffy's hand, and coupon in his.

"I guess she liked me." he admitted sheepishly, shoving the coupon down into his jacket pocket.

Buffy turned and watched as June locked up the store quickly before scurrying away into the rows of dress shirts and khakis. "Yeah, I didn't get a twenty five percent off coupon, and I actually bought something."

The man smiled. "You just have to know how to deal with people like her. They don't want to be barked at...they have to be soothed, and complimented. Treated like they're the most important part of your life at the moment."

Buffy gave him a small smile. "I would thank you, but I don't know your name..."

"It's Angel..." he told her, shifting his own shopping bag to hold out his hand. Buffy took it, shaking it slowly.

"My name's Buffy."

"That's a pretty unusual name..." Angel exclaimed as they began walking away from Bebe's.

"Yeah, well, my parents are pretty unusual."

"Aren't everybody's?"

"I guess....but how many Buffys do you know?" she asked him, glancing up and admiring his lopsided grin.

"Just one...but that makes you all the more unique." he said, trying not to lean his head over and inhale the scent of her hair. She was quite something to look at, small and petite....golden hair, which was, he would bet his life money on, long and soft. And it smelled of coconuts and rain...a combination which got inside his blood, setting his heart on fire. Her eyes were wide and green with speckles of gold. A man could get lost for hours in those eyes....and Angel was no exception.

Buffy noticed him studying her and smiled up at him nervously. "So, Angel, thanks so much for helping me out back there."

He shrugged, sliding his hands in his leather jacket. "It's no problem, it's the least I can do for running you over."

"Nah," she replied, trying not to think about how cute his dimples were, "That was just as much my fault as yours...I was also in a hurry, obviously. I wasn't paying attention."

"Ah, so I guess you do owe me then." he stated, knowing an opening when he saw one.

"What do I owe you, exactly?" Buffy questioned with mock suspicion.

Angel shrugged, stopping outside of a small diner named Chances. "How about a cup of coffee? Then we'll make it even."

Buffy considered for a moment. She usually didn't have coffee with men she barely knew, but there was something quite different about Angel. She didn't feel threatened or in danger in any way. And that was good enough for her.

"Sounds good." she agreed, thanking him when he opened the glass door for her.

Buffy liked the place immediately. It was small and cozy and smelled of coffee beans and biscuits. They sat down at a corner booth and Buffy set her bag down next to her, getting comfortable on the plastic seat.

Angel ordered two coffees and turned his attention back to Buffy when the waitress wandered away.

"So, Buffy, what do you do?"

"Well, I'm starting my first year the San Diego University School of Law," she told him, "That pretty much takes up all my time..."

"Wow," Angel replied, impressed, "So you're life ambition is to be a lawyer?"

"Yeah, its a requirement to have two years under your belt before you apply, so I attended San Diego University's law program first, then transferred." she explained, hating the tone in her voice when she talked about school. She was proud of her accomplishments, but more times than not, it came across as conceited and braggy, but Angel didn't seem to mind, if anything, he seemed interested.

"So what are you going to do after you graduate?" he asked her, thanking the waitress when she set two cups of coffee in front of them.

Buffy grabbed the sugar dispenser, carefully measuring it with her spoon, before dumping it in the mug and stirring. "I figured I'll probably attend graduate school, and try for an internship. Afterwards, I'll join a prestigious law firm, work my way up the ladder and then accept when they offer me partnership." she finished, her eyes sparkling as she set the spoon down next to her coffee.

Angel studied for a moment before laughing softly. "You have it all worked out, don't you?"

Buffy wondered if she should be offended by his reaction, but dismissed it quickly when she saw the amused admiration in his eyes. "Well, yeah. You should always have some kind of plan...don't you?" she asked, watching as he took a sip of his coffee.

He thought for a moment, placing his mug back down on the table. "Nope...why bother making a plan? It'll get messed up anyway."

Buffy raised her eyebrow, a gesture Angel found quite endearing. "So my plan's going to get messed up?"

Angel realized he probably put her on the defense, and tried to reword his statement without offending her. "No, it's just, in my experience, when you plan your life, something always happens to mess it up. Or it makes it better, depending on what end of the stick you get. I, personally, believe whatever happens is meant to happen."

"So you believe in...fate?" Buffy asked, as if such a theory should never have existed.

Angel grinned into his coffee. Yes, she was quite intriguing. So organized and by the book...he didn't know why, but he found that very attractive. "I guess you could say that. I don't believe that we're just puppets in some higher power's playroom...but I do believe that life throws us certain choices, and fate helps us decide which path to take."

Buffy nodded, absorbing his thoughts. Most of her friends would have laughed in Angel's face...they all had their ten year plans as well. She found it interesting to hear someone so casual and aloof about his life.

"So..." she pondered for a moment, "It was fated that I meet you tonight?"

"Well, sure. I mean, if I hadn't bumped into you, who would have charmed June into letting you inside? Then where would you be?" he said seriously with a touch of amusement.

 "If you hadn't bumped into me, I wouldn't have landed on the ground, but made it inside the store before June decided to lock up." Buffy replied laughing.

"Ah...touche." Angel said, laughing with her.

"It's a nice idea...you know, destiny, and fate. 'Following the signs', and such. But it's just a little too easy to believe that everything is pre-destined." Buffy said, after their giggles faded away.

Angel reached over to briefly touch her hand. "No one said life had to be hard..."

Buffy glanced down at where his hand touched hers, amazed that one moment could make her blood sizzle. "I should probably get going..." she murmured, grabbing her purse.

"Let me get it," Angel insisted, pulling his wallet out of his jacket, but Buffy grabbed his arm playfully. "My treat remember? So we're even." she pulled two dollar bills out of her wallet and placed the on the table.

"You have to go so soon?" Angel asked her, trying to hide his disappointment.

Buffy hesistated. Although the majority of her wanted to stay and talk awhile longer...a small part of her brain was warning her to leave while she could. While it was still...'innocent'.

"Yeah," she said finally, "I have an early morning, and it's getting late."

Angel slid out of the booth as she did, and together they walked towards the door.  He held the door open for her and followed her out into the night. The breeze had kicked up and the streetlamps lit the roadways. Buffy walked to the curb and hailed a cab before turning to Angel.

"Thanks so much for helping me again." she said, pushing her dancing hair out of her eyes and smiling up at him.

"Trust me, it was my pleasure." he hurried on when she saw her blush, "you know, maybe you should give me your number."

On instinct she almost reached for her purse to pull out a pen, but reluctantly let go. "What for?" she asked instead, hoping she didn't sound too naive.

"Well," he thought for a moment, studying the night sky, before gazing back down at her, "in case of anymore department emergencies."

Buffy laughed, realizing now that she hadn't had a good laugh in a long time...and she had done nothing but smile with Angel since they met. "I wish I could...but I'm...I have a really early class tomorrow morning."

More disappointment moved into Angel's body, but he quickly shook it off. "Well, maybe you should give it to me anyway, for those not so early morning classes."

The cab pulled up to the curb and Buffy opened the door, regretting every minute of it. She stood behind the door, looking at Angel with apology, before her eyes lit up. "You know, if we're meant to be...we'll see each other again."

Angel grinned, wishing he could kiss her. "I thought you didn't believe in fate."

She grinned back, wishing she could kiss him. "I didn't...but after tonight, I'm beginning to have my doubts."

She slid into the cab and shut the door, lifting her hand in a small, regretful wave as the taxi pulled away from the curb and down the street.

Angel watched the cab until it disappeared. Yes, she was quite peculiar. He sighed and turned the other direction towards his apartment. He walked slowly, and probably looked pathetic to passerby's, broody and hunched over. Something about Buffy struck him, he barely knew anything about her, but he was so drawn to her. And unless he was crazy, he could feel she was drawn to him as well. But she was dating someone. Lucky bastard.

He passed a couple blocks before stopping in the middle of the sidewalk with a large sigh of frustration. Turning, he slumped back to the diner, where his shopping bag lay patiently underneath the booth.

Fifteen minutes later, he entered the diner, the small bell above the door ringing in greeting. Some chairs had been turned over and tossed ontop of the tables, booths had been wiped down. There was one more couple in the diner, finishing up their own meals as the cooks and waitress yearned to go home.

Glancing towards the booth, he paused in his steps, trying to hold back a smile as Buffy lifted herself off of the booth seat, holding her own shopping bag in one hand, and his in the other. She was smiling when she turned to him, the grin fading quickly when she spotted Angel standing in front of the door. Her eyes were filled with pleasant surprise as she walked slowly to him, neither saying a word until she finally reached him and handed him his bag.

They stared at each other before Buffy finally acted on her impulse. "Wanna go for a walk?"

Silently thanking the heaven's above, Angel nodded slowly, and together they headed out into the night.

tbc.....