Title: I Finally Remembered You. Part 35 – Panic
Author: Xanfan
Rating:  R/NC-17 for other chapters
Pairing:  X/A
Summary:  AU futurefic. Slash.  Xander, not Buffy, had gone to see Angel in “I Will Remember You”   Years later, he finally keeps his promise.
Spoilers: All of BtVS & Ats
Warnings: Slash M/M, mild language, more in future chapters
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.  The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.  No copyright infringement is intended.

Words in Italics indicate thoughts. Except at the very beginning when they indicate ‘previously on ….”

___________________________

Previously on IFRY:

Faith burst through the door. “So Big Green, what you’re saying is that Xander and Angel are freakin’ meant to be together as ordained by those pains in the ass PTBs, but since they’re both stubborn and slow and actin’ like typical stupid men, some of the Higher Powers  got off their butts and did something about it?” she summed up loudly and impatiently.

“Exactly, Pumpkin Pie.”

“What?!?” was screeched from somewhere down the hall.

************

Xander’s head jerked towards the familiar screech and he froze in terror. A moment later his eyes were frantically searching the room for an escape route.

Aha! The window! Perfect. If I make a run for it now, I might be able to run a whole fifty feet before she catches me and rips my limbs from my body!

Angel heard his boy’s heartbeat quicken and saw the frantic movements of Xander’s eyes as they swept the room, presumably looking for a way to bolt. The vampire had a moment of panic himself and longed to follow Xander as he fled. Unfortunately, it looked like he was going to have to be ‘mature’ and not run screaming in fear. So, he reached out and placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder in an effort to calm them both with touch.

Xander felt Angel touch him and began to relax. He had forgotten for a moment that he wasn’t alone in this situation. Xander let the fear abate and slowly relaxed, turning towards the doorway and the stomping feet headed towards them.

“What the hell is going on here? Why is Faith shouting some nonsense about Angel and Xander? Is she possessed? Is that why she’s talking crazy?”

Angel pulled Xander back against his chest, only halfway fooling himself into believing that it was for comfort instead of making sure the other man wouldn’t dive through the closed window to get away from the horror that was headed their way. He had just wrapped his arms around Xander’s waist when their worst nightmare appeared through the door.

Buffy stuttered to a halt inside the doorway at the sight of Xander in Angel’s arms and both of them looking quite content, despite their obvious trepidation.

“Hey Buffster. How’s Rome? I bet you miss it already, huh? Can’t wait to get back. Wouldn’t want to delay that by beating on someone and possible breaking a nail and having to get an emergency manicure, right? I mean…mmph…” Xander’s babble came to an abrupt end when Angel gently slapped a hand over his mouth.

The longest lasting Slayer in the history of the world was taken aback by the amused affection that crossed Angel’s usually expressionless face. Her own usual reaction to Xander-babble over the years was annoyance, so she was surprised that anyone, much less Angel, was obviously enamored of it. She didn’t even want to examine her own feelings of having missed the trademark breathless speech. Buffy would hate to admit that she had pushed Xander away these last couple of years and that missing him and his babble was nobody’s fault but her own. She shook off her uncharacteristic thoughts and got back to the weirdness at hand.

“Angel, why are you holding Xander?” Buffy demanded.

“Because I want to,” Angel said blandly as he released Xander’s mouth.

“Why?”

“Hey!” Xander said, taking offense. Angel just wrapped himself tighter around his boy, only lightening his hold slightly when he heard Xander squeak at the pressure.

“If I might interject?” Lorne interrupted.

“What?” Buffy demanded.

“You, my dear, have inserted yourself into a conversation and situation that has nothing to do with you, so why don’t you go… somewhere that’s not here, so we can finish in relative peace?” Lorne said calmly and with an exaggerated saccharine sweetness.

“Nothing to do with me? But… it’s Angel and Xander,” Buffy objected.

“Exactly,” Lorne agreed. “It’s not about you, as shocking as that may sound.”

“But…” Buffy began.

“He’s right, B. You and Angel haven’t been a thing for, what, over five years? And you’ve basically told him time and time again to get out of your life. And when was the last time you had Xander’s back? Or even talked to him for more than a minute? Hell, you won’t even make eye-contact with him now. So, what makes this any of your business again?” Faith pointed out.

Buffy opened her mouth to protest, then snapped it shut with an audible click when she realized that she didn’t have a rebuttal. She was amazed to realize that everything her sister Slayer had said was true. 

“I…”

“Please, Buffy, I don’t know why you’re here in England, but this thing between Xander and I has nothing to do with you. And figuring it all out is complicated enough without any additional stress.  Why don’t you go catch up with the others and we’ll see you when we are done here,” Angel said firmly.

“Angel?” Buffy said pitifully, but when her ex-boyfriend didn’t flinch or weaken his stance, she turned on her heel and walked back down the hall.

Xander turned in Angel’s arms, falling into the hug his apparently destined to be lover offered him. “She didn’t even say hi.”

Angel knew that Buffy’s neglectful attitude toward Xander was an old wound that just got deeper as time went on. He felt helpless in the face of his love’s pain, so he just nuzzled the dark brown head and offered his presence as support.

After a moment, Xander pulled back slightly and turned towards Lorne with his trademark brave face. “So, what else do we need to talk about? More big revelations?”

“Nah, I just wanted her negative vibes away from my good mood. Plus, I had no interest in seeing the Xander-shaped hole in the wall when your nerves got the best of you and you made a run for it,” Lorne said as he took a sip of his drink.

Xander opened his mouth, but no words came out. Then he started to giggle, almost hysterically.

Angel couldn’t help but laugh at Lorne’s and Xander’s antics. He knew that an uncomfortable and possibly painful situation awaited them down the hall, but he was very glad that they could have this moment of lightness in the face of what was still to come.