Angel and Buffy stayed up as the others slept soundly. They had rented a movie from Pay-Per-View. Voices form the TV only slightly filled the room, it was the rustle of bags that echoed off of the walls. Buffy sat surrounded by clothes and paper as well as plastic bags on the floor. The light of the movie seemed to give off more light than the small lamp on a nearby coffee table.

"But why aren't they allowed to show off a little?" Buffy continued a conversation.

"They are thought to be pure from birth, but once they've...they are also seen to be drained of their purity, in all senses. Clothing is the only thing that keeps a girl pure. A virgin must wear as much as necessary to "protect" her name." Angel, although tried to keep himself from telling a story summed it up for her.

"But I still cannot believe you two acted that way. I mean I know you said you were sorry, but you are going to have to get used to it. I mean-Oh, my God." Stopping herself, Buffy's mind lingered.

"What? What is it?" Angel started out calm, but quickly grew worried at her statement. Angel walked over to her, and knelt down beside her on the carpet.

"No, it's just that...well, we are talking about her like we've known her for years. Angel, we just barely met Caela. How-" Looking in his deep chocolate colored eyes.

"I know what you mean, it seemed as if we're related, somehow. But it's not possible. I mean our souls-" He quickly stopped himself when he heard a small tick of a noise from behind the wall. "Caela, you care to explain further?" She emerged finally. from her hiding spot as he finished his question.

"What do you want to know?" Standing at a close enough distance to whisper and yet for enough to breath her own air.

"This whole connection thing we feel towards you, how, I mean what aren't you telling us?" Angel tried not to raise his voice over the sound of an exhaled breath.

"They...The Powers That Be...said that...that, my soul, has been regenerated and reincarnated many times. As well as yours'" Implying the two that stood before her. "In which, at a time, I, the spirit within me, was both of yours' sister. In different periods in history, separate families." Buffy and Angel gave one another a quick look then back to Caela. "There's more." They waited in silence for her to go on.

"In all of the times we've been reincarnated..." she hesitated. "You two have...gotten-You have fallen in love." Blurting in out as fast as possible. Knowing they heard her perfectly, she watched their expressions change.

"But you already knew this, right? I mean, surely you've found this out before?" The looks on their faces told her they had a small inkling, but not a reliable source. Not to mention one that was living and breathing. "Anyway, I just came down to get my new clothes. I din't want them to wrinkle." She found the stack of neatly folded clothes on the floor and picked them up. As she turned her back her head glared behind her and looked at the two of hem, "Good night." Eventually letting out her blessing.

After a few minutes of complete silence between them, they knew the air had grown thick of confusion and opportunity knocks'.

"How are you doing?" Angel knew she would play it cool, but he also knew, for sure, that he wouldn't let her lie to him. Like she had in the past towards her feelings.

She took a deep breath and looked directly in his gaze. She barely exhaled, quiet, still, her muscles tensed as she held her breath now. He read her like a book he knew her so well. She was going to save her feeling of words and just fall apart. His predictions of her reactions were once again turned upside down. His stomach fell as it twisted with her reaction to the question. Still denying the tears a fierce sob betrayed her. Angel quickly walked over to her. She immediately fell into him. His chest held strongly against her head as his arms enveloped her torso. Being so close to he, her sobs, too, vibrated his body.

Ring... They stayed put. Ring...Buffy pulled back slightly, gesturing with her head to the telephone. Angel decided upon himself to answer it. Gently he pulled away from her grasp and answered the annoying tone in the kitchen. "Hello?" Buffy could only hear his side of the conversation. "May I ask who is speaking?" She then figured it was, of course, for her. "Just a moment please." She heard him walk through the kitchen and into the living room finally. Her head was lowered as far down as possible. Moving her eyes she focused on something new. Angel held the phone in front of her face. "it's your dad." She took the telephone immediately with knowing who it was.

"Daddy?" Her voice was heavily cracked. It broke even Angel's heart to hear her sound like such a little girl. A hurt and scared little girl. He closely listened to her words. "A friend. There are a lot of us here...No...Emem...Riley? Riley and I- It's complicated....When?...Okay...I love you too, bye." She slowly lowered the phone from her ear and turned it off.

"What did he say?" Angel put his hand on her head and lightly brushed her hair with his fingers subconsciously.

"He's coming down tomorrow afternoon. God, I haven't see him since..." She caught herself.

Part Thirteen

Feedback to CaelaClt@aol.com!

Go here for more of Caela's stories.

Back to the BAFFA

---

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page