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Title: Acting The Part
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: None of the BtVS
characters belong to me.
Feedback: Love some, thanks.
Rating: Up to NC-17
Summary: AU. William St. James is
an actor in a hit television show. While
appearing at a fan convention, he meets
Buffy and her six year old daughter, Melanie.



Part twenty-one...



Buffy tried to call Angel the following morning, after
dropping Melanie off at school. She got through to his
secretary, who told her in a rather snide tone that she'd
heard from him and all was well. Buffy acidly informed the
woman that his daughter and mother had NOT heard from
him, and both had rather urgent business to discuss.

"I'll give him the message, Ms. Summers. As soon as he
returns from court this afternoon."

"Thank you, Miss Kendall," Buffy snapped right back, then
slammed the phone down hard enough to make it 'ping'.

"What did that phone do to you?" Willow asked, dumping
her purse in the lock drawer.

"Hmm? Oh....nothing." Buffy shoved the phone away and
reached down for a box from one of her suppliers. "I think
we should mark down the spring pastels...maybe twenty-
five percent. We've moved almost all of it and we're going to
need the room. If it doesn't move fast, take another ten
percent off."


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


The phone rang that night as Buffy was putting
Melanie to bed.

Closing her bedroom door, she stretched out on the bed
and reached for the receiver. "Hello?" she said softly.

"Well, hello. Something tells me you weren't expecting
my call at the moment."

She sat bolt upright on the bed. "Angel? Where the hell
have you been?"

He chuckled. "Never mind that. Who are you answering the
phone for like that? All soft and sexy?"

"None of your business," she said curtly. "Have you called
your mother? Because she called here yesterday, looking
for you."

"Slow down, Buff. I called her. I know I kind of flaked out
on everyone....but I had a good reason."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear it. Melanie's fine, by the way."

"I was about to ask. Jesus, Buffy, give me a chance."

Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. "Sorry. I had
a long day."

"How's business?"

"Pretty good, actually. I've moved just about all my Spring
stock."

"Glad to hear it. Did you get my check?"

"Yes, thanks."

"Listen, I've got a few things for Melanie's birthday. How's
about I come and get her tomorrow, take her out for dinner?
You're welcome to come along, if you want. I can share my
news with you."

Dinner with Angel was the last thing she was interested
in. "I'm sure she'd like it, but I'll have to pass. You can tell
me when you pick her up."

"Okay. Be there around six or so."

"Good. Oh, and Angel...they're having another Father/
Daughter breakfast in a couple of weeks." Best to find out
now whether she should encourage Melanie to ask her
father to take her.

""Mmmm...that's gonna be tight, Buff. You know I'd love
to go, but..."

"I understand," she said quickly. "Just do me a favor and tell
her straight out that you can't, okay? Don't make her think it's
all set and then cancel out on her at the last minute again."

"Never gonna let me forget that, are you?"

"Angel...."

"I'll be on my fucking death bed, and you'll lean over and
remind me of all the times I...." He stopped suddenly. "You
know what...let's not do this."

Thank God.

"Look, Buff, I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can switch a
couple of things around."

"Angel, don't." She rubbed her forehead, trying to put off the
headache that was coming. "I've got it covered."

He was silent for a moment, then said, "You've got it covered?
What's that supposed to mean?"

No, no, no....she was SO not in the mood for this discussion.

"I mean...I've got a friend who can take her."

"A friend? What sort of a friend?"

"A friend sort of friend."

"A guy?"

"Yes."

"Buffy....are you dating?" He sounded amused.

"Goodnight, Angel."

"Hey, wait a second! Come on....you can tell me."

"I'm going to tell Melanie you'll be coming tomorrow. Don't.."

"...disappoint her," he finished. "I know the drill, Buff."

Her fingers tightened on the receiver. "I'll see you
tomorrow, then."

"Sure, baby. See you then."

She hung up the phone, then rolled off the bed and
headed for the bathroom to run a tub full of hot water and
bubbles in an attempt to calm her jangled nerves.

At the last minute, she took the phone along with her.


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


She bathed quickly, then leaned back against the bath
cushion and closed her eyes. Two minutes later, the phone
rang again.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sexy. How's my girl?"

The knot her stomach had twisted into smoothed out.

"Fine. How are you?"

"Is something wrong, love?"

Realizing she must still sound tense after her conversation
with Angel, she made herself breathe deeply and redirect
her energy. "No. Just a long day. I'm glad you called."

He hesitated, and for a moment she was afraid he was
going to challenge her denial and demand to know what
was bothering her.

"I'm glad I called, too. How's the little one?"

They talked for a few minutes about generalities. She
told him how work and Melanie had fared that day, while he
told her about reshooting the opening credit sequence for
the next season.

"So," he said after a short silence. "What are you doing right
now?"

"Taking a ....nothing much," she quickly amended.

He laughed. "You were about to say something else, weren't
you?"

"Yes," she admitted, blushing, even though there was no one
to see it.

"Tell me, baby," he coaxed sweetly. "I want to know."

Sighing, rolling her eyes at her own silliness, she said, "Taking
a bath."

She heard him catch his breath.

"Are you talking to me....in the bath?" He sounded delighted at
the idea. "Baby....that is so sexy. Tell me more."

Buffy smiled. "Like what?"

"Bubbles or bath oil?" he asked.

"Bubbles."

"Scented?"

"Of course."

"Tell me..."

"Wildflowers."

"Is your hair up?"

"Yes."

"Tied with a ribbon?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Do you know what I'd do, if I was there?"

"What?"

"I'd pull the ribbon out....slowly."

She felt her skin begin to tingle. "Would you?"

"Yes. I'd let your hair fall down around your shoulders. Then
I would...."

"William," she cut him off impulsively, then took a deep breath
for courage. "Why don't you...come over?"

He said nothing for a moment, and she was horribly afraid
she'd been too pushy.

"Do you really want me to, love?"

"If....if you feel like it. You don't have to. I know you've had
a difficult...."

"I can be there in twenty minutes."

"You...you can?"

"Mm-hmm. Will you wait for me in the bath?"

She smiled, every nerve ending in her body doing an
anticipatory dance.



TBC...





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