“You’re so strong,” Angel slurs as she all but carries him out of the bar. “You’re like a little monkey.”

He seems to take her lack of response as offense, although Buffy is far too amused to be offended. “Because monkeys are small, but still really strong. Not because you look like a monkey. You do not look like a monkey.”

“Thank God we cleared that up,” she says, making sure to guard his head as she helps him into the passenger seat. She leans in to fasten his seat-belt, and he grabs her face and smooshes her cheeks between his big, clumsy hands.

“You’re so pretty. Sooooo pretty. So much prettier than a monkey.”

She pries him off her as gently as she can, restraining his hands so he can’t grab her again. “I think you’re pretty too,” she assures him with a kiss on the cheek before she closes his door and goes around to her side. He’s grinning dopily at her when she slides into the driver’s seat.

“You really think I’m pretty?”

“The prettiest.”

He frowns and shakes his head vehemently. “No, you’re the prettiest. You’re the prettiest thing in the world. I wanna kiss you all the time.” He says this as if it’s a great personal burden for him.

“I’m your girlfriend, honey” she reminds him. “You can kiss me whenever you want.”

“Noooo, I can’t. The world would end.” He sighs. “Stupid demons.”

“Stupid demons,” Buffy agrees, before turning out of the parking lot and onto the road. “Always getting in the way of our make-out time.”

“Jerks,” he mutters petulantly. The car is silent for a moment, and then he grins at her. “You’re so pretty.” 

“Thanks, babe.”

“Shall I… shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?”

Her eyes widen “Oh, God.”

“Thou art more lovely, and more temperate…”

*The Next Day*

Angel crawled out of bed to answer his door, hair rumpled and bleary-eyed.

It’s Buffy. “Hey.” She smiles. “Brought you a little something. Special remedy of Giles.” She hands him a questionable drink. “Thought you could use it for any, y'know, …. hangies.”

He wants to tell her he’s fine, even though he’s hungover. He takes it, awkward.

“Did some slaying!” Buffy starts to babble in the silence. “Me and Spike. With the sweeping. Was gonna do it with you, but Cave Buffy told me you could use some hibernation. N-n-not that Cave Buffy is anything like this or that there even ever was a Cave Buffy. I mean - Bad. Bad, bad, dream.”

‘Spike’? It’s almost enough to make him drink again.

“Buffy-”

“Sorry.” She smiles sheepishly. “Run-ons and concern. That’s me.” She tilts her head, scrunching her face at him adorably. “I don’t think I’d ever seen you drunk before last night.”

Almost. “Last night.” Horror paralyzes Angel.

Buffy walks in. “I think it’s one for the books. ‘Here is the worst vampire in history, everyone. Killing The Slayer with cuddles.” She laughs.

Hungover long gone now, Angel sets the remedy aside. Going catatonic with mortification.

“Need I go into the Shakespeare?” She raises his brow at him.

“Oh, god.”

Oh god, he REMEMBERS.

“I was … drunk. I wasn’t–”

“You mean I’m not your sunshine? The most beautiful, pure thing that’s ever entered your life?” She teases, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m the sun that doesn’t burn. The light in the dark and you would be nothing without me?” Her eyes sparkled, and she nuzzled his nose with hers.

Embarrassment flushed in Angel, but he couldn’t help but smile at her.

“I don’t remember.”

She gave a look. “Not even the–”

“ESPECIALLY that.”

“Uh-huh.” She was amused. She sighed and leaned against him comfortably. “I always knew under all that dark, broody glower power, you were just a big, cuddly pile of mush.”

Memories of last night played in his head. Half-ashamed, he sighed and sank into her embrace. “Don’t tell anyone.” He smiled a bit despite himself.

“Mmm.” Buffy closed her eyes in comfort. They lapsed in quiet, enjoying each others closeness. “I think we should make this a thing. Get drinks in Angel again, get more of the teddy bear. And Buffy compliments.”

“Not in your lifetime.”