The Way You Look Tonight

Dark, desolate night crept over LA like a fog, shrouding everything in its shadows. Kate briefly tugged at the dress she was wearing, and pulled the shawl around her tighter. Knocking on the door, she listened to the sound echo briefly in the hotel.

The door opened with a bang, and Kate had to sidestep to avoid getting hit. Cordelia stood there, Connor propped on her hip. "Kate, thank goodness you're here! You can help me!" she proclaimed, using her free hand to practically yank Kate inside. Kate stumbled briefly, then hurried to match Cordy's pace.

Kate had felt foolish, getting dressed up for tonight. She'd almost felt like a little girl again, trying on her mother's too big heels, and slinky clothes. She definitely wasn't a girly-girl by any definition, that's for sure. But when the invitation had appeared in her mailbox, written in his elegant script- it had asked that she wear 'formal attire' for Valentine's Evening (it certainly could not be called day, at least, not in Angel's case she supposed). So, she'd figured jeans and tees were out. Hastily, she'd gone through her closet. Hanging in the back was the red dress she'd bought quite a while back, for a dinner presentation she'd never gotten to go to when she'd gotten the flu.

After makeup, perfume, and putting the whole effect together, she'd taken a deep breath and stared into her mirror. And nearly started at the different person looking at her. Instead of weary, jaded eyes- all Kate saw were blue eyes filled with hope, excitement, and promise. Instead of hair pulled back into the requisite no-hassle ponytail, it hung in shiny curls. Instead of looking like a five year old, she saw a confident, beautiful woman staring back. Wondering if that was what Angel did to her, wondering how he did it, she'd pulled herself out of her stupor and run out the door.

Now she was here, at the hotel, but apparently was not going to get to see what Angel had in store for her yet. Suppressing her annoyance and willing herself to have patience, she followed Cordy into the main room. Kate nearly smiled at the state of frenzy the room's occupants were in. Wesley, Gunn and Fred all nearly ran each other over with each barked order from Cordelia. Apparently, she was attempting to redecorate the room- or at least, decorate it. Hearts hung from the weapons cabinet, and glitter adorned Wesley's desk. A punchbowl was set up at a table, as well as some snacks.

Cordelia noticed Kate's bemused expression, and hurriedly explained. "Well, this Valentine's Day, some of us don't have lovers to be with," she began, emphasizing the word 'lovers' with a grin and wink at Kate. "So Wes, Fred, Gunn and I decided to have our own kind of Valentines. You know, singles time. Yay for singleness," she said sadly, then yelled at Wesley to move the darn crepe paper over more so that it wouldn't block the light. "Here, my decorating expertise is obviously needed. You hold Connor," Cordelia stated, handing the baby carefully over to Kate and joining the melee.

Kate sat down on the couch, and happily cradled Connor on her lap. Connor opened his eyes for a few moments, noted who was holding him, then went back to sleep. Kate had to stifle a laugh at the child's wear. In cute, fuzzy pajamas and a gold, metallic hat he looked like an advertisement for Baby Gap. But at least he looked comfortable, she thought, once again eying her own attire with uncertainty.

Hearing a throat clearing softly behind her, she turned back slightly to notice Angel standing in the shadows of the hotel. He smiled at her softly, and she smiled back. Cordelia noticed and sighed, then moved to pick up Connor again. "Okay, it's time for the lovelorn to party. Out with you, couple!" she ordered.

Kate was reluctant to see the baby lifted out of her arms, and it wasn't just because she loved holding Connor. She hated the feeling of icy nervousness settling at the base of her spine. After all, it was Angel, who always told her she looked lovely. And wasn't the mantra of women's lib to not care about what men thought? Getting up from her seat on the couch at Cordelia's growing expression of exasperation, she moved towards Angel. Not looking into his eyes, she watched his arm come out, hand offered. She grasped hold of his hand, and made herself look up.

She held in the sigh of relief when she didn't see any mocking laughter in his gaze, only wonder and the beginnings of lust. He led her up the stairs to his room, and opened the door. This time, she couldn't hold in her gasp of surprise. The entire room was bathed in candlelight, making it look warm and inviting, yet mysterious. A small table was set near the bed, with glasses of champagne and a plate of strawberry shortcake set by one of the chairs.

She smiled hazily as she heard strains of Frank Sinatra humming through the room. She'd found several of his albums when she'd gone through her father's things after his death- reminding her of her childhood. Brushing away the cobwebbed, bittersweet memories of the past, she focused on the present and the man who seemed to be able to tie her past, present and future together and make her feel whole. Not like a broken, half shell of the young woman she used to be. Angel reached behind him, and slowly handed her a pale yellow rose. She grasped onto it clumsily, her heart skipping a beat. She'd never been given a flower before. Come to think of it, she'd never been made to feel this special before.

Blinking away tears that she feared would ruin her mascara, she looked up to see Angel staring at her nervously. "I got yellow, because, well, red just seemed..." he trailed off uncertainly. Kate smiled, getting it. Red- the color of blood. The color of what his kind took from people every day, what he himself took from her. Tonight wasn't a night to think of those sorts of things. She slightly stroked the petals of the rose. "Traditional," she finished for him, noting his puzzled glance. "Red is too traditional. This...this is, unique," she said awkwardly, stumbling for the right words. Trust him to make her feel like a five year old again.

But he nodded and smiled, and she felt her unease and tension seep out of her like the wax melting down some of the candles. Angel held out his hand again, and softly asked, "Can I have this dance?" Kate put the rose down on the bed, then took his hand and allowed him to pull her into his embrace. Sighing contentedly as his hands smoothed over her back, she rested her head on his shoulder as Sinatra's song "The Way You Look Tonight" started.

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you...
And the way you look tonight.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart...
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.

Lovely ... Never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it ?
'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight.

Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,
Just the way you look tonight.

Kate barely felt the swaying of their bodies as she concentrated her whole being on just focusing on the embrace, on how safe she felt with him. How loved, and needed. Not something that many people had made her feel in her lifetime. She realized that Angel was singing along with the lyrics, in a slightly off-key voice. She smiled, realizing that she wouldn't want this night to happen any other way. After the song ended, she raised her head to look into Angel's eyes. He smiled gently at her before bowing his head to take her lips. She moaned softly as his lips caressed hers, her arms tightening around his shoulders.

Breaking the kiss, Angel led her to the bathroom. She saw more candles inside as they walked in, and the bathtub was full of hot water and bubbles. She lazily felt Angel pull her against him, and smiled at him. He slowly unzipped her dress, then turned her around so that he could pull it off. It landed with a soft swoosh on the floor, where it was left. She turned around to watch him hastily undress, smiling at his rush. As he pulled her towards the tub, she gently leaned over and nipped his neck. "Please tell me you didn't play with fire and light these candles yourself," she said, a note of warning in her voice. He chuckled, then lowered himself into the water. "Cordelia lit them. I was completely fire-free," he said, moaning slightly at the warm water and closing his eyes.

She moved into the tub with him, carefully maneuvering so that she lay with her back spooned against his front. Sighing contentedly once more, she felt his hands entwine with hers under the water. "What about the dessert I saw on the table?" she asked languidly. "It'll save. I think. You can eat it later. Cordelia said it would last until the apocalypse if needed," he said laughingly. She groaned. "If I die, I'll forgive you. If I live, we'll see." He chuckled. He kissed her shoulder, then untangled his hands and moved them to massage her neck. She groaned blissfully, and sank lower into the tub. "You aren't going to go to sleep on me, are you?" Angel asked huskily. She opened her eyes on a smile, and turned slightly to face him. "Not if you give me something else to do," she replied devilishly. As he captured her smile with his lips, her mind slowly went blank. Tomorrow, she could go back to being the worried, tired ex-detective. Tonight, she could be beautiful, fun, and loved. The essence of Valentine's Day.