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Chapter 9

"Buffy… I think it's time to head back." Giles gestured for the gang to begin to head home. "Angel… I assume Buffy has filled you in on as much as we know?"

"Uh… pretty much." He said with a slight smile on his lips. The news of him being a father hadn't really sunk in completely, and the feeling of joy at that, was new to him.

Giles noticed the smirk, "I guess Congratulations are in order?" he extended his hand to Angel.

Buffy watched moved by his gesture, she was glad to see that aside from all of the hurtful things that they had all been through in the past, that they could rise above it all and be if nothing else… friends.

"Thank you, Giles. I am very excited." He shook his hand back.

The gang jumped in to congratulate as well, "Yeah, Congrats…" said Anya trying to be the sensitive human, though she didn't understand.

"Yes, um… Congratulations man…" Xander added, he began to think that though Angel was not his cup of tea, the wonderful miracle of him practically being an uncle, he hoped, was partly because of him.

Willow went up to him and hugged him, "Congratulations Dad to be."

"Thanks guys," Angel felt odd for the congratulations that he thought he'd never in his life would get to hear, but being here with Buffy and her expecting his children brought out in him a sense belonging and peace, he was happy.

"You okay Dad?" Buffy asked jokingly.

"What? Oh… Yes… I just, the news are... I just still have a hard time believing that this is really happening, anyway, we should get you home. You should rest, what time is your appointment tomorrow?"

Buffy frowned, "After my classes, at 2:00pm…"

Angel watched as her face saddened, "And why the sad face?" he questioned.

"Because…" she began not wanting to continue, expecting him to jump on board and go to all of her doctor's appointments, was something she shouldn't expect him to do.

"She wants you there, Angel." Giles finished her thought.

He smiled and turned to face her, "And I will be."

"But the sun…" she worried.

"I've always found my way around without having to walk outside, I'll find a way." He said confidently.

"Okay," she smiled. She was so content, her life was complete now. Well almost complete, it wouldn't be until the babies are born.

"Well, Anya and I are gonna head home, we'll meet you at the doctor's Buff, Angel good to see ya."

"Yeah, good night." Added Anya.

"I'll head home with you guys," Will yelled after them to wait for her, "see you tomorrow Buffy, bye Angel, night Giles." She ran off.

They yelled their goodbyes. "So…" Buffy began to ask.

"My car is on the other side, we should get going." Giles told Buffy.

Angel agreed, "Yes Buffy you should…"

She cut him off, "Actually Giles, I'm gonna stay at the mansion tonight, if that's okay?" she asked.

Giles knew that Buffy asking was out of respect for him, but was not actually asking for permission so he didn't have another choice than to agree. "Of course, would you please just check in, in the morning, and I'll meet you at the doctor's tomorrow as well." He stared at Angel with a sense of father authority, "Take care of her, goodnight."

She smiled pleased that he didn't fuss about her decision, "Good night Giles."

Angel had always appreciated how much the watcher took care of his slayer, more like a father than anything else, "I will, night."

/

Angel and Buffy began to walk home holding hands; it had not occurred to him until now that she must exhausted, after another day of slaying with all the walking and now the babies, he got concerned. "Are you sure you're okay walking, I can… you know… carry you."

She laughed, "I'm fine, I'm pregnant not disabled, but I think it's cute, your concern."

"I just… I've only heard stories about the tiredness, swollen feet, crankiness, the food cravings…"

"Well…" she smiled, "I do feel tired sometimes, my feet I think are fine but wouldn't object to a foot massage," she quirked an eyebrow, "and I don't know about the crankiness, you can ask the gang tomorrow, and as far as the cravings, I have them A LOT but only because what I seem to want does not get satisfied."

"I can take care of that… I can take care of everything…" he answered excited to now be a part of being able to provide whatever she needed or wanted.

They arrived at the mansion, as they walked through the door; they were greeted by a huge amount of boxes.

"Oh… I forgot about all this… Buffy did you…"

"Yes, I didn't know if you and I were ever going to… you know… be together, so I've been having Xander remodel your place into a more livable home. I wanted our kids to have a little piece of you, living here was my attempt at that."

He reached for her taking her in an embrace and kissed her on the lips, "Really?" he whispered against her.

She looked up at him with love, "Really," she answered.

He then suddenly scooped her up in his arms, elating a shriek from her, and began to pepper kisses on her ear and neck tickling her.

"Angelllll!" she laughed as he took her to the sofa; he removed the white sheet covering it for protection and laid her down.

"So what's in all the boxes?" he questioned before she began to protest of him carrying her knowing she would not be okay with that.

She narrowed her eyes jokingly and said, "Am I going have to fight you on letting me be with all the pregnancy stuff?"

"Yup, or… you could just give in because you know I'm gonna win." He stared at her, huge grin on his face.

"Oh really…" she stared back, "we'll see about that."

"So…" Angel motioned to the boxes.

"Oh… you know, there's clothes for me and the babies, furniture, stuff that I need to put together, baby cribs, decorations… the usual stuff you need in a home. Xander just finished minor adjustments yesterday; we're supposed to get together on the weekend to put everything up."

"Xander did all this…" he asked incredulous.

"Yeah and he's really good, he took this construction job and in weeks managed to be the one running that place."

"Wow, I'm impressed. You can give me tour of the changes later, are you hungry at all, can I get you anything…peanut butter… ice cream maybe…" He joked.

She gave him a look and raised her eyebrow, she was well aware of his probing at how much she remembered of that day, "Very funny… no I think I'm okay."

He beamed at her when he saw that she remembered that part, but now he on the other hand, was thirsty. He hadn't fed before he left LA, and in all the emotion he'd been distracted, but now being at the mansion relaxed. Hunger set in. Lucky for him he'd remember to pack some blood and had put it in the kitchen's fridge before heading out to look for Buffy. He didn't like to drink it cold but there was probably no other choice.

She was lying on the sofa comfortably, staring at him be in thought. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Oh sorry, I just need to… I'll be back in minute…"

"Why… Why you being all weird?"

"I need to… I have to… I haven't… fed." He said embarrassed.

She got up and walked to him, "You don't need to hide or be embarrassed by that. I know you're a vampire and you have to eat just like I need to eat."

"I know that but it just doesn't feel right to do it in front of you…"

"Look… if we're going to make things work between us then this is going to be a part of it. So stop with the shy and get your food or blood or whatever…"

He wasn't sure that he'd feel comfortable drinking in front of her but he also knew that she wasn't going to let him get away to drink somewhere else, he resigned and went for his blood.

"I don't suppose there'd be a microwave in one of your boxes?" he yelled from the kitchen.

She smiled at him listening to her, "There's a box under the table… there's one in there." She yelled back.

A moment later, he came back holding a tall glass in which you could see the thick red liquid hardly move as he walked. Buffy was focused on the liquid, she could smell its sweet scent, feel the warmth coming from it, and it was making her mouth dry. The babies began to move inside as if trying to tell her something. He sat by her on the sofa and set the cup on the center table. He glanced at her uncomfortably. "Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

Her heart began to pound, like it wanted to jump out of her chest, she felt a certain expectation coming from her babies, and her mouth began to water, she felt all too suddenly very hungry. And then she realized what she'd been craving all this time… blood.