Second Chances: A Love Story.
Author: Angel's blue eyed girl
Rating: T in this chappie. Sorry this is another kind of explainy chappie. But there is some sweet romance if that makes you feel any better? :)
Disclaimer: That would still be a big, fat no! :( I make no profit from this fic. It is written strictly to entertain myself and whoever reads and enjoys it. :)
First off...Thank you to red. You keep my boo-boos to a minimum now and I love, love, love you for that! :) You are the best beta in the world. Thank you for putting up with me! :) :)
A/N: I don't know how to say thank you to ALL of you who have given this fic the support and reviews it has gotten. I am so grateful and blown away...I'm stunned. I've had people tell me I have like three times the normal amount of reviews for a fic 9 chappies long. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I wish I could name you all personally right now, but i will be sending out pm's this weekend to say thanks to all of you individually. You make me and musie want to create and I love you all for giving us that inspiration. I tell ya, I enjoy reading everyone's feedback and reviews nearly as much as I love writing and that's the truth... so again...thanks guys. You are the absolute best!! :) :) :)
A/N 2: The Quote: Okay, in the SFX mag issued May 1999 David talks about Angel's layers as a character. He explains how Angel is (in many ways) any and every character he (David) could ever hope to play, because Angel has lived so long and has gone through so many changes throughout his long life/unlife. He talks and laughs about Angelus and how FUN that was playing Angel soulless. He says how he sees Angel developing as a character that had nothing in the way of self esteem... and then he mentions Buffy and Angel's relationship with her, but what I found interesting was David's thoughts about where Angel would go from there...
He says and I quote: "She (meaning Buffy) was this bright light in his life that...goodness that he wanted to be a part of. She represented the hope that one day he'll be redeemed, maybe even forgiven. Buffy loved Angel unconditionally and I don't think he'd ever had that before." He then goes on to say, again I quote: "Yeah, I think someday Angel could find that forgiveness, because basically he's trying now, but he still has to find himself first before he can expect redemption from anyone else."
GOD!! That is probably the most perfect character assessment of Angel ever. David certainly knows his character. Maybe it's not quite the perfect B/A quote, but it is SO Angel... and such a distinct insight into David's thoughts ON Angel that I wanted to include it. Isn't he dreamy? I love him! :P
Chappie 10
The Hyperion:
Angel felt his un-dead heart shatter as Buffy gazed up at him with huge, tear filled, stricken green eyes. "Angel...i-it was so terrible..." she whispered, snuggling closer to him, seeking comfort in his arms. "In my dream... we had a baby and it was in danger...I was running..." her slender arms wrapped themselves around his waist as she trembled in his arms.
Buffy's voice hitched as she tearfully told Angel about her dream. "E-e-everyone a-a-and everything seemed to be a-after him and...I-I-I..." she turned her face into his chest, and just let loose as an overwhelming sense of loss and fear overwhelmed her. Buffy gripped her lover tightly as she cried for several moments, before raising her head and whimpering, "Oh God Angel...I-I lost him...I lost our baby..."
Angel was stricken. Absolutely floored by what Buffy had just told him, he was seriously wondering if there was ANY way to break it to her...what had happened earlier. He didn't see any way to tell her about Darla...
That is until Gunn walked into the room, catching only the last few words of Buffy's speech. He gave Angel an amazed look and his jaw dropped. "YOU'RE having a baby too?!" Gunn asked. He was stunned, so it really wasn't his fault when he blurted out, "Damn Angel...I didn't think vamps could have even one kid, yet between Darla and your girl here...you got two babies on the way?!" Gunn shook his head in confusion, "What are you some kind of super vamp?!"
Buffy stiffened in Angel's arms as alarm bells went off in her head. She suddenly felt sick as she recalled Darla's laughing face as she took Buffy's child from her. Gripping Angel's biceps, she pulled back from him, "Wh-wh-what?" she questioned as she turned wide, tear-filled green eyes up to her heartsick lover and whispered, "Angel...what is he talking about? You and Darla don't have a baby..." she stopped, seeing Angel's expression.
Buffy blinked back tears as she met Angel's eyes, "Do you?" she asked, but she didn't need an answer. His guilt ridden face said it all.
Gunn's eyes widened. "Damn!" he muttered softly, feeling like an asshole. "Hey Buffy...Angel man I'm sorry..."
Buffy face was scrunched up into a pain-filled pout/scowl, but she whispered softly, "It's alright Gunn...I mean you didn't have the baby with her, it's not YOU who should feel bad!"
Her eyes went to Angel accusingly and the dark vampire fidgeted uncomfortably. "Buffy, wait a minute..."
Gunn sighed, "Angel man...I didn't mean to throw you under the bus like that bro..."
Gunn couldn't believe he'd dropped that info-bomb like that, but it was just...well dammit! Vampires weren't supposed to have ANY kids, but his man Angel had TWO on the way, by two different women! Well that was shocking enough to throw a brother and make him say something stupid like telling one of the girls about the other...He grimaced. Okay well maybe not, but still it WAS damned shocking!
Angel scowled at an obviously embarrassed Gunn, but knew it wasn't his friends fault. He shook his head at his crew member. "Not your fault Gunn...but can you give us a minute?" he asked, looking down at his still scowling/pouting mate.
Gunn nodded, actually happy to get out of this situation. "Yeah bro...sure thing." He stood indecisively for a moment, wanting to say something more to Buffy, like apologize further for just blurting it out like that, or maybe cleaning this up somehow for Angel, but with the Slayer looking like she was about to have a major meltdown, Gunn decided to talk to her later. "Okay, I'll catch y'all in a bit then," he said escaping out the doors, really wanting to go kill something after opening that huge can of drama!
Angel gazed down at his distressed lover. "Buffy..." he stopped, really not sure how to tell her about Darla. He took an unneeded breath, and decided to just tell her what had happened tonight.
"Baby, Darla came here tonight..." he held her hands and met her worried hazel eyes. "You fainted...It was so...weird, I mean, you fell to the floor and passed out...then you started crying. Buffy, It scared the hell out of me truthfully," he said softly.
Buffy's pretty face scrunched into a frown as she nodded her understanding. "Get to the Darla and your baby part please," she said, her stomach heaving as her dream ran through her head, over and over again. Darla, in her red dress... laughing as she stole Buffy's child! She waited... trying not to cry, scream and toss him across the room.
Angel pulled his shuddering wife closer to him. This whole situation made him sick, but what really made him ill was Buffy's dream. Had she heard Darla and dreamed it was her baby...or was it more? He didn't have time to wonder. Buffy's agonized hazel eyes were staring at him with such love, hope and trust he wanted to stake himself rather than hurt her.
Angel couldn't find the words. Buffy looked so distraught, it was making him feel sick to his stomach. "Well, um...Buffy...God...I don't know...yeah...I mean...that's when...uh..well that's when..."
Dawn had been eavesdropping. She knew she shouldn't and Buffy had asked, threatened and begged her to stop, but...well she was working on it, but this time she was glad because Angel was just having way too hard a time spitting out the info here.
Dawn came forward and said as gently, yet straightforwardly as Buffy could take she said, "Buffy, what your sweet, but way too seriously tongue-tied guy here is trying to say is...Darla showed up tonight..."
Buffy gasped as she bolted upright, fear and panic making her body zing with energy at the thought of Darla in the Hyperion, with her family. "She's here?!...Like here, as in right now?" Buffy almost yelled.
Angel had to hold her tight to keep her seated on the couch with him. "Ssshhh...Buffy wait...she's...she's not going to hurt anyone," he said softly.
Buffy shot him a glare. "Are you defending her? She TOOK our baby, Angel!"
Dawn met Angel's eyes. "What?" she asked, totally confused.
Angel could only gaze at her with a worried, stupefied look on his angelic face.
Buffy shook her head and pouted. "Well, I mean...I dreamed she took our baby...I guess... technically that's not the same, but still it was so real...and..." she stopped and glared at her lover. "HOW can Darla be pregnant with your child Angel?!"
Dawn placed a hand on her overly agitated sister. "Wait Buffy..." Her blue eyes were filled with sympathy for both Angel and her sister as she murmured, "she...well...yeah, she said she's pregnant with Angel's baby..."
Dawn shrugged and rolled her eyes. "But, is she telling the truth? I mean seriously, think about it... neither one of them know HOW it happened..." She stopped and her brows drew down as she reiterated, "I mean...of course they know HOW she got preg... I mean that is...if she is...I mean..." Dawn trailed off as she blushed bright red as she watched Buffy give a very uncomfortable Angel a fierce scowl.
Dawn knew that look and wished she'd bitten her tongue. But since she couldn't take it back, she decided to pretend it didn't exist and make Buffy see Angel wasn't to blame. "Okay, SO moving on..." she said, embarrassed she'd brought to mind just HOW Angel and Darla had possibly created a baby.
Dawn gripped Buffy's hands to get her sisters attention, "Buffy...listen, please don't be mad at Angel. He was as surprised as the rest of us. As a matter of fact, he was SO freaked...Darla punched him when she was trying to get her point across!"
Buffy stopped her. "I'm not mad Dawnie, I'm..." she stopped, "What? She hit you?" she asked Angel.
Angel shrugged, "It was nothing baby, just a tap really, along with a real pissed off attitude for...well...you know...that is if I did...Can we not talk about it right now?" he asked quietly.
The Slayer looked at her oh-so-sick and nervous lover/husband of her heart, "I'm not...it just...my dream. In my dream Darla took my baby. She pulled him right from my arms and said he's mine now...I mean Angel...we've lived this life for too long not to see the coincidence here. I dream I'm pregnant and Darla shows up pregnant. What does it mean, cuz we all know it means something," Buffy said, trying to whip herself into Slayer mode.
Dawn agreed. "Do you want me to call Willow? Maybe she can get the lowdown on vampire/Slayer pregnancies, huh?"
Buffy shook her head. "Not yet, she'd only worry. They're still trying to fit in and work with Faith...Let's do the research here first, okay?"
Dawn nodded, "Well, Wes is on that and Giles is on the way so..." she patted her sister's knee "we'll figure it out Buff, I promise, 'kay?"
Angel tilted her chin up and for a second his mind was blank. He didn't even want to imagine the images in her dream because they were just too damned painful to picture. Instead he hugged her tightly and whispered into her ear, "No matter what happens between this..." he searched for words for an agonizing moment, then finally he said it, "pregnancy with Darla. It's you I love. It's you I wish I could have a baby with and it's you who I'm going to turn to if this...I don't even know if I can call it a baby, Buffy. I mean...me and Darla..? It could be a monster for all I know."
She started to object, but he silenced her with a soft kiss. "No, listen to me on this love...it could be, we both know it, okay?" Buffy nodded solemnly, meeting her lover's dark eyes. She gripped his hands fiercely, yet Angel just smiled at her tenderly. "Buffy, if this...child turns out to be the big bad Cordy had a vision of...it will be you I turn to, to help me do what has to be done, okay?"
Buffy leaned back, shaking her head vehemently no. She understood what Angel was saying, but she couldn't...wouldn't believe that any child from Angel could be anything but good. Her eyes searched his, and seeing his pain, she cupped his strong jaw in her tiny hands and whispered fiercely, "If this is a child from you, then there is no way it's the big bad Angel. I won't believe it and neither should you. YOU are a warrior for the Powers. YOU are good. IF this IS YOUR child then this child will be good too." She held his eyes for several moments before she turned her head away and grumbled softly, "No matter who it's mother is..."
Hearing her comment about Darla didn't surprise Angel. Buffy had every right to feel that way about the blond vampire, but what really registered with him was Buffy's complete belief in him. The fact that this beautiful goddess had such faith in him staggered him.
"Thank you..." he murmured, grasping for the words to tell her what her belief in his inherent goodness meant to him. Finding none that were adequate, he settled on "I love you..." and placed a tender kiss along side her temple.
Buffy tilted her chin up at him, and tried to give him a saucy grin. It was still tinged with fear, but Angel saw her spark again and it made him smile as she quipped, "No thanks necessary, but does this mean after Darla has the baby, I can stake her for touching you?"
Angel groaned at her unnecessary jealousy and rolled his eyes, sidestepping the question by turning to her sister. "So Dawn...you were on the phone with Giles, what did he say?" he asked, ignoring Buffy's pout.
Dawn was happy to see Buffy wasn't doing a major wig over this situation. 'Wow, Angel really did calm her!' Realizing they were waiting for an answer she shrugged and smiled, "Oh, Giles is on his way...Wes is researching and trying to bring Cordy back...Oh! And I almost forgot...Lorne is calling some girls called the Furies to put a protection spell on the hotel!"
Angel felt his smile falter and he swore he almost had a heart attack when he heard what Lorne was doing. "The...what...?" he asked, hoping he had heard wrong and if not, wondering why the Powers were doing this to him!
Angel felt his stomach roil and he would have stood and maybe thrown something if Buffy hadn't been in his lap. As it was he was stuck and felt like it too. The Furies were the LAST thing he needed here right now. What the hell was Lorne thinking? Dammit, what with Darla being pregnant, Buffy being traumatized, Cordy in some kind of vision induced delirium and Fred having a way too big crush on him, Angel seriously wanted nothing more than to take Buffy and whisk her away to their bedroom and hide.
Seriously considering that option, he groaned audibly as he heard his childe's obnoxious voice carry down the stairs...
"Well, well, well Angelus," Spike quipped, "your plot is really thickenin', ain't it mate?" He chuckled softly as he raised a scarred brow. "So..." he said, tilting his platinum head to the side, "when WAS the last time you saw the Furies Angelus?" He snapped his fingers as he came down the last few steps. "I got it...wasn't it when Darla found you in their bed in Russia?"
He chuckled as if he and Angel were sharing a good natured jest. "Let's see, if I remember correctly, you and the three sisters were having a bloody good time that night too..." He shook his head and winked, "Well, that is 'til Darla barged in, dragging me and Dru along too, mind you, and yanked the big breasted brunette off your face and the cute little blond right off your..."
Buffy gasped and held up a hand as she gave Spike a 'you are SO not entertaining right now' look. "Not really interested in the rest of the details Spike," she interrupted, blushing.
Angel let out a threatening growl at his childe before turning to his lover. "Not really wanting you to hear them either," he mumbled. "I WAS soulless at the time..." he said, giving Spike a look that promised retribution. The fact was he wasn't happy that some of his not so glorious past was about to rear it's ugly head...again.
Spike grinned unrepentantly as Angel gave him a furious glare. He knew the poof seriously wanted to rip his throat out for spilling that information so nonchalantly. He didn't care. The bloody git just always seemed to get anything and everyone that he wanted...It wasn't bleedin' fair!
"Jeez Spike, jealous much?" Cordy asked loudly as she walked out of Wesley's office, apparently her old self again.
She and Wes had caught the very last of Dawn's update as they entered the reception area and were just in time for Spike's careless comment. Cordy grimaced, though she thought Buffy would only bring Angel pain, it was obvious the broody vampire was just as determined to keep her in his life. Cordelia, being a pragmatic survivor, did the only thing left to do--she accepted Angel's need for the tiny blond Slayer and decided to defend him, and in turn Buffy...like she should have from the beginning.
"I mean please, you're so transparent. Do you really think Buffy will suddenly trip over Angel and fall for you if you put him down?" She laughed softly, "Not likely Blondie, but you're welcome to try..."
Spike shrugged. "Listen vision girl, me giving HIM..." he pointed at Angel, "a hard time has NOTHING to do with the Slayer. Got it? It has more to do with the years of bleedin' torture I suffered at his hands," he growled. "So here's a brilliant idea...why don'tcha just keep your soddin' opinions to yourself ducks and we'll all get along, alright?"
Cordy shot Spike a raised brow combined with a haughty glare as she came into the lobby. "Yeah, well listen here, Einstein...he was Angelus then...so keep your vampire trauma out of Buffy and ANGEL'S..." she stressed the souled vampire's name as if she was speaking to a five year old, "relationship and maybe, I'll try to keep my opinion of you to myself, hmmm?"
Spike scoffed. "Whatever, pet...as if I really give a toss what you think of me anyhow!" he said with a negligent shrug.
Cordy rolled her eyes at him before turning back to the couple still on the couch. "Hey..." she said softly to Angel, giving him her brightest smile. She hoped he was ready to forgive her. She missed him so much. Cordy knew that even if meant living and working with Buffy, Spike and hell, even the whole damned Scooby gang every day...she'd do it. She wanted to be back in Angel's life that badly.
Angel couldn't help but respond to that all American smile of hers. He really did love Cordelia and he was happy she was okay. "Hey..." he replied with a half smile, "how are you feeling?" he asked gently, holding on to Buffy who was trying to very quietly get up so Cordy and Angel could talk privately.
Angel wasn't having it though, because anything he and Cordy had to talk about concerned the tiny beauty in his arms. Buffy was his lover, his wife... but... she was more than that. Buffy was his very reason for being and Cordy had to accept her in his life if the seer wanted to remain his friend and not get relegated to a 'when you get a vision call me' kind of relationship.
Cordy noticed Buffy trying to discreetly pull her hand from Angel's and directed a sheepish grin at the small blond she'd always (if she was honest) been jealous of. "Alright I guess..." she said with a sigh. She shrugged and gave a tiny scowl, "I mean, my head feels like those damned Powers That Be have decided to use it for a football, but that doesn't hurt nearly as bad as how I feel for what I did and said before..."
Buffy stopped pulling away as Cordy's words penetrated. She was floored. Was Cordelia apologizing? 'Okay,' Buffy thought, 'this day was just getting more and more bizarre!' First that horrible dream, which Buffy still had no idea what it meant, then the stunning revelation that Darla was actually here...AND pregnant with Angel's baby! Oh and let's not forget Spike's little share session about these women (bitches) called the Furies... which was gag worthy and made her want to hit something, now Queen C...being humble?
Buffy didn't know what to think... 'Was the world coming to an end?!' she wondered, because Cordelia apologizing was really along the lines of an Apocalypse! As far as Buffy was concerned the only good news she'd had today was that Giles was on his way. She could really use his advice right now.
Shaking her head, Buffy sighed. "Cordy, thank you...but..." the suddenly fragile Slayer just didn't feel up to a heart to heart right now. She was exhausted and emotionally drained.
Cordy held up her hand. "Please Buffy, let me say this. Believe me this isn't easy for me, but I have to say it...okay?"
Buffy sighed, but nodded anyhow. She really wasn't sure she'd ever trust Cordy, but Angel obviously cared for the girl so she remained quiet, waiting to hear what the brunette seer had to say.
Pulling a chair in front of Buffy and Angel, Cordelia took the Slayers trembling hand in both of hers and gave her what she hoped was a heartfelt smile. She DID feel bad, she wanted to like Buffy, but she still couldn't quite bury her resentment that the tiny green eyed blond had so much of Angel's heart.
Angel's wary, yet hopeful gaze watched closely as the two most important women in his life faced each other. He prayed Cordy would do the right thing, but he was staying right here in case she decided not to. He wouldn't allow Buffy to be hurt anymore.
Squeezing Buffy's hand, Cordy FINALLY decided to grow up as she told the Slayer, "Angel loves you Buffy. He always has..." she stopped and hesitated. Hating to admit she felt at all insecure around this tiny girl, but deciding to tell the truth... (little did she know... this won her a place back in Angel's heart) Cordelia said, "I was jealous...My malfunction was just that...mine...It had nothing to do with you Buffy...well except..." She jerked her thumb at Angel, as she frowned at the handsome vampire she loved with all her heart (as shallow as that was at times) "that Mr. Broody guy, over there pouts and locks himself in his office for days after he sees you that is...but again...that's because he's never got over you."
Buffy's jaw hit the floor, along with everyone else's, at Cordelia's words. But Cordy wasn't done. She gripped Buffy's hand tightly, "I am sorry Buffy...I didn't know...I mean I had no idea how much you've suffered because of your calling cost you. I never realized how much losing Angel had hurt you." She gave Buffy AND Angel a sympathetic glance, (she DID know how much losing the Slayer had hurt her friend, so he was included in her sympathy) "I do now...I...I saw it. I saw you and your major meltdown when he left you," Cordy whispered.
Shuddering, the ex-cheerleader tried to organize her thoughts. The vision of Buffy sobbing hysterically into her pillow after Angel had left Sunnydale was still fresh in her mind. It had been heartbreaking, but there had been more. In her vision...she'd seen Angel human! He and Buffy had been so happy in the images that had flashed through her head that for the first time Cordy understood how much they really loved each other.
'THANK God!' Cordy thought, 'that the vision had faded after the happy couple had climbed on top of the table, because she didn't need the visuals of naked groiny Angel/Buffy images branded on her mind, on top of the horrific illustrations of Buffy's death and destruction that were already burned forever there too!'
Cordy closed her eyes and when she opened them again there were tears in them. "I don't know how to tell you what I saw, Buffy, without sending everyone in this room (including you) into a major freakout!" the seer whispered, her slender body shuddering with terror as the terrifying memories of the vision washed over her again.
Buffy leaned forward, pulling herself out of the comforting embrace of her mate. "Cordy...please tell me," she said urgently, paying no attention to the astonishing fact that somehow Cordelia had seen her past with Angel. That was a topic to be discussed and analyzed later. Right now, she was more concerned with the grave look the beautiful psychic had on her face. It was anything but good. "What did you see Cordy?" she asked, her heart racing, chills sweeping up and down her spine as she waited for the taller woman to answer.
Cordelia glanced from Buffy to Angel, who had shifted forward also, pulling Buffy back into his arms as he did so. Angel met Cordy's eyes, his own alarm escalating as his seer's look went from unease to pure panic at the thought of sharing her vision.
Reaching out, while still keeping Buffy in the shelter of his arms, Angel took Cordy's clasped hands in one of his own, "What is it Cordy..? What did you see?" he asked worriedly.
Taking a deep breath, Cordy wondered just how was she supposed to tell Angel she saw Buffy die alongside their child? She thought about it and still couldn't wrap her mind around what she saw. First of all...it made no sense, how could Buffy and Angel even have a baby? Cordelia didn't have an answer and she didn't know what the vision meant, but it was a brain splitting, body convulsing message sent straight from the PTB, so obviously it was meant for Angel to hear.
The former cheerleader looked at her dearest friend and the woman he adored, and knew there was no way around it. Angel was supposed to know about the vision. "I saw you with a little baby boy, Buffy. He's yours..." she said, her eyes sliding to Angel, "yours and Angel's," she finished softly.
Cordy watched as Angel's eyes darkened with emotion until they were nearly black before he gave a little laugh and turned to the tiny woman in his arms. "A son...we're going to have a baby boy, Buffy," he said, a euphoric grin suffusing his face, before turning back to Cordelia with an eager expression.
"What else Cordy...?" he asked, happiness warring with trepidation. Angel wasn't completely befuddled, he knew the news that somehow he and Buffy would create a child hadn't put that look of fear on Cordy's face.
Cordelia let out a long sigh. He looked SO happy...she wished her next words weren't going to wipe that smile off his face, but...in typical Cordy no nonsense style, she blurted out, "I saw something really bad coming Angel..." She stopped and looked at her friend, "it was after your baby and it killed Buffy to get it..."
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The Hyperion: one hour later.
Everyone was in full research mode. Dawn was on the computer and on the phone with Willow at the same time. They were researching any prophecies that might mention Angel, Buffy or the two combined.
Dawn's eyes widened when Willow suddenly said "Aha! I got it!" and told her about the prophecy of Herzianibith.
Willow's voice was frantic as she told Dawn of the child..The Destroyer.
"Dawn, it says here the child will be born from the Warrior of the Sun and the Champion from the Dark...It will be the greatest warrior to ever live...Oh my God...that has to be it. They're talking about Angel and Buffy. He's the Champion of the dark and she's the warrior of the sun..."
Dawn was nodding excitedly and waving Angel and Buffy over. "Yeah...I get that Wills, but does it say anything after that...I mean, like who might win if this Destroyer is captured?"
"No...all it says is that the Destroyer will bring balance to.." The red headed witch trailed off for a second before saying urgently, "Oh my God Dawn...let me talk to Angel..."
Dawn felt her heart rate increase at the way Willow was freaking out. "What is it, Wills?"
Willow ignored the girls question. "I can't explain it right now, Dawn...please, just let me talk to Angel, 'kay?"
Dawn nodded and handed the phone to Angel. "She wants to talk to you..."
Angel got on the phone with Buffy hovering right next to him. "Hello..." he said hesitantly.
"Angel?" Willow asked, more out of habit than anything.
"Yeah, Willow...It's me. What have you got?"
"Angel...?" Willow said, hesitating, in case he hadn't heard of this...(she didn't want to get his hopes up) but knowing she had to get to the truth, she asked, "What is Shanshu? And have you ever heard of the Aberjian Scrolls?"
Angel's mouth dropped open. "Um...yeah...I..." he mumbled, "Where did you read that Willow?" he asked, dumbfounded.
Willow, scrolled down, reading as she went... "On-line..." she said absently as she read the scrolls. "Oh my God...Angel..it's all here... I...Oh my God!" she gasped, "Angel...it says you...will live again."
Angel's eyes went to Buffy, who was practically on top of him, trying to hear what Willow was saying. He turned away a bit and whispered, "How can you read that? It's ancient..."
Willow interrupted him. "Never mind HOW I can read it Angel. I have a better question... have you told Buffy?"
Angel shook his head no, until he realized she couldn't see him and said, "No Willow..I...we haven't had a chance to talk about it yet..."
Willow rolled her eyes on the other end of the line. "Well, you better buster, cause I can tell you right now if Buffy reads that you might be human someday and you haven't told her that yourself...she just might stake first, ask questions later!"
Angel knew that was a major exaggeration, but he didn't have a doubt his beautiful lover would freak if she read about the Shanshu Prophecy before he had a chance to share that info first. "Yeah...I know. I'd planned on it, but things haven't exactly been normal around here and..."
Willow laughed. "When are things EVER normal Angel?" she asked, still giggling. "But seriously...you both need to read what I found here. It's called the prophecy of Herzianibith. It talks about a child...a son, and it also mentions the scrolls of Aberjian and the Shanshu prophecy. So, I'd suggest you get off the phone and tell Buffy about your possible Shanshu, 'kay?"
Angel was bobbing his head yes like one of those toys you see in the back of someones rear window by the time Willow was through. "Okay, Willow...I will...yeah...Okay...thanks...okay...bye..." he said, hanging up the phone despite Buffy's attempts to take the phone from him.
Buffy crossed her arms and tapped her foot as she shot her lover a suspicious glare. "Okay, that was either just rude...or you didn't want me to talk to her for some reason." Buffy tilted her head and studied him for a second, "Okay...spill...WHY didn't you want me to talk to her?"
Angel tried an unconcerned shrug and ended up failing miserably because his face gave away his guilt. "Uh...what do you mean...spill? I..."
Buffy gave Angel a little smile and took his face in her small hands. "Oh baby...never try your hand at poker. Your face gives you away...trust me," she said grinning, just before she kissed him.
Pulling away from him, she crossed her arms again and her little chin lifted stubbornly as she said determinedly, "You might as well make with the details Angel, cause I KNOW Willow told you something that has you wigging out and if it has YOU freaking out...it's definitely gonna have me doing a major wig so you might as well just recognize the logic in Buffy's little rant and come clean," she said, giving him an adorable grin. "So lover, what did Willow tell you that made you go three shades paler than the norm?"
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Later:
While Wesley and Cordy explained the Shanshu prophecy to the others, Angel took Buffy into the office to tell her alone. He shuffled papers back and forth for a moment as he tried to think of the perfect way to tell her about the Aberjian Scrolls. When she started to fidget and worriedly told him to just tell her, he did, finally deciding to just tell her the whole story, beginning with how he found the Scrolls and how Wes had translated them, to what they said and what the Shanshu prophecy possibly meant in regards to him.
Buffy sat and listened quietly until he got to the 'vampire with a soul will Shanshu' part.
"What does that mean Angel?" she asked, her heart speeding up. She wasn't sure how, but she knew this was really something major. But then again...wasn't it always major with them?
Angel gave her a shy smile as he cupped her face in his hands. "It means I might have a chance to become human again one day, Buffy."
It took all of about ten full seconds for her to react she was so stunned. "Y-y-you...m-m-might...b-become...human?" she asked, her eyes widening to the size of small dinner plates.
He gave her a beautiful grin as he nodded, "Yeah..."
Buffy squealed and threw herself into his arms and began to shower his beloved face with kisses. "Oh my God Angel...Angel...oh my God!" she whispered over and over again as she hugged him so tight, if he was a human male she would have most likely broken several ribs!
Angel wrapped brawny arms around her tiny, yet powerful body and rocked her when her whispered awe turned to tears. "Sssshh baby..don't cry. See this is why I wasn't sure if I should tell you. I..."
She leaned back and wiped at her eyes. "You weren't sure...?" Her brow hiked and she gave him a suspicious frown as she asked, "Angel...how long have you known about this uh...Shoeshine prophecy?"
Angel smiled at her butchering the name of the prophecy, but then that was so Buffy. Research...and pronunciation just weren't her thing...it was one of the quirks about her that he adored. It made him want to laugh, but seeing her face darken he quickly wiped the grin of his face.
Seriously wishing she hadn't asked that question Angel hemmed and hawed until Buffy gripped his arms and almost yelled the question in his face.
"About a year..." he answered, closing his eyes when he saw her face crumble at that.
"About a..." Buffy took two steps back. "Why...?" she felt like she was going to either be sick or come apart in one huge explosion of Buffy trauma. "WHY didn't you tell me...? Call me to let me know...?"
Angel followed her. "Because I don't know WHEN or even IF this will ever take place Buffy. Do you really think I felt I had the right to just come back into your life and drop this bomb on you?"
Buffy was shaking her head, "But...I mean it's what we...what I..."
Angel pulled her to him, "I know. It's what you've fantasized about only a zillion times," he told her with a with a sympathetic, yet wary expression.
Buffy nodded, "Yeah, only about that many..." Suddenly she stopped as she saw his face take on that guilty expression she always hated. It made her heart ache to realize SHE was the one putting it there right now.
"You know what? It doesn't matter why you didn't tell me..." she whispered, moving back into his arms. Looking up at him with huge hazel green eyes that blazed with love for him, Buffy said softly, "It doesn't even matter if it never happens..." She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his sensual lips softly. "What matters is that we're together now and whatever is coming or happens..." she gave him a hope-filled, loving smile, "we'll get through it together. No matter what...I want my life to be with you Angel. I don't care if you never shoeshine truthfully, I love you and I always will," she said in a breathless voice. "I've tried to stop," she murmured inching ever closer to his hard muscled frame, "I have, but I just can't Angel...I never can...it would be easier to stop breathing than it'd be to stop loving you..." she whispered tilting her face up to his, her lips inches from his.
Angel placed his palms on her hips and moaned softly as she pressed her tight little body against him. Her words penetrated his suddenly oversexed brain and with a soft growl, he pulled her flush against his aroused body.
"Mmmmmmm..." he murmured softly, looking down into her upturned face. Angel's eyes flashed from deep chocolate brown to gold as he gave her the most amazingly alluring/sensual/indecently innocent smile she'd ever seen and Buffy had no doubt it was that precise look that had spawned the name Angelus. "I suddenly don't care if I shoeshine either..." he said, placing a finger under her chin and angling it to his satisfaction.
"I love you Buffy..." he whispered, lowering his head that last few inches to take her mouth in a kiss that made them both believe in the possibility that heaven could indeed be found here on earth...
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Okay...so that was a sweet ending to the chappie, huh? Musie was feeling romantic! :) I know it's been a while between chappies, but I had some physical problems...I threw my back out. It was bad and I was in bed for a couple days. Also I HAD to post a chappie on my other fic before me and musie were tar and feathered then executed!! ;) You think I'm joking...ha! I'm so not! Anyhow, thank you so much for all the unbelievable reviews and replies to this fic. I am so glad to see there are still SO mant die hard Buffy/Angel lovers out there. You guys are the best... NOW...click the blue button and feed the musie beast so she'll feed me and then I can write. :)