Chapter Ten

The "Welcome To Sunnydale U, Riley Finn!" party went well. As far as Angel knew no one spiked anyone's drink. Buffy and Angel were in their room in the Fraternity Wing because it was closer to the party. There were curled up asleep when there was a knock at the door and then counting, "30, 29, 28, …"

Angel heard the familiar voice and woke up his wife, "Kathy's here." They quickly got dressed and both were decent when Kathy walked in. "Hi!"

"Kathy, what are you doing here?" Angel asked, confused.

"Mom and Dad have to go to Ireland. Can I stay with you guys while they're gone, please?" Kathy begged.

"Sure. I'll go down and get your assignments form Mom," Angel said.

"Come on, let's get your stuff in your room," Buffy smiled. "Then we can call Dawn and see if she wants to go to a movie or something."

"Cool."

"Buffy, would you explain this?" Joyce said Sunday afternoon as soon as Kathy, Angel, Buffy and her friends showed up for lunch. She handed Buffy something that looked like a newspaper with a picture of her and Angel walking out of a Baby-R-Us. "Please tell me that you were shopping for one of Angel's relatives or friends."

Buffy signed. She knew she would have to tell her mom this sooner or later, but her and Angel had hoped it would be later, "No, Mom, we weren't shopping for a relative or a friend. But, I'm not pregnant either."

Angel looked at the tabloid and said, "Joyce, before I met Buffy, uh...I had a few indiscretions, I guess you could say. The rumors about my private life were true. A few hours before I met Buffy, I found out that Darla Rockefeller is pregnant and I'm the father. Darla doesn't want to marry anyone, so that was out the question. However, I will be involved in the baby's life. We've already decided on joint custody."

"Oh. Okay. So, Buffy's not pregnant?"

"Right," Buffy confirmed.

"But she will be a step-mother?"

"Well, we're thinking more like Mommy number two. Step-mom sounds so negative," Buffy said while thinking that this was going much better than she thought it would.

Joyce laughed and hugged her daughter and future son-in-law, "Let me know about any and all showers and when she goes into labor and all of that. If you're going to be a mother to this child, then I'm going to be a grandmother and I want to be involved as well. All though Grandmother sounds so old and formal. Can I be called Nana instead?"

Buffy and Angel smiled. "What ever you want to be called will be fine with us," Angel said, "And we'll let you know when she goes into labor. Darla's not one for showers so I doubt there will be one."

"You know, Mom, I've been trying to call Daddy and neither he nor Caroline have called me back. I would really like to tell him that I'm getting married in June to Angel, but I don't think I should leave it on the answering machine."

"You're right; it's not something to leave on the answering machine. I haven't talked to him in a few months either, now that I think about it. He just mails off Dawn's child support check. He used to call to make sure I got it, but he hasn't called since your graduation. Let me try to reach him, okay?" Joyce said.

"Okay," Buffy agreed.

"Hello. Can I help you?" Spike asked the man at the door.

"I was told I could find Buffy Summers here."

"Just a minute," Spike turned around leaving the door open.

Any polite person would wait at the door until they were invited in, this man, however, was not in his right frame of mind and he followed the bleach blond Englishman. Spike, thinking that the man was staying just outside the door, didn't notice him. He gently knocked on Angel and Buffy's bedroom door. He heard a muffled, "Door's Open" and opened the door and stuck his head in. "There's a man here to see Buffy," Spike whispered when he saw that Buffy has dozed off in her husband's arms.

Hank pushed the bleach blond out of his way and upon seeing his eighteen year old daughter in the arms of an older man – a man who he knew had the reputation of being a playboy – became livid. Especially since to him it looked as though they both were naked. "Buffy Anne Summers! What in the Hell do you think you are doing!?" the man yelled.

Buffy was startled awake and looked at the man, "Dad? What are you doing here?"

"You will answer me, young lady!"

"Sir, if you will be so kind as to wait downstairs, Buffy and I will join you shortly," Angel said and looked to Spike to make sure his request would be followed.

Spike ushered the angry man down the stairs and into the Family Room.

After Spike closed the door, Buffy looked at her husband and said, "My dad."

"I kinda figured when you called him 'Dad'," Angel laughed and kissed her nose. "Get dressed and we'll both go down and talk to him."

"Okay," Buffy said.

"I think you need to calm down, Sir. They'll be down in a minute," Spike said as he left the Family Wing and went into the Fraternity Wing.

Hank Summers just stared at the man. *How dare you presume to tell me to calm down. Just wait until you have a daughter who lies to you and cheats on her fiancé! See how calm you are then, Mr. Billy Idol Wannabe!* Hank steamed.

"Daddy, I've been trying to get a hold of you for weeks now. Angel this is my dad, Hank Summers, Daddy, this is Angel MacKenzie…"

"I know who he is. Could I please talk to you in private?"

Buffy looked at Angel. This was not going good at all.

"Sure, Daddy."

"I'll just be in the kitchen getting dinner started," Angels said as he softly kissed her head in support.

"Daddy…" Buffy started.

Hank interrupted his daughter, "How could you, Buffy? You took a vow of purity!"

Buffy blushed slightly, "So I jumped the gun a few months. That's why I've been trying to call you. I'm engaged."

"I know!" Hank said angrily, "And what would your fiancé say about what I saw upstairs?"

"Huh?" Buffy was confused. Her father wasn't making any sense.

"What about poor Riley? Huh? You didn't stop to think about how this would hurt him, did you?"

"Daddy, what does Riley have to with this?"

"Well, you know he will find out," Hank said not really hearing what his daughter was asking him. "Just look at this! You Slut!" Hank yelled and threw the tabloid with Buffy and Angel on the front cover in her face.

"Whoa, Dad. Calm down. I think we have a huge misunderstanding here," Buffy tried to reason with her father.

"Shut up, Whore! I'm talking here!" Hank continued to yell.

"Dad!" Buffy yelled back. "Listen to me, I have no idea why you're so worried about Riley! Angel is my fiancé. We're getting married in June. I've been trying to call you since last Saturday afternoon to tell you! And as far as the trash goes, I'm not pregnant!"

Darla walked in, having heard the yelling and picked up the tabloid. "Oh, man! They thought you were pregnant?" She laughed. "I guess we have to hold a press conference now. Oh, well. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Sorry this little stunt of the paparazzi got your dad mad at you, Buffy. Mr. Summers," she nodded politely at the red-faced man, then shrugged at Buffy. "Angel and I will let them know that I'm pregnant with his baby, not you."

Buffy turned to Darla, "Thank you Darla, but it's not your fault. I'm just sorry that you have to announce it sooner than you'd like."

"Buffy, you're coming with me back to your dorm right now!" Hank interrupted the two women.

"Excuse me?" Buffy had never defied her father before, but he was acting irrational.

"I will not let you stay here any longer."

"I'm not leaving."

"What? You'd rather stay here and be apart of his harem when you might be able to salvage your relationship with Riley? He might still marry you."

"Dad! I am not going to marry Riley!"

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not! I'm marrying Angel!"

"He will never be faithful to you!"

"That's my business not yours!"

Hank grabbed Buffy's are and tried to drag her, "Let's go."

Buffy jerked her arm away and said, "No! I'm staying here. Dad, get it through your head! I'm not going anywhere with you. I will marry Angel in June and if you don't like it, then don't come!"

Hank had enough; he slapped Buffy just as Kathy walked past the room. The force of the impact and the shock caused Buffy to stumble and Darla caught her.

She'd kept quiet because it was obviously a family matter; but any trace of politeness left Darla at this development. "It's time for you to leave now, before I call the police," she told Hank in a dangerously low voice.

Kathy saw the man hit her sister-in-law and ran to get Angel, "Angel! Angel! Come quick! Buffy's hurt.! Some man just hit her!"

Angel ran to the aid of his wife and saw her leaning against Darla. Darla was staring at the man and then she took out her phone and dialed a number, "I need some police officers at 1727 Crawford Street. A man just assaulted my friend and he won't leave…Darla Rockefeller…Thank you."

"You'd best leave before they get here," Angel said in a deadly low voice. "You had no right to hit her." Angel walked slowly, purposefully, intimidating toward him.

Before Angel got to him, Buffy finally spoke up, "Just go, Dad."

"And don't come back unless invited," Angel added, still enraged. Hank turned and left. Angel took his wife from Darla's hold and checked on her. There was already a bruise forming on her left cheek. Angel knew his sister was close by, "Kathy, go get an ice pack. If you can't find one, get a frozen steak out of the freezer." When he was sure that Kathy was out of earshot, "What happened?"

Darla explained what she heard and saw before Buffy could answer, "I was going to get something to eat when I heard yelling. Buffy's father was calling her names and I saw the tabloid and explained that I was the one pregnant with your child and he grabbed her and tried to drag her out the door, but she refused. He said something about Riley marrying her and then she insisted that she was marrying you in June and if he didn't like then he didn't have to come to the wedding and he slapped her. Angel, he backhanded her."

Just then police arrived and took everyone's statement. "Thank you, officer, but no, I'm not going to press charges," Buffy shook her head at the idea. "He was just upset. Once he calms down, everything will be alright. I mean, what would you do if you saw your daughter in bed with a man?"

"I wouldn't hit her and call her the names that your father called you, that's for sure," said the male officer.

A female officer that was dispatched to the scene gently said, "What he did to you, what he said to you, was abuse. If you have any younger brothers and sisters, they may be in danger of the same kind of abuse."

"No, he's never done anything like this before," Buffy assured them. "I'm sure it's just a one time deal. He just flipped. It won't happen again."

"Well, we can't force you to press charges, but if you change your mind, here's my card, give me a call. I've been where you are. I know what you're going through," the officer said and then she and her partner left.

No one noticed Buffy favoring her left arm. Buffy herself didn't even realize it.

After the officers left, Angel hugged his wife close as she cried. He gently rubbed his hands over her body, when his hands reached her left arm, she jumped in pain. He lifted the sleeve and saw a bruise in the shape of a hand on her arm. "Buffy, this looks bad; we need to get it checked out."

"It's fine, Angel."

"Buffy, has he ever done anything like this before?"

Buffy shook her head no and said, "No , never."

"Buffy, sweetheart, you can tell me," Angel said. She was beginning to act like this had happened before and she was used to covering up for him, "Maybe not this bad…."

Buffy whispered, trying not to move her mouth that much, "No, Angel! That's just it! He's never done this before! I mean when Dawn and I got in trouble he would spank us, but that was barely a swat on our butts. It didn't even hurt." Buffy was confused as to why no one would believe her.

Angel looked into his wife's eyes and could see that she was telling the truth. "Alright." He then realized that Buffy hadn't straightened her left arm and said, "Mo Grà, I want you to do something for me. Straighten your left arm."

Buffy thought it was weird request, but didn't think anything of it so she tried to do as he asked, but cried out in pain.

"Just what I thought," he said as he grabbed their coats. He yelled out, "Kathy, get your coat, I'm taking Buffy to the E.R. to get X-rays. I think her arm is broken."

"Hello," Angel answered Buffy's cell phone.

"Angel? Is Buffy around?"

"Yeah, Joyce, but she can't talk."

"Why not?"

"She's in X-Ray."

"X-Ray? Angel, what happened?"

"Your ex-husband came by and started yelling at Buffy calling her names and then he slapped her and grabbed her arm so hard it may be broken. I tried calling your house to let you know that I was bringing her to the E.R., but I got no answer."

"Wesley is out with Willow and Rupert, Dawn, and I were out with Hank. He was upset and I tried to get him to tell what happened and he just that Buffy was being immature and needed to do what was right."

"Kathy and Darla both saw it. You can talk to them. He backhanded her so hard that it hurts her jaw to talk!"

"Alright, Hank, you have a lot to explain, mister," Joyce said as she put the speaker phone on. Hank was sitting in Joyce's home office in a chair in front of her desk while she sat behind the desk. "Hank, please tell our future son-in-law and me what happened."

"Joyce, I caught her in bed with him," Hank pointed to the phone indicating Angel, "while she is engaged to Riley. I tried to reason with her and they kicked me out. I just hope that Riley will still want to marry her!"

"Hank! This is not the eighteen hundreds, you cannot dictate who your daughters marry. Buffy is eighteen years old and according to California law, she is old enough to make this decision on her own. I for one am not going to jeopardize my relationship with her. Nor am I going to stand in the way of her happiness!" Joyce told her ex-husband as Angel listened in.

"Joyce you can let him know that if Buffy ever wants to see him again, she will not be left alone with him. There will be someone who I trust that can protect her with them, if I can't be there." Angel knew that his father-in-law could hear him.

"I don't blame you, Angel, and I wouldn't blame Buffy under the circumstances. He won't be able to see Dawn alone either," Joyce said.

"You can't do that, Joyce! The courts say I can see Dawn anytime I like!"

"They won't after this."

"What? He beats our daughter and he blames me and I can't see my daughters anymore?!" Hank yelled.

Angel was appalled that his father-in-law would try to blame him for his wife's injuries, "I…"

"Hank, get out. I'll see you in court," Joyce said. Angel heard a door slam and Joyce said, "I'm sorry, Angel. I don't know what has come over him."

"Is this the first time, Joyce?"

"Yes, Angel, it is. But I can't take the chance that he will do the same to Dawn."

"You're right," Angel spotted Buffy and the doctor coming out of the X-Ray room. "Doctor?"

"There's a hairline break on her arm and her jaw bone is bruised. It looks like a ring caught it right here," the doctor pointed to the middle of her left jaw. "I know you both said that the police have a report, but I'm bound by law to report this. I can't hold you here, but I think it would be a good idea to stay and talk to the police so that they can add this to their report. I've also counseled Miss Summers to press charges, but she refuses. She'll be in Room Three until we can get a cast on her." The doctor then picked up the phone at the nurses desk and reported the incident.

"Angel," Joyce's voice drifted up to him. Angel looked at the phone. "Joyce, oh my God! I'm so sorry I forgot all about you."

Joyce gave a little chuckle, "What did the doctor say?"

"Her arm is broken and her jaw bone is bruised. He wants us to stay to talk to the police again."

"OK, I'll be right there."

"Wait, Joyce," Angel looked at his wife who was crying. "Buffy, Mo Grà, do you want to stay?" She nodded her head yes. "Alright then. We're staying here for a while." Angel took his wife into his arms and tried to comfort her.

"I'm on my way," Joyce hung up the phone and called out to Rupert and Dawn. "Buffy's in the E.R. I'm going."

"Hang on, we'll all go," Rupert said.

Back at the hospital, Angel called Spike, "Spike I need you to call a mandatory meeting. Let everyone know that Hank Summers, Buffy's father, is not allowed on the property unless Buffy asks him to be there. And if that ever happens he is not to be left alone with her. One of the brothers will be in the room at all times with him."

"What happened, Angel?"

"He bruised her jaw bone and broke her left arm," Angel read a note that Buffy passed to him, "Buffy wants to see Riley."

"Alright."

The doctor had set Buffy up in a room and gave her some pain killers. She had dozed off while waiting for the police. They had already put a cast on her arm. She had no idea that her mom, Giles and two sisters were there. When Spike arrived, it was to find a full room. Angel was sitting in a chair beside the bed, Kathy and Dawn were sharing another chair that was beside Angel's chair, Malissa was asleep in her mother's arms, Mr. and Mrs. Giles were leaning up against one of the walls, and Buffy had her eyes closed laying on the bed with her left arm in a cast resting on her stomach. Riley was right behind him and asked softly, "How's Buffy?"

Angel looked at the newest member to his chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda and said, "She's resting right now."

Buffy opened her eyes, "Hey."

Angel turned his head back toward her, "How are you feeling?"

"Okay. A bit out of it."

Angel gave a half smile, "Darvicet will do that to you."

Buffy looked up at her ex-boyfriend and asked, "Riley, why would my dad think that I'm engaged to you?"

Riley looked embarrassed and softly explained, "Before I came on to Sunnydale, I stopped in L.A. and I asked your dad for permission to marry you. But when I got here, you and Angel were already engaged, and you said that you were happy."

Buffy was shocked when she realized something, "You transferred so that we could be together?" When Riley didn't say anything, she said, "I'm sorry I hurt you, Riley."

Riley smiled. "Hey, we never said that we would wait for each other and you're happy and that's all that counts." Riley took in Buffy's injuries and said, "I can't believe that your dad did this to you."

"Neither can I," Buffy said.

"What? Dad did this?" Dawn asked. No one had told her who had hurt her sister and she hadn't thought to ask; she was too worried about Buffy. Buffy just looked down, not really wanting her sister to know that their father could hurt any of them like this. The silence was confirmation enough for Dawn. She didn't know what to think. But she said the first the thing that came to her mind, "Dad didn't do this. He couldn't have. He's just not the type of person to do this!"

"Dawn, I saw him hit her."

Dawn turned on her new friend and said, "How do you know?! You've never met my dad! What you saw was a man who hit her and you just assumed it was my dad."

"Well, if it was just some stranger, I'm sure that she would have no problems pressing charges. Besides, according to her statement, it was her father who hit her. She said because he caught her in bed with her fiancé," the female officer, who just walked in the room, from earlier said. She then looked at the young woman in the hospital bed, "Will you press charges now?"

"Buffy, you need to press charges," Joyce implored. She'd been relatively calm in her earlier confrontation with her ex husband; but seeing her daughter in that hospital bed, drugged into sleep and with a cast around her arm, made Joyce wish she had Hank before her again so she could give him a piece of her mind. To do this to their own daughter!

"Mom, he's never done this before," Buffy insisted. "It was an accident. He was just angry and once he cools down, everything will be fine."

"How do we know that one of Angel's fraternity brothers didn't do this and you're just saying that Dad did it because you're scared?" Dawn asked.

"Well, according the security cameras, it was not one of the fraternity members. Mr..." The male officer from earlier consulted his notes, "...Harris was so kind as to give us a copy of the security tape. I hope you don't mind, Mr. MacKenzie."

"No, of course not."

"Please, I don't want anyone to know about this. Like I said, he's never done this before and he won't ever do it again."

"Buffy, your father never hit me, but obviously he's changed," Joyce tried again. But at her daughter's stubborn expression, she changed tacks. "We don't know if he's done this to Caroline or Zachary. I can't seem to get in touch with her. I've been trying ever since I got here."

"He's never hit Caroline or Zachary, Mom. He wouldn't do that. He was just upset. I'm not pressing charges!" Buffy said emphatically. She could tell that nobody agreed with her – except Dawn, but the younger girl still resisted the truth. Buffy closed her eyes and willed the whole nightmare away. She couldn't wait to be in her and Angel's room again. "I just want to go home," she whispered just loud enough for everyone in the room to hear her.

Angel was able to bring Buffy home about two o'clock the next morning. The doctor gave Buffy a prescription for pain killers and told her to take it easy. Since she was right-handed, she was glad that it wasn't her right arm that was broken. She could still take notes and was planning on going to class at eight a.m. Angel wanted her to skip classes for the next few days, but she insisted that she could go to class and take notes without using her left arm.

"Buffy, you need to wake up, sweetie," Darla said.

"What time is it?" Buffy mumbled groggily.

"It's ten-thirty, we need to get your make up on to hide that bruise on your face for the press conference."

"Ten-Thirty? Oh, God! I missed most of my classes. Why didn't Angel wake me?"

"Because you needed your rest, Buffy. The doctor told you to take it easy for the next few days."

"I can take it easy sitting in class, listing to the teachers and taking notes."

"And answer questions about your arm and your face?" Darla asked sarcastically. Buffy fell quiet. Darla turned serious and said, "You're not ready for that if you refuse to press charges."

She hadn't thought about her classmates' curiosity. Chastised, Buffy let Darla help her get dressed and do her make up.

"Wow, you can't even see the bruise," Buffy said in awe.

"Well, I've had practice," Darla said not even thinking how that sounded. When Buffy looked confused, she said, "Sometimes, I like a little BS&M and sometimes marks are accidentally left, so I've learned to cover up the bruises. But in my case it's consensual in your case, it's abuse."

"Abuse?... No, it's not. It's just the one time."

"It doesn't matter, honey. One time or fifty times. The first time, or the time it kills you – it's abuse and he needs to be put in jail for it."

"I'm sure it was just an accident," Buffy countered. "My dad really isn't like that."

Darla sighed. She knew that for whatever reason, Buffy really believed that. But she also knew men. If they were capable of getting that mad once…it would just get worse in the future. Sometimes Anger Management courses helped and sometimes only religion helped. Sometimes religion was the cause of it. And sometimes nothing helped but jail or death. She didn't know which of these it would be for Mr. Summers, but she would try to get Buffy to press charges against her father for doing this. "I knew a girl in boarding school who was caught having sex with her boyfriend. She was sixteen at the time. Her father beat her so bad that she not only had a broken arm, but a few broken ribs too. She insisted that he was just angry at her for having sex and he'd never do it again. He felt bad for her injuries. It was his first time too. Just like your dad. The police let the matter go under the circumstances. A few months later, this girl's little sister was caught in a lie about her grades. They found her body beaten so bad that only dental records could identify her. That little girl was ten years old and it was his first time abusing her and the second he abused someone." She paused to let that information sink in. "Buffy, it doesn't matter. What your father did was illegal and he needs to face the consequences. The fact that he tried to pass it off onto Angel, blaming him for something he didn't do, proves he knows it's wrong."

"Buffy, it doesn't matter. What your father did was illegal and he needs to have the consequences. The fact that he tried to pass it off onto Angel blaming him for something he didn't do, proves he knows it's wrong."

"What?"

Darla sighed. While Angel was getting ready for classed that morning, he was venting to her about Hank trying to blame him and she wasn't supposed to have let that slip, but now Buffy would have to know all of it, "When your mom called, your father was with her. He actually said that Angel had done those things. He obviously was blaming him so he wouldn't get in trouble." Buffy looked horrified. "Don't worry no believed him, besides, the security tape will prove Angel innocent. If Xander hadn't thought of that, then there might be a problem of our word against his word as to who hit you. But it's clear on the tape who hit you."Xander had been the only one at the fraternity house to question what had happened. While he wouldn't believe any brother (much less Angel) had willfully hurt Buffy, he'd kept insisting it must have been an accident. Willow, who'd rushed in after his call, had supported the idea. Darla had to admit she'd lost her patience with the youngsters at one point, daring them to call her a liar. They had hesitated, and that's when Xander had remembered the cameras in all public areas. Needless to say, after the tape was replayed, their doubts had turned into anger. "Everything's clear on the tape. Your dad will have no way of getting out of it if it goes to trial – which it should." Darla paused and then said, "They'll probably only make him go to Anger Management classes if this is really the first time." Darla wasn't really sure about that, but she wasn't above flat out lying if it made Buffy feel better about pressing charges against her father.

"Maybe he'll go on his own."

Well it was worth a shot, Darla thought. "Maybe he will, maybe he won't. Do you really want to take the chance?" Buffy was silent. "Well, it's time to go," she looked outside and grabbed two huge rain coats. "Good thing it's raining – it gives us an excuse to wear these coats and it cover up your cast."

Angel was already waiting in the Student Union when Darla and Buffy arrived. He smiled at them and hugged his wife. "How are you?" he whispered.

"I had to take a pain pill before we left," she whispered back.

Angel just hugged her tighter, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"My reputation caused all this!" Angel said, disgusted with himself.

"Angel, it's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself."

Darla looked at the couple then at the reporters that were gathered. That silent movement of her head told Angel it was time to start the press conference. Angel stepped up beside Darla and brought Buffy to his other side.

"I'm glad that you all could make it today," Darla said. "As I said this press conference is because of the tabloid article about Angel and an unnamed young woman."

Angel told the truth, "Yes, the picture is real."

"However, the young woman in the picture is not pregnant," Darla said and gave a short pause. "I am."

"And yes, I am the father, " Angel said. A reporter raised his hand and Angel recognized him, "Yes, John?"

"Are you certain? I mean you and Darla are known to have multiple partners."

Darla grinned, "Yes, we're sure. The paternity test came back 95% certain that Angel is the father." Another reporter their hand, "Yes, Rhonda?"

"Does this mean that you will get married?"

Darla laughed, "No, I have no plans to ever get married."

"I will be in the baby's life. Darla and I have agreed upon joint custody," Angel said. "Now if you will excuse us, we need to get some lunch before our next class." Angel took Buffy's right hand and they walked off to the Sandwich Shoppe.

Angel and Buffy were sitting at a table eating their lunch and talking, "Don't worry about missing your classes today. I talked to your teachers and they all gave me your class work, which we will do later."

"Hey, Angel, can I join you?" John, one of the reporters from the press conference, asked as he sat down with his sandwich without waiting for an answer.

"Umm…" Angel started.

"Thanks. Listen everyone's wondering, who is this?" He asked as he pointed to Buffy and continued without waiting for an answer, "And is there anything to this? I mean, pictures of you two at Babies R Us, the grocery store, the mall. Not your usual date spots. Plus this is the same girl that you took to the AIDS Awareness Ball in Las Vegas. Usually after a ball we never see the girl again. So, what's up?"

Angel and Buffy looked at each other, "Not talking to the press, John."

"So, you're not talking to the press. You're talking to me, John, Alpha Kappa Lambda brother. Strictly off the record. I won't print it. You have my word."

"The word of a reporter?" Buffy scoffed.

John looked at the young woman who was sitting with his old friend and said, "The word of a Alpha Kappa Lambda, Miss."

Angel sighed and said, "You'll have the exclusive when it's time, John."

John nodded and then noticed the ring on Buffy's left hand and whispered, "WOW! Is that what I think it is?" John looked at Angel and back at the young woman. When Angel didn't say anything, John looked at his friend and winked. He got up and said loudly, "I told my editor there was no story here. I'll see you later, my old friend."

"Later, John," Angel smiled.

After he was gone, Buffy asked, "Do you think he will print it?"

"Nope. And he'll be waiting at home for us when we get out of class. He wants a proper introduction."

"How do you know?"

"He called me 'old friend'," Angel smiled as they continued to eat.

Hank Summers walked in the Sandwich Shoppe. He had been looking for his daughter all day long and had no luck. He then spotted her with that man. He walked up to their table, "Buffy, can we talk?"

Buffy looked at her father and said, "So talk."

"In private?"

"No." Angel said and Hank looked stunned. "The last time I left you two alone, she ended up with a bruised jaw bone and a broken arm. I meant it when I said that you will not be left alone with her."

"It's a public place."

"I don't care. You will not be left alone with her," Angel said.

Hank looked at Angel uneasily and then turned his attention on his daughter, "Listen Buffy, this man is not for you."

"Dad, we're not having this conversation. The conversation that we will have is this. If you take Anger Management classes and get some counseling, I won't press charges. It's as simple as that." She'd been mulling over Darla's advice for the last day and finally decided the older woman was right. "I will call Caroline to find out. You have one week to start or at least get it set up. If you refuse to get the help that you need, I'll press charges," Buffy said calmly and then stood up. Angel stood up as well and gathered both of their book sacks and they walked off to class.

The group of girls that were sitting around Buffy noticed the cast. "What happened?" Marcie asked concerned.

Cordelia, whose sister had told her what had happened, waited to see what Buffy would say.

Buffy remembered something that Darla said, grinned, and quickly lied, "Some really great sex."

Angel, who had heard the question and the answer, just smiled at his wife.

Cordelia then said, "Yeah, she landed on her arm the wrong way when the Lover's Swing came unhooked from the ceiling. Doyle said it wasn't installed properly."

Angel and Buffy were both surprised that Cordelia was covering for her.

Buffy caught up to Cordelia after class and said, "Thanks, for what you said back there."

"Look, I still think that you're only after Angel's money, but that doesn't mean that everyone has to know about your father."