Part 12

The subsequent morning Buffy was brusquely awoken by a relentless ringing noise. Lifting her head ever so slightly from it's resting place upon Angelus' chest, she fleetingly wondered what on earth was making the truly aggravating noise. Ultimately realizing that it was the touchtone phone on Angelus' side of the colossal bed, Buffy reached across her slumbering husband and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" she managed to murmur drowsily. All she sought was a little more sleep, after all it was not like she had gotten much the night before during Angelus' epic we're having a baby observance.

"Hey Buffy," Willow's much too chirpy voice came down the line. "Is there a reason you haven't picked me up for class?"

"Oh fuck!" Buffy shrieked, inadvertently waking her snoozing husband. "Sorry Wils, Angel and I spent the evening celebrating and we... well, I didn't get much sleep."

"I can speculate why with Mr. Tall, dark and studly, just why you didn't get any sleep... but what were the two of you celebrating? Your mom's still alive right?"

Buffy was wordless for the split second, part of her sought to keep quiet about the baby; but Willow was her best friend in the entire world and she should know. Besides sooner or later she was going to have to tell everyone anyway.

"I'm pregnant."

Willow squealed in evident delight, "Congratulations, Buffy." Then her tone sobered up and she asked quietly, "It is congratulations, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," Buffy reassured her. "On the other hand I don't think I'm going to go to class today, even if it is first day back."

"I absolutely identify with and I'll even let you copy my notes on the lecture," Willow replied still hyped from the news she had received. "I'll call you later and you can tell me everything. Bye."

"Bye Wils."

Just as she completed putting the receiver back into its cradle, Buffy felt Angelus take hold of her diminutive wrist and found herself suddenly flipped over until she was lying trapped beneath his hard body. Looking up into her husband's self-satisfied, smirking face she couldn't help the giggle that erupted from her.

"What are you doing?" she asked him as she tried to stop the overflow of laughter.

Angelus nuzzled his face into her neck and began to lay demonstrative kisses from just below her earlobe to across her collar bone. "I assumed it was reasonably apparent," he muttered against her soft skin.

Buffy's chuckles turned into a gasp when Angelus moved his exploration down to her sensitive breasts. "What? Wasn't last night enough of a celebration for you?" she managed to hiss a few moments later.

Angelus pulled away from her body and looked deep into her eyes, "Never." Before she had a chance to respond to his statement, Angelus captured her lips with his own effectively cutting off verbal communication as he began the celebration all over again.


Joyce intolerantly waited outside of the Kent Academy gates after classes were over for the day, anxious to collect both Kathy and Dawn as they came out of the school. For once she was glad that it was her turn to pick the two teenagers up, this way she could confront Buffy over Dawn's allegation when she dropped Kathy home, instead of waiting for another time. The instant that both girls had climbed into Joyce's vehicle she sped off towards Buffy and Angelus' home, hell bent on getting to the bottom of the so-called situation.

Less than ten minutes later Joyce screeched to a halt outside of the mansion where her eldest daughter now resided. Taking a deep breath she climbed out of the automobile and walked rapidly towards the weighty wooden front door, entering milliseconds after Kathy had managed to unlock it. Stepping into the copious, spacious entrance hall she heard what sounded like giggling coming from the living room; wanting to see what was going on, she barged straight in. She found - to her surprise - her daughter and the evil bastard she'd married sprawled across the plush white leather couch.

"What is going on here?" Joyce demanded instantaneously.

Angelus looked up and removed Buffy from his body, uncomfortable with the position they were caught in, in front of Joyce. "Nothing much. Thank you for bringing Kathy home."

"That's not what I am talking about. I am talking about the rumor that I am about to become a fucking grandmother."

Buffy paled apprehensively, "Who told you that?"

"Dawn did," Joyce replied without blinking, concentrating all her energy on her daughter and son-in-law.

Angelus put his arm around Buffy securely, in a gesture of support. Clearing her throat she began, "Congratulate us... it's true."

"What? Are you stupid or something?" Joyce screamed at the top of her lungs. "You are way too young to be having a baby and if you think for one microsecond that Mr. I'm-so-rich is going to hang around and help you to change the diapers, then you are wrong. Men like him and your father aren't in it for the long haul."

Buffy shook her head in utter disbelief. She hadn't expected her mother to be thrilled with the news, but she had at least expected some sort of support. "I can't believe you just compared Angelus to daddy. If daddy had been even half the man Angel is then... he would have made sure that Dawnie and I would be okay, not left us destitute and out in the streets."

"Buffy..."

"No mom, it's you who doesn't get it. Angelus and I are having this baby regardless of your *objections*. Now you can either deal with the situation, or not be in *our* child's life. I refuse to put up with this crap any longer."

Buffy got up and marched straight out of the room, past both her sister and her sister-in-law without uttering a single word. Making certain that her daughter was well out of earshot, Joyce turned to Angelus.

"I know all about you, McKenna. You can't possibly want this child," Joyce said to Angelus. "For all our sakes, convince Buffy..."

"If I were you, I wouldn't even dream about finishing that sentence," Angelus told her, his voice chilling her to the very bone. "I want this child very much, as does Buffy. If you don't, then I suggest that you keep out of *all* our lives from now on."

Joyce perceptibly was shocked by Angelus' attitude and words. Without uttering a mono-syllable she turned around and walked out of the mansion with an extremely confused and upset Dawn trailing behind her.

Closing the door on his evil bitch mother-in-law, Angelus sighed and tried to reign in his anger, so he wouldn't further upset Buffy in her condition. Once he was certain that the effects of Joyce's visit were under control he went off in search of Buffy. It didn't take long to find her; she was sitting by the colossal in-ground pool, wading her shapely legs in the cool, clear blue water. Without speaking Angelus removed his hand-crafted Italian leather shoes, designer socks and rolled up the legs on his Armani trousers, before he joined her. Not knowing what else to do, he put his arm around her and held her as she sobbed her heart out over her mother.


The next few weeks were hard on Buffy - both physically and emotionally. The emotional was naturally due to the tension between her and Joyce over the baby, plus the added stress of the extra coursing through her body because of the pregnancy. The physical stuff was mostly due to the subtle changes occurring in her body not that at this early stage of her pregnancy there was much going on - besides morning sickness.

The appalling bouts of morning sickness had come on out of the blue and contrary to its name, it didn't simply strike only in the morning hours. It had been so dire at one point that Angelus - after seeing her wretch her guts out for virtually a two days without break - had dragged her off to the emergency room of Sunnydale General, only to be told by the overworked and underpaid physician on duty that this happens to some women. Then concerned for a second opinion, he dragged her off to the family doctor, who offered as a last resort medication and once that was rebuffed, simply told her to take it easy.

Consequently she ended up missing a few classes here and there. After she missed three psychology classes in a row, Riley confronted Willow about what was going on and if Buffy was all right. Dependably her best friend told Riley nothing but to mind his own business and to stay away from Buffy. Alas when she finally did return to her classes Buffy had, had to give explanation as to why she had been missing and the psychology professor informed Riley of his ex-girlfriend's pregnancy. Accordingly a few days later, Riley offered Buffy his earnest congratulations and left her alone, forever out of reach.


"So you actually did it!" Lindsey acknowledged as he eyed his long time friend warily. "You managed to knock up the ice queen, Buffy Summers."

"That's Buffy McKenna to you my friend. Besides my wife never was an ice queen - trust me on this."

Lindsey merely shook his head, "You are *so* screwed."

"Linds, shut up. You don't know what the hell you are talking about," Angelus replied brusquely, as he sipped the expensive scotch that his friend had poured him.

"Angie, it's you who doesn't have a fucking clue. Buffy has got so wrapped up around her little finger that if she wanted you to, you'd wax your ass and streak through O'Brien's Tavern during Happy Hour."

Angelus couldn't help but snigger at his friend's portrayal. "One, my ass does not need to be waxed - unlike yours. Two, O'Brien's went out of business years ago and three..."

"Yeah... and what?"

"She can't have me wrapped around her little finger because she has absolutely no idea of the power that she has over me," Angelus sighed. "Buffy doesn't know a thing about my feelings."

Lindsey felt the utmost empathy for his friend's predicament, but didn't show it. "Angelus, it's better for the sake of your contract that she doesn't know."

"But how is she supposed to want to stay if she doesn't?"

Lindsey slammed the crystal scotch glass down onto his mahogany desk, leaving a slight dent. "I fucking knew it, you are an idiot. Buffy doesn't love you; you're a business arrangement to her - nothing more. Do you honestly think that Buffy's going to pop out Angelus junior and suddenly proclaim her undying love and devotion? Well, do you?"

Angelus didn't answer him; instead he put down his glass and stood up. "I'd love to stay and talk, Linds; but I have to pick Buffy up from her class. I'll see you later."

Lindsey followed his friend and client out into the outer office area, ignoring his silly little secretary. "Angie, I do mean this. Congratulations to you and to Buffy... on the baby."

Angelus left the office with a nod of acknowledgement and Lindsey headed back into his private sanctum, neither of the two men had noticed Harmony Kendall absorbing every word that was said, her mouth hanging open in a permanent state of shock.


After he had finished up his work for the day, Riley Finn headed over to the campus tavern for a beer before he headed home and did some of the pile of marking that had accumulated on his desk. He had been there a little while and was nursing his one indulgence and contemplating calling his wife back home in Iowa and begging for another chance, when someone sat down next to him.

"Hello again."

Riley heaved a sigh, but didn't take the trouble to look. "Get lost."

The bartender walked over and Darla gave him her order. When he was gone she spoke again, "Look, I'm going to give you one more opportunity to help me."

"No thanks," Riley replied instantly. "I can't do it, it's wrong to mess around with other people's lives, Doris."

"My name is *Darla*. And it's not messing with their lives; it's saving them from a mistake."

Riley shook his head, "It's never a mistake when there's a child involved."

"A what?"

"They're pregnant," Riley informed her as he stood up and left a few bills on the bar as payment for his drink. "Why don't you just leave them alone?"

Darla simply sat there and sipped the drink that had finally arrived as Riley walked away. She was imagining the possibilities that she could use this tidbit of information she had been given. Maybe if she planted the seed of doubt, Angelus would toss Barbie back out onto the street where she belonged and put Darla back in her rightful position.


Angelus had made a swift stop by his office before he went to pick Buffy up and now was impatient to see her, even though he had called her a myriad of times throughout the day. He just wasn't going to be satisfied that she was fine until he could see it for himself. Exiting his office building he headed towards his motor vehicle and received a repulsive surprise waiting for him. Darla was sitting on the hood of his car with an evil smirk lighting up her face.

"Angelus... I hear best wishes are in order for you and your little Barbie Doll."

"Fuck off, Darla," Angelus said removing her from his car and unlocking the driver's side door.

"Angelus, Angelus, Angelus," Darla answered shaking her blond head at him. "Always working - did you ever stop to think that maybe Barbie's brat isn't actually yours? She does seem to spend an awful lot of time with all those college guys, especially... Riley Finn."

Angelus tossed his briefcase inside the car and turned to Darla, his eyes flashing with only just repressed anger. "You manipulative little bitch. Do you honestly think that I would believe the lies you tell? Buffy is my wife, my love, my life and the mother of my unborn child. If I were you I'd leave town for awhile, because if I was to find out that you were hanging around spreading rumors about *my* family... well, let's just say they would *never* find the body."

Darla stood there in shocked silence as he drove away; when he was gone she slowly made her way to her own vehicle and got inside. Once she was in the safety of the car she gave into the fear coursing through her body and began to shake. She had never seen Angelus so angry - especially never directed at her - and decided that his suggestion might be a good idea. She would leave town for awhile and let him cool down before trying again, after all Europe was always beautiful at this time of year.


TBC...