A/N: Okay I have to apologize for two things. One: I am SO SORRY that it took me this long to update after the last chapter. You guys were so patient during finals, I really wanted to thank you by posting two chapters in quick succession but RL got in the way yet again. Two: I'm also sorry that this chapter is about a page and a half shorter than usual, but I wanted to get it posted asap.
As for where we are in the story, I'm thinking maybe five more chapters to the end. Sad, I know, but I have an ending point in mind, and I think 5 chapters will get us there.
As always, please let me know what you think! Good, bad, or ugly, share your thoughts! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season! Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Buffy woke up on the morning of her spa day with Cordelia, Willow, and Faith feeling remarkably well rested. Life had been busy in the week since her and Angel's engagement; with school for both of them and Iona, along with lawyer meetings and other family obligations. Riley's lawyer had served Buffy with the papers calling her to a hearing in five weeks. She couldn't lie, she was relieved. The waiting, constantly wondering when Riley would finally make good on his threat was putting a strain on her, and her relationships with other people. She was more confidant now than ever that the judge would award her custody of Iona, even without the damning evidence against Darla.
Angel had slept at his own apartment the night before, having a guy's night that included Spike, Oz, and after much pushing from Buffy, Xander. Angel and Xander weren't getting along any better, but they tried to hide it for Buffy.
The door to her apartment opened and the three other girls walked in, bearing coffee, pastries, and the newspaper.
"Hey guys!" Buffy called from the bedroom, where she was getting dressed. "I'll be out in a sec!"
"No worries!" Faith called back. She went into Buffy's kitchen, pulling out plates for their breakfast and a bottle of orange juice. Cordelia grinned wickedly and pulled a bottle of Champaign from her purse.
"Look what I brought," she sang. Faith grinned, but Willow sighed.
"No mimosas for me," she said sadly. She still hadn't told anyone but Buffy and Oz about the pregnancy.
"Why not?" Cordelia asked, sounding appalled that anyone could refuse mimosas.
"Wait, wait! Don't tell them yet," Buffy cried, skidding into the kitchen. She fell into a chair and huffed before motioning for Willow to go ahead.
"Well, I can't have any alcohol for the next six or so months," Willow said. Faith frowned and looked at Cordelia, who shrugged.
"Why not?" Faith asked, echoing Cordelia's earlier question. Willow looked at Buffy and the two women grinned.
"Because I'm pregnant," Willow said, as if it were the most obvious reason in the world. Faith shrieked in a very un-Faith like way and Cordelia smiled. She didn't really know these girls yet, but she thought maybe they could be good friends. Even Faith, who was the kind of person Cordelia usually distanced herself from.
"Congrats, Will!" Faith cried, pulling the redhead in for a hug. Cordelia offered up a hug too.
"Yes, congratulations Willow. Now it looks like we have two things to celebrate today!"
Faith brought out the plates while Buffy grabbed Champaign flutes and then four women divided up their breakfast. Then Cordelia fixed their drinks, just orange juice for Willow, and proposed a toast.
"To Buffy, my future sister-in-law: I hope my brother makes you as happy as you make him. And to Willow: buckle up. I hear parenting is a wild ride." They laughed as they clinked their glasses together.
"So, B," Faith said as they settled into eating their breakfast. "You and Angel picked a date yet?"
"No," Buffy said, shaking her head. "We've discussed everything but the date."
"Well isn't that like the first thing you pick?" Cordelia asked. Buffy shrugged.
"It should be, probably, but I think we're avoiding the date part," Buffy explained. "I want to wait until after the custody hearing, because I don't want Angel to think that it has anything to do with my decision to marry him. Angel wants to get married as soon as possible so that the judge gives us custody."
"Well, Buffy, I think Angel knows you'd marry him either way. Why not go for it?" Willow asked.
"I don't know. I want to do this wedding right, all Riley and I had was the little official ceremony at the justice-of-the-peace. Now I'm older and I know that Angel and I are forever, and I want time to plan a great wedding," Buffy said.
"You know…" Cordelia said carefully. "I have a friend who's a wedding planner, and she's just great with rush jobs. She could help you guys plan the wedding of the century in five weeks, and of course she'd do it for free, because she owes me. Big time."
"Really?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, totally. I can give you her number when we get back from the spa," Cordelia offered. Buffy smiled her thanks.
"That would be great."
"Speaking of the spa," Willow said. "We should probably go if we want to make our first appointment on time.
#
"Angel, when you and mommy get married, are you going to be my Daddy?" Iona asked as she and Angel walked down Main Street. Since Buffy and the girls were at the spa, Angel had offered to spend the day with Iona, just the two of them. They were planning on seeing a movie and then going to the park.
"Well, your Dad will always be your Dad, but if you want, I can be your Dad too," Angel said carefully, hoping what he'd just said made sense. Iona reached up for his hand, holding tightly as they neared the movie theatre.
"I want you to be my Dad too," she stated, very matter-of-factly. Angel smiled.
"Good. Hey, should we surprise Mommy and the girls with dinner when they come back from the spa?" Angel asked, taking their tickets from the teenager working the booth. Iona's eyes lit up and she started bouncing up and down.
"Yes! Yes!"
"Okay, what should we make them?"
"Pizza!" Iona shouted. Angel laughs, swinging her up into his arms so she doesn't get lost in the long line.
"What should we put on the pizza?" Angel asked. Iona wrinkled her little nose.
"Anything but anchovies!" Iona said with disgust, totally butchering the word anchovies. Angel laughed.
"How about some ham and pineapple?" Angel knew that was Iona and Buffy's favorite kind of pizza, and it was pretty easy to make from scratch.
"My favorite!"
#
"That was just what I needed," Buffy said as she, Willow, Cordelia, and Faith entered the apartment later that night. They all looked refreshed and relaxed after a day of mud masks and massages. Buffy stopped as she tossed her keys on the little table, inhaling deeply.
"Oh my God, that smells incredible," Willow moaned. Buffy heard the pitter patter of little feet as Iona rushed to meet them. She launched herself at Buffy and hugged her tightly. Angel appeared moments later.
"Ladies, Iona and I have decided to make you a special treat for dinner," Angel said, smiling.
"What is it?" Faith asked.
"Ham and pineapple homemade pizza!" Iona shrieked. Buffy winced as they high pitched squeal rang in her ears, but smiled soon after.
"Well that's very nice of you and Angel, Iona," Buffy said, setting her daughter down. The little girl ran to Angel and the scene was enough to make Buffy's heart melt.
"So, shall we enjoy dinner?" Angel asked. He was met with a resounding 'yes'.
#
"Iona told me she wants me to be her Dad after we get married," Angel said, late that night as he kissed his way down Buffy's stomach.
"She does?" Buffy asked, a little breathless.
"Is that okay with you?" Angel asked hesitantly. Buffy tugged on his hair, silently asking him to look up. He stopped kissing her, resting his chin on her pelvic bone and meeting her eyes.
"Of course it's okay with me. Angel, I am so glad that you and Iona get along well and that she wants to call you Daddy. She loves you just as much as I do, and I can't imagine a more perfect outcome to this," she said pointedly.
"Good. I love you," Angel said. He traced his fingers over her thigh and across her stomach, smiling as she giggled. He pressed a kiss to her hip bone as his fingers disappeared between her legs, tracing her folds and then dipping inside. Buffy shuddered, her grip on his hair tightening and her hips bucking just slightly.
Angel shifted so that his face was between her legs and leaned in to flick his tongue across her clit as he curled his fingers inside of her. She let out a shuddering groan and Angel could feel her entire body shaking in want. He sucked on her clit, creating firm pressure as his fingers pumped slowly in and out. Soon, Buffy's hips were bucking wildly and he started pumping faster, sucking harder. Buffy's back bowed and she squirmed, trying to get away and press close at the same time. As he felt her start to tighten around his fingers, she grabbed a pillow and pressed it into her face, screaming loud and long. She shuddered as Angel worked her down slowly.
As she recovered, breathing heavy and a light sheen of sweat covering her skin, Angel crawled up her body and kissed her. She locked her legs around his hips as he entered her in one smooth thrust.
Their lovemaking was slow, but intense as Angel drew out slowly before slamming home. Buffy felt her bones rattle with every thrust, and she couldn't stop the cries and grunts that escaped her. She dug her nails into his shoulders, arching to meet him, never wanting the feeling of him inside her to end. She clamped down on his cock and relished in satisfaction as his eyes rolled back.
Buffy's orgasm slammed into her as hard as Angel did, taking them both by surprise as she came, muffling her cries by biting into Angel's shoulder. He followed shortly after, triggered by the tight squeeze of her internal muscles and the sharp bite of her teeth against his skin. He groaned as he emptied into her and then collapsed on the bed beside her.
"Do you know Cordelia's friend Harmony?" Buffy asked as they lay there, basking in the afterglow. Angel nodded, looking over at her.
"Yeah, why?"
"Cordelia said she's kind of a pro at planning celebrity worthy rush weddings. What would you think about using her as a wedding planner?" Buffy suggested. Angel smiled, knowing her words meant she was agreeing to marry him before the custody hearing. He leaned over to kiss her.
"I think if she can give us your dream wedding in four weeks, we should use her. Are you sure you're okay with getting married so soon?" Angel asked, running his fingers through her hair.
"I'm sure. I didn't want you to think I was only doing it for the hearing, but Willow said you knew that wasn't why I said yes. She's right, isn't she?" Buffy asked, sounding hopeful and a little apprehensive.
"She's right. Buffy, I never for a second thought you said yes just to get custody. But it will be a nice perk, won't it?" Angel said, grinning. Buffy laughed.
"Yeah, it'll be a nice perk."
#
"Buffy, how are you?" Giles asked as she came into his office. She smiled at him and took her usual chair, sipping the coffee Anya had gotten for her.
"Great, actually, how are you?" Giles gave a little laugh at her enthusiastic answer and nodded.
"I'm fine, thank you," he said. "What brings you in today?"
"I wanted to let you know that Angel and I are engaged, and we're getting married in about three and a half weeks," Buffy explained happily. Giles looked taken aback.
"Buffy…" He started. Buffy held up a hand.
"I promise I'm not getting married just to help my case. I love Angel, and I actually wanted to wait until after the hearing, but he talked me into it. Iona adores him, he adores her, and we're going to be a wonderful family," Buffy insisted. Giles' face softened and he offered her a smile.
"Best wishes, then."
"Thank you, Giles. So, is there anything you need from Angel for the case?" Bufy asked.
"Well, maybe. If the two of you are going to have joint bank accounts, I'll need to see those statements. Transcripts, lease or mortgage documents, and a character reference or two wouldn't be remiss," Giles explained. Buffy nodded, standing and slinging her purse over her shoulder.
"Thank you, Giles. I'll bring those over as soon as I can."
"Good," Giles said, cleaning his glasses.
"And expect a wedding invite," Buffy said, just as she slipped out the door. She did, however, manage to catch Giles' hilariously shocked expression. She just smiled and waved.
