Chapter 37 No One
A/N: AAAHHH one more chapter after this one, sing it with me 'It's the final count down.' Anyways I'm sad that it's ending because we all love the Angel and Buffy fluff and the love story with the happy ending. So the last chapter ended well perfect and to be honest it could have ended there but didn't Angel and Buffy say something about more children?
A/N: Also remember way back when in some chapter I mentioned Buffy might not be competing but she's still going to skate so here's the chapter where we see her still skating and still dazzling and still queen of the ice. Also this chapter will have snippet of Buffy's background just enough to fill in a gap or two then I'll describe the show. Plus we got happy Angel and Buffy fluff with some new members of their family.
A/N: Thank you for the amazing reviews you readers are so awesome I wish I could give you guys something for it. You made writing this story so much more fun. Next chapter I'll put all those who have reviewed in my author's note and to all those who have added this story as a favorite I will mention all of you guys too. So with that being said 'It's the final count down.' Sorry it's a song that gets you pumped for anything, ok moving on.
Buffy sat in a chair with lights on her, the interview was over and now it was time for a family shot. It sounded like a good idea at first but to get four kids to sit for a second well that might be too much to ask. After Worlds Buffy was going to an awards dinner and she was going to be commended in the figure skating hall of fame. She's won more medals than any skater in history and the only skater who has skated not one but two perfect shows. While the scoring system has changed she has secured her two perfect six point O's shows and no one will ever top that. She's secured that record indefinitely. She was an inspiration to so many skaters out there both male and female which she felt honored for that.
"No Liam." Buffy said to her six year boy. That was Liam, brown hair brown eyes like his father. Liam got his name because that was Angel original name before his mother at the last second changed it to Angel. Well Liam's name now was 'No Liam' as he always found away to mess with something he shouldn't. The little boy liked to descend on something and destroy it. Liam looked up smiling that devilish smile Angel had. "Liam come over here please." And Liam did what he was told.
"Connor where's Patrick?" Angel asked as he walked in holding his two year old daughter Isabella. Connor was now ten and head strong but charming like his father. Patrick was the second oldest of the four and was eight. Connor shrugged as he stumbled his way in and then Patrick showed up. All four children were here Connor Michael, Patrick Doyle, Liam Aden and Isabella Clair. These four children kept Angel and Buffy on their toes and sometimes they felt like going crazy. Their children were funny, witty and outgoing.
The boys, Angel's boys, his guys, the motley crew the four were a force to be reckon with or at least in their heads that's how they saw each other. Then on top of that Doyle had his boy Colin and another Keegan so it added to the trouble, the extra cuts and scrapes and the wondering if one will get themselves killed. The boys Angel and Doyle included were always getting into something; it must be an O'Brien guy thing that Buffy would never truly understand.
But these boys all four were Buffy's boys too. Angel might be the male leader but Buffy was the alpha female she ran the place. Angel might the boss but Buffy was the boss of the boss and she had the final say in all they did. Her boys listen to her and knew if they disobeyed then they had to prepare to feel her wrath. But those were boys and she loved them. Then you had little Isabella.
Isabella was the girl and the baby. All three boys looked like Angel for the most part well Patrick and Liam they were Angel, spitting images. But Connor was a mix he had mossy green eyes and dirty blonde hair. Then you had have Isabella she had her mother's green eyes and her father's brown hair. She was beautiful and Angel knew in a few years she would attract attention so he had his machete out back and a shot gun ready for purchase when those boys come around. Angel had his boys but then when Isabella came well the pink and glitter went everywhere. Something about a father daughter relationship was special and unique. Isabella had her father wrapped around her finger and she knew it. She just had to give that cute smile and Angel would fall to his knees and bend to her every will.
Angel was like that with both his girls he couldn't win a battle with them they were too cute to fight with which Angel succumbed to Buffy and Isabella all the time. But Isabella wasn't dainty by any means, no she would put on a dress and cute shoes but she would play in the mud with the boys. If she was going to get dirty well then by golly she was going to do it in style. The boys also knew if they made Isabella mad they didn't stand a chance, she could put up a fight and hold her own. Once Liam took a doll from Isabella well that was the last mistake he ever made. Isabella managed to get the doll back and then beat the crap out of Liam with the doll for taking it. Liam thought twice before taking anything of hers. Connor though was the brother Isabella warmed up too, she had his heart like Angel the other boys were smart enough not be fooled by cute looks.
Finally the family of six managed a pose together; this picture was going on a magazine cover so it needed to look good. For one second they captured a good family shot and then it was all chaos again. The boys were ready to leave they wanted to go on the ice and practice for hokey. They all played hockey and were on a team. Isabella knew how to skate as long as she held onto her mom or dad. The kids were getting agitated which meant it was time to burn off some energy.
The rink wasn't busy today which was good. After the boys blew off some excess energy Buffy would rehearse. She was no longer competing in figure skating but she was a performer now. In fact she had two upcoming shows the Worlds exhibitions and then another show called All That Skate. She was a performer now. But when she stepped on the ice the crowds still cheered her on as if she was competing. She still got the rush and the excitement of skating. Matthew still coached her when he would right now he had a new student so Buffy did allot of it on her own. But her family was her coach especially Angel. He understood the skating elements these days and with Isabella very interested about the ice and the boys playing hokey Angel knew the ice was a second home.
Finally the magazine came out with Buffy's biography in it. She had ten page spread about herself. The article was not on just some mere magazine either no it was put in the magazines people read like in the US it People, she was in Sports Illustrated and Time. The Time was the big one. Angel was at the tavern with the Time magazine and begun to read it. He knew what was in it but to actually see it was something else. There were pictures of Buffy too like her very early days and she was such a cute girl. He would have fallen in love with her then too. Doyle picked up his copy and was reading it as well.
Seven American women have won the figure skating championship at the Olympic game. Tenley Albright, Carol Heiss, Peggy Flemming, Dorothy Hamill, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski and Buffy Summers O'Brien. But it's the name Buffy that rings the bell, strikes a chord. She's considered the most decorated figure skater, a true athlete, a legend. She's not only broken records but smashed them and created her own. She redefined what it meant to be a figure skater and set new standards. Two perfect shows, a total of eighteen gold medals, eight time US champion, Nine time Worlds champion and an Olympic gold winner. She has more six point O scores in her career than any skater on record. She has landed more triple moves than any other skater and she even created a move called the butterfly that very few skaters have managed to complete. And this is her story.'
Angel smiled as he continued. It first started with her birth and where she grew up. These two grew up not far from one another, she was LA and he was Sunnydale. It went in how she first started to skate when she was four and did little shows here and there and winning. It wasn't until she was seven the Matthew a sought out figure skating coach found her and never thought twice he had a future champion.
By the time Buffy was ten she took her senior test and passed meaning she was compete at the senior level. No more Junior Worlds or such things no it was the real deal she was with the top women in the country and around the world.
By the time she was fifteen she was in the qualifying rounds for the upcoming winter Olympic. But Buffy didn't compete in the Olympics when she was fifteen, she didn't win the free skate and fell a place short under the qualifying skate program and that year money had started to disappear which added more stress, so she went as an alternate but was never needed. So she told everyone she would wait it out for another four years and try again and in the mean time she dazzled everyone. So when she became nineteen and the next Olympics rolled around she was diagnosed with a stress fracture and was in a cast for six weeks. So by the time the cast came off her right foot was too weak to skate on and the cast was removed a week before the opening ceremonies. She couldn't go which made her that much more upset.
After that she planned on trying again, won Worlds but then had to quit skating altogether. Her money was gone. Matthew knew about the money and was not being paid for a long time but wanted to stay with Buffy. She was so dedicated he was afraid he would find no one else like that. But the sponsorships found out about Buffy's father and thought it was a bad image and she was done. But of course a year later she was back with her coach and a new man Angel. She came back and went to the Olympics and won. Not only did she win she skated her second perfect show, a show still people compare other skaters too. It was a great day for her as she achieved her dreams, wore the gold and waved her home flag.
'While she no longer competes there are a few things that are certain. Just like the stars in the heavens, skaters come and go. A skater wins and then leaves like a shooting start dazzling the night sky. But after all the shooting stars, there is one star that is constant. One star that shines above all others that always dazzles the sky and all other stars just don't look bright enough. That constant star is Buffy. A light in the figure skating world a light that shines to all those who want to be great, to dream as big as you can and to always dazzle the night sky.'
Angel finished the article and smiled but he was shaken out of that when he heard the word dad. He looked up and saw all four kids piling into the tavern with Buffy following in. The four kids found their cousin Colin and Keegan and they all sat in a booth for lunch. Buffy walked over to the back and found Angel and kissed him. He then held up the magazine and her picture standing on the podium winning the gold was on the cover.
"I was wondering if you could sign it for me." Angel asked and Buffy smiled taking the magazine and surfed through it smiling. But the sweet moment was gone.
"Dad where our cups?" A little voice asked, Isabella wanted her juice. Buffy gave Angel a quick kiss on the cheek and went to help get the kids served before heading off to the ice. She had one more week left before the Worlds. The show she was putting on was a more difficult scale. She wanted to excite everyone so doing something difficult would get them ready and it showed she might be in her thirties and a mom but she still owns the ice.
Worlds
Buffy got into her black dress. It looked very nice as it was V shaped in the front and was swooped neck in the back leaving her entire back exposed. Buffy laced up her shoes and made sure her hair was good. It was pulled back with a low bun that was slightly off to the side with a black rose with its tips lined with glitter. Her dress had a white glitter pattern starting on the left side that waved down across the center to the right where it would meet with her hip. Buffy walked to the ice waiting to be called and she was excited. She always got excited before any show no matter how big or small. She knew she could really set the standards at the exhibition and she's not even competing.
Up in the stands were Angel, Connor, Patrick, Liam and Isabella. Angel was her coach and he could be down there if he wanted to but he was dying to see this even though he's seen it many times. He helped her put it together. Then the lights dimmed and Angel smiled.
"Ladies and gentlemen please welcome nine time Worlds winner, eight time US winner and Olympic gold medalist Buffy Summers O'Brien." The announcer said and Buffy skated on the ice and everyone cheered, the place shook once more. Buffy skated around the rink waving and smiling. This was what she loved and now her family was out there in the crowds watching and cheering her on too. Buffy skated to center of the rink and stood straight with her head down waiting. She heard a few 'Go Buffy!' or 'We love you Buffy!' cheers her favorite one came up 'We love you mom!' She knew those were her boys and her daughter and then she zoned in.
The music started and the beat sounded like a heartbeat. So Buffy moved her upper body like a heartbeat four times and it sounded like the wind was howling as the cheering died down. Then the music really started and Buffy spun in a slow circle and then pushed off. The music sounded very primal and war like it would get you excited. She skated backwards while dancing a little twisting her hips. Her face was zeroed in on what she had to do. She did her incredible straight line work while skating around the rink as the spot slight followed her. She then set up for her first move a hard one too it was a triple toe-loop, half toe, double toe-loop combination. She jumped and did each perfectly and the crowds roared. That was her opening combination which this show was going to be very promising. Angel cheered as 'yes' she made her first jumps and continued with her long poses. His heart was racing he still got so excited seeing this, it never got old.
She skated across the ice as the music picked up. She then did some more foot work jumping a little and then skated so close to the edge of the rink, very few skaters did that it was scary to be that close to the wall. Then Buffy was setting up for her next jump the famous triple axel but not without some more impressive footwork. She jumped spinning three times very high in the air and landed and there were more claps. She then jumped into her flying camel spin and spun for a moment. She pulled out of her spin and then did the death drop going into a lay back spin. She then did a quick sit spin and then pushed off and continued. 'Damn she looks so good after four kids.' Angel thought to himself watching. She still looked like she did back when they first met.
She was skating down the rink with more foot work then she did another flying camel but instead going right she went left and did a performed the scratch spin and then pushed off and went to gain some momentum as was setting up for a triple Lutz and a double toe-loop and she did it with more cheering. She then moved in a backwards spiral skated down the ice with people clapping that spiral lasted a while too. She bent forward letting her finger tips touch the ice a favorite move of hers. Buffy pulled herself back up and danced on the ice with more foot work. Then she did something that Angel knew would impress everyone Buffy skated backwards on the ice but not just your normal backwards skating no she moon walked on the ice. 'Oh yeah' Angel thought, 'What now?' People cheered as she did this. Angel laughed knowing that was the reaction they both wanted as she waved to her crowd.
She then continued to skate showing off some more foot line work and little jump spins here and there. She knew her show was almost over but she was about to perform a hard combination which was difficult because she was tired a triple flip with a triple Salchow. Buffy spun and the she set up and did the triple flip and the triple Salchow and everyone cheered as it synched perfectly with the bass of the music sounding like the heartbeat from the beginning. Buffy had a huge smile on her face knowing she was done and the rest was all show. She then skated down the ice backwards, forwards, crisscrossing her feet and people cheered because the music went along with it. As she rose her arms up the crowds only got louder. She then jumped doing the half split, landed jumped again doing her signature butterfly in the air. The crowds cheered. Angel had to stand up to see the end and the cheering almost drowned out the music. The boys stood in their chairs to see and Angel held up little Isabella so she could see the end.
Buffy then did her Y spin combination and then spun faster and faster, her death spin as some called it and yet no one has gotten that fast before let alone stop like she can. The music ended and Buffy held her finish pose smiling. She took in a deep breath as she waved to everyone as they cheered.
"Go mom!" Connor yelled as he clapped and Angel just smiled. It's a good thing she wasn't competing who would want to follow that? Isabella smiled and clapped too. Buffy was getting roses and flowers of all kind tossed at her as she waved to everyone.
"I want to do that." Isabella stated while pointing to her mom as she waved, blew kisses and curtsied. Angel nodded saying she'll get there someday as Buffy skated off the ice still getting cheers. She still has it.
Buffy needed to rest up as she another show to perform later but the last one was talked about more than some of the real shows at Worlds. Buffy sat outside at the estates while the kids played. Isabella held some butterfly magnates she stole off the fridge in the house and Buffy smiled as she stood there with them. Some of the family was here hanging out for the afternoon.
"Izzy are those yours?" Buffy asked and she looked to her mom saying no but she held onto them. "If you want them you need to ask for them." But that wasn't going to happen. Joyce Buffy were sitting on a small bench together out on the huge porch and Angel had a really funny joke to play. Buffy had a drink in her hand as some of the family members conversed.
"Hey Buffy?" Angel asked and she looked up and he threw something. Buffy screamed as she saw something long and black fly at her. She tried to dodge it spilling half of her drink on her mother. It was a rubber snake and Joyce looked to Angel with her jaw dropped. Angel just stood there laughing knowing that would happen. Everyone who saw that laugh and Joyce reached for a napkin to dry herself.
"We found our old toy box." Doyle informed as Angel stood there smiling.
"Dad," Connor said as he got up from the ground. Isabella dropped all her butterflies she found and picked up the rubber snake and she had a new toy. "Can we go on the three wheeler?" Angel was hoping for that and he and Doyle headed to the shed follow by the boys, boys and their toys. Angel hopped on the bike first and turned it on and slowly backed out of the shed with it. Connor climbed on as Buffy went to see what was happening. Patrick and Liam climbed on the back and Isabella wanted to go to so Angel leaned forward picked her up and placed her in front of him.
"Angel you be careful with my babies." Buffy warned him as he revved the engine smiling that smile that meant he was up to something. The three wheeler was bought right around the same time Isabella was born and it was a hit. Angel backed out a little more and then sped off.
"Bye mom!" Isabella waved and the three boys cheered as Angel would drive them around the property. Buffy trusted Angel but she didn't trust the three wheeler. Cordelia stood next to her shaking her head.
"Boys." Cordelia said.
"Yeah." Buffy stated and watched as Angel drove around.
Angel came back as the kids jumped off and Buffy walked over to him and patted the seat behind him.
"Come on Buffy." He said smiling and she got on holding onto him and he was off. Once they got far enough away Angel stopped the bike and got off. "Ready?" He asked.
"What?" She asked.
"Gonna teach ya." Angel said and she scooted forward. "Ok here's your back break," He pointed to the right hand. "Your front break," He pointed to the left handle. "Your gas," He pointed to a black trigger where Buffy's right thumb was. "Down here is your E-break." Angel pointed to her right foot. "And then over here is your clutch." Angel walked over and pointed to a little bar that sat right over Buffy's left toe. "You click up to shift gears up and then click down to shift down." Buffy found it similar to a motorcycle. "Just go easy on turns." Angel informed her and she nodded. Angel climbed on board and Buffy pushed on the gas and they were off.
The kids were staying at the estates as Angel and Buffy went to the awards ceremony for her placement in the hall of fame. Since Worlds took place in a France this year it wasn't a long flight. Angel and Buffy would stay the night and leave in the morning. They sat at table together in a huge hall and Buffy was placed in the hall. There would be a plaque with her name on it with all her awards on engraved on it. Of course with any dinner there was a dance. The couple loved their kids but it was nice to get away.
Angel led Buffy to the dance floor and took her hand into his. The song was a bit poppy but actually a nice song to dance too. Buffy and Angel swayed together as the music started.
'I just want you close where you can stay forever.' Buffy smiled looking up at him as they were close. 'You can be sure that it will only get better.'
"Did I tell you, you look amazing tonight?" Angel asked and she smiled. 'You and me together through the days and nights.' She wore a black dress similar to the one years ago when they first had dinner together at her old place back in Sunnydale. 'I don't worry 'cause everything's going to be alright.'
"Nope must have slipped your mind." Buffy said smiling as he could see the four left clover necklace around her neck. She never took it off. 'People keep talking they can say what they like but all I know is everything's going to be alright.' Angel kissed her forehead. 'No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I'm feeling.'
"You look amazing tonight." He said. 'No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you. Can get in the way of what I feel for you.' Angel then spun her out and brought her closer again. 'When the rain is pouring down and my heart is hurting.' He then bent her backwards. 'You will always be around this I know for certain you and me together through the days and nights.' She giggled as she came back up. 'I don't worry 'cause everything's going to be alright. People keep talking they can say what they like. But all I know is everything's going to be alright.' And they danced closer.
'No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I'm feeling.' He still was a great dancer. 'No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you. Can get in the way of what I feel for you.' And they got closer together. 'I know some people search the world to find something like what we have.' Buffy smiled looking into his chocolate brown eyes that smiled right back. 'I know people will try, try to divide something so real so til the end of time I'm telling you there is no one.'
'No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I'm feeling.' Buffy then rested her chin on his shoulder smiling thinking about all she's accomplished in her life and it couldn't get much better than this. 'No one, no one, no one can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you. Can get in the way of what I feel for you.' He kissed her head as they swayed together until the song ended.
So what did you think of that show? It's just a sweet chapter along with an update to see where everyone is at but yeah four kids. Anyways next chapter is the last one oh no. Great High Mountain, any ideas what it's about? Last chapter is next thanks for reading comments and reviews are welcomed.
The show is based off of Alexei Yagudin's 2002 performance at the Salt Lake City Olympics.
The Song at the end is Alicia Keys' No One