Hidden Secrets Brought to Light - Part 3
The van pulled into a parking lot for a store about 4 miles from the motel. The lot was empty, save for a aging pine green Ford Focus.
It was a typical small town department store, it had just about everything, since it was just about the only store around.
Angel sat in the van for a few minutes and waited for 7am, when the store officially opened.
A woman appeared in the front window display and flipped the closed sign to open; he got out and headed inside. The older woman behind the register looked up as he walked in, and then glanced down at his naked feet.
He shrugged to her, hiding the pain it caused him, and said with a mild grin "Rough night".
She nodded, not looking completely convinced, but didn't pursue the subject. There wasn't a 'no shirt, no shoes, no service sign' out front. He made a bee line to the men's shoes and found a pair of black sneakers; he grabbed a pair of socks and went to the clothes section. Variety was limited, so he ended up with a royal blue button-down shirt, an undershirt, blue pinstripe boxers and a pair of black slacks.
He thought for a moment then went to the woman's clothes and picked out an outfit for Buffy, remembering her clothes had been ruined by his blood. He also grabbed her some undergarments and a few toiletry supplies. He was about to head to the register when he thought of something else, and wandered down the vitamin isle.
A few minutes later he was at the counter giving a weak smile to the older woman, who still gave him a disapproving frown. She paused and glanced up at him when she scanned the prenatal vitamins, "For my…wife." He lied, but hoped it wouldn't be one for long.
He paid for his items with Oz's stolen credit card, and scurried out of the store.
Once back in the van he pulled the tags and stickers off the merchandize and donned his new clothes, finally feeling like a person again.
He couldn't help but look as his eyes fell upon the dried blood on the floor of the van, 'Most of that is mine.' He cringed. 'I guess I owe Oz a van cleaning… and repair.' He added when he saw the dent Angelus left from Xander's back. 'Crap. I need to apologize to him too…or not.'
He reached inside one of the bags and popped the top off an aspirin bottle and swallowed a few dry.
He started the van and pulled up to a dumpster in the lot, tossed his blood-soaked pants out the window into the garbage. 'Good riddance.'
A moment later he drove the van pulled out of the parking lot, steering the vehicle in the direction of the motel.
A mile later he noticed a coffee shop and pulled into the vacant lot, parked the van and went inside.
Ten minutes later he exited with two trays of beverages and two large bags of assorted breakfast items.
Once back in the van he couldn't resist the smell of food, realizing he hadn't eaten in…days? He scoffed down two chocolate chip muffins and guzzled down a bottle of water, then headed back to the motel.
...
At 7:48am Buffy heard the van pull up, she looked out the window and saw Angel in the driver's seat.
'Oh thank God! He didn't leave me again,' She tighten the sheet, re-wrapping it as covering as possible. She hurried to the door dashed outside to him.
"Where did you go!" she yelled at him, instantly sorry for her harsh tone when he winced. Her voice softened, "I was worried" she added a second later.
"Sorry" he mumbled as he got out of the van and slid the side door open.
Her attention was drawn to his clothes and the bags, "You went shopping?" She asked, astonished, "You hate shopping. And you didn't bring me" she finished with a frown.
"You were sleeping." He countered, and noting her state of attire, "and not really dressed for it."
"And you were?" she shot back, defiant to the end.
He ignored the comment and grabbed a bag from the back and handed it to her.
She looked at him for a moment than peeked inside. She beamed at him, "You bought me clothes!" she squealed and hugged him, careful not to squeeze his ribs.
Oz glanced out the window at the van's sudden reappearance, and figured out fairly quickly that he DID put his wallet next to the bed the previous night and that SOMEONE had stolen it, and not that he 'must have misplaced it' as Willow had suggested when he mentioned they were missing.
He strolled outside and peered intently at the part time vampire.
Angel noticed him approach and quickly squirmed out of Buffy's arms.
"Ahh...Hey Oz," Angel said with mock happy, "I ahh…guess your looking for these." Angel tentatively handed the wallet and keys back to their rightful owner.
"Yeah…thanks." The part time werewolf replied as he slid the stolen items back into his pants pockets.
"Listen Oz, I'm sorry. I'll pay you back…with interest." Angel apologized.
"It's cool, man" Oz insisted shrugging, "The others made a blood donation to the Angel fund, mine was credit."
For a moment Angel looked stricken, then gave the current redhead a weak smile and nodded his head. "Yeah" he said weakly.
Oz turned to go back to the room but was called back by Angel, when he came over to the open door, Angel handed him a coffee tray, a bag and the shirt he had borrowed without permission.
Oz raised an eyebrow.
"Bought coffee and breakfast for everyone" Angel admitted. "As thanks? Can you make the rounds?"
"Yeah, sure." Oz agreed, nodded his head in thanks, then left to deliver the goods.
Buffy had stood silently off to the side, waiting for her turn again. Once Oz left, she drifted back over to Angel, noticing how tired he suddenly looked. "Are you Ok?" She asked looking into his eyes for an honest answer and laying a hand on him arm.
"Fine" he mumbled, not meeting her gaze. He diverted his eyes to the back of the van, reaching in and grabbing the other two shopping bags and the breakfast bag.
He slung the shopping bags on his forearm and held the pastry bag under him arm, then handed the second coffee tray to Buffy.
Once the van was empty, he slid the van door shut with his free hand, Buffy noticed him wince as he did so.
She turned and heading back to the room, deciding to wait until inside to confront Angel, she was relieved he was following.
Once inside, Buffy placed the tray on the nearby table then turned to shut the door.
Angel walked over to the bed and put the shopping bag down, then turned and sat down heavily on the mattress.
She placed her bag on the bed next to his and stood beside him. "Angel?" she asked in a worried tone, slowly raising a hand to caress his cheek.
"Sorry" he muttered, not looking quite all-there. "Tired".
When he didn't shy away from her touch, she rapped her arms around his head and drew him against her, running her fingers gently through his hair.
She resisted the urge to ask him why he left in the first place; instead she started to unbutton his shirt. "Then sleep."
He shook his head and stood, "Not yet." He removed the unbuttoned shirt and stepped out of his shoes, then headed to the bathroom, a few seconds later she heard the shower turn on.
Buffy idled around the room, waiting patiently for Angel to finish his shower. 'Why does he need to shower again anyways? How dirty could he have gotten since last night?' After a moment, "Unless he's trying to wash off the feeling of Angelus all over him? Or maybe the heat from the water is soothing the pain from his bruises?' She shook her head, 'Maybe he just went in for some space and to brood?'
Her attention was drawn to the smell coming from the paper bag sitting on the table, the smell of fresh baked pastry. She casually opened the bag of food and suddenly realized she was ravenous. 'Haven't eaten in how long? That can't be good for the baby...'
Two jelly donuts and blueberry muffin later she resealed the bag and put it on the table. She plucked a water from the coffee tray and sucked down most of it.
Once her stomach was full, her attention was drawn back to the bag Angel had given her outside. She skipped over to it and took the clothes out, smiling at his surprisingly amazing fashion sense; a simple pair of black slacks, a white tank top, and soft fuzzy white sweater.
Beneath those she found a nice lavender bra and panty set and a few assorted toiletries; hairbrush, toothbrush & paste, deodorant, razor and a nail file. She laughed when she saw the nail file, she remembering a conversation she had with him a few months ago about how a nail file was an essential.
The last thing she noticed was a bottle; 'He bought me vitamins?' she pondered, then pick it up and read the label; One-A-Day, Woman's Prenatal Vitamins.
Her eyes widen when she abruptly remembered never actually talking to Angel about her pregnancy, it was Angelus who found out.
'No wonder he's been distant, I betrayed him. Everyone knew…Angelus knew… I was pregnant before he did…I'm an awful person.' She felt nauseous, and it had nothing to do with morning sickness.
She imagined having to learn about something that important from her evil alter ego's memories. 'No wonder you took off this morning.'
She opened the bottle and shook out one of the not-so-little pills, 'Guess I should take one, been hell on this poor kid lately...honestly I'm surprised I didn't lose it. Not to mention extremely grateful.' She swallowed down the pill, making a face at the aftertaste.
...
The water turned off and a few minutes later Angel walked out wearing only boxers; toweling off his hair with one hand and dropping his clothes on the chair next to the bed.
"Angel!" Buffy moaned when she saw him, her inner torment postponed when she looked at his body. Black, blue, red, yellow, purple, hell every color in the rainbow, bruises covered his body.
He reached inside one of his bags and pulled out the bottle of aspirin, shaking out three and swallowing them dry.
"Your ribs" she said, standing to look him over, and not liking what she found; his back was worse, nearly completely one giant bruise. She noticed a first aid kit sticking out of one of his bags and grabbed it and ordered him to sit on the bed so she could bind his if not broken, severely bruised, ribs.
He obeyed without a word and let her tend to him, wincing as she bound his ribs and spread ointment on some of his wounds.
"You're not healing." She pouted, once she was done bandaging him.
"I will…the gunshot took a lot… need time to recharge." He replied sullenly.
"Then lay down already, rest, you look like you're about to keel over" She urged as she lifted his legs and swung them onto the bed.
He lay down without protest and she pulled the covers up to his chest, his eyes were already shut.
She sat next to him on the bed, and stroked his hair until he drifted off.
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep, his injuries and lack of actual sleep the nights before quickly conspired against him.
...
Once he fell asleep, Buffy quietly cleaned herself up and got dressed. With her hair brushed, teeth brushed and wearing actual clothes she felt like a human being again.
She thought about tying Angel to the bed to make sure he didn't wander off again, but decided against it, besides, she didn't have any rope.
She listened at the conjoining door between her room and Oz & Willows, but heard nothing. Figuring they were all in Xander & Giles room, she cast a worried glance towards Angel; then went to talk to her friends.
"Come in." came the reply from room 5 when she knocked. She opened the door and stepped in.
Xander and Willow were sitting cross legged next to each other in the bed, Oz and Giles sat at the chairs around the small table. Each had a coffee cup and an assorted pastry.
Those that 'gave blood' all looked fully recovered and cheerful under the circumstances. Well except the cloud of anger hanging over Xander.
"Hey guys" she pitched.
"Hey Buff, Hi and Hello Buffy," replied back. Oz just nodded his head.
"Is something the matter Buffy?" Giles asked concern evident in his voice.
"No…Just checking in." she answered, twirling her fingers in her hand. "Making sure everyone's alright."
The Scooby gang nodded, this wasn't the worst after battle recovery they had lived though. Actually it was fairly mellow.
"Oh Buffy" Willow stood up, "I almost forgot, there is something I wanted to show you, come on, it's in my room." She said, practically dragging Buffy with her.
Once the two women were in room 6, Buffy turned to her friend. "So what did you want to show me Will?"
"What? Oh, nothing" She replied, "I can see you need to talk, so here we are, alone."
Buffy smiled. "You are way too good to me." She replied, sitting at the small table.
"I know, I have a bad case of best-friend." Willow joked back. "So, have you talked to Angel yet?" the redhead asked.
"No" Buffy replied depressed. "He was really tired when he came back, I want to though…I'm just not sure how to begin. I feel like I betrayed him, keeping my pregnancy a secret, then everyone knows before him. I feel awful."
"Understandable" the witch said, sitting in the other chair and placing her hand on Buffy's arm. "I'm sure he'll understand, I mean you guys have like, the ultimate love of all time."
Buffy couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Sometimes I wish we didn't."
Willow looked at her friend, "You don't want to be with him?"
Buffy looked stricken, "No, I mean yes, I mean I do want to be with him, more than anything. That's what makes this so hard. There is always something trying to drive us apart. Monsters, demons, apocalypses…We've been back together less than a year and he's nearly died three times! I couldn't handle that again."
She placed a hand over her still flat stomach, "Especially not now."
Willow stood and hugged her friend close, just listening as the girl vented her fears.
"I'm terrified I'll have to raise this baby alone. That he'll decide I'm safer without him, or something will happen…" she chocked back a sob, "I feel so lost Will."
The redhead held her, patting her back and letting her cry. "I can't speak for Angel, that's between the two of you" she told Buffy, "I can only speak for me, and I would never let you raise your baby alone. You will always have me, the gang, Giles, and I'm positive Angel wouldn't ever leave you again."
Buffy smiled, "Thank you" she said composing herself, "Thank you so much. I owe you like everything by now."
"Well if it's a girl, Willow is a very nice name." the witch joked.
Buffy laughed, "I'll think about it."
"You should get some rest Buffy, you look exhausted. And talk to Angel, you both really need it."
Buffy nodded. "I will. Thanks again" She turned and headed for the connecting door, feeling a little lighter than earlier.
...
Angel closed his eyes when he heard the knob turn, he didn't want her to know he had been listening to her conversation with Willow.
Buffy slipped back into her room and quietly shut the door. Not wanting to wake Angel, she tip-toed into the bathroom and stripped off everything but her panties.
They were the only clothes she had and she didn't want to sleep in them, so she folded them in a neat pile then headed to bed.
With as little noise as possible she slipped under the covers on the opposite side of the bed, she sent a quick glace next to her, as far as she could tell he was still sleeping.
She tired to get comfortable, but kept having to toss and turn, never being able to find a good spot. She was about to give up when Angel shifted, and lifted his right arm.
A second later Buffy slid up against him and he wrapped his arm around her.
"Does this hurt? I can move" she asked not wanting to lean on his bruises.
"No, you're fine" he said as she pillowed her head on his shoulder. It hurt, but it was a good kind of pain.
There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but before she could, she fell sound asleep in his arms.
Angel watched her sleep for a few minutes, with her pressed so close to him, he could hear the fluttering heartbeat of their unborn child.
He knew they needed to talk, that things weren't exactly right between them. But it could wait.
Buffy was sleeping against him, everyone was alive and safe, the world wasn't in jeopardy again...things were better than they could have been.
Content, he let himself fall asleep too.
...
It was late afternoon when Buffy awoke to a steady thump, thump, thump beneath her ear. Automatically she reached her arm around Angel's chest and squeezed herself into him further.
Her brow furrowed in confusion when her arm brushed the bandage around his chest, a moment later she remembered his injuries. She pulled herself away instantly, looking down at him in the dull light struggling in behind the closed curtains.
He shifted in sleep at her sudden movement but didn't awaken.
The dark colors of his bruises had disappeared, leaving only a faint red outline to indicate where they had been.
'At least his healing is up and running again.' She gently lowered herself back down; knowing the bones of his ribs would have healed long before the bruises.
A short time later, Angel's heart rate and breathing increased, indicated he was awake too.
"Hey" he whispered.
"Hey" she replied.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"I overheard you talking to Willow" he said to break the silence.
"You were listening!" she panicked hiding her face in his chest, trying to remember exactly what she had said.
"Well I wasn't standing at the door or anything." He said truthfully, "I woke up when you left. Vampire hearing, thin door, couldn't help it." He shrugged.
She didn't look at him, she was afraid to.
"Willow was right," he said, placing his fingers under her chin and lifting, locking her eyes to his, he said slowly and with emphasis, "I will never willingly leave you again."
As she stared into his beautiful, soulful brown eyes, she felt hers overflow with tears. She hadn't realized how desperately she had needed to hear those words. As tears streamed down her face she whispered, "Thank you. I really needed to hear that."
He gently rubbed his thumb across her back, "I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner. I thought it...just never actually said it to you."
She laid her head back down over his heart, and his hand moved to caress her hair.
"But I'll still worry about the unwillingly" she whispered.
"You shouldn't, we can't make those kinds of decisions, they are made for us" he countered, knowing there wasn't much he could do about being killed in battle or by some freak accident, or who else knows with the history they have.
She looked up at him again, "What about the decisions you made alone? One's to 'protect' me. Tell me you'll never leave my opinion out again" she demanded, she knew she asked him this before...but she needed to hear it more than once.
He looked away for a moment, remembering the multiple times he had done that to her. Breaking up with her and leaving Sunnydale, stalking her behind her back and rewriting time when he became human stuck out like sore thumbs. He met her gaze as he spoke, "I promise you will have a say in all the critical decisions, however, I can't promise I'll listen."
She glared at him, but before she could argue he continued, "You're right; I have made choices for you. As awful as it sounds, I don't regret them. I wish to god I didn't have to make them, but it had to be done."
"You left me. You said you didn't want to be with me, and you left." She cried, still feeling the sting of graduation day, or seeing him vanish into the smoke without even saying 'goodbye'. Seeing him in that sewer, telling her he didn't want to spend his life with her.
"I didn't. You said 'I want my life to be with you', I replied 'I don't'. As in, I don't want you to spend your life with me, with a vampire." He began, "The time for us wasn't right back in Sunnydale. It didn't matter how much I wanted to stay, I couldn't. We both know something would have happened between us. We would go too far, and I would hurt you more. Even if we kept ourselves in check, just being around you makes me so happy; how did I know that just holding you wouldn't have been enough to trigger my loophole."
She snuggled closer to him, needing to hear every word.
"Plus we both needed to grow, become the strong independent people we are now. Leaving you and staying away was the hardest thing I had ever done."
"I hated you for it then, but I know now you made the right decision. I couldn't have made it myself. It's just so unfair, the choices we're forced to make." She confessed.
"Our choices are never easy, not when they affect the world. You and I both know 'what we want' and 'what we have to do' are not always the same." He told her.
Her hand moved over to the spot her sword impaled him to Acathla all those years ago. There was no scar, no mark of any kind, nothing to signify her actions; she almost wished there had been.
"I know" she said back, tears flowing and voice cracking from emotion, "but I don't have to like it."
"No, you don't." he agreed, placing a kiss on top of her head. "Don't cry, Buffy."
"I killed you" she pouted, looking up at him.
He smiled and shook his head, "No Buffy, you didn't. The Slayer closed a gateway to a hell dimension…to save the world…because she had no other choice."
She shook her head, "It was still me, I still did that to you."
He looked into her eyes and smiled, "That fact you chose the world over sparing me, had never made me more proud." He said running his fingers along her cheek. "It lets me know, that no matter the circumstances, if the world is in jeopardy, you can and will do anything to save it. That's my girl, that's my Slayer, and it only makes me love you more."
She had tears sliding down her face; his words struck her to the core. She remembered a talk she had years ago with Riley, now he didn't know her at all.
"That's why I could never love anyone but you, you've always see me for who I am. You've seen me at my best, you've seen me at my worst and you never once looked away." She leaned down and her lips melted with his.
They let all the bad in the past slip away, leaving the road to their future clear and open.
...
Once they finally broke apart, she rested her head back onto his chest.
Now that their past mistakes were settled, it was time to face the current ones.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about the baby. It's just…We kept putting off the talk about kids, I didn't think you really wanted them...especially biological ones" She confessed a few quiet minutes later. "I put us both in danger by keeping it from you."
"Yeah, how did that happen anyways? I clearly remember the doctor telling me I was sterile." He commented.
She turned to look at him, "What exactly does that mean? Are you trying to ask if I cheated on you?" Her eyes narrowed to slits.
"No, that's not what I was saying. I know you didn't, wouldn't." He took a deep breath, just in case he buried himself. "This just wasn't something I was expecting to deal with. I got used to the idea we wouldn't have kids, that Connor was all I'd ever have. It's just a shock."
"And you think I wasn't shocked to hell went I took a test and it came back positive? I was terrified for over a week that something demonic happened. Some spell or curse or something." She admitted.
"How do you know it's not?" he asked cautiously.
She shrugged, "I just do. I can feel it, and all I feel is you."
He squeezed her a little tighter, "Yeah, I think I can too."
"If your healing heals everything else...why not that too?" she asked.
He thought a moment, "I guess it makes sense, I've felt my body changing ever since my heart started to beat. I suppose I could have regained my virility at any time."
"10 weeks ago actually." she offered.
He grinned, "Or that."
"Do you regret this?" she asked
He was silent in thought a moment, "I regret a lot of things in my life Buffy, having Connor isn't one of them."
She looked up at him but his eyes stayed off her, he continued, "I'm not thrilled about the circumstances of his birth, or the events involving Jasmine, but I don't regret him. He's my son; I can't help but love him."
She understood, before this pregnancy she might not have, but now, she realized she feels the same about the child inside her.
"Children are never easy, are they?" she whispered.
"No" he agreed, "But they are worth it."
He paused then continued, "At first, it's a terrible feeling, the worry, the unknowing, the mind numbing fear that there is a life completely dependent on you for everything."
She looked up at him, unsure what he meant.
He met her eyes, "But then you think of the future, you see yourself holding them when they are born, teaching them to walk, to talk, see them change and grow into the people they will become, you get to showing them the world."
She nodded and smiled realizing he was talking with a longing in his voice.
She remembered saying something similar to Dawn, of wanting to show her the world. She remembered the feeling, it was overpowering.
"Does that mean you're not mad?" She asked hopeful.
He looked back up at the ceiling, "Oh, no. I'm defiantly mad."
She frowned. 'He doesn't want this baby? He sounded so hopeful a second ago.'
"I'm pissed Angelus knew before me, and that the gang knew before me and at myself for not realizing it sooner." He looked at her, "But I'm not mad at you Beloved" He said with a smile, "How can I be mad at the woman carrying my child?" He kissed her forehead, "I understand, you panicked, that's normal. Pregnancy hormones can reek havoc on your judgment." He said.
'Did he just scold me?' She looked up and asked, "So you want this baby?"
He looked at her feeling stupid for not explaining better, and pulled her even closer, "Yes. Of course I do. I've never wanted anything more."
She relaxed and let his lips meet hers in a gentle kiss. "Good, because I wasn't letting it go." She said defensively.
"I would never even consider asking you to." He replied.
"So, now what?" She asked him.
"Now we move forward. Start with some baby steps?" He answered.
"Baby steps?" she asked with a smile.
"Yeah, like making you some doctor appointments, picking a room for the nursery… start a college fund."
She laughed. "College fund? That's jumping the gun a bit don't you think?"
He shrugged, "I don't think so, I mean it only seemed like a few months and Connor was ready for college. They grow-up so fast these days."
She groaned.
After a minute she spoke, "I'm thinking the room across from us would be the best for a nursery, its closest, and is fairly big. Maybe paint it a gender neutral color like yellow, or green?"
He grinned, "Anything you want."
Her eyes lit up with mischief, "Anything I want huh?"
His grin vanished, "Should I regret saying that already?"
She smiled, "Nah, somehow I think you'll like what I'm thinking."
"And what would that be?" He asked.
She answered by kissing him.
His grin returned, "Mmm, Couldn't agree more."
...
A short time later, a gentle knock was heard on the door.
Angel quickly rolled out of bed and pulled his pants on and answered the door.
Willow was standing outside, ready to walk away thinking the room's occupants were still sleeping.
"Willow" he greeted her, he opened the door a bit wider and moved aside, indicating she should enter.
Buffy had ran into the bathroom to dress when she first heard the knock.
"Buffy's getting dressed, she'll be out in a second." He told the witch as he pulled on his undershirt then his button down shirt.
"I didn't mean to interrupt…uhh...anything." She said nervously, as she waited.
"You didn't." Angel reassured her.
The bathroom door opened and Buffy came out, "Hey Will, what's up?"
"Well the guys are getting antsy; they wanted to know how long we were staying."
Buffy smirked, "You drew the short straw huh?"
Willow shrugged, "They knew you guys were…talking."
Angel grinned but tried to hide it.
Buffy sent him a 'don't start' glare.
"We were actually talking." She said, added silently, 'at first anyways.' "We're eager to get home too. Tell the guys we're ready when they are."
Willow nodded and headed out.
...
Buffy looked over at Angel, he seemed to be brooding in the corner.
'Not that again.'
She walked over to him and stood behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as he sat in the chair at the table.
"Not thrilled about the car ride home huh?"
He sighed heavily, "No, not really. How do I even start to apologize? I mean, the things that were said, the things that…were done…can you just knock me out for the trip?" He asked only half joking.
"I don't need to, Angel, you did nothing wrong. You are not him, he's a demon, and you're a man. You are not responsible for your demon. Angelus is a prick, I know that, you know that and they know that."
She kept one arm around his neck and placed the other against his cheek as she sat across his lap and continued, "When you torture yourself like this, you're only feeding him. I think that's why he does what he does, just to get at you. And you let him every time."
He sighed again, "I know. It's just…I can't stop him, I have no power over him, and it terrifies me."
She hugged him close, "But you do have power over him."
He looked at her questionably.
She smiled, "When you punish yourself for his actions, you're letting him win. So don't let him win. Stop brooding over him, and just worry about being Angel."
He nodded, "I'll try."
She kissed his cheek, "And if that's not enough, just remember we all like you better, that'll piss him off too."
He smirked, "Yeah, that probably will."
She stayed on his lap a minute, her lips helping to ease away some of his worries.
He broke the kiss so they could take in some much needed breaths, "I think they're waiting for us. We can finish this when we get home."
She smiled as she stood, "Mmm, defiantly."
...
Everyone packed up whatever stuff they had while Giles dropped the room keys off at the front desk.
The gang all climbed back into the van and headed home. The ride was somewhat awkward at first, but the tension seemed to naturally dissipate as the minutes rolled by along with the miles.
"So you guys think of any names yet?" Willow asked the couple.
Buffy looked up at Angel as she leaned against his shoulder, "Not yet, any suggestions?"
He looked down at her, "What about naming her after your mom?"
Buffy thought a moment, "I thought about it, but I think it would be kinda weird, I'd like Joyce as a middle name more."
He nodded, "My sister's name was Kathy."
Buffy made a face when she remembered her college roommate; she pictured each egg in the refrigerator labeled with the name, she shuttered.
Willow picked up on the shutter.
"Hmm…Catherine is good, but could we avoid the name Kathy, I have some mental trauma with that name. Maybe Kate, or Katie for short?"
He nodded, "I like it."
"Any boy name suggestions?" she asked anyone who wanted to share.
Angel grinned, "I don't think we need to worry about that."
Buffy looked up at him, "Why not, we don't know what it will be yet?"
He kissed her cheek but didn't answer.
She glared at him, "Are you trying to say you can tell?"
He grinned again, "I didn't say anything."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "Spoil sport" She muttered.
...
The hours past quickly, soon the van was pulling up in front of the Summer's residence.
When they all got out to say goodbye, Buffy was pulled aside by Willow for some quick best friend gossiping.
Angel shook hands with Oz and promised to pay him back for the damage to his van and the credit card.
Giles extended his hand to the living vampire, "I meant when I said I would like to apologize to you, you're a good man Angel, I should have told you that long ago. I will forever be grateful for the help you've provided Buffy in her slayer duties and as her partner. I'm sorry I was so harsh with you; I know you are not responsible for the demon's actions; I am just sorry it took me so long to come to terms with that."
Angel nodded his head, "Thank you Giles that means a lot to me. More than I thought it would. I know it will mean the world to Buffy knowing things between us are good."
Giles nodded and was about to head back into the van when Angel called him back.
He looked over at Angel, noticing the sudden nervousness. "Angel?" he asked.
Angel looked over towards Buffy and made sure she, or anyone else, wasn't listening. "Listen Giles, it's no secret Buffy thinks of you as her father. You love her more than her biological father ever did and I can't help but be a traditionalist."
Giles looked confused, "Yes, you're right, I do have a father's love for her. What are you getting at?"
Angel shifted nervously again then looked into Giles eyes, "I um…I been wanting to ask Buffy to marry me… and I was hoping to get her father's blessing first."
Giles was stunned, "Oh." He said, "I…umm…" He looked at Angel, he could see the need in his eyes, and he knew no one would ever love his Slayer more.
He smiled, "I cannot think of a better man for her, when she is with you, there is a light in her eyes that no one else can ignite. It would be an honor and a privilege to have you as a son-in-law. You have my blessing."
He watched the weight fall off Angel's shoulders and he took his hand and grasped it tight. Before either of them realized it, Angel grabbed him in a hug and whispered "Thank you" into the watcher's ear.
Angel quickly released him, red tinting his cheeks, "Sorry, I ahh…just really needed to hear that."
Giles smiled, "There is no need for an apology, just make her happy, and keep her safe."
Angel nodded, "I will. Oh and ahh...don't mention this to Buffy OK, I want it to be a surprise."
Giles nodded, "Your secret is safe with me."
Angel thanked him again and the watcher headed back to the van.
Giles quickly wiped a tear of fatherly pride from his eye. 'My, it seems like just yesterday she was in high school, determined to kill me with her stubbornness. Now she's to be married, and expecting a child! They do grow up so fast.'
"Perhaps I should consult the books again on Slayer pregnancies...'
...
Xander leaned in and whispered to Oz, "Did Angel just hug Giles?"
Oz raised an eye brow, "You jealous?"
Xander made a face, "What! No! I just thought…it was weird. Kinda wigged me out."
Oz shrugged, "Angel's a cool dude."
Then he walked over to Willow and Buffy, leaving Xander standing alone.
Xander looked over at Angel, thought about saying something to him, but the bite in his arm and the bruise on his back reminded him exactly why he liked to keep his distance. He went back into the van to wait for the others.
...
Angel wandered over to the small group, smiling at Buffy as she laughed with Willow.
He pictured her in a white dress, wearing his ring, being his wife.
Willow hugged Buffy goodbye then quickly gave Angel a hug too.
While she hugged him she said, "Congratulations."
He smiled at her when she let go, "Thanks."
She grabbed Oz's hand and together they got into the van.
Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's waist and he draped an arm over her shoulders as they waved and watched the van disappear. They turned and headed inside.
They had some things to talk about.
...
As soon as the door shut, they walked towards the kitchen, both finding they were starved.
Upon entering the kitchen they both wanted to be back in the dungeon. Things were less complicated there.
There was a mess on the counter. Pots and Pans, food and utensils spilled across the floor. Black smoke drifted lazily from the oven. The smoke alarm was in pieces on the floor. Spike was laying face down on the kitchen table, Faith wrapped beneath him, both locked in fiery passion.
"Oh. My. God. I'm blind, I've gone blind!" Buffy said in horror as she turned around and hid her face against Angel shirt.
Spike looked up, "Ah and here's the dynamic duo now."
Faith looked past Spike, "Hey guys, be with you in a sec."
Neither of the two bothered to stop, or even slow, their movements.
Angel backed out of the kitchen, equal parts fuming and wanting to vomit.
They didn't even want to think about why those two were in their kitchen, or why they were...nope, just not thinking about it.
"We need to burn that table." Buffy said as they walked upstairs to lock themselves in their bedroom.
"We do." Angel agreed.
Neither were hungry anymore.
...
Lol