Labor of Love – May 09, 2005

A very pregnant Buffy huffed in frustration.

She had been looking for the last jar of peanut butter for at least half an hour. "I know you're in here!" she yelled at the cupboard. "Why do you hate me so much?"

Finally she spotted it, on the top shelf, well above her reach.

"Damn" she cursed and looked around for something to use to knock down the elusive jar. She went into the living room and pulled an iron poker from the stand beside the fireplace. "Here I come peanut butter" she whispered to herself.

A few minutes later she was two fingers deep into the jar, happily indulging her craving. "Mmmm, next time I see Angel, I'm beating him over the head for putting you up so high." She said to the crunchy peanut butter jar.

'Creek.'

Her attention snapped to a sound coming from the living room.

"Hello? Angel?" she called out, "Is that you?" she asked wondering if he was back yet.

Her gooey snack forgotten she instinctively grabbed the poker she had used to knock down the jar and The Slayer headed to investigate. She looked around the house but found nothing and sensed no one in the house.

'Must have been the wind' she figured and headed back into the kitchen.

She was about to dive into the jar again when the noise repeated.

"That's it" she grumbled and waddled back into the living room. She searched the entire house, up and down, but found nothing.

'These pregnancy hormones must be driving me crazy' she thought, heading to the fireplace to put the poker back so she could relax on the couch.

Something touched her swollen waist.

The Slayer spun; iron poker flying forwards connecting with something solid.

…

Angel came home and saw Buffy by the fireplace, he wanted to surprise her so he quietly walked up, intending to wrap his arms around her in a gentle hug. To say the least, he did surprise her.

Buffy dropped the iron poker in horror when she realized Angel was lying bleeding in an unconscious heap five feet away.

"ANGEL!" she shrieked, hurrying as fast as she could to her motionless husband.

"O god, O god, O god" she repeated as she check for a pulse. Finding his pulse steady and strong, she half carried, half dragged him onto the couch, and then hurried into the kitchen for the first aid kit and some ice.

When she got back, she pillowed his head onto her lap and treated the gash the poker left on his forehead. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry honey" she repeated to her unconscious husband as she held the bag of ice against the swelling bump.

...

"Ow" he moaned almost half an hour later, as he slowly regained consciousness.

"Angel? Are you Ok? Please be Ok." Buffy begged as he forced his unfocused eyes open. Looking down into his unevenly dilated pupils she could tell he had a decent concussion, 'Damn it' she cried in her head. She patted his cheek, "Angel, please answer me."

He focused on her, "Buffy?" he croaked. His gaze looked her up and down, not remembering what happened and afraid whatever got him could have hurt her too.

"Oh Angel, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean, you came up, the peanut butter, there was a noise, I'm so sorry." She ranted.

"Slow down…Buffy" he said slowly, "What hit me?" he asked.

"Me" she cried remorsefully, "Well actually the fire poker…but I was holding it".

He placed an unsteady hand against her cheek, "Shh" he said as he rubbed his thumb against her cheek, "Don't cry Buffy."

She covered his hand with hers, dried her tears and told him about the elusive jar, the noise and how she whacked him.

"I'm sorry" she repeated again when she was done.

"I'm ok" he said as he tried to sit up. A second later he decided sitting up as a very stupid idea as nausea and pain descended on him. "Uhh…or not" he whispered, staying where he was.

Buffy looked terrified as he slumped back down into her lap.

"I'll be ok" he amended, "Just gunna rest…for a minute." He said as he drifted back to sleep.

She sat there with his head in her lap, gently running her fingers threw his hair and applying ice to the swelling bump.

...

Buffy had been watching him sleep for almost an hour, and worry for her human husband began to grow, he should be awake by now.

The gash had already closed, leaving only a red line to indicate where it had been, and the swelling had gone away.

She wished she could see his face better, but her swollen stomach extended into her line of sight.

As if on queue, Angel shifted in his sleep, and mumbled something she couldn't understand, his head snuggling further into her lap against her belly.

"Angel?" she called. Hopeful he was conscious and not still concussed.

"Hmm?" he mumbled. A moment later she felt his hand rubbing her stomach, she smiled and placed her hand over his.

"I can't wait to meet you" he whispered to their baby, and gave her belly a kiss.

"Ow" he yelped as he jumped back, sitting up and holding his nose.

"What happened?" Buffy asked confused.

He looked at her a moment then down at her stomach, then he laughed sarcastically. "Our daughter just kicked me in the face."

Buffy looked shocked a moment then burst out laughing. She had felt the rather strong kick.

"Both my girls are conspiring against me…" he said shaking his head and rubbing his nose.

"We are not" she firmly rejected, while she wrapped her arms around him, pulling his close. "You just have a severe case of wrong place, wrong time today." She insisted, and then placed a kiss on his forehead and on his nose. "Better?" she asked.

"Much" he replied, adding a kiss of his own.

...

A few minutes into their make-up session Buffy pulled away groaning.

"What's wrong?" he asked concerned.

She grumbled, "Stupid tiny bladder…"

He laughed and helped her to her feet.

"Keep my spot warm and I'll come back with a surprise for you" she whispered sweetly.

"Yeah, a nine iron?" he joked.

She frowned.

He quickly stood and kissed her an apology.

He sat back on the couch and waited patently.

...

A few long minutes later he heard Buffy shuffling back into the living room, "Close your eyes" she said in a sweet voice.

'Not exactly the words I needed to hear today' he thought, remembering Acathla.

He helped Buffy back down onto the couch, grinning as she sat across his lap.

"Can I open them?" he asked.

"Not yet" she answered.

He heard her pull the top off the ice cream container, and the sound the spoon made as it scooped up the ice cream. He felt the cold spoon on his lips, he opened them to let it in.

He chuckled as she spoon fed him ice cream. "Can I open them yet?" he begged. He felt one of her arms snake around his neck, the other cupped his cheek, a second later her lips where against his.

"Do you really need to?" she asked in between passionate kisses.

He grinned against her lips, "Not really."

She pressed closer to him, as close as her nine-month swollen belly would allow. The hand cupping his cheek moved to caress his hair.

"Angel?" she asked a few minutes later.

"What ever it is…it can wait till tomorrow" he answered, lips working tirelessly.

They were locked in a passionate kiss when they both felt something warm spread between them; it took them a minute to realize it wasn't desire.

"Oops…I think my water just broke" she groaned sheepishly.

"Oh" he looked dejected at ending their quality time together, then her words sunk in, he looked up at her, eye growing wide with understanding, "Oh!"

She couldn't help but laugh at his panic, always the cool and collected one, tearing threw the house like it was on fire.

She managed to grab him as he rushed by again, in a calm and collected voice she spoke, "I have a red duffle in the closet, my address book is in my dresser, the camera is in your sock drawer and you should really change your pants" she said the last part with a laugh, noticing the spot where her water broke made it look like he wet himself. She pulled him into a calming kiss, and sent him on his way.

…

Buffy hated hospitals…with a passion. The idea to have the baby at the office hadn't really been a conscious one, it just was. The doctors at Angel Investigations knew what Buffy and Angel were, how their bodies weren't exactly 'normal', and they were better equipped to handle the situation. The entire medical wing had been designed solely for slayers after-all.

Once Buffy's water broke her body immediately began to go into labor. They barely made it to the office and into the medical center before her contractions were only minutes apart. Apparently slayers had quick labors, how inconvenient would it be for a slayer to be in labor for 27 hours?

"Well Buffy, shouldn't be long now. It seems you're almost fully dilated." The doctor checked over the file sheet and turned his gaze back to her. "You say your water broke less than 30 minutes ago?"

Buffy nodded, her hand tightly squeezing Angel's as another contraction struck.

"Huh, interesting. You must have been in labor for hours without even noticing." He told her.

"Noticing now." She said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, I can see. Do you want any medications for the pain?" He asked

The offer was extremely tempting, but Buffy shook her head no. "I'll pass, made it this far without it." She also had a slight fear of what the slayer strength meds would do to her baby.

The doctor nodded and went to wash up for delivery.

She looked over at Angel who was almost ghost white as he sat on the chair beside the bed. "Are you ok?" she asked him.

He looked over at her and shook his head, "I should be asking you that."

"I'm pretty sure I'm not the one looking like Casper right now. Are you going to faint?" She asked hoping for a truthful answer and not some 'oh don't worry I'm fine' crap.

"No, I won't faint. I just…I hate seeing you in pain." He told her honestly.

"Well it's for a good cause right?" Another contraction took her mind away for a moment.

"Holy crap…worst pain ever." She mumbled to herself.

Angel paled a little further when he heard her.

She noticed his silent brooding. "Hey, none of that." She said pulling on his hand so he would sit beside her on the bed.

"We're supposed to…" She paused as another painful contraction struck. After a moment she continued, "supposed to celebrate, no brooding allowed."

He nodded and kissed the top of her head, his arms wrapped around her shoulders as he held her though the pain. "I know, I'll celebrate…after."

She understood what he meant. No one knew exactly what to except upon delivery, would the baby have super powers like her parents or be completely human? Half-vampire? A slayer? It was anyone's guess. Well at least for a few more minutes.

"No matter what, she'll be perfect." Buffy told him.

He nodded, "She will."

The doctor came back into the room and settled in the low chair between the stirrups.

"Ok, you're ready to go on this end. Let's get that little lady out here shall we."

"Please" Buffy agreed.

The nurses agreed they were all set to receive the baby.

"Ok Buffy" the doctor told her, "Push."

The moment of truth, when her life would change forever. The thought was terrifying, yet welcoming. She wanted to see her little passenger, for nine months she carried her, fed her, protected her, felt her kicking from the inside; it was eviction time.

She pushed, and god did it hurt. Slayer pain tolerance be damned. It wasn't enough to make her scream, but she did think about it. The only reason she didn't was she knew Angel would freak.

…

Angel watched Buffy's face in silent terror. The pain he saw there scared him more than he thought possible.

He felt pain too, Buffy's hand was gripping his again, he was fairly certain his hand was broken from the intense pressure. He silently endured it, figuring it was nothing compared to what she was going though.

He was torn, he wanted to stay with her, but he also wanted to watch what was happening beneath the sheet covering her spread legs.

The traditionalist side of him didn't even think he should be in the room, for hundreds of years a midwife delivered the babies as men paced holes in the floors outside the bedroom. That was just how it was done.

The husband part knew he wasn't going to leave her to suffer in pain alone. No way was that happening.

The father part really wanted to watch their child enter the world, but he didn't dare let go of her hand. Technically he couldn't even if he wanted to, but that was beside the point.

The doctor was saying encouraging words, while the nurses watched for their opening. "She's crowning" he added a moment later.

Angel took his free unbroken hand and rubbed Buffy's back, "Breath love." He whispered into her ear.

"One more push and she's be out." The doctor's voice called from his position.

That was the encouragement Buffy needed to hear, she took a deep breath and pushed again.

"And she's out." The doctor cheered as he held the pink little form. A moment later, Katie's first cry echoed in the room.

Angel hugged Buffy as tears of joy ran down their faces, "You did perfect love."

She nodded, "God was that hard. I feel like I've had my lungs in a vise for months."

"Would you like to cut the cord?" the doctor asked Angel. He looked terrified a moment then Buffy shoved him towards the doctor, "Don't be a baby."

'Man slices demons in half like he's cutting paper and he panics at cutting a little cord.' She thought amused.

He took the offered scissors and was about to cut, "Will this hurt her?" he asked, worried his first act as her father would be to cause his daughter pain.

"Not at all." The doctor replied and Angel snipped the attachment.

As he looked down at the tiny pink wrinkled form he instantly lost his heart.

Before he could say anything the nurse swept the baby from the doctor and brought her to the scale and changing table. Angel followed close behind.

The nurse felt him standing just behind her, and was a little intimidated to say the least. "Uhh, sir. She's perfectly fine; I'll bring her right over when I've cleaned her up and got her dressed.

Angel didn't budge.

The nurse sighed and worked quickly. Once the baby was weighted, diapered and dressed in a light pink body suit with matching hat and socks she swaddled her up in a matching blanket.

In a near desperate desire to get the man standing behind her away, she turned and placed his child in his arms. "There you go, all set." 'Please go away now.' She thought.

He smiled down the the little bundled and moved back to the bed. Buffy was just finishing delivering the afterbirth and getting cleaned up when he sat on the bed next to her. "Look what I've got."

She turned and nearly melted, "Ohh, Gimmy!" she said excitedly and held out her hands.

He almost refused, not wanting to part with the tiny bundle in his arms.

She sent him a 'give me my baby or there will be blood' glare.

He conceded and handed over their child.

"Oh my god, oh my god! She's perfect." Buffy said looking down at her daughter. "Look what we did!" she said turned to Angel. He grinned and slid into the bed beside her. "I saw."

They just sat there for a few minutes, just watching their daughter as she slept. Both had smiles of perfect contentment on their faces.

The doctor gave them a few minutes before he suggested they move to a private room and out of the operating room.

Angel went to make the calls to tell everyone the news, they really didn't have time before since labor and delivery happened within an hour.

Buffy was brought into a room where a nurse showed her how to feed Katie.

Angel walked into the room as the nurse was showing Buffy how to get Katie to accept her nipple.

His cheeks reddened and was about to go back out into the hall when Buffy's voice stopped him dead in his tracks. "Get you butt over here and into this chair."

He did as asked, trying to avert his eyes for politeness. He wasn't shy, he knew Buffy's body better than his own, but this was a new concept for him. Actuallyy he felt irrational for thinking it, but the fact some woman was touching his wife's breasts sort of made him jealous.

"You best be paying attention to this, I may need help doing this at home." Buffy told him when she noticed he was purposefully looking away.

"Uhh, right. Sorry." He apologized and sat closer to observe and learn.

...

When the nurse was gone and the proud new parents were alone, Angel sat next to Buffy in the bed and continued to just watch their little miracle.

It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door from eager family waiting to see the new addition.

Angel reluctantly got up and went to greet the guests. He opened the door and slipped out, closing it behind him. Blocking the group from entering.

Giles was the first to face him, excitement and a shade of worry on his face. "I believe congratulation are in order, yes? How is she? Are they ok? They are ok, right?" he finished, noticing how Angel wasn't letting anyone in the room.

Angel smiled, "Everything is fine, she's perfect."

"She? So it really is a she! What's her name?" Willow asked.

"I'll let Buffy tell you." He said vaguely. "Try not to make a lot of noise, the baby is sleeping, ok?"

Giles, Willow and Xander nodded yes. The others would wait until the happy family was at home before they visited.

Connor and Dawn were at school and would come home over the weekend to meet the new arrival.

Angel opened the door and allowed the eager guests to pass.

Willow practically ran up to Buffy, "Oh she's so adorable!" The red head almost danced as she looked at the baby.

"Thank you." Buffy replied, pulling the blanket down and removing the tiny pink hat so the group could see the brown locks on her little head.

"Check it out, Buff's a mom." Xander said as he stood near the bed.

"She is amazing Buffy." Giles told his daughter of the heart, instantly smitten by his adopted grand-daughter. "You did a wonderful job."

"We." Buffy clarified, holding out her hand for Angel to join her back on the bed. She didn't want him to feel left out and start brooding.

He slid in beside her, and looked down at her and his child, a smile on his lips.

"Yes, you both did a wonderful job." Giles amended.

"She looks just like her daddy." Buffy said, looking first to her husband then to the others. "She had his hair, his eyes, his nose, his cheeks...OK she has his everything. I gave birth to mini female Angel."

The proud dad chuckled, "Are you mad she didn't take after you?" He asked.

"No, she's perfect." Buffy told the baby in her arms.

"What's her name?" Willow repeated.

"Katherine Joyce Summers" Buffy told them, "After Angel's little sister and well, my mom. We're going to call her Katie for short."

"Oh so you kept that, that's nice!" Willow said, remembering they talked names during the van ride home when they learned of Buffy's pregnancy.

"Yeah, we liked it." Buffy replied, brushing a little lock of brown from her daughters head.

Angel put the hat back on to keep her from catching a chill.

Buffy yawned.

The three instantly took the hint.

"Oh, you must be exhausted Buffy, we'll come see you once you are home." Giles said.

"We can have a 'Welcome baby' Party!" Willow chipped in.

Xander was surprisingly silent.

"We'll see." Angel told them.

The three filed out and Angel turned to take the baby from Buffy.

"Not sharing." she said possessively.

"I thought you were tied?" He asked.

"Nah, I just wanted some alone time with my husband and our daughter. Does that make me evil?" She asked.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "No, it makes you extremely smart."

They sat together for the next hour, unwrapping Katie from her blanket and just looking her over. Counting her tiny fingers and toes, feeling her baby soft skin and enjoying smelling her new baby smell, at least until she needed a diaper change.

Buffy handed her over to her father. "Time to go see Daddy." Buffy said sweetly.

"Thanks." Angel deadpanned and went to change her.

"Hey, tell daddy he has more diaper changing experience." She countered.

"Tell mommy that means she needs to play catch-up." He said to Katie.

Buffy continued to play along.

"Well mommy's all stiff and sore from pushing out a watermelon."

As he changed the diaper he countered, "Yeah, well daddy has a broken hand from mommy squeezing it so hard."

"I did not!" Buffy denied.

Angel slid back into bed with a freshly cleaned baby.

"It's better now." he lied. His hand still hurt, but he could move it at least.

"I really broke it?" she asked, shocked.

"Not on purpose." He told her.

She took Katie and laid the baby on her lap, then took his hand in hers. She could see the red marks.

"Oh Angel, I'm so sorry." She apologized.

"It's ok. I'm sure it's nothing compared to what you were feeling." He said as he pulled hand hand back from her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

She snugged against him, her back pressing against his chest.

She picked his hand up again and kissed it.

"I'm still sorry." she told him.

Katie fussed and Buffy picked her up and swaddled her into her arms. Angel wrapped his arms around Buffy's.

"Shh, Katie, it's ok. We're here." she said rocking the little girl back to sleep. "We'll always be here."

Epilogue: May 11, 2004

A baby's cry filled the silence of the night. Buffy groaned as she slid off Angel's chest.

"I'll go. It's my turn." Angel said quickly, getting up and placing a quick kiss on her forehead.

"It's was your turn the last three times" She said sleepily.

He grinned, "I know. I don't mind. Part-time creature of the night here."

She smiled into her pillow and thought 'I have the best husband ever' as she fell back to sleep.

...

An hour later Buffy awoke, her body rejected sleeping without her lover lying next to her. Wondering why he wasn't back yet, she rolled out of bed, donned her robe, and headed to investigate.

Buffy descended the stairs, eyes immediately focusing on Angel lying asleep on the couch, their newborn daughter curled up on his naked chest, secured between his arms.

She glided over, standing off to the side and just watching them sleep, tears of joy shown in her eyes.

"She might look like me, but she's just like her mom" Angel said softly, opening his eyes and looking at Buffy.

"O yeah?" she asked as she walked over, replacing the pillow Angel had been using with her lap.

"Always falls asleep on my chest." He said with a smile.

She laughed quietly, running her fingers threw his hair and watching their daughter as she sucked an invisible bottle.

"She drools like you too." He teased.

"Hey!" Buffy yelled in a hushed tone, mock offended, lightly smacking his shoulder.

He bit back a laugh, not wanting to wake the baby.

They sat there in comfortable silence for a while, just watching their daughter.

Buffy reached her hand out, caressing the sleeping baby. "She's so perfect" she whispered, voice chocked full of motherly pride.

"She is" he responded with equal fatherly pride.

He glanced up at Buffy, eyes big and round like a kid in a candy store, "We can have more...right?"

She laughed, "What am I? A vending machine?"

He looked dejected for a moment, then she rubbed his cheek, "I'll give you as many as you can stand."

He beamed at her, "That many?"He asked, eyes full of mischief.

"You must secretly like me fat" she shook her head, thinking how huge she was that last few months.

He looked at her astounded, "When have you even been fat?"

She raised her eyebrow at him, "Uhh, where have you been the last three months."

"With my amazingly beautiful pregnant wife, who glowed like a goddess as she carried my child?" he seduced.

She blinked at him a moment, then beamed "Ok, I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

Lying there with his girls was the happiest moment he'd had yet, and as Buffy bent down to kiss him, he thought 'Heaven can't hold a candle to this.'

...

There is no such thing as 'Happily Ever After', but they got awfully close.

THE END?

This was originally the end...but I added lots more after. They will be up...eventually.