Buffy dropped beside her fallen husband and felt for a heartbeat, it was there, barely.

The others rushed up to them as Buffy ripped open Angel's shirt and coat to see the extent of the damage.

"Oh shit" she whispered as she saw the exit wound in his abdomen, a few ribs on his left were broken and protruding from where they stuck up through the skin.

Giles knelt beside her, "Buffy take Willow and go get the medical supplies. Xander and I shall bring him in."

Buffy shook her head, not wanting to leave his side.

She winced when Angel coughed, blood running down his lips as his breathes came in short gurgling gasps, the broken ribs having punctured his lung.

"Don't move him yet. We'll be right back." She told him, afraid if they tried to carry Angel upstairs, since the living room was too trashed to act as a make-shift hospital, the movement would rip open his wounds more and he would bleed to death before they made it to the bedroom.

As Buffy and Willow disappeared into the house for the much needed first aid kits, Giles knelt by Angel and proceeded to cut the torn shirt and coat off for better access to the wounds.

Xander sat beside him, helping when he could.

"Was it just me, or did Buffy just let Angelus kiss her?"

Giles looked up, "It's not just you. I've noticed she is calling him Angel as well. I'm sure Buffy will explain once he is stabilized." Giles replied looking down at the unconscious and broken vampire beside him.

When the girls returned, Buffy threw a wool blanket over Angel to keep him as warm as possible in the brisk December evening.

She sat with Angel's head in her lap as Giles manipulated the ribs back into place and began sewing the wounds shut.

"So Buff, I couldn't help but notice Angelus isn't going all up-in-smoke out here in the sun…." Xander fished.

Buffy didn't lift her gaze off Angel's face, "He's not Angelus." She said simply.

They all paused a moment, not understanding how the demon could be present if the demon wasn't present.

"Uhh…What?" Willow asked. "I thought Angel couldn't vamp, didn't we establish this already?"

Buffy still didn't look up, "The rules have changed." She said quietly.

"Buffy, perhaps you could indulge us in a few more details." Giles asked.

"Gees, dead/alive, good/bad, human/vampire, soul/no soul. Wish half-dead boy here would make up his mind already." Xander grumbled.

If a glare could kill, Xander would have been vaporized; the only thing keeping Buffy from beating the shit out of Xander's face was the desire to keep Angel's head cradled in her lap.

With an eerily calm in her voice she said "Xander, would it be convenient for you to shut the f*ck up while my husband is bleeding, possibly to death, in our front yard?"

Xander visibly paled, realizing he hit a major nerve on the last comment.

Willow spoke up to ease the tension, "Right, we can ask questions later, once we know Angel's ok. Right guys?"

Both men nodded and got back to work.

Xander retreated into the house to start dragging out the bodies of the deceased soldiers.

'Man I never thought I'd think this, but I miss vampires. At least they 'poof gone' once you kill em.'

...

After half an hour of patching up, Angel's wounds were closed enough to move him.

Giles slung Angel's right arm over his shoulder while Buffy wrapped her arms around his chest, careful to avoid the rib wound and the left shoulder injury from earlier.

Willow hurried ahead to open doors and make sure the bed was ready.

On the way up the stairs, Giles couldn't help but feel nervous as the vampire's fangs hung only a few inches from his neck.

...

As soon as Angel was horizontal, Buffy ordered everyone out of the bedroom.

Willow was about to exit too when she paused and turned back. "Umm…Buffy?" she said to get her attention.

Buffy turned, "What is it Will?" she asked.

Willow noticed the tears beginning to form in the Slayer's eyes.

"Are you ok? The baby?" the witch asked, concerned not only about her best friend's physical health, but her mental health too.

Buffy shook her head, "Me? I don't know yet." She put her hand over her belly, "He's fine. Kicking up a storm at the moment." She said with a small smile at her unborn son.

Willow nodded, "Ok. Half good." She looked over at Angel, "How about him, is he going to be ok? Does he need a umm…blood donation again?" she asked but not really wanting to volunteer a second time if the answer was yes.

Buffy stood and felt Angel's pulse, it was weak but steady. The two drained soldiers were keeping him going.

She shook her head, "No, thanks for the offer but I think he'll be alright. I'll come down in a few hours or so. I just need to make sure, ok?" she asked.

Willow nodded, knowing she was being dismissed. "I understand, we'll go work on your living room, make sure it's…livable."

Buffy nodded to her, "Thanks", then turned her attention back to her husband.

...

She spent almost an hour cleaning off blood and gore from his body, and changing him out of his shredded blood stained clothes and into a clean pair of boxers.

She was shocked to see his wounds healing so quickly.

There had been serious concern on her part that Angel wouldn't survived the night, now however, his pulse was steady and stong.

She was just settling down to change the bandages with she heard a knock on the door, she didn't want to answer it but the door opened anyways.

"Buffy?" Willow's voice called, "I'm sorry to intrude, but the Jones's called."

Buffy was instantly on high alert, she turned and was relieved when Willow stood in the doorway holding Katie, "They had to go out, so I picked her up. Is that ok?" she asked, not wanting to anger the stressed Slayer any further.

The tears Katie had been crying instantly dried and she squealed in joy when she saw her mother. Her small arms reached out to Buffy.

"Yes Will, thank you. Wow I can't believe I forgot she was there." She said taking her baby from Willow.

Buffy had been so caught up with the fighting and Angel's injuries, but in the back of her mind she knew Katie was safe, so her mind had paid attention to only what was happening in front of her.

"Don't worry about explaining anything today, spend your time with Angel and we'll stay downstairs tonight just in-case you get anymore visitors, that is if it's ok with you? Is that ok with you?" the witch asked.

Buffy hugged her daughter, "Yeah that'll be fine."

"Ok, I'll bring up some dinner for you guys in an hour or so?" she asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Ok, until then." The redhead nodded and quickly exited the room, leaving Buffy alone with her family.

...

Buffy climbed into bed beside Angel, the squirming seven month old eager to explore.

As a newborn, you couldn't put her down without her screaming; however the moment Katie learned she could move around on her own power, she wouldn't be held for long.

Her chocolate brown eyes focused on Angel, "Dada!" she said and pointed to him.

"Yeah" Buffy said with a sad smile, "you're daddy's sleeping honey, don't wake him."

The joy at hearing her daughter first words were nearly crushed under the weight of today's horrors.

The baby crawled towards him, not able to understand he was unconscious.

Buffy picked her up again, Katie protested loudly, but Buffy held her tight. After a few minutes Katie seemed to understand her mother needed to hold her and she settled down.

Buffy stood and looked over at Angel, he was still in vamp mode and still unconscious; she didn't want to leave him alone, but she needed to take care of Katie.

She leaned over and kissed his forehead, "I'll be right back." She said to him, then carried Katie into the nursery, she changed her diaper and put her into a more comfortable pair of Pj's.

Buffy grabbed a few toys to entertain the baby as she hurried back into the bedroom.

She placed Katie on the floor and plopped the toys down in front of her; she crawled over to them and began to chew the ears on the stuffed pig.

Buffy didn't want Katie on the bed just in-case Angel came to thrashing.

She kept a close eye on her daughter as she began to change her husband's bandages.

She was relieved to fine most of the worst wounds had closed, but to be thorough she put a generous amount of ointment on the various cuts and scratches and taped a piece of gauze over each.

Buffy looked down as Katie crawled over and climbed against her leg, pulling herself into a standing position against her mother.

The brown haired little girl lifted her arms, indicating she wanted to be picked up.

Buffy obliged. "Hey honey, what's the matter? You hungry?" she asked, knowing Katie only wanted to be held with she was tired or hungry.

Katie grabbed at Buffy's shirt, "Hungry it is then." She said as she sat on the other side of the bed and prepared to breastfeed.

True to her word, an hour later Willow knocked. "Come in" Buffy said from the bed, pulling a blanket up over her chest for modesty.

"Oh, sorry" Willow said looking away, cheeks matching her hair.

"Its fine Willow, you've seen this a hundred times." Buffy replied shaking her head at her friend's embarrassment.

"Yeah, I know. I'm all for woman being maternal and baby's getting fed; it's just awkward, like an invasion of privacy or intruding on something intimate. Ya know?" The witch said nervously.

Buffy shook her head, "No, not really. Invasion of privacy and intruding on something intimate are pretty much requirements for having kids." She said with a weak smile.

"Yeah, I suppose that's true." Willow agreed. "Well anyhow, I brought up some sandwiches and some baby rice food stuff, but it looks like you have that part covered." She said putting the bag of food down on the reading table.

"Actually that's good, I'm supposed to be weaning her anyways. Need to make room on here for Liam." Buffy said as she gently coaxed Katie to surrender her nipple.

"Can I have the mush?" Buffy asked. Willow pulled the baby food out of the bag and handed it to her.

Buffy pulled the cover off the plastic container and mixed the rice cereal with the supplied spoon. "Wanna try? Come on, open up." She said as she held the spoon to Katie's mouth, the baby turned away.

Buffy sighed, "She never eats anything solid for me."

'Angel's the one to get her to eat…and nap…and bathe.' She turned her head and looked over at Angel, worried as hell he hadn't woken up yet.

"How's he doing?" Willow asked as she got closer, "Whoa, he's still all vampy?" The redhead asked, then winced hoping she didn't strike a nerve like Xander did earlier.

Buffy didn't seem upset, "He's stable, healing seemed to be super-ed up from the goons he drank, but he's just not waking up. As for his game face, I don't think I've ever seen it on for this long, even before he had a pulse." Buffy confessed. "Although I have to admit I'm far more worried about the lack of consciousness. I can live with the fangs but the coma however has got to go."

Willow nodded, deciding to ignore the 'Angel drank people' comment and understanding her friend's anxiety for her lover. Willow vividly remembered the fear Buffy had when Angel nearly died in Oz's van. The witch also figured her anxiety over having to raise a baby alone was double now she was expecting a second child.

She walked over to the bed and sat beside Buffy, "He'll wake up Buffy. And if he doesn't do it on his own…well I pulled you out of Comaville once, I could try for him too." She said to give Buffy some hope.

It worked, Buffy smiled, "Thanks Will. I'll let you know if he doesn't snap out of it by morning."

Willow sent her a grin, "Don't forget to eat yourself, I bet Liam wants dinner too."

Buffy nodded, "Yeah, I'll eat something, I promise."

Willow said goodnight and headed down stairs, it would be an early night for everyone this evening.

Katie fussed again and Buffy gave in and let her breastfeed more.

'Well I'm not just going let her starve.'

When she drank her fill Buffy cleaned her up and changed her diaper.

She brought her back into the bedroom to let her play while she scoffed down a few of the sandwiches and drank some waters.

Buffy sat on the bed, intending to stay up for a while and watch over the two in her care, until a day of worrying and exhaustion caught up to her and she fell asleep.

Katie had been playing on the bed with a toy when Buffy nodded off, but after awhile baby attention span kicked in and she got bored.

She crawled over to her father, and climbed onto him.

She poked at the little white squares covering his chest and arms, and then crawled over towards the edge of the bed.

She saw her stuffed piggy lying on the floor and wanted it.

She looked and saw her parents sleeping, and then looked at the pig, then the edge of the bed.

She went for the edge, determined to get her piggy.

...

'Thunk'

Buffy was kicked awake from within, she looked down at her belly and rubbed it, 'Gees Liam, don't you ever sleep?' she wondered as she stretched, her back sore from the uncomfortable position she was sleeping in.

She looked down on the bed and saw Katie's toy, her heart jumped when she remembered falling asleep, leaving the baby unsupervised.

...

Katie whimpered as she looked over the edge of the bed, unsure how to get down from such a height, well above her head. She looked over further, leaning against Angel's arm, but lost her balance and fell forward.

...

Buffy turned her head in time to see Katie fall over the edge, "Katie!" she yelped but was too far to grab her.

...

Katie only fell a few inches before Angel's arm shifted in unconscious reflex, a large hand catching her small torso.

On autopilot, he brought her against his chest and laid his hand over her.

Angel wasn't fully conscious, but his demon senses were still on overdrive since the merger between soul and demon happened, so he was at least partially aware of the little body crawling over him, his mind aware enough to keep her safe.

Buffy nearly fainted in relief when Angel unconsciously caught their daughter.

She scooted over as Katie squirmed under her father's protective iron grip.

The baby focused her big brown eyes, mirror's of her daddy's, at Buffy and pouted.

The brunette pointed a little finger at the floor behind her.

Buffy followed the point and saw Gordie Jr. lying near the table.

Katie never slept without the little stuffed pig that was so similar to Buffy's Mr. Gordo that she's had since childhood.

Buffy understood what had motivated the overactive seven month old and kissed her forehead, "Ok Honey, I'll get him for you."

A minute later Katie was holding her stuffy and yawning, she lay down as Angel's heartbeat lulled her to sleep.

Buffy smiled at the sight of father and daughter sleeping together, it wasn't a rare sight by any means, but she still loved to see it.

A frown crossed her lip when she remembered Angel wasn't asleep but unconscious.

She yawned, looking at the time revealed 9:32pm, a time in her early Slaying years as rush-hour. However her married and pregnant years, this was about right, especially when you have a young child.

She took a final check of Angel's injuries, satisfied he was healing, she eased back into bed beside him.

Any fears of him waking up in berserk mode were nullified when he caught Katie.

'He knows he home.'

She lay down and pulled the sheets up, covering herself and her husbands legs, 'Don't need those cold feet touching me'.

She didn't want the blanket covering higher in-case it got pulled over Katie in the night, she didn't was to risk suffocating the baby, plus Angel's chest would keep her plenty warm.

Buffy closed her eyes and tried to sleep. A few minutes later she turned onto her other side, a few minutes after that she adjusted again. After a few minutes she sighed, "I hate sleeping alone."

She turned and looked at Angel a moment, 'Well if Katie's sleeping on him…"

Buffy scooted over and nestled up against her 'maternity pillow', resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping a leg over his and resting her growing heavier baby bump on his waist, her arm snaked around just under Katie.

She leaned forward and kissed the tip of the sleeping baby's nose. "Goodnight Katie" she kissed Angel's cheek, "Goodnight, I love you."

He shifted a little in response; Buffy hoped he was waking up.

A second later his demon features finally receded, however his eyes remained closed.

Buffy smiled anyways, counting human-face as a step in the right direction.

She fell sound asleep with a smile on her lips.

...

Angel was aware of something, he was surrounded by heartbeats.

He slowly opened his eyes, easily seeing in the dark room Buffy curled against him and Katie sleeping peacefully on his chest.

He could feel their hearts and breath and warmth. The little rapid beating that indicated his son growing in Buffy was fluttering soothingly into his ears.

He let himself be pulled back down into the darkness as he listened to the drumming beats of the chorus of life.

...

TBC