Who Ordered the Apocalypse? Part 4
Cassidy was standing by the bed and shaking her head while Buffy told her quietly about Angel's memory lapse.
Buffy had let him sleep for over an hour now and was mildly surprised he hadn't woken yet.
"His memory loss should be temporary, but I can check him over again if you want?" Cass offered.
At Buffy's nod, she grabbed her stethoscope from her office and went to work. She checked Angel's heartbeat and breathing first. "Hmm, heart seems a little elevated, but his lungs are clear." She told her patient's wife.
She looked over the meds and the monitors and everything checked out.
Pulling a pen light from her pocket, Cass gently shook Angel arm to wake him.
All she got in response was a grunt as he turned away to bury his face deeper into Buffy's thigh. Since his leg was once again bound in a cast and suspended to help the leg drain, he couldn't exactly roll onto his side or stomach as he wanted to escape Cass's harassment.
Wanting to check his pupils, Cass reached over and lifted a heavy eyelid and shinned the light right to left into the brown orb.
"Oh!" Cass jumped when Angel's right hand clamped tightly around her wrist, causing her to drop the light.
"Sharon Rose Cassidy, you shine that damn light in my eye again and your ass is fired." Angel growled out, voice completely human but with a very Angelus-like tone.
"Angel!" Buffy scolded, almost calling him Angelus for a second as she pried his hand off the doctor.
Cass pulled back quickly, hating when someone called her by her full name and knowing he was beyond serious when he did. "Well I'm pretty sure it's safe to say his memory's intact." The doctor blandly added, rubbing her sore wrist.
Angel promptly dragged the blanket over his head to show his disinterest in anything besides sleeping at the moment, preferable without being poked and prodded like a lab rat.
"It's ok." Cass persuaded Buffy, "The light more than likely sent an intense pain threw his brain, chances are he reacted automatically and doesn't even register what he did." On the other hand he could just be an old and cranky former demon...but she kept that thought to herself. Cassidy shrugged and went back to her office. Demon power or not, when Angel was in a fowl mood, she kept clear.
Buffy glanced down at her husband, currently buried under a blanket, and frowned. The fact he wasn't a happy camper at the moment was blatantly obvious, but she wasn't going to let his bad mood get him smothered under a blanket.
She pealed back the material and studied his face, relaxed in sleep.
"Angel?" She called, running her thumb lightly along his cheek to see if a gentler waking was less hostile than Cass's version. She wanted to just let him sleep, he obviously needed the rest, but her mind wouldn't let her just forget the fact he'd told her he didn't remember her. Answers were needed, like if her husband even knew who she was anymore.
"Angel?" She called again.
This time he shifted a little and grunted out "Sleeping."
"I know, but I need you to wake up for a minute, please?" she all but pleaded.
He groaned but opened his eyes. "Only because you said please."
She wasn't sure if he was kidding or not, but she smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Shitty." he grunted out. His gut feeling like a wrecking ball was smashing around inside.
"How's your head?" She asked, thinking how do you ask, 'do you know who I am' without sounding like an idiot.
"Pounding." He replied, with a scowl reminding her of a wet cat.
"Your memory?" She pried.
"What about it?" He asked.
Her brow wrinkled in confusion, "You didn't remember anything when you woke up. You had amnesia." She reminded him.
He looked back, equally confused. "I did?" He shrugged, "Must have amnesia about having amnesia." He added dryly.
"So you know who I am." She asked hopeful.
"Of course I do...my nurse." he replied seriously.
Her jaw dropped. "What?"
Even feeling like crap, he couldn't keep a straight face at her expression of horror.
"You asshole!" She accused, slapping his shoulder when she realized he was messing with her.
He let a brief chuckle escape before he sealing it up tight before he lost whatever it was he last ate from the nausea laughing caused.
She noticed him turn a slight shade of green. "Angel?" she asked in concern he was about to heave.
"Knew I didn't want to be sedated." He muttered, hating the way the drugs made him feel.
"Are you going to be sick?" She asked, not really wanting to be covered in stomach bile at the moment. She got thrown up on enough by the kids, never mind by her husband too.
"No." he muttered, knowing there was nothing in his stomach to toss. "Gonna sleep it off."
She leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I love you."
He grinned a little, "I love you Buffy." He replied, for the first time since he woke actually looking directly into her eyes.
Her heart settled when she read the recognition and love in his eyes. That wasn't fake-able, his memory was intact.
"You should get some rest too." he added, wisely leaving out the 'you look like crap' part that would likely get him staked.
"I will, later." She promised, wanting to get the kids taken care of before she settle in beside him for the night.
...
She woke to Katie and Liam crying they were awake in the morning.
Buffy yawned and looked down at her husband, and was instantly worried when she realized he was still sound asleep. 'He never sleeps threw the kids crying.'
"Angel?" she called, running her thumb along his cheek. Her worry increased when she found he was warmer to the touch than normal.
'He has a fever?' She wondered, placing the back of her hand along his heated brow.
"Angel?" She repeated, shaking him gently.
He didn't respond.
She said his name a third time with a little more worry induced force.
His eyes fluttered then groggily opened, "Huh? Why are you yelling?" He muttered, tired eyes focusing on Buffy's worry creased face.
"You didn't wake when the kids cried." She told him.
He eyes wandered over to the cribs, the two tots standing at the railings and repeating words to get their parents attention.
He made a move as if to get up, but Buffy's hand pressing down on his chest kept him firmly planted. "You're sick." she alerted him.
"Just tired." He denied, in his own mind trying to remember when he went 10 cycles in an industrial sized wash machine as his body felt he did.
"Being tired doesn't give you a fever." She countered, looking at the deep bags forming under his eyes and the red tinge to his usually bright orbs.
Despite the kids still crying, it took no argument for Angel to go back to sleep, that alone sealed her concern that something was very wrong with him.
...
Buffy was just finishing feeding the kids when Cassidy walked in.
The doctor was known for getting here early and staying late, the only paramedic in a Slayer packed facility usually kept her plenty busy.
The blond immediately pulled the redheaded doctor aside and out of Angel's hearing range, which was highly reduced without his demon side.
"Cass, I think something is wrong with Angel. He has a fever...he hasn't had a fever since he became human."
Cassidy nodded, "Shit, I was afraid of this." Thinking about how fast infection set upon his leg.
"What?" Buffy demanded, holding the kids tightly.
"His body must not be able to sustain a completely human state anymore, his preternatural side 'is' his immune system." She vocalized her fears.
"W-what does that mean?" Buffy asked, looking towards her pale husband lying still on the bed.
"Without an immune system the body can't heal...can't fight infections...can't survive." Cassidy leveled.
"So what...he's dying again?" Buffy shot, anger riding the wave of fear the welling within her.
"I'm afraid if his demon side doesn't manifest again soon...it's very possible, yes." She agreed.
Buffy's eyes shut tightly, "It will come back...right?" She asked, hopeful.
The redhead just shook her head, "I have no medical tools capable of telling me that."
In light of the new development, Cassidy reinstalled the IV lines Angel had removed against orders the previous night and gave him a booster to help support what little may remain of his mortal immune system.
Buffy sat beside him, bathing him with a cool cloth while Cassidy took some tests and Dawn and Willow took the kids so they could focus on Angel.
Two hours later...and Cassidy informed Buffy that Angel wasn't asleep, but unconscious.
...
Over the course of the next few hours, his health steadily declined. The fever intensified, his heart rate decreased, and his breathing grew more labored and ragged.
Buffy felt real fear pulling at her nerves again. 'Last night we were making love...now he's dying again? God, why is life so cruel to us?' she thought, holding his hand tightly and preying his demon side returned.
"Buffy?" The voice was small and weak, but she smiled down at her husband. He was awake for the first time in hours.
"Hey." She tried to sound casual, but she was sure her panic was betrayed by her face. She never could hide her emotions from him.
"Hey." He whispered back, just being awake was exhausting him.
"How are you doing?" She asked, worry tightening her words.
"Tired...why am I...so tired?" he asked, struggling to stay awake for the answer.
"Your demon supplies your immune system, with it absent...you don't have one." She leveled with him. Lying never seemed to help.
He painfully snorted at that.
"How is this funny!" She shot, angry he could find any humor at all in the situation.
"When Darla...came back human...she was...dying too." He told her.
"You're not dying." She denied, smashing the idea right out the ballpark. "Tell that lazy ass demon of yours to get his ass back here."
"Doesn't...work...that way." He admitted, wishing it did. Being completely mortal was killing him...pun intended.
"Make it work that way." She countered, really getting worried as his rapid decline.
He wanted to tell her not to worry, that he would be fine. But he didn't know that, and he physically couldn't lie to make her feel better on account he passed out again.
...
Buffy was pacing, Angel's health was steadily declining still and she felt helpless.
Cassidy was trying everything she could to strengthen Angel's defenses, pumping him full of various drugs and vitamin cocktails.
Nothing was working.
Angel was dying.
It had only been two days, but two days without an immune system and his body was shutting down.
...
Connor was pacing with Buffy, stressing out over his father's sudden downfall as much as his step-mom.
He was still beating himself up for leaving Angel Inc. the previous night, had he stayed, he would have been there when Drusilla showed up. He may have sensed her before she even reached the office...maybe he could have killed her before she even got close to Angel.
...
Xander was sitting and watching Buffy pace, worried for her, and he wouldn't admit, but Angel too.
It was simple, Angel made Buffy happy; if Angel died, that would serious take away Buffy's happy...and Xander really wanted to see her happy. Hell, the woman saved the world on a regular basis, not to mention literally gave her life to save all of mankind twice. If there was anyone in this world that deserved to be happy it was Buffy.
He glanced over at the pale form on the bed, a small part of him still hated Angel, but mostly because of times like this. The guy wasn't even conscious, yet he had such a powerful impact on Buffy's emotions.
It bothered Xander how dependent the Slayer was on the living vampire, not physically, but emotionally. He was her whole world...and if something happened to him...Buffy's heart would shatter like glass.
The kind of power was dangerous.
...
Willow and Oz were babysitting at Buffy and Angel's house, trying to calm the tense children by immersing them in a familiar atmosphere.
Willow loved interacting with the kids, and was slowly realizing how much she wanted one of her own.
Her and Oz had been dating again for a little over 3 threes now, and as mono-worded and blank Oz's expressions could be, she could see he liked the idea of kids too.
Of course, Willow had no idea Oz had been thinking over how to propose to her for over a year now.
The part-time werewolf wasn't the least bit hesitant about loving her or wanting to spend his life with her, but more than a little afraid of what children might mean for him and his condition.
Would his baby automatically be a werewolf? Could he bring a child into this world knowingly if they were to live a cursed existence? Was his condition a danger to Willow? Could he really keep control of his demon threw the stress of marriage and kids?
...
Giles and Dawn were in the offices upstairs, doing some research into possible ways to re-summon Angel's demon from dormancy.
Giles was very worried about his son-in-law.
He was even more worried for his daughter of the heart.
He knew Angel's demise would crush his slayer, and his mind couldn't help but think of the loss their children would suffer through growing up without their father.
He himself had a strained relationship with his own father, the man only ever wanted what was best for him but as a youth he didn't understand that. Despite the rocky-road relationship, Giles recognized how important the role of a father was...good or bad, it changed everything in a child's life.
As shocking as it had been to see the former Scourge of Europe as a parent, Angel was an amazing father to his kids, his loss would be devastating for the family and to Buffy.
...
Dawn's mindset was similar. She hated her sister's life was so centered around demons and magics and danger.
Hell, she herself was a creation of magic and she still hated it. She was good at it, and wanted to learn about it...but hated it.
Life would be so simple if they were a normal family.
Of course if they were 'normal' they wouldn't be who they are...and she did like who everyone was.
They were strong, and loyal, and they all loved one another. Nothing bonds a family tighter than nearly getting killed on a regular basis...but she still thought it sucked her sister was forced to endure so much hurt.
...
Everyone was already tense and walking on egg-shells when out of the blue, heart monitor flat-lined.
"Angel!" Buffy screamed, terrified this was it. He was going to leave her for real this time. She would be a widow, her children fatherless.
Cass was about to start CPR when Buffy felt his demon presence suddenly manifest, the familiar tingle rushing up her spine.
"Wait." She grabbed Cass's arm and held her back a moment, sensing to stay back.
"Buffy, what are you doing?" She would have argued further about letting Angel die when his eyes suddenly snapped opened.
He had no heartbeat, no breath, no life...but his eyes opened. The once chocolate brown orbs quickly overtaken by gold.
His body jerked as the demon essence flooded threw it again, re-vamping him, entering the blood, claiming the body.
As suddenly as the heart monitor mono-toned in death, it returned steadily to bleeping in life. The alarm silencing as his heart restarted and pounded back into steady rhythm.
His body relaxed, the demon features receded.
His golden eyes faded to brown as his lungs filled with oxygen.
Buffy felt the wave of demonic power settle and rushed over to her husband, sitting on the bed and running her thumb along his cheek.
"Angel? Can you hear me?" She called, his open eyes unfocused and foggy.
At the sound of her voice, he turned towards her, eyes struggling to clear.
"Buffy?" he asked as he blinked.
"Are you ok?" She asked, voice still full of fear.
He took a deep clear breath, his body rapidly healing, feeling energized by the power rush of his demon reemerging.
She almost yelped as he yanked her against him as he sat up, his hot tongue so suddenly in her mouth she had to try and remember how to respond.
She melted against him, the feel of his strong hands kneading against her sore tense muscles, the life she sensed in him evaporating the worry.
By the way he was kissing her, he was defiantly more than ok.
When she pulled away to breathe she grinned against his cheek, "Well that was a creative way to use your tongue to answer my question."
"My demon missed you." He replied, kissing at her neck.
"Ok, before this turns rated X, would someone like to explain what the hell just happened?" Xander questioned loudly, more than a little rattled by a corpse suddenly reanimating and starting a necking session.
"I was dying, my demon returned...now I'm not." Angel remarked, am arm wrapping tightly around Buffy's waist, he was still kissing her neck.
"Dude, you were dead like three seconds ago! Now you're necking like nothing happened." Xander exasperated.
"You demon shut down your heart, didn't it?" Cassidy questioned, she too beside herself at Angel sudden turn around.
Buffy shrugged him off her neck, wanting him to continue but wanting an explanation more.
He reluctantly pulled back at her denial. "Yeah, I needed to be technically dead for the merger to happen." He offered lightly as he pulled the IVs from his arm.
"What? Are you saying you're like a computer, you need to restart the whole system for an update to take effect!" Xander blurted.
Cassidy thought a moment about what Angel said about how siring worked, "Actually, I'm comfortable saying that's exactly what happened."
Angel didn't reply, he wasn't listening on account he was busy kissing his wife again and she was making no move to stopping him.
"Uh, maybe we should...go?" Connor suggested, overjoyed his dad was very much alive and well, but rapidly noticing his dad and step-mom didn't really seem to care other people were in the room and not shy about expressing their relief Angel was alive. He really never wanted to see his 'parents' without clothing ever again, and if they stayed...they would see that very soon.
Connor, Xander and Cassidy made a quick exit before they saw more than they wanted to.
...
As soon as he sensed the room was cleared of staring eyes, his lips moved back to the healed over punctures.
After a moment she realized he was very interested in her scar...too interested.
She pulled back and look into his lust glazed eyes. "You want to drink, don't you?"
"Yes." He replied without hesitating in the slightest, not a drop of shame in his eyes.
The idea of him drinking wasn't the issue, but the fact he had taken quiet a bit only a day ago. She wasn't sure how much she'd been able to regenerate since then, but she knew it wasn't all of it.
"I only need a little, I can drink bagged if you don't want me to." He assured her, unable to resisting kissing his mark regardless of her answer.
Her fingers curled around the base of his neck and shoulder, holding him against her. "I want you to." She told him truthfully.
He looked up into her eyes, reading her for hesitation. He found none.
His lips met hers again, kissing hungrily. Somewhere inside she felt his face change, but it didn't deter her in the least.
After a moment his lips traveled from her lips to her cheek, then dropped to her jaw, then traveled down her throat and to his mark.
She barely felt his fangs as they gently pricked her skin, his tongue laving at the blood that welled from the wounds.
She defiantly did feel the warmth spreading through her, the tingling that washed over her and relaxing every tense muscle in her body.
After a moment she realized he'd stopped drinking and was just kissing again. 'He couldn't have taken more than a mouthful.' She wondered.
She pulled back just enough to look into his once again brown eyes. "Was that enough?"
He grinned at her, "I only needed a taste, to complete the circuit, settle my demon."
"So that's it? You're all healed?" She asked, seeing the remnants of the fever disappearing. He still had slight bags under his eyes, but the paleness of his cheeks was gone, once again flushed with health and life.
"My leg may take a day or so to finished mending, but yes, that's it, I'm healed." He said while running the fingers of his right hand down her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, "But how did you heal so fast?" She asked, knowing he didn't usually heal instantly.
"I had a little help." He leaned back against his pillow and pulled her down with him, nuzzling against her cheek.
She was about to ask but realized, "All the drugs Cass was giving you?"
He nodded, "Yeah, supercharged by healing."
"But not your leg?" She questioned, settled down against him.
He shook his head at her, a grin on his lips. "Are you complaining?"
"No." She replied, enjoying the strong thumping of his heart beneath her ear, "Just curious."
He shrugged, "Despite superhuman abilities, underneath I'm still human. It was a bad break, takes time to mend bones that literally snap in half."
They were silent a moment, content in being close together.
She turned her head from his chest and looked up into his face, she was going to ask him something but forgot what it was when she saw his eyes were shut. The worry rushed back, afraid he was relapsing again. "Angel!" she called, sitting up.
His arm gently pulled her back down, "I'm just tired beloved." He told her, the adrenaline rush from his demon returning dissipating and the lack of actual restful sleep over the last few days catching up again.
"You've been asleep all day" She countered, checking his forehead and pulse.
He gently pried her fingers from his neck and kissed them. He opened his eyes and ran his other thumb up her cheek, "I've been unconscious most of the day, that hardly counts as sleep. I just need a few hours, honest. Then I'm going home, I'm going to hug our kids, raid the refrigerator, play with our kids...and after they go to bed, I'm planning on making love to my wife. But in order to have the energy for all that," He paused as he yawned, "I need a little sleep."
She smiled at him, only feeling love and strength radiating off him. His heart was beating strong in his chest, there was no trace of fever on his skin. "Are you planning in that exact order?" She teased, kissing his cheek.
He grinned, "I was thinking of bumping one of them up."
"And which one was that?" She asked, eyes shimmering.
"Raiding the fridge." he said in all seriousness.
She rolled her eyes, "Fuddy-duddy"
He leaned up and captured her lips again, "Am not." He countered when they parted for breath. "I just want to wait until I have some energy to burn. I could make love to you right now, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be very fulfilling for either of us. What's the point if I just fall asleep on you?"
"Hmm, yeah, I can see your point." She relented, pushing him back down and snuggling against him. "I guess I could use a few hours sleep too." She yawned.
His arms enfolded around her, and he kissed her crown as she pillowed her head over his heart.
After a few minutes she spoke up again, "Angel?"
"Hmm." He mumbled, half asleep already.
"You're not going to ditch me for a sandwich again are you?" She half joked, half concerned she'd wake up with something wrong again.
He was silent a moment and she thought maybe he fell asleep when he responded, "Depends on the sandwich."
She gasped and slapped his chest, "What!"
"Egg-salad...no, roast beef with cheese and mustard...maybe, steak bomb...defiantly." he teased.
"You're an asshole." She laughed, knowing if he was teasing her like this he was perfectly fine.
He leaned his head down and kissed her crown again, "Go to sleep beloved, I promise I'll be here when you wake."
Finally letting go of her anxiety, she did, and slept like a rock.
...
When Buffy awoke a few hours later, the first thing she noticed was a hard and lumpy mattress beneath her, not Angel.
Her eyes popped open as she scanned the bed in front of her, he wasn't there.
'He promised me!' She fumed. Ready to jump out of bed, find him, and give him a reason to be in a hospital bed.
She was about to do just that, but something was wrapped around her waist, keeping her from getting up.
She turned to see what she was caught on, 'Oh, never mind.' She thought, letting her anger dissolve and feeling mildly foolish.
Angel wasn't beneath her or in front of her, because he was spooned up behind her.
His arm around her waist tightened, automatically pulling her closer and closing the distance she'd created while moving.
She relaxed against him, feeling his still strong and steady heartbeat and his deep and even breaths as he exhaled against her ear.
Satisfied he had kept his promise and was fine, she tried to fall back to sleep...except the hard mattress was pushing uncomfortably against her hip.
Figuring he was comfier, she pushed against him, knowing he would roll over onto his back and she could climb up on him to get off the crappy mattress.
When she nudged him, he responded, unwrapping his arm from her and rolling over.
Except neither of them realized he was on the edge of the narrow bed.
Buffy turned when she head a yelp and a crash behind her, instantly realizing what happened.
"Oh, Angel, are you ok? I'm sorry!" She asked, jumping down beside him on the floor.
Needless to say, he was wide awake now. "Ow." He grumbled, rubbing his head.
"Are you hurt?" She asked, searching for a bump when he had been rubbing.
He grabbed her hands, cutting off her search for injuries, "No, well...maybe my pride." He admitting, kissing her temple.
She helped him up, which was difficult with one leg in a cast he couldn't bend at the knee.
"Are you sure you're ok?" She asked once they were sitting on the bed.
"I fell out of bed...I'm not exactly at my worst here." He reasoned with a slight grin.
"Ok, ok. I'm still sorry though, I nudge you to roll over." She admitted, hugging him an apology.
He hugged back, enjoying the feel of her small but well muscled body pressing against his. "Well then I guess you'll have to pay me back then." He grinned, kissing her lips.
Their kissing session was interrupted as their bodies grumbled out growls of hunger.
"How about I pay you back after we eat?" She suggested.
He grinned, "I like the way you think."
...
The day progressed very similar to how Angel suggested it would hours before. They raided the fridge, convinced their friends he was fine, ignored Cassidy's suggestion to stay the night for observation and went home.
Angel was mildly annoyed he couldn't drive his convertible home with the cast on his leg, but did actually find some amusement in being driven instead of being the driver. "I should make you drive more often, it's kinda nice just hanging out and watching the scenery."
"You're lying." She stated from the driver's seat, steering the boat of a car towards home.
"Well...yeah, Ok, I'd rather be driving...but I'm not because I don't trust you behind the wheel of a vintage 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX Convertible. Even if only 2,026 were ever made..." He ranted a little nervously.
"You drove this car threw an inter-dimensional portal with no roads...then it was spit it back out into a nightclub." She countered, remembering Lorne telling her the story one night after he had one too many drinks.
"Demon karaoke bar." He corrected, "and don't remind me."
...
"Daddy!" Katie yelled excitedly, running up to him as he limped through the front door. Cass assured then with the pins and metal plate installed, his leg bone wouldn't shift again.
He bent and scooped her up, tossing her lightly into the air and catching her. "Hey princess." He greeted her, kissing her cheek and holding her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly too tight, and didn't let go.
Liam followed his sister's example, Buffy lifting him up and kissing him, "There's my little man." She smiled, happy to be reunited with her babies.
Willow and Oz left a short time later, seeing their friends needed some family time. Not to mention needed to discuss their own possible future family.
Buffy and Angel switched kids after a few minutes, wanting equal time with them both.
"Daddy smells." Katie wrinkled her nose when Angel picked her back up a while later.
"What?" He defended, "I do not." He looked at Buffy for help and she shrugged, "You could use a shower." She agreed with her daughter.
A brooded expression slid across his face, "Gee, thanks, way to make a guy feel loved."
"Love you." Katie replied, kissing his nose.
A huge smile lit up Angel's face when his baby girl said that, not even Katie wrinkling her nose again and saying "Yucky." could budge it.
Buffy wiped a happy tear from her eye as her husband practically floated upstairs to take a shower, smiling the whole time.
...
Buffy heard a knock at the front door a few minutes and quickly went to answer it. Katie beating her to it and trying to turn the knob.
"No honey, never open the door without me or daddy, Ok?" She asked, knowing they would need to drill that into the kids as early as possible to prevent either of them from accidentally inviting in a vampire or other demon.
Buffy glanced threw the peephole and quickly opened the door for her step-son. "Hey Connor." She greeted, handing Liam to him as the blond boy practically leaped from her arms to his big brother.
"Whoa, hey little bro." The young man grinned, then ruffling the small brunette head when he felt Katie hugging his leg.
"Come on in, your dad just went to shower." She explained.
"That's be fun with his cast." Connor commented, remembering when he was a kid his sister had one on her arm for a few months during the summer. She had to wrap it in a plastic bag and hang it out of the shower, not to mention it really put a damper on her pool time. Of course he knew those memories were fake and with his vampiric parenthood he'd never broken a bone in his life...well besides fighting demons, but they healed fast.
"Oh, that's right." Buffy suddenly remembered Angel's cast. She wasn't used to her husband needed casts, usually a brace was put on his injures that could be easily removed, not something semi-permanent.
"Maybe you should go help him with that." Connor suggested, "I'll watch these little monsters for a while."
"Thank you." She said, kissing his cheek.
"No problem...oh, grab a trash bag to wrap the cast in...keeps the water out."
Buffy nodded and went to grab the bag and some tape from the kitchen as Connor made himself at home.
"Daddy? Mommy?" Katie cried, seeing Buffy head up the stairs.
"Don't worry Kit-Kat, they'll be back down. Dad's just taking a shower and mom need to help him cus of his ouch." He explained to the tot.
He got down on the floor with his siblings and kept them entertained.
...
Buffy entered the upstairs bathroom in their bedroom to find Angel giving himself a sponge bath.
"That's not gonna cut it." She grinned from the doorway, liking the view of his bare behind.
"Can't really shower wearing this." He indicated to his cast.
"Well that's why I brought this." Buffy replied, proceeding to wrap the cast in the trash bag and tape the opening shut around his leg.
"Smart idea." He nodded.
"Thank your son." She said giving Connor the credit he was due.
"See, sending him to college paid off." Angel joked.
She shook her head at him, "Get that sexy ass in the shower, now."
"You joining me?" He questioned with a sly smile, turning on the water and checking to see when it was hot.
"I need to watch the kids." She denied, helping him over the rim of the tub in case his cast slipped on the slick tile.
"Connor's downstairs, I even heard him say he would watch them." He countered her, easing under the hot spray.
"True." She thought, mind trying to decide whether to tease him or join him.
"So shower it is then." he grinned, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the water.
"Wait, Angel I'm still dressed!" She yelped as he yanked her in with him.
"You needed to wash these anyways." He reasoned, watching with interest as the water drench her white shirt, grinning as it revealing her feminine curves hidden beneath.
"Oh my god! I can't believe you did that!" She exasperated, feeling her clothing instantly sag with moisture. "No wait...I can believe it." She altered, seeing his eyes watching her breasts.
"You know, those wet clothes look uncomfortable, let me help you remove them." He said as seriously as he was able.
She quickly peeled off her shirt and chucked it at his head.
She grinned in satisfaction as it spatted against his face in a wet heap.
Of course the force made him step back, and the cast slick with water and a plastic bag was lousy traction.
He slipped.
She grabbed him instantly, pushing him back against the wall of the shower to keep him from falling.
He gasped, "Holy crap!"
"What?" She yelped out, afraid she broke him.
"Oh, that's cold." he muttered.
She realized he was reacting to the ice cold tile she slammed him up against, not pain.
"Baby." She rolled her eyes, she never complained about the cold wall when they made love in the shower. Granted she usually was too occupied to even feel it.
"And here you thought I dragged you in here just to see you naked." He grinning, wrapping his arm around her waist and bending to kiss his mark.
She shook her head, "So you premeditated kidnapping me to hold you up in the shower?" she questioned with a smirk, her half clothed body pressing teasingly against his very unclothed body.
"You got the 'up in the shower' part right." He muttered while kissing her neck.
She grinned when she felt what he meant a second later.
"We're not having sex in the shower with your three kids waiting just downstairs." She denied a moment later, halting his wandering fingers from trying to undo her now very soggy jeans.
"I can be quiet." he suggested, hands moving up her chest.
"Whenever you say that, you purposefully make sure I can't be quiet..." She accused, slapping his hands away.
He swallowed a knowing grin. "Do not." He lied.
She shook her head and quickly spun him around, stuffing him against the wall of the shower. "Cool off."
He groaned almost painfully as his interested member suddenly met very cold shower tiles. "That was low." He muttered.
Giggling to herself, she grabbed a facecloth and proceeded to wash/tease the heck out of him.
...
Once he was squeaky clean, she shut the water and wrapped a large towel around his waist. By then, he was nearly catatonic from lust, but she was rather adamant about waiting until tonight.
She grinned to herself, as she slipped from the bathroom to change, knowing that she was more than likely going to be tacked the second the kids went to bed.
The smile grew. 'Give him a taste of his own medicine, see how he likes getting all hot and bothered then needing to wait.'
...
After she changed, she tossed a set of clothes into the bathroom for Angel when he got himself back under control. "I'll be downstairs, try not to slip and break yourself." she teased through the partly closed door.
"Funny." He replied, getting ready to brush his teeth and give himself a very much needed shave.
...
To her surprise, he kept himself under control the rest of the day and into the early evening. Other than stealing a kiss now and again, he was a very good boy, even offering to cook. 'He's so just trying to get in your pants.' she thought to herself, and as she tasted the meal he prepared she added, 'Oh it's so working.'
Connor stayed for dinner, allowing for a little intelligent conversation over food rather than just the typical, 'Don't play with your food, remember to chew, eat your dinner, stay in that chair, don't throw your food...' that surrounded having small children at the table with you.
He declined staying the night though, he could see clear as day what his parents would be doing as soon as the kids went to bed. 'I've had way more than enough of that when I lived with them...really never need that kind of scarring again.' He thought to himself, smirking a little.
After dinner and desert, they had some family time, just enjoying being together and celebrating no one except the bad guys died during the predicted but flopped apocalypse.
Once the kids were sufficiently worn out, Connor found as excuse to give the couple some much desired privacy.
He wasn't surprised anymore when Angel yanked him into a tight hug on his way out. On the contrary, he looked forward to it. When he was a baby, the silent cool chest had been soothing, being a child born of two vampires it wasn't surprising. However, now that he'd heard his father's heartbeat, it was a far more comforting sound than it's absence.
"Thanks for everything Connor. I'm more proud of you everyday." Angel praised, for his son's courage during the fighting and also during Angel's failing health. He'd helped keep Buffy grounded and distracted his siblings when the tension was highest...all without falling into his own feelings.
A tear of emotion welled in Connor's eye, he quickly whipped it away before his dad saw it.
Angel shook his head, already smelling the salty tears. "Real men do cry Con, there is no shame in it."
"You almost died today." He whispered, face buried in Angel's shoulder.
He hugged his son tighter, "Almost, but still alive and kicking...well maybe not kicking for a few more days." He amended feeling the cast snug against his leg.
"Still, you could have gone away." Connor muttered, feeling the stab of fear he suppressed earlier that he'd be an orphan, alone again.
"It's not the first time I've nearly died, and I'm sure it won't be the last." Angel admitted. "When I do go, which I hope isn't for a long, long time, you'll never be alone. You have Buffy, your siblings, the gang...I know they'll be safe, that you'll take good care of them for me."
Connor nodded against him, accepting the responsibility he was being offered.
"Stay safe." Angel ordered and pressed a kiss into his boy's crown.
As a 'cover' Angel stepped back lightly punched Connor in the arm. "Don't get eaten on the way home." Angel teased, knowing his boy was very capable of handling himself.
The young man grinned his thanks, punching Angel back. "Don't eat anyone." He teased back.
Connor left and the two drowsy tots were washed, changed and put into bed.
...
Buffy had just finished in the bathroom when Angel grabbed her.
She half yelped in surprise/half laughed in anticipation as he hauled her up and pressed her back against the wall beside the door frame.
Her legs automatically wrapped tightly around his waist, her arms tightening on his shoulders as her hands plunged into his hair.
His tongue was already probing at her mouth, eagerly awaiting entry, which she promptly granted.
Positioned as he was, his hips had full range of motion. The weight of his body supported on his good leg and his balance kept by his hand holding the door frame on his injured side.
Buffy was very happy she chose to wear a nothing but a nightie. The short tantalizingly see threw satin was already hiked up over her hips, Angel's ramped interest in her pressing greedily against her inner thigh.
She repositioned to allow him entry, which he immediately took advantage of.
There was time later for slow passionate lovemaking...this was need, raw and powerful.
This wild animistic side of him always sent her desire whirling out of control; the usually slow and methodological passion ramped into fast and mindless lust. Her nails bit into his shoulder as he plunged against her, his lips devouring hers as his body rapidly hammered her towards ecstasy.
She screamed his name as they went over the edge together, momentarily forgetting the babies sleeping a few rooms down the hall.
On rubbery legs, he walked the few steps to the bed and dropped onto it, Buffy still clinging possessively to him.
Once he got his breath back, he found her lips again, keeping her fire burning with his talented wandered fingers. It wouldn't be long before he'd be ready to go again, and he wanted her primed and ready for him.
...
Buffy had lost count of the orgasms sometime after the ninth, and that had been a while ago. She was honestly wondering if it were possible to die from climaxing.
Angel was insatiable. His body screamed to feel alive, the demon equally lusting for life.
As much as they gave each other, they still wanted more.
Finally, after dancing around the position all night, he rolled atop her. Despite the awkwardness of the cast, Buffy eagerly wrapped her legs around him, needing this as much as he did.
Her well muscled thighs more than compensated for his limited mobility, their passion sending them into completion over and over again.
...
Angel growled as his body released, bringing Buffy with him as the demonic noise vibrated in his chest.
He panted against her neck for a moment, fully intending to roll off and give her space to breath, except she would let go on him.
"Stay." she breathed against his ear, wanting his weight pressing down on her, needing to feel his body hot and alive cradled against hers.
He didn't object, snuggling down as their bodies recouped from hours of near constant lovemaking.
"We're out of condoms." He smirked against her neck, knowing he always had at a minimum of two boxes on hand.
"Tomorrow, priority...get more." She insisted against his cheek, her body begging for rest after such wonderful exertion.
"You're not coming too?" He asked, knowing she liked to pick out new types and styles. Although more often then not he hated them.
"I've come enough." she played on his words, "Besides, I'll be lucky if I can even walk tomorrow." She added a second later.
He couldn't help but feel a wave of male pride wash over him. "Guess I'll just have to carry you."
She shook her head, laughing slightly, "Yeah ok, broken leg guy will be the designated walker...disaster waiting to happen."
"Hey, I do pretty well with a broken leg Miss-I-Can't-walk." He defended playfully.
"Mrs." she corrected.
He smirked, "Mr and Mrs Can't Walk...perfect."
With the passion induced adrenaline easing off, sleep was rapidly approaching for them both.
"I love you." He whispered, kissing her lips lightly.
Her arms tighten around him, fingers running down his back and through his hair one final time, "I love you." She replied, kissing back.
Buffy closed her eyes as Angel drifted to sleep atop her, the worry of the last few days thoroughly purged from her body as she joined him.
...
Author's Note: Just in-case anyone was wondering...the character of Cass comes from the game Fallout: New Vegas. Named Rose of Sharon Cassidy in the game but commonly called Cass, she's a smart ass companion that travels with you and helps out. She's not a doctor in the game, but this version of her is based more on physical appearance and attitude rather than the actual character.