Chapter Thirty
Still not able to walk on her own Angel carried Susan into their home. Without speaking he carried her up the stairs as the others stood at the entrance.
"We should have a meeting," Wesley spoke loudly to the couple, but Angel continued up the stairs as if he had heard nothing.
Lorne said quietly putting his hand on Wes's shoulder, "Give them a little time, they both thought they'd lost each other today."
"A little time," Wesley agreed, "No one is safe here."
On the way back to the hotel Angel held Susan, not wanting to ever let go again. She had trembled the entire ride and said nothing. He, too, hardly spoke, as both their emotions were so close to the edge. He had heard Wesley mention the meeting but chose to ignore the others. He needed time to be alone with his wife, to give her comfort and at the same time receive the comfort that only she could return.
Cordelia let out a gasp and started running up the stairs. "Angel, just a minute." But he kept walking down the hall. Cordy rushed past him and as she went to enter their room she turned back, "Just give me a minute." She had remembered the blood marked bed covers and knew that right now Susan didn't need to see the evidence of what would have been a murder. It took her a couple of minutes to change the bedding and throw the stained items into the bag that the duvet was put into earlier. She took a quick glance around the room and her eyes stopped on Angel's favourite photo of the couple dancing. They were so happy then, if only life wasn't so complicated. The C.D. player sat beside the photo, and she pushed the play button. As she opened the door to leave, "You Are So Beautiful" started to play quietly.
Angel was leaning against the wall across from their room, his eyes closed. Susan had her face turned into his neck. She was still trembling and Cordy could see the dampness on his skin from her tears. He opened his eyes when Cordy stepped into the hall carrying the bag of bedding and she could see that his too were moist and full of emotion.
"Thanks Cordy," he spoke guietly, "I know Wes wants a meeting. Tell him to give us twenty minutes, and then come up. I'm not going to leave Susy alone for a second, and she needs her rest.
Cordelia put her hand on his arm, "We'll do what ever we can to help. You're not alone, we are all a part of this."
Angel just mouthed the word, "Thanks", and carried Susan into their bedroom. Cordy had already turned back the covers. When he bent to set his lamb on the bed, she held on tightly and wouldn't let go. He pushed off his shoes and slid into the bed with her.
After a few minutes Susan pulled back to look into his eyes, and without speaking a word they both felt the intensity of their love, the infinity of it.
Angel saw those blue eyes that seemed as deep as the ocean or as wide as the heavens and realized that in their entirety was their love, as if it was their everything … their only thing. He kissed her, consumed her into his very self. What had Dr. McKay said, "That they were one? At that moment they knew the trueness of those words. In body, mind and soul, they were one.
They lay together not speaking – not needing to, just feeling the comfort that being together gave them.
A light knock came on the door after exactly twenty minutes. Breaking the spell, Susan spoke, "If only it could always just be like this."
"I know love," Angel ran his finger down over her nose. "But we do have urgent matters to discuss." He walked over to the door and let the others in the room.
"Are you feeling better?" Wesley asked Susan.
"Much," she smiled, pulling herself up to a sitting position. "The freezing is wearing off now. Lots of pins and needles."
Lorne followed carrying a tray of food. "For the mother-to-be," he said. "Couldn't help but hear your stomach growling on the way over, or was that the little tyke?" He gave 'the bulge' a little pat through the covers and hospital gown. The baby responded with a gently push back. Lorne's eyes widened in a started fashion.
"She must like you," Susan smiled again.
Lorne looked at her seriously. "All signs say it is a boy, Susan – thee boy."
"We'll see," she still smiled.
Gunn carried another tray with coffee and Susan's famous banana bread, along with a tall glass of blood for Angel. "We can't let anything happen to this girl. I'd have to go back home to mom to find cooking like this." He set the tray on a side table and handed the glass to Angel.
He took a large drink then said quietly, leaning to Susan, "We may not grow old together, but we will always be together."
"Now you are reading my mind." She said, a hint of a tear forming.
"I'll never leave you," he added.
"I know," she said as the tear slid down her cheek. Angel wiped it away with his thumb, his hand resting on her cheek and looked deep into her eyes saying nothing.
Cordelia came in next wearing Gunn's hooded sweatshirt and a pair of oven mitts. She walked over to Susan's side of the bed.
"New fashion statement, Cordy?" Gunn asked.
"No, its hug time." She pulled the hood over her head and sat beside Susan reaching around her and holding her tightly. She spoke quietly into her ear so that only Susan could hear her. "I used to worry about Angel when you came here, but it is so obvious this is right. You are the best thing for him."
The baby was becoming very active with the freezing wearing off and Susan removed the mitt from Cordelia's hand. She put it on her own and held Cordy's hand over the motion. Cordy's eyes lit up as Susan said, "We both thank you."
"Wow'" Cordy was mesmerized," I could do that … never thought I would want to have a baby … but I could do that."
"Cordy," Wesley frowned.
"Well, you try it," Cordy offered.
"I couldn't," Wesley remarked, but he glanced at Susan questioningly.
"Sure you can," Susy said, "I'm just glad it is still in there for the time being … Gunn?"
They all took their turn feeling the motion of the baby, which made it seem more real, more important.
"Well, we better get down to business," Wesley took control. They all sat down to discuss plans that they would have to act on quickly.
"We all know that we are not safe here," Wesley started. "So we have to decide on a safe place, and how to get there." He had been staring into his coffee cup and now looked up at Angel. "I was talking to Giles yesterday morning. Everyone in Sunnydale is anxious to help. He knows the evil, but can only do good guy." He hesitated before going any further.
"Well?" Angel straightened, anxious to hear who could help deliver this baby. "Who is it?"
"Spike," Wes continued.
"Never," Angel appeared angry, "He is not touching my wife!"
"Who's Spike?" Susan asked.
"He's a vampire, … an evil vampire." Angel answered her.
"There was a chip implanted in his brain to prevent him from doing evil," Wes added.
"No! Something could go wrong. Besides what does he know about delivering babies?" Angel asked.
"Apparently lots. Back in 1880 when he was made he was in training to be a doctor, specializing in developing a birthing home," Wes answered.
"He was a bumbling idiot when Drusila made him," Angel was obviously still not convinced. "I've been studying everything I can to get prepared for this. I can do this alone."
"Ahemm," Susan cleared her throat, "Alone?"
"I have my oven mitts," Cordy added trying to lighten the mood.
"Sorry, Susy," Angel pulled her to him. "I don't trust Spike."
"Maybe we should at least talk to him," Wesley said quietly. "I'm sure Giles wouldn't steer us wrong."
"Buffy and the others will help too," Cordy added. "Willow is supposed to be getting pretty good with her witchcraft."
"Okay, okay," Angel held up his hand. "I can see I am out numbered, but it is a long way to travel. We can't all just pack into the car and go. Susy has to be able to lie down or walk around whenever she needs to. We'd need a mobile home, and I'm afraid it's not in the budget."
"No, but we could rent one," Gunn was up and out the door, "I'll locate one."
"Okay, it is decided," Wes confirmed, "We are going to Sunnydale, who's joining us?"
Everyone agreed, even Lorne, who said he wouldn't miss this for anything.
"We could be on the road indefinitely," Wesley added standing up. Turning to Angel he added, "Make sure you have everything you might need. We probably won't be back before the baby is born."
"Already put everything together," he said pointing to a large suitcase.
"Good," Wes nodded, "Now, no doubt they are watching every move we make, is there a way we can get out of here without being detected?"
"Sure," Angel answered, "There is the underground system through the basement."
Gunn came back upstairs with the yellow pages. "There is a place that rents only about a mile away."
"Okay," Angel said, "We'll use the system to get to the underground parking lot in the Kent building. Gunn, we'll meet you there in two hours."
"Right'" Gunn turned to Susan, "A coach fit for a queen and her prince. On my way … two hours." He looked at his watch, "That will be 9:45 a.m. in the Kent underground lot."
Everyone left to prepare for their journey. Wes and Cordy already had extra clothes at the hotel. Lorne agreed to borrow some of Angel's, even though it meant quite a change in style. They agreed to meet in the lobby in half and hour, leaving Susan and Angel alone.
"I thought we would live here happily ever after." Susy said as she started to pack another suitcase with only the bare essentials.
"We'll be back as a family, Susy. We'll beat these guys." Angel also packed his things into the same suitcase.
She watched in the dresser mirror, as magically items seemed to float across the room to be packed. Angel's toiletry bag from the bathroom floated past. The fresh scent of his cologne made her turn and smile.
"I always loved that cologne."
"I know that's why I wear it."
They went out the door, but Susan had to stop as she picked up the toy lamb, and took a good look around the room. She couldn't be sure when she would see it again.
The others had already gathered in the lobby, ready to go down into the basement and start their journey. They seemed to be milling around, making sure everything was there that they would need. Susan quietly walked out into the garden for one last look. She had put Angel's heart pendant around her neck, hanging on a shoestring. She took it off and hung it around the neck of the angel statue, and quietly said, "We'll be back." She turned to join the others and found Cordy watching her. They looked at each other in silence. The mood was heavy, then Susan finally said, "I'm sorry I've caused such an upset."
"An upset?" Cordelia questioned, "Angel has spent years helping others. Now we can give back. He is so happy now. For a long time he thought there was no reward for him, no real happiness. You are that, you and little tyke there. You make him happy, you make us happy – it is a package deal."
"But I've put you all in danger."
"You think we've never seen danger before. We live on danger. Besides from what I've seen, you've had your share of danger. You can't expect to do it all alone."
Susan smiled a thank you, but still felt she caused the others a risk they really didn't deserve.
It was a long walk through the tunnels and Susan had to stop a few times for a rest. Most of the time they walked quietly until she said to Lorne, Feels like maybe we should be singing, 'Climb Every Mountain'."
"You're right," he answered, "The last scene in 'The Sound of Music'. They were escaping through the mountains. Probably smelled better than down here."
They were a little later than the two hours and when they finally emerged from the tunnels, Gunn was waiting in the underground parking lot.
"Mission accomplished," Gunn bowed toward Susan, "A carriage fit for royalty."
The motor home wasn't quite designed to six people, but had all the luxuries of home. It was a little cramped but no one complained. There was a bedroom slightly bigger than the double bed it contained, a bathroom and a kitchenette, which seated four. They settled in and prepared for escape.
Everyone was tired, as no one had slept for over twenty-four hours. Susan tried to let someone else use the bedroom, but they all insisted that she and Angel get some sleep. Angel would drive through the night, so it was best if they were able to rest … emphasis on the 'rest' was expressed, but they all just smiled, knowing better.
Gunn was well prepared, having covered the windows with heavy blankets and towel to keep any rays of sunshine out. He easily guided the large vehicle out of the busy city and soon they were on their way travelling east. Lorne sat "shotgun" in the passenger seat, totally enjoying this new adventure while Wes and Cordy each lay down on the bench seats to catch forty winks.
The walls were not very sound proof and from the bedroom could be heard sounds of giggling and a loud, "Shhh." Then the all too familiar love songs from the player covered their voices.
"Do you think everyone has a soul mate, Wesley? Cordy asked quietly.
"I hope so," he answered, "I'd like to find mine."
"Me too." There seemed to be a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I had a dream when I was in the hospital, that you were singing to me," Susan said as they lay quietly in each other's arms.
"What was the song?"
"You Are So Beautiful', it made me feel so good, like you were right beside me. I thought you were dead and it gave me hope."
"I did sing it to you, at Caritas. You came there, first as a sliver of light, then as Elizabeth and for a few minutes as yourself."
"Really? It seemed to take so much energy, but I tried so hard to be with you. It made me think of when I would do that as Elizabeth, when Charles was there." Susan grimmissed when she thought of the evil man, " But it didn't work then, I guess."
"I think maybe it did, although I didn't know it at the time. When I saw your light dancing I remembered seeing it before. When I would be at the creek sometimes there would be this light that danced over the water. I thought it was just the sun or moon reflecting, but now I know what it was. Even then you were with me. Up until about thirty years ago, sometimes that light would appear out of nowhere. Eventually I thought it was my eyes playing tricks, until it never came and then I missed it. It seemed to almost have a pull, a warmth. Now I realize that you never really left me, even when I was at my worst, you were there … but I wasn't there for you."
"You've always been in my heart … always." She paused a moment, "I'll never leave you, Angel."
"I don't know how it works, but I'm sure we will always be together." They held each other tightly, each hoping they would never have to be apart again.