AN: It's almost been a full year since I started this story and honestly, I never thought I would be able to get chapter 1 done let alone chapter 6! Thank you for the following and the likes. This next chapter will have Angel in it, and I just ask for Grace as I write him. Like I said a few chapters back I am trying to keep him true to himself without changing him and it scares me to write for him! But I hope you do enjoy the story and sorry it takes me so long to update it.
It had been a difficult choice but at least it was a choice. After dragging her feet to tell Angel she decided against it. She was now 16 weeks along and after many fights with Joyce and Willow her choice was set in stone, no one was going to change her mind.
Flashback
"Buffy it's one thing to keep the baby, but it is an entirely different story to not make the father aware of the fact that he will have a child." Joyce was trying to keep her voice even and not get upset but what Buffy was doing was beyond wrong. "Buffy, I hate to say it but your mom is right...he does have the right to know." she said as her brows furred together. "Look I understand you both feel strongly about this but I'm not telling him not now not ever unless he finds out on his own. He already left me once and I do not need him to not only reject me again but our child as well." Buffy had thought this over many times and she really did want to tell him, she so desperately wanted to tell him that they had made this beautiful child together but all she kept remembering is their talk in the sewer that led to their heartbreaking break up as well as them both promising to forget and move on with their lives. Bringing a baby into the mix was not going to help them move on.
Present the Summers house
Buffy had moved back in with Joyce. Dorm life was not place for a pregnant woman. Joyce and Buffy had turned the guest room into a perfect little yellow nursery. All that they needed to do was add clothes and a few more necessities. Buffy got out of the shower and covered herself with a fluffy purple towel. She looked into the mirror at her covered belly. She was starting to show just a little bit. "Hey Tinker. Are you getting hungry in there?" BUffy sighed and made her way out of the bathroom to get ready for the day. After getting dressed Buffy made her way down to the kitchen "Good morning, Buffy, how did you sleep?" Joyce asked while pouring her coffee. "I slept okay, just took forever for me to get comfortable." Joyce let out a half smile while putting her toast in the toaster. "If you think its bad now just wait a few more weeks. Oh, Buffy I forgot to tell you Riley called while you were in the shower, he said he will be running a few minutes late but did not want you to worry." After trying to avoid Riley and his wanting to date her she had come clean to him about her pregnancy.
Flashback
"Riley I'm sorry I'm just not in a place in my life where I can date and I'm sorry." Buffy wrapped her arms around her midsection. "Okay...DO you mind if I ask why not? I really like you Buffy and I'm willing to wait I would just like to know the reason I'm waiting." Buffy figured if she told him she was pregnant he would run for the hills and leave her be so that is what she did. "Riley the reason is because I'm pregnte..." The words hung in the air, and she watched as they sunk into him. She caught him sneaking a glance at her belly and then right back up to her face. "SO are you and the father trying to work things out?" Buffy felt a lump in her throat. "Umm no, actually Hes not going to be involved in the baby's life." Buffy suddenly looked down to the ground biting her lip. Riley stepped closer to her "How far along are you?" Buffy took a deep breath "I'm 13 weeks." looking up at Riley. "Buffy, you could be 6 months along and I would still want you. Just because you are having another man's baby does not mean I would not want to date you. I am willing to be there for you and the baby if you let me."
Present summers house
*Door bell* Buffy hopped off her chair to answer the door knowing it was Riley. "Hey Buffy," He bent down to kiss her and cradle her growing belly "And how is our little Tinker doing" Buffy paused and looked at him "It's my little Tinker thank you very much and he/she is fine" Buffy hated when Riley refred to the baby as his. "Buffy when I told you I was going to be there for the both of you I meant it in every way. I've told you I want to step up and be a father to this baby." Buffy took a deep breath "Okay I'm sorry I just feel bad making you into instant dad..ya know?" RIley took Buffy in his arms "If I didn't want to I would not be here. I care about you both." He planted a light kiss on her cheek. Buffys mom walked into the room to grab her keys. "Hello Mrs. Summers, You look very nice today." RIley was the king of kissing Joyces ass. "Well thank you Riley, I'll talk to you both later I've got to run over to the gallery. "So, you ready for our little picnic in the park?" Buffy smiled "of course as long at you put crunchy peanut butter on my sandwich." And with that they made their way to the park to have their picnic.
Outside of Angel investigations
Willow felt bad for what she was doing. It went against all the rules of being a best friend, But Buffy left her no choice but to do this. She could not understand why even if Angel did not want to be with Buffy why she would keep his child from him and allow Riley of all the men in the world to help her instead. In a way she did know why it was because Riley was the safer option with him Buffy did not have to worry about him leaving for her own good. Willow walked inside the small office and saw Cordi and Doyal talking "Come on its really not that hard to help me practice lines! I don't care if it takes us 30 or 100 times we are practicing it until I get it right" Cordi said with a lot of sass in her voice "Okay princess okay." Willow decided to step in and save the poor Irish man "Hi ya Cordi..." Cordi turned her attention away from Doyal "Willow!? Willow wow I never thought I would see you around here, where are the rest of the scoobies you didnt bring Xander with you by chance. " Nope No xander just me...Umm is Angel here? I need to talk with him its important." Cordi and Doyal both exchanged looks "yeah Hes in his apartment just head on down but beware Hes been a little grumpy since hurricane Buffy came to turn him upside down." Willow nodded and made her way down to see Angel. Angel was working on tai chi when willow first saw him. " Hey Angel. Is this a bad time?" Breaking his concentration, he looked over at the redhead surprised to see her. "no it's not a bad time Willow is everything OK with Buffy?" HIs dead heart began to sink. " Well she's okay..just ...I don't know how to say this." she had this whole speech planned out in her head just for it to not come out correctly when she was right in front of him. "Willow just come out and say it." Taking a deep breath " Look I'm going to really need you to listen and to not freak out when I tell you this," Angel gave her this look that said proceed. "Buffy is pregnant..." Angel felt as if his heart was ripped out of his chest he had told her she should move on have more of a human life but he didn't expect her to jump into motherhood so soon. "but the craziest part of all is that you're the father" angels eyes immediately went to willows as he started shaking his head "Willow that's impossible vampires can't have children" what type of sick joke was this or was this just a dream? "Angel the baby is yours from when you reverse the day something must have gone wrong because Buffy is definitely pregnant, and she's only been with one person and that was you." Angel felt like he was going to have a heart attack, how did willow know about that day. "How do you know.." but before he could finish she said "Buffy was still able to remember that day and because you both decided to let things die but we knew she didn't want to come back with this bombshell." angel's whole world was spinning around in circles Buffy was pregnant with his child. but where was Buffy and why was she not the one delivering the news of their child. "Willow I appreciate you coming to tell me but where is Buffy now?" this was the part willow was not looking to. "Buffy decided that she didn't want you to know she was pregnant because she felt like you wouldn't want to be a part of her life or possibly even the baby's life." Angel felt like he had been kicked in the chest again how could she think that how could she rob him of getting the chance of watching her go through pregnancy and the chance to be there for her, the chance of them being a family. He was starting to feel angry but then again could he really blame her he hurt her by leaving her so now mixed in with the anger he felt guilt. Angel decided that he couldn't take anymore surprises and that he needed to hear all of this from Buffy herself. "Willow how did you get here?" the redhead began to stammer "I took the bus..." "Well don't worry about getting a ticket back to Sunnydale. When the sun sets you and I can drive back. It seems Buffy and I have a lot ot catch up on."