AUTHOR: Goddess Isa
EMAIL: goddessisa@aol.com
SUMMARY: Angel remembers the past on his daughter's wedding day. Companion to 'Baby Steps' but you don't need to read it to get this.
SPOILER: None
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just email me & lmk where it's going - I like seeing my name in print =)
FEEDBACK: Please, I'd have to have to Slay for it. =P
RATING: TV-PG
DISCLAIMER: Buffy and Angel belong to Joss (I almost wrote Spike. Don't know why). Everyone else is MINE all MINE!!! Butterfly Kisses is by Bob Carlisle
DEDICATED: To Garnet, for inspiring it and Sandee; she knows why
"Mom!!!!" Mia came running down the stairs. "Mom, I tore my dress!"
"Mia, come here." Buffy was a mass of nerves as it was. It wasn't every day that her daughter got married, and now her other daughter was bringing her crisis after crisis. The dress was number four, before that it was her hair, her eye makeup and her broken earrings.
"Okay," Angel came out of the kitchen adjusting his tie. "The limo's here so we're gonna go pick up Matt. I'll see you guys there."
Buffy stopped looking at Mia's dress long enough to kiss her husband goodbye and then they left.
In the limo, Aaron was in his own world with his Discman on. Angel closed his eyes and wondered where all the time went.
*****
//There's two things I know for sure
She was sent here from Heaven
And she's daddy's little girl
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus, and I close my eyes
And I thank God for all the joy in my life\\
"Isn't that the cutest?" Buffy pointed to their four year old. "She's saying her prayers."
"Loudly," Aaron said as he passed her room on his way to the bathroom.
"Now I lay me down to sleep..."
"Did you teach her that?" Angel asked.
Buffy shook her head. "I guess she picked it up on her own."
He watched her with wonder. Joanna was kneeling by the side of her bed, her tiny hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes were shut so tight as she spoke. Angel wished he had a camera to capture the moment.
When she finished, she noticed Angel standing in the doorway. Buffy had already gone to make sure Aaron was really brushing his teeth and not just running water in the sink.
"Daddy!" she flew at him and he picked her up. She kissed his cheek and then laid her sleepy head on his shoulder. "Love you, Daddy."
*****
"Daddy," Joanna whispered in his ear. "Daddy."
"He won't wake up like that." Aaron said.
"DADDY!" Mia shouted.
"Great, now you woke up Mom too." Aaron rolled his eyes.
Angel sat up and looked at his children. "What's all this?"
"Happy Father's Day Daddy." Joanna said. Aaron set a tray on Angel's lap and he smiled when he saw what they'd made him. Cold "hot" tea, orange juice filling the glass only half-way and toast with 'Daddy' written with jelly.
"Thank you," he told them. "I love it."
"I made the toast Daddy." Joanna said proudly. She beamed while he ate it and when he finished, giggled when he brought her into the bed and tickled her.
She planted a kiss on his cheek. "I love you Daddy."
"Love you too baby."
*****
//Sweet sixteen today
She's looking like her Mama
A little more every day
One part woman
The other part girl
To perfume and makeup
From ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world\\
"A car?!" Joanna's eyes were wide. "You got me a car?!"
"We thought you'd earned it." Angel said.
"No, he just couldn't stand the thought of you driving around in some old pickup." Buffy said laughing.
"Will I get a car when I turn sixteen?" Mia asked.
"I didn't get a car." Aaron said.
"Thank you Daddy!" Joanna wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I love you."
He pulled a long box out of his pocket. "Don't thank me just yet."
She looked at him in surprise as she took the velvet box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful ankle bracelet.
"I picked it out," Buffy said. "Sweet Sixteen is special for a girl."
Joanna gave her mother, then her father hugs, but no kisses this time.
//Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair
"You know how much I love you, Daddy,
But if you don't mind,
I'm only going to kiss you on the cheek this time."
With all that I've done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every morning
And butterfly kisses at night\\
*****
The church looked beautiful, just as she'd wanted. Flowers everywhere, all her friends and family gathered there.
The groom was pacing nervously at the alter. Bridesmaids were gathered in the hall, waiting impatiently.
And Joanna was waiting while her mother fixed her veil for her.
Angel knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"
"As long as you're not Matt," she said, giggling.
//She'll change her name today
She'll make a promise
And I'll give her away
Standing in the bride room
Just staring at her
She asked me what I'm thinking
And I said "I'm not sure,
I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
Then she leaned over... and gave me...
Butterfly kisses, with her Mama there
Sticking little flowers all up in her hair
"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy, it's just about time"
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy?"
"Daddy, don't cry."
With all that I've done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every morning
And butterfly kisses\\
The wedding went quickly, almost too quickly for me. She's only twenty-three years old, and even though her mother was younger than that when we got married, geez, she was younger than that when we had Aaron, it's still hard for me. Joanna is my oldest daughter, and she was always my little angel.
//I couldn't ask God for more, man, this is what love is
I know I've gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
Every hug in the morning, and butterfly kisses...\\
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Matt lifted her veil and kissed my little girl, his wife. Everyone stood up and applauded and Buffy was crying. I hadn't realized it until just then, but I was crying too.