Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and Stefania, even though she isn't really in it. Everything else belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB.

Finished: May 2, 3001

~~ Life Goes On ~~

I return home from Willow's one night to find Angel lying on the couch with a book in his hand, his legs hanging over the armrest...we just couldn't seem to find a couch big enough to hold him. I lean against the doorway casually. "Did anyone ever tell you how sexy you are when you brood?"

He puts the book down and smirks at me. Standing up, he runs a hand through his hair...I'm surprised he can with all that styling-gel in it. I don't know if he's fussier about it now or when he was a vampire. Probably now since he can actually see himself in the mirror.

I walk over to him and take the book from his hand. 'Poetry for the Savage Beast'. I look up at him with a grin. "Yeah, honey, you're a real savage." I say sarcastically.

"Only when I want to be." he replies, snaking his hands around my waist and placing light kisses on my neck. His kisses turn into light nibbles and shivers run up my spine, as do his hands. What was it I wanted to tell him? Oh well, it can't be that important.

He stops with the nibbling and I give him a small pout. "What? Find something you didn't like?" I ask. "Like a scar of some kind?"

He looks away. "I'm sorry about that, Buffy." Oops.

I wrap my arms around his neck and smile at him. "Look, Angel, I made you bite me. It was my decision and I'm glad I made it because if I hadn't, you probably would've died and we wouldn't be here tonight. Besides, it marks me as yours and I wouldn't have it any other way."

He smiles softly and almost shyly. Leaning down he kisses me softly. Suddenly his fingers are tickling my sides making me jump a near foot. I try to keep his hands away but I'm laughing so hard I'm weak against his attack.

I slowly back away and end up tripping and falling onto the loveseat behind me, bringing Angel crashing down with me, almost crushing me...almost. Still his fingers torment my nerves until I can't breathe. "S-stop." I say between giggles. Finally he gives up and I take a few minutes to catch my breath he hovers above me with a huge smile on his face, like he's waiting for me to do or say something back. Okay, so I will.

"Angel, I'm pregnant." I say, unsure of what his reaction will be. I mean, we've been married for almost three years now and we'd talked about children but we hadn't really decided. Too late for that now.

The smile leaves his face and is replaced with shock. I stare into his chocolate brown eyes trying to find an answer but all I can think is, 'Will the baby have his eyes?'

He looks down at my stomach and immediately backs up off of me. "God, I'm sorry, sweetie. Are you okay?" he asks, pulling me to my feet.

I smile and nod. "Yes, I'm fine," I reply. "Nothing's broken or bruised, our lives can resume."

He runs a hand through his hair again, I don't think he knew he was doing it this time though. "When--how--" he stutters in small gasps.

"About a month ago, and well, you should know how," I reply with smile. He's pacing now. Pacing is not good. "Angel, what's wrong?"

He stops and turns to me. "Nothing, it's just--" he begins. "Wow! I mean...a baby!"

"Breathe, honey, you remember what breathing's like?" I say. He walks up to me and hugs me close. When he pulls away, he's smiling. He looks down at my stomach again and puts a hand against it.

"A baby," he whispers as if he's still trying to believe it. Angel looks at me with shining eyes, like a six-year-old getting a new bike for Christmas. He kisses me gently. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Angel," I reply. "So it's a good thing?"

He laughs. "Yes, Buffy, it's a very good thing."

"Good," I reply. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean against him with a sigh. His arms return the favour and we stand in silence for a few minutes.

"Does Willow know?" he asks.

"Yeah, I took the home test there and we cried for about an hour," I say. "I still have to go to the doctor next week, though...make sure everything's fine."

"Everything will be," he replies. "You're a Slayer. You Summers women are born strong."

"Ex-Slayer," I remind him. "Technically Stefania is the Slayer, I'm just 'the old chick who knows kung-fu'. At least that's what Giles says she calls me."

"She doesn't know you're 'The Buffy'?" he asks. "The only Slayer to live to her retirement."

"She knows, she just doesn't want to be one. The whole 'pre-planned destiny' thing scares her...she reminds me of me," I say with a smile. "In that case, I'd better warn her about sexy, cryptic guys in alleys."

Angel grins at me. "I never imagined that we'd be here when I first met you," he says, brushing a wisp of hair out of my face.

"Yeah, I know...I was such a bitch to you," I say, making him smile even more. "Why did you put up with me?"

"Love does strange things to a man," he says. "Like, buying hair-gel and big leather coats to impress women."

"Well, it worked," I reply. I glance at my watch. "It's almost two o'clock, honey. I have to work at nine tomorrow."

"I get to sleep in," he gloats. "I work at nine-thirty."

Laughing, I pull him into the bedroom. Curling up against each other, my back to his chest, he rests his hand over my stomach, protecting the delicate life sheltered within, and we fall into a blissful sleep. The world seems to stop whenever we're together, but even in our dormant state, inside my belly, life goes on.