Chapter 20: More Revelations
Buffy woke up to the wonderful feeling of a warm hand stroking her bare belly.
Seconds later that hand was replaced by silky lips alternatively kissing or
moving with silent words. She lay perfectly still, not wanting to interrupt this
perfect moment. Of course she knew what he was doing, he was talking to the baby
that was safely protected in her womb.
After they'd made gentle love, Angel being hesitant at first, irrationally afraid of hurting the baby, so Buffy had taken the lead this time, they'd been falling asleep in each others arms.
The former slayer was washed in the emotions Angel's actions caused in her. Not
only the feeling of his lips on her skin but more because of the deeper meaning
behind his actions. He was happy, completely, genuinely happy and it showed in
his eyes. All the shadows that had been so much a part of him were gone from
them, only some residual hint that he'd gone through a lot showed his past, but
only people knowing him very well could see it.
Suddenly his hair tickled her skin and she couldn't suppress a giggle. With a
smile in his eyes he looked up into her face and their eyes met. This was
definitely heaven, Buffy decided and thought one couldn't probably be happier.
"Hey," he said softly and his lips moved up to meet hers.
"Hey back," she replied when they parted again.
"Sleep well?"
"Hmmm," she made and stretched like a contented kitten in the sun. "Perfect."
"Good," he rolled on his stomach and gazed at her, "do you even realise how
beautiful you are?"
She blushed slightly, although she should be used to his constant compliments by
now, she told herself. "Why, thank you sir. Pregnant women need this, especially
when they're looking like houses later on."
"You'll never be anything but beautiful to me. I can't wait to see you grow big
with our child," he confessed with deep honesty once more touching her stomach
with his hand.
She rolled her eyes, "You will change your mind, believe me, when I'm like a
whale, not able to stand up on my own in the end or paddle around like some
penguin."
"No," he replied without hesitation. "Nothing would change my mind. Don't you
remember, I told you once, if you were covered in slime I would still love you."
"Yes, I remember," she whispered and stroked his cheek. "This is like a miracle.
Our very own, private miracle. We're going to have a baby, Angel. You and I," she
couldn't stop the tears now running from her eyes, "I can't believe this is
really happening. Although the hellmouth is closed I still expect some evil demon to take this away from us again, like the Powers took the day."
He averted his eyes for a moment and when he looked back at her she wanted to
kick herself for the remark. And when he miserably whispered, "I'm sorry," she
couldn't do anything but reach out and take him in her arms.
"No," she said, "I am the one to be sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. And it wasn't your fault, not really. If I would've been in your place I would've done the same. And anyway, we shouldn't let this ruin our happiness. We have all we wanted now, that's all that matters. Past pain is in the past and should stay
there."
She heard him taking a deep breath and then he slowly pulled back. "You're
right," he agreed and to her joy the pain was gone from his eyes again. "Talking
about the baby and happiness, who else does know it besides Willow and Giles."
"Nobody. I actually wanted to tell you first, but I was so excited and didn't
want to talk to you through the phone and just *had* to tell someone. And then
Willow called Giles, but only to find out why it was possible. But Willow
assured me she wouldn't tell anybody else and I trust her in this."
"So your mom and the children don't know?"
"No," she confirmed. "Not that this is of any interest for David anyway. We will
tell him of course, but he will just smile and say 'fine' or something," she
smiled thinking of her son. "He isn't old enough to really understand what it
means."
"Probably," Angel agreed. "What about Ashlynn?"
"We'll just have to wait and see, but I don't expect her to be a problem. She
loves you. And when I was pregnant with David she was excited."
He smiled and there was suddenly an odd expression in his eyes, Buffy couldn't
quite put her finger on, "What?," she asked.
"Nothing ... well, I was just thinking what you're going to say to her?"
"Say to her? That she's going to get a sister or brother in about eight months,
why?"
"It's quite some news for a little girl, don't you think," he asked, the look in
his eyes still not gone and the former slayer was getting a bit annoyed with his
attitude.
"Angel, are you going to tell me what this is all about or what? You're behaving
strange."
"Do I now?," he asked and grinned. "I was just thinking, you know, I mean you're
going to give her some news, so ... would it be too much of a shock to tell her
anything else?"
"Anything else? What do you mean?," to say she was confused now was putting it
mildly. What the hell was he talking about? "What do you want me to tell her?"
"You could for example tell her that we're going to get married," he said and the teasing expression was instantly gone from his eyes. Now they were watching her seriously, hopefully and was she imagining it or was he really holding his
breath. God, he was cute when he was like this, so insecure, still expecting her
to say no when he offered her to make her most secret dreams come true.
For a moment she considered to play along, but she knew she couldn't do it,
couldn't tease him with something that was so important to him. So she slowly
nodded, "I could do that too," was all she said.
"Is that a yes?"
"Was it a proposal?," she shot back.
"You know it was," he replied but began to smile again when he saw the expression in her eyes, the joy that was radiating from them.
"Then the answer is a yes."
Instantly she was in his arms, "Oh, Buffy," he murmured in her hair, "Buffy,
Buffy," he repeated her name again and again and she could feel his body tremble
for a moment, then he pulled back and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "I love
you."
"And I love you. Don't you know that becoming your wife and having a child with
you was what I always wanted but never allowed myself to dream?" It was her term
to kiss him now. "But we should better get up and see mom and the kids. There's
really a lot we have to tell them."
***
Joyce greeted them with a smile when she saw them coming into the living-room, as Buffy had entered the house using her key. David jumped up and launched himself at his mother, then stretched his arms out for Angel and the former vampire took him in his arms, holding him close for a moment before putting him down again.
"Hi mom," Buffy smiled at Mrs. Summers but was interrupted when Ashlynn bolted
down the stairs and hugged first Angel and then her mother.
"Hi," she beamed at them. "I was playing with my dolls upstairs."
"I see," her mother grinned at her.
"Hello Joyce," Angel smiled at his future mother-in-law. He had to inwardly laugh
at that. Who would've thought.
Mrs. Summers raised a brow, "You both look very happy, is there a reason for it?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Oh mom! But yeah, there's reason, actually there are
two."
Joyce's second brow rose as well, "Oh?"
"Yes," her daughter confirmed, then looked at Ashlynn, "Honey, why don't we all
sit down. Mommy and Angel have some news for you all."
As soon as they were seated, Buffy took her daughter's hand, "Ashlynn, you like
living with Angel in the big house, don't you?"
Ashlynn beamed at her, "Oh yeah," she quickly flashed the former vampire a smile, then looked back at her mother, "It's great." Suddenly a frown appeared on her forehead, "We're not going to leave?"
"No," Buffy assured her quickly. "Not at all. No, quite the opposite," she shortly glanced at her mother. "Angel and I want to get married. What do you think of it?"
"Married?," she asked and looked at her mother for a long moment, then turned her head towards Angel, "Would you be my dad then?"
"I would be your mom's husband, and your step-father, if you want that, but your
dad will be still your dad," he replied smiling at her, "I don't want to replace
your real dad, little one."
"But I could say you are my dad, couldn't I. I mean you would come to school
events and stuff?," she looked at him hopefully and Angel realised that he'd
completely misunderstood her feelings. She wasn't afraid that he would try to
replace her father, she was actually hoping he would. Anger welled up inside him
against the man who didn't seem to care at all how his wonderful, little daughter felt and compassion for a child that felt abandoned and was probably wondering if she'd done something wrong.
He exchanged a quick glance with Buffy and when he saw her nod, he said, "If you
would want that, I think it'll be alright. I wouldn't mind at all, if that's what you want to know."
The doubt in Ashlynn's eyes was instantly replaced by joy and she beamed, looking back and forth between her mother and he. "Alright, I would like you two getting married."
"Good," Buffy smiled at her daughter and gazed at her own mother who smiled as
well and was obviously fighting with tears. "And there is something else." She
could see Joyce's face change. She'd obviously expected them to announce their
engagement, but she clearly had no idea what was to come next.
The former slayer looked at her fiancée wanting him to announce the other good
news. He smiled and took Ashlynn's other hand, "Little One, your mother and I,
well, we're going to have a baby."
Buffy heard her mother gasp in surprise and turned her head. Their eyes met and
when she nodded Joyce began to smile. How could she not, seeing so much happiness in her daughter's eyes.
"A baby?," the blonde heard Ashlynn ask and turned her attention back to her.
"Yes," Angel nodded, then stroked the girl's cheek.
"Is it like when mom was getting David?," she asked.
"Not exactly. David is your father's son, while I am the father of this new
baby," he explained.
Ashlynn frowned for a moment and seemed to think about something, then she
asked, "Could you make it a girl, please? Because I would prefer a sister, you
know."
Angel and Buffy smiled at each other over her head and then the former slayer
said, "We can't do anyting about it, honey. We just have to take what we get."
"Oh," her daughter made, then shrugged, "oh well, it's okay. I mean David might
be annoying sometimes, but I like him. So I guess I will like the new baby as
well." She turned and looked at her brother who was playing on the ground, "Did
you hear David, we're going to get another baby."
"Gweat," the little boy replied, but didn't even bother to look up from his toy.
Buffy chuckled, "What did I tell you."
"Oh Buffy," Joyce reached out and took one of her daughter's hands and one
Angel's, "This is wonderful. And I know how happy you are. It's wonderful news."
"It is," Angel agreed. "There is another thing," he smiled at his future
mother-in-law, "Could you keep the kids for the day, we would like to drive to
L.A. and tell it Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley. They are the closest I have for a
family and I need to tell them personally. But we'll be back tonight. We have
invited the friends from Sunnydale for dinner to tell them."
"Of course they can stay with me," Joyce replied.
"Is that okay with you honey?," Buffy asked her daughter. "Mom and Angel want to
go and see some friends, but we'll getting you tonight and later Aunt Willow,
Uncle Xander and their kids will be at our house."
"Okay," Ashlynn nodded. "But please don't make me play with the little kids
again," she pleaded. "They are so annoying."
Her mother grinned. "No, I won't, I promise." She looked at her watch, then at
Angel, "Maybe we should get going now. Otherwise we're never going to make it.
Don't forget there's some dinner to prepare."
"You are right," her fiancée agreed. "Let's go. And thanks Joyce."
"No problem." She smiled and waved them off. Then she settled back on the sofa
and looked at her grand-daugher who was smiling happily. How could she ever have
doubted that Angel was the right man for her daughter, she wondered.
End Chapter 20.
Buffy woke up to the wonderful feeling of a warm hand stroking her bare belly.
Seconds later that hand was replaced by silky lips alternatively kissing or
moving with silent words. She lay perfectly still, not wanting to interrupt this
perfect moment. Of course she knew what he was doing, he was talking to the baby
that was safely protected in her womb.
After they'd made gentle love, Angel being hesitant at first, irrationally afraid of hurting the baby, so Buffy had taken the lead this time, they'd been falling asleep in each others arms.
The former slayer was washed in the emotions Angel's actions caused in her. Not
only the feeling of his lips on her skin but more because of the deeper meaning
behind his actions. He was happy, completely, genuinely happy and it showed in
his eyes. All the shadows that had been so much a part of him were gone from
them, only some residual hint that he'd gone through a lot showed his past, but
only people knowing him very well could see it.
Suddenly his hair tickled her skin and she couldn't suppress a giggle. With a
smile in his eyes he looked up into her face and their eyes met. This was
definitely heaven, Buffy decided and thought one couldn't probably be happier.
"Hey," he said softly and his lips moved up to meet hers.
"Hey back," she replied when they parted again.
"Sleep well?"
"Hmmm," she made and stretched like a contented kitten in the sun. "Perfect."
"Good," he rolled on his stomach and gazed at her, "do you even realise how
beautiful you are?"
She blushed slightly, although she should be used to his constant compliments by
now, she told herself. "Why, thank you sir. Pregnant women need this, especially
when they're looking like houses later on."
"You'll never be anything but beautiful to me. I can't wait to see you grow big
with our child," he confessed with deep honesty once more touching her stomach
with his hand.
She rolled her eyes, "You will change your mind, believe me, when I'm like a
whale, not able to stand up on my own in the end or paddle around like some
penguin."
"No," he replied without hesitation. "Nothing would change my mind. Don't you
remember, I told you once, if you were covered in slime I would still love you."
"Yes, I remember," she whispered and stroked his cheek. "This is like a miracle.
Our very own, private miracle. We're going to have a baby, Angel. You and I," she
couldn't stop the tears now running from her eyes, "I can't believe this is
really happening. Although the hellmouth is closed I still expect some evil demon to take this away from us again, like the Powers took the day."
He averted his eyes for a moment and when he looked back at her she wanted to
kick herself for the remark. And when he miserably whispered, "I'm sorry," she
couldn't do anything but reach out and take him in her arms.
"No," she said, "I am the one to be sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. And it wasn't your fault, not really. If I would've been in your place I would've done the same. And anyway, we shouldn't let this ruin our happiness. We have all we wanted now, that's all that matters. Past pain is in the past and should stay
there."
She heard him taking a deep breath and then he slowly pulled back. "You're
right," he agreed and to her joy the pain was gone from his eyes again. "Talking
about the baby and happiness, who else does know it besides Willow and Giles."
"Nobody. I actually wanted to tell you first, but I was so excited and didn't
want to talk to you through the phone and just *had* to tell someone. And then
Willow called Giles, but only to find out why it was possible. But Willow
assured me she wouldn't tell anybody else and I trust her in this."
"So your mom and the children don't know?"
"No," she confirmed. "Not that this is of any interest for David anyway. We will
tell him of course, but he will just smile and say 'fine' or something," she
smiled thinking of her son. "He isn't old enough to really understand what it
means."
"Probably," Angel agreed. "What about Ashlynn?"
"We'll just have to wait and see, but I don't expect her to be a problem. She
loves you. And when I was pregnant with David she was excited."
He smiled and there was suddenly an odd expression in his eyes, Buffy couldn't
quite put her finger on, "What?," she asked.
"Nothing ... well, I was just thinking what you're going to say to her?"
"Say to her? That she's going to get a sister or brother in about eight months,
why?"
"It's quite some news for a little girl, don't you think," he asked, the look in
his eyes still not gone and the former slayer was getting a bit annoyed with his
attitude.
"Angel, are you going to tell me what this is all about or what? You're behaving
strange."
"Do I now?," he asked and grinned. "I was just thinking, you know, I mean you're
going to give her some news, so ... would it be too much of a shock to tell her
anything else?"
"Anything else? What do you mean?," to say she was confused now was putting it
mildly. What the hell was he talking about? "What do you want me to tell her?"
"You could for example tell her that we're going to get married," he said and the teasing expression was instantly gone from his eyes. Now they were watching her seriously, hopefully and was she imagining it or was he really holding his
breath. God, he was cute when he was like this, so insecure, still expecting her
to say no when he offered her to make her most secret dreams come true.
For a moment she considered to play along, but she knew she couldn't do it,
couldn't tease him with something that was so important to him. So she slowly
nodded, "I could do that too," was all she said.
"Is that a yes?"
"Was it a proposal?," she shot back.
"You know it was," he replied but began to smile again when he saw the expression in her eyes, the joy that was radiating from them.
"Then the answer is a yes."
Instantly she was in his arms, "Oh, Buffy," he murmured in her hair, "Buffy,
Buffy," he repeated her name again and again and she could feel his body tremble
for a moment, then he pulled back and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "I love
you."
"And I love you. Don't you know that becoming your wife and having a child with
you was what I always wanted but never allowed myself to dream?" It was her term
to kiss him now. "But we should better get up and see mom and the kids. There's
really a lot we have to tell them."
***
Joyce greeted them with a smile when she saw them coming into the living-room, as Buffy had entered the house using her key. David jumped up and launched himself at his mother, then stretched his arms out for Angel and the former vampire took him in his arms, holding him close for a moment before putting him down again.
"Hi mom," Buffy smiled at Mrs. Summers but was interrupted when Ashlynn bolted
down the stairs and hugged first Angel and then her mother.
"Hi," she beamed at them. "I was playing with my dolls upstairs."
"I see," her mother grinned at her.
"Hello Joyce," Angel smiled at his future mother-in-law. He had to inwardly laugh
at that. Who would've thought.
Mrs. Summers raised a brow, "You both look very happy, is there a reason for it?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Oh mom! But yeah, there's reason, actually there are
two."
Joyce's second brow rose as well, "Oh?"
"Yes," her daughter confirmed, then looked at Ashlynn, "Honey, why don't we all
sit down. Mommy and Angel have some news for you all."
As soon as they were seated, Buffy took her daughter's hand, "Ashlynn, you like
living with Angel in the big house, don't you?"
Ashlynn beamed at her, "Oh yeah," she quickly flashed the former vampire a smile, then looked back at her mother, "It's great." Suddenly a frown appeared on her forehead, "We're not going to leave?"
"No," Buffy assured her quickly. "Not at all. No, quite the opposite," she shortly glanced at her mother. "Angel and I want to get married. What do you think of it?"
"Married?," she asked and looked at her mother for a long moment, then turned her head towards Angel, "Would you be my dad then?"
"I would be your mom's husband, and your step-father, if you want that, but your
dad will be still your dad," he replied smiling at her, "I don't want to replace
your real dad, little one."
"But I could say you are my dad, couldn't I. I mean you would come to school
events and stuff?," she looked at him hopefully and Angel realised that he'd
completely misunderstood her feelings. She wasn't afraid that he would try to
replace her father, she was actually hoping he would. Anger welled up inside him
against the man who didn't seem to care at all how his wonderful, little daughter felt and compassion for a child that felt abandoned and was probably wondering if she'd done something wrong.
He exchanged a quick glance with Buffy and when he saw her nod, he said, "If you
would want that, I think it'll be alright. I wouldn't mind at all, if that's what you want to know."
The doubt in Ashlynn's eyes was instantly replaced by joy and she beamed, looking back and forth between her mother and he. "Alright, I would like you two getting married."
"Good," Buffy smiled at her daughter and gazed at her own mother who smiled as
well and was obviously fighting with tears. "And there is something else." She
could see Joyce's face change. She'd obviously expected them to announce their
engagement, but she clearly had no idea what was to come next.
The former slayer looked at her fiancée wanting him to announce the other good
news. He smiled and took Ashlynn's other hand, "Little One, your mother and I,
well, we're going to have a baby."
Buffy heard her mother gasp in surprise and turned her head. Their eyes met and
when she nodded Joyce began to smile. How could she not, seeing so much happiness in her daughter's eyes.
"A baby?," the blonde heard Ashlynn ask and turned her attention back to her.
"Yes," Angel nodded, then stroked the girl's cheek.
"Is it like when mom was getting David?," she asked.
"Not exactly. David is your father's son, while I am the father of this new
baby," he explained.
Ashlynn frowned for a moment and seemed to think about something, then she
asked, "Could you make it a girl, please? Because I would prefer a sister, you
know."
Angel and Buffy smiled at each other over her head and then the former slayer
said, "We can't do anyting about it, honey. We just have to take what we get."
"Oh," her daughter made, then shrugged, "oh well, it's okay. I mean David might
be annoying sometimes, but I like him. So I guess I will like the new baby as
well." She turned and looked at her brother who was playing on the ground, "Did
you hear David, we're going to get another baby."
"Gweat," the little boy replied, but didn't even bother to look up from his toy.
Buffy chuckled, "What did I tell you."
"Oh Buffy," Joyce reached out and took one of her daughter's hands and one
Angel's, "This is wonderful. And I know how happy you are. It's wonderful news."
"It is," Angel agreed. "There is another thing," he smiled at his future
mother-in-law, "Could you keep the kids for the day, we would like to drive to
L.A. and tell it Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley. They are the closest I have for a
family and I need to tell them personally. But we'll be back tonight. We have
invited the friends from Sunnydale for dinner to tell them."
"Of course they can stay with me," Joyce replied.
"Is that okay with you honey?," Buffy asked her daughter. "Mom and Angel want to
go and see some friends, but we'll getting you tonight and later Aunt Willow,
Uncle Xander and their kids will be at our house."
"Okay," Ashlynn nodded. "But please don't make me play with the little kids
again," she pleaded. "They are so annoying."
Her mother grinned. "No, I won't, I promise." She looked at her watch, then at
Angel, "Maybe we should get going now. Otherwise we're never going to make it.
Don't forget there's some dinner to prepare."
"You are right," her fiancée agreed. "Let's go. And thanks Joyce."
"No problem." She smiled and waved them off. Then she settled back on the sofa
and looked at her grand-daugher who was smiling happily. How could she ever have
doubted that Angel was the right man for her daughter, she wondered.
End Chapter 20.