Disclaimer: see the prologue

Disclaimer: see the prologue

Angel sighed.  This would be one of the toughest phone calls he had ever made.  He slowly picked up the phone and dialled Giles' number.

RING, RING. Buffy picked up the phone.

"Giles residence, Buffy speaking." It was so good to hear her voice again that Angel couldn't say anything for a few seconds.

"Hello, is anybody there?" her voice came again.  Angel managed to find his voice to answer her.

"Buffy, it's Angel.  I need you to listen to what I'm about to tell you and not say anything until I'm done. Ok?"

"Ok." Buffy was shocked that he had called, she hadn't heard from him since her mother had died, and he'd called to say that he couldn't make it to the funeral because of a case, and confused as to why he wanted her to listen and not interrupt..

" Buffy I have two very important things to tell you.  I'll start at the beginning.  When you got pregnant freshman year and put the baby up for adoption, it didn't get adopted, I had Giles bring her to me.  Don't get mad at him for lying to you, because he didn't.  I talked to him about this and he never said straight out that I had given my consent and he said that he had found a good home for the baby not a good family.  That home was with me.  Her name is Elizabeth Rose but she goes by Lizzie.  She's 11 now and as you probably know today is her birthday.  Since she grew up with me as her father she knows about vampires and other demons.  The other important thing is that I'm human.  I have been for almost 6 years.  I received my humanity as a gift from the powers that be after the end of days battle.  Lizzie was 5 at the time.  When it happened the first thing I wanted to do was call you but then I remembered that Giles had said you were engaged and happy.  I called him instead, I told him what happened and I gave him the choice of telling you or not because I didn't want to ruin your happiness.  And since you didn't show up I assumed either he didn't tell you or you were mad at me.  The reason I'm calling now is because it turns out the Willow is Lizzie's new computer teacher and when I found that out I invited her and Tara over for dinner.  She told me about what happened with Chris and why you're divorcing him.  She told me to call you and I agreed that now was a good time.  I'm done now."  Angel took a deep breath and held it while he waited for her response.  The line was silent for a few moments and then she spoke.

"Wow," she started, "that's a lot to take in at once.  I'm glad you called, and I'm not mad, not at you anyways, Giles, however, is going to get a good tongue lashing when he gets home." She laughed a bit.  At the sound of her laughter he let out the breath and relaxed.

' You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that." Angel said relieved.

"I'd like to meet her, our daughter." Buffy said, she sounded slightly choked up.

"Of course," Angel agreed, "you can come see her whenever you want.  She wants to meet you too."

"Is it ok if I come tonight?" Buffy asked, "I don't want to miss another minute of her life, or yours.  I've already lost 11 years of her life and 6 years of you being human."

"I can't think of a better birthday present for her." Angel said. "And you know I have always loved you, I would love it if you would come and stay with us, at least for a while."

"How about forever?" Buffy asked, already knowing the answer. "I can pack up my stuff and the kids stuff and be there in two and a half hours."

"Forever is more than I could ever hope for." Angel said, now he was the one who sounded choked up. "I take it the extra half hour is to pack."

"Partly.  We're basically still living out of suitcases so packing should only take about 15 minutes.  That leaves 10 minutes to yell at Giles, he just walk in the door, and 5 minutes to get the kids dressed and out the door."

"What are you going to tell your children, if they ask where they are going?" Angel wanted to make sure he covered all the bases.

"If it's alright with you I'd like to tell them they we are going to live with their new Daddy." Buffy held her breath waiting for Angel's response; she didn't have to wait long.

"Of course you can say that," Angel said with a smile in his voice, "I'd be honoured to be their new father.  I suppose as their new father I should know their names." He had just realized that she hadn't told him her kids' names.

"Oh, I can't believe I forgot to tell you." Buffy said, amazed that she had forgotten, "Jennifer Katherine is 5, she goes by Jenny and David Liam is 3, her goes by Davey."

"You..you..I wha?" Angel stammered.

"Yes, Jenny is after miss Calandar, Katherine is after your sister and Liam is after you.  Even when I was with Chris, you were never far from my mind."

"Willow told me that Chris didn't know about the slaying so I assume that the kids don't either?" Angel asked, He knew that if they came to live here they may not be able to keep it a secret long.  The only reason Isabel hadn't figured it out yet is because she was the quiet type who wasn't really curious or sceptical about what her parents did and the other kids were to young although Sam was getting suspicious.

"Actually, Jenny knows," Buffy said, "but only because she was kidnapped by some vamps about a year ago.  They only had her for one night so it was easy enough to cover up from Chris.  I just told him that she was staying at a friend's house.  I swear that man is so naïve he would believe any story I fed to him.  Well I guess the sooner I get off the phone the sooner I can be there.  We can talk more when I get there."

"Just a minute Buffy," Angel said before she could hang up, "We're having spaghetti for supper do you want the adults to wait for you?  We're going to have to feed the younger kids but Lizzie and her best friend Heather can wait 'til you get here."

"Yeah, that would be great, who all is there?" Buffy asked wondering who was there.

"There's Wesley and Cordy and their two girls Heather and Isabel and their son Ryan, Gunn and his wife Theresa and their son CJ and daughter Samantha, Kate and her son Jordan, me, Lizzie, Willow and Tara." Angel didn't mention that Faith was ojsl one of his employees, she was out at dinner with a contact.

"Wow, what a crowd.  I better go pack up.  I'll see you in 2 ½ hours."

"Bye Buffy, I love you." It sounded so natural to say those words, it didn't seem like 11 had passed since he had said them to Buffy heself and not just to the picture he kept beside his bed.

"I love you too, bye Angel."

Angel hung up the phone and headed back into the living room to tell the others the good news.