Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
4. Family Life
BBBBBRRRRRRRRGGGGG! The sound woke me abruptly and it pissed me off. What the hell was it? In the dream I'd been having it was an amazingly loud and annoying bird but knowing that it was really the alarm didn't compel me to be any less annoyed. I felt Angel get out of bed and make his way to the bathroom.
"Come on Buffy, you know it's your turn today." He said sweeping the covers off the bed. Now I wasn't so as annoyed at the alarm bird as I was at Angel. Grudgingly I opened one eye to see Angel standing there with his arms folded. "Come on." He said again, this time picking me off the bed and making me stand up when he put me down. I glared at him. "It's your turn." He told me again when James started crying.
"My turn for what?" He looked surprised.
"Your turn for taking Ash to school and James to day care. You forget huh?" I smiled a little and nodded.
"Sorry." He flashed me a big smile before disappearing into the bathroom. I changed James and got them both up and ready to go. Ash was very helpful directing me to day care where I dropped James off with one of the staff. It felt a bit strange to do it, to leave him there but I reasoned that I'd be picking him up later so. Then she showed me the way to her school and told me not to be late because she didn't want to be the last one picked up; which was fair enough.
"Ashley, where do I go now?" I asked, I thought she'd know where I worked.
"To work."
"Where's that?"
"The sports centre." I smiled.
"Do I teach like, martial arts?"
"Yep, self defence stuff." I smiled and told her to have a good day. When I got to 'work' it was a little strange to walk in and have no idea where I was going, all the while people greeting me like I knew them. I'd discovered a bag of my sports stuff in the car, which was lucky, and I tried to look like I knew my way around. I spotted a woman with a receptionist's name badge,
"Hi, err Maggie, um could you remind me what classes I have today?" She looked a bit put out but told me that I had two basic self defence classes this morning and two more advanced classes after lunch.
"You're in Gym two." She called after me as I walked on. A couple of girls who obviously my students greeted me in the changing room and everything else was fine once I'd found my way around the place. It was pretty big. My classes went as smoothly as they usually did and nobody said anything so I guess my teaching methods weren't much different, if at all. They all seemed to enjoy themselves and I had a blast just teaching and not having to think about running the place as well. But then, I did miss my own school a bit; it was my own after all. I had a fun day all in all. Teaching had never felt like work and it wasn't any different here, probably because I still had my slayer strength and everything.
"Hey Ashley, you have a good day?" I asked her as she got in the car. I wasn't late so she wasn't the last one to be picked up and was in a good mood.
"Yeah, we did painting and I got it all over me." I gaped in mock horror while she giggled. I'd already picked up James from day care and I'd missed him. When we got home Angel wasn't there so I asked Ashley when he normally got home.
"He won't be long." She told me, her eyes glued to the cartoons on TV. Before I knew it I'd told her not to sit too close and laughed to myself in a weird kind of way, I'd turned into my mother. My laughing didn't last long after that. I pushed away any thought of tears but the thoughts didn't stop coming. My mom would have loved to have grandchildren. She would so have loved Ashley and James. I watched Ashley watching the TV as I cuddled James; he giggled and my heart took him in. Mom would have totally spoiled them. Angel came in a second later and said Hi. He didn't get too much of a response from Ashley, still watching the cartoons, but he came and kissed James and then me. I must have had a strange look on my face because he immediately knew there was something up.
"What's the matter?" He asked, instantly concerned.
"It's okay, I just.I was just thinking about Mom. She would have loved having grandchildren you know." I said barely audibly but he must have heard because he enveloped me, and James in his arms and kissed the top of my head.
"I know, I know."
"I feel stupid."
"Don't, yes, your Mom would have loved the kids, but I don't believe she hasn't seen them." I smiled and sat up, feeling a little better. Just being here with Angel and the children made me feel better anyway. More complete I think.
"Did you have a good day then?" I asked Angel as we ate dinner.
"Yeah, we got a new shipment in, it's pretty interesting stuff." I smiled and suddenly thought of how I could find out exactly what he did.
"You sound like Mom, she used to get really excited about shipments. Of course I made fun of them. Some of it was pretty nasty stuff." I said grinning, hoping he'd take the bait.
"Yeah well, my gallery isn't the same as Joyce's and I know you'd never make fun of the stuff I show." He took it.
"Of course not." I said, in mock scandal.
"Especially not my paintings." He carried on.
"Certainly not, I love your work, though I could be a little biased." Okay, I knew he was an artist, and he shows some of his stuff in the gallery. I wonder if he has it exhibited anywhere else. "So, what about getting other gallery's to show your stuff?" I asked, careful to word my question right.
"You know I'd like to Buffy but you also know I don't have time to try and sort it out. The gallery is so busy and I just don't have time. I not too bothered Buffy, you know I'm happy doing what I do." I also thought that he was a little afraid of rejection; well I wasn't since the work was his and not mine.
"Where do we need to go first?" I asked Angel one Saturday on a family shopping trip to the mall.
"Well, I need a new tie, for that art exhibition evening next week." He leaned nearer me and whispered, "You know, since you know who spit up on my last good one." I grinned at him and looked down fondly at James who was in his stroller.
"And Ashley needs some new shoes, I know that." I told Angel while Ashley giggled and I pretended to look annoyed with her. Some how she'd managed to pull half of the sole off her best shoes, who knows what she'd been doing. "You like those?" I asked Ashley as I was fitting her shoes. Angel looked suitably bored in the women's department, though we were actually in the children's bit then. We bought Ashley her shoes and made our way to get something to eat when we passed the front of another shoe store where something caught my eye. I changed direction to look in the window. They were such a great pair of shoes. They were simple black and strappy but there was something about them. I realised it was probably because they were designer that they looked a little different. I had some similar ones at home in LA but these were gorgeous. "Wow, I love those shoes." I said; I could hear Angel chuckling. "Something funny about that?"
"No, they're great shoes Buffy, come on." He said starting to walk away.
"I'm going to get them." I told him. I heard what sounded like. "Ppfftt." That came from Angel's direction.
"Buffy, they're too expensive you know that. If you need some new shoes I'm sure we can find some like that, you know, ones that won't bankrupt us." He sounded amused, as if it was a joke. I didn't think it was so funny though.
"No Angel."
"Buffy, I'm sure they'd look great, I have no doubt but we can't afford them." I wasn't in such a great mood after that. I'd have been able to afford those shoes at home but no, I couldn't have them here. I suppose it didn't really matter, they were only shoes after all. After a while I was back in a better mood, we had a bit to eat at a café and James entertained us all when he started throwing food, though we told him not too. We left pretty quickly after some had hit the back of this old lady's head.
I felt a tug on my jeans and looked down from the kitchen side where I was preparing the meal to where Ashley was standing pulling gently. I smiled,
"Hey Ash, what's up?" I asked and she took my hand, leading me over to where the calendar was hanging on the other side of the room. She stretched up as far as she could and pointed to the date a week and a half away. It had the simple letter 'A' marked on it and I frowned what was that meant to mean. "Is that your birthday?" I asked her quietly and she shook her head. She pointed to Angel who was sat on the couch in the living room next door and then back at the calendar. "Angel? Anniversary?" I asked, realising and she nodded at me and satisfied that her little mission was done she went back to playing with her doll. It was our anniversary next week. Thank god, Ashley had told me, it would have been pretty bad if I hadn't known. I'd have to think about what to get him. But when I went back and put the roast in the oven for Sunday lunch I knew what I'd do. I smiled to myself, forming a plan.
The morning of the anniversary I woke up early. I couldn't really sleep, going over in my mind exactly what was going to happen. After a while I couldn't wait and got up to organise a special breakfast.
"Morning." Angel said sleepily coming into the kitchen.
"Happy anniversary!" I told him as he set eyes on the table, set with fruit salad, fresh croissants and other bread, some exotic fruits, coffee and orange juice and the usual cereal and toast for Ashley and James. His face went ashen and I had this sudden horrible feeling.
"You forgot?" I asked quietly, not sure if I was even allowed to get mad or feel hurt by it; I wouldn't have known if Ashley hadn't pointed it out to me. A wicked grin appeared on his features and I knew he was messing with me. "That's not funny!" I told him, playfully swatting him with the hand towel before he took me in his arms, kissing me in the way Angel has that makes me forget everything else. That was until there was a,
"Icky!" That came from Ashley who appeared at the doorway to the kitchen, she was already dressed and gave me a little knowing smile before she sat down at the table. Angel still had a mile wide smile on his face,
"Happy Anniversary." He whispered. I heard James start to cry so I started to go,
"I'll go."
"No, have a good breakfast, we won't be long." And I went to see James.
"Do you want to open you present now?" Angel asked a bit later, his face betraying his excitement.
"Well, since you can't get yours until tonight when we go out I don't know if it's fair." I told him, sipping my morning coffee.
"I'm still not sure about you organising this evening out. I should be doing that, I'm the guy."
"Angel" I chided him, "That's so sexist!" He grinned, I'm not sure whether he'd been joking or not, but I let it go.
"Anyway, since we are going out tonight, I want you to have the present now." He got out a beautifully wrapped box and I wondered how it had to do with going out. I unwrapped it to discover the shoes that I hadn't been able to get that weekend at the mall.
"Angel." I hugged him, "Thank you." I said into his ear and kissing it lightly. "So, are we bankrupt?" I asked, half joking but knowing that the shoes were very expensive.
"No, I've been saving for your present." I smiled and admired the shoes a little more. We both went into work briefly, I had one class and Angel had to make sure his employees were okay by themselves; I think it was a new guy he'd hired.
"So, where we going?" Angel asked me as I drove through Sunnydale.
"I'm not telling you, you'll figure it out soon enough." I told him, "And that cute puppy face isn't going to work either. I hope the kids are okay."
"They'll be fine, they always have been when we've been out before. It's because it's a new sitter isn't it?" I nodded, aware that Willow had recommended her but I was still feeling a bit weird about leaving them. "They'll be fine, Willow said she's a good sitter." I knew he was right and let it go.
By the time we got to LA and I'd parked the car I finally told him we were attending an art exhibition evening at one of LA's finest gallery's.
"You're kidding, the tickets to those are so hard to get." He looked at me as if I'd worked a miracle or something, while I tried to look completely unknowing. The owner of the gallery made comments about the artists and individual pieces as we were guided around the gallery, while we sipped champagne. Angel looked to be having far the better time than I was, but that was what I'd hoped. As an artist himself he was far more interested. As we entered a different room the owner gave me an almost imperceptible nod and I smiled in anticipation, careful to make sure I'd see Angel's face when he realised.
"These next pieces are by a relatively new artist with huge potential. As you can see Liam Leighton has amazing talent and.." I didn't quite catch the rest of what he was saying because Angel had stopped dead and since my arm was in his I also stopped; a little too quickly as I almost spilt the champagne on my new shoes. I turned my head to look at Angel whose expression was a mixture of both shock and disbelief as he looked at his own work. He looked at me as the huge grin I'd been trying to suppress all evening burst onto my face. He looked from me to the paintings and repeated the gesture, making sure what he was seeing was reality. Liam Leighton was his artist name.
"You did this?" He whispered, a smile taking over from those other expressions. I nodded, not able to trust my voice to tell him right now. The smile was the last thing I saw before he took me in his arms and proceeded to care less about having a public display of affection; not that it bothered him normally but we were at a prestigious art gallery's special evening. That smile remained on his face for the rest of the evening, and then some.
"Happy anniversary darling." I told him as we carried on with the rest of the party. He squeezed my hand and still continued to look at his own work in something very close to disbelief as we saw them on exhibit. It turned out that they and Angel were very popular. During the beautifully prepared meal and after, Angel talked art with a lot of people. Some were fellow artists and other dealers and gallery coordinators. I had fun just watching Angel talk about the art that he loved and then his own work. Several people were interested in exhibiting or buying his work, and by the end of the evening, a lot of business cards had been exchanged. Angel gave me that great smile again when I handed him a small wad of his own cards that I'd brought with me just in case. It was an amazing night.
"I love you, thank you." Angel told me as we stood on the steps outside after we left.
"I'm glad you approve, there was this little bit of me that said you might be mad."
"No, I couldn't have done it myself but I'm so glad you did." For an anniversary that I didn't remember the event that had given us it, it went very well, beyond that. Before I even knew it two more months had passed by. It barely even registered that this wasn't my world anymore. I loved it too much. I loved Angel, when did I not? And I loved the children, my children. It felt so right and I stopped wondering about the reason I was here. It was where I belonged, what more did I need to think about? The truth was that I didn't want to think about it at all. It was harder to accept the notion of non-permanency the longer I was here. On one of our regular trips to the park Angel had been sitting with James on a bench and Ashley and I had been playing tag. When she managed to catch me we both collapsed on the grass giggling and I hugged her. She looked at me with those big brown eyes and my hair and with an expression on her face well beyond her years she told me,
"I knew you'd come back." I smiled and hugged her again. I was 'back' and I almost felt like I'd always been here.
"I love you Ashley." Being a Mom was nothing like I thought it might be. But then I'd kind of given up on the idea after I wasn't with Angel anymore. I loved those children so much; I'd never imagined that I could love my children so much. Ashley and James showed me that being their mother was better than anything else in the world, well being with Angel was right at the top of the list as well. I had my family, it wasn't perfect but life never is and I couldn't have imagined it being better. I finally realised what being happy was and I wasn't letting it go.
Tbc........
I still love Feedback! You never know, I might forget to post the final part if I don't get anymore. -*evil grin*- Would you like a little preview? Okay, twisted my arm.
From part 5..
Things never last I guess. I should probably stop trusting the world to allow us our happiness'. Then of course, those who do get it have to go through inevitable heartbreak and pain and everything just to have a chance at happiness. The system sure doesn't work for some people, or if it does; it's damn screwed up..
- Becca.
4. Family Life
BBBBBRRRRRRRRGGGGG! The sound woke me abruptly and it pissed me off. What the hell was it? In the dream I'd been having it was an amazingly loud and annoying bird but knowing that it was really the alarm didn't compel me to be any less annoyed. I felt Angel get out of bed and make his way to the bathroom.
"Come on Buffy, you know it's your turn today." He said sweeping the covers off the bed. Now I wasn't so as annoyed at the alarm bird as I was at Angel. Grudgingly I opened one eye to see Angel standing there with his arms folded. "Come on." He said again, this time picking me off the bed and making me stand up when he put me down. I glared at him. "It's your turn." He told me again when James started crying.
"My turn for what?" He looked surprised.
"Your turn for taking Ash to school and James to day care. You forget huh?" I smiled a little and nodded.
"Sorry." He flashed me a big smile before disappearing into the bathroom. I changed James and got them both up and ready to go. Ash was very helpful directing me to day care where I dropped James off with one of the staff. It felt a bit strange to do it, to leave him there but I reasoned that I'd be picking him up later so. Then she showed me the way to her school and told me not to be late because she didn't want to be the last one picked up; which was fair enough.
"Ashley, where do I go now?" I asked, I thought she'd know where I worked.
"To work."
"Where's that?"
"The sports centre." I smiled.
"Do I teach like, martial arts?"
"Yep, self defence stuff." I smiled and told her to have a good day. When I got to 'work' it was a little strange to walk in and have no idea where I was going, all the while people greeting me like I knew them. I'd discovered a bag of my sports stuff in the car, which was lucky, and I tried to look like I knew my way around. I spotted a woman with a receptionist's name badge,
"Hi, err Maggie, um could you remind me what classes I have today?" She looked a bit put out but told me that I had two basic self defence classes this morning and two more advanced classes after lunch.
"You're in Gym two." She called after me as I walked on. A couple of girls who obviously my students greeted me in the changing room and everything else was fine once I'd found my way around the place. It was pretty big. My classes went as smoothly as they usually did and nobody said anything so I guess my teaching methods weren't much different, if at all. They all seemed to enjoy themselves and I had a blast just teaching and not having to think about running the place as well. But then, I did miss my own school a bit; it was my own after all. I had a fun day all in all. Teaching had never felt like work and it wasn't any different here, probably because I still had my slayer strength and everything.
"Hey Ashley, you have a good day?" I asked her as she got in the car. I wasn't late so she wasn't the last one to be picked up and was in a good mood.
"Yeah, we did painting and I got it all over me." I gaped in mock horror while she giggled. I'd already picked up James from day care and I'd missed him. When we got home Angel wasn't there so I asked Ashley when he normally got home.
"He won't be long." She told me, her eyes glued to the cartoons on TV. Before I knew it I'd told her not to sit too close and laughed to myself in a weird kind of way, I'd turned into my mother. My laughing didn't last long after that. I pushed away any thought of tears but the thoughts didn't stop coming. My mom would have loved to have grandchildren. She would so have loved Ashley and James. I watched Ashley watching the TV as I cuddled James; he giggled and my heart took him in. Mom would have totally spoiled them. Angel came in a second later and said Hi. He didn't get too much of a response from Ashley, still watching the cartoons, but he came and kissed James and then me. I must have had a strange look on my face because he immediately knew there was something up.
"What's the matter?" He asked, instantly concerned.
"It's okay, I just.I was just thinking about Mom. She would have loved having grandchildren you know." I said barely audibly but he must have heard because he enveloped me, and James in his arms and kissed the top of my head.
"I know, I know."
"I feel stupid."
"Don't, yes, your Mom would have loved the kids, but I don't believe she hasn't seen them." I smiled and sat up, feeling a little better. Just being here with Angel and the children made me feel better anyway. More complete I think.
"Did you have a good day then?" I asked Angel as we ate dinner.
"Yeah, we got a new shipment in, it's pretty interesting stuff." I smiled and suddenly thought of how I could find out exactly what he did.
"You sound like Mom, she used to get really excited about shipments. Of course I made fun of them. Some of it was pretty nasty stuff." I said grinning, hoping he'd take the bait.
"Yeah well, my gallery isn't the same as Joyce's and I know you'd never make fun of the stuff I show." He took it.
"Of course not." I said, in mock scandal.
"Especially not my paintings." He carried on.
"Certainly not, I love your work, though I could be a little biased." Okay, I knew he was an artist, and he shows some of his stuff in the gallery. I wonder if he has it exhibited anywhere else. "So, what about getting other gallery's to show your stuff?" I asked, careful to word my question right.
"You know I'd like to Buffy but you also know I don't have time to try and sort it out. The gallery is so busy and I just don't have time. I not too bothered Buffy, you know I'm happy doing what I do." I also thought that he was a little afraid of rejection; well I wasn't since the work was his and not mine.
"Where do we need to go first?" I asked Angel one Saturday on a family shopping trip to the mall.
"Well, I need a new tie, for that art exhibition evening next week." He leaned nearer me and whispered, "You know, since you know who spit up on my last good one." I grinned at him and looked down fondly at James who was in his stroller.
"And Ashley needs some new shoes, I know that." I told Angel while Ashley giggled and I pretended to look annoyed with her. Some how she'd managed to pull half of the sole off her best shoes, who knows what she'd been doing. "You like those?" I asked Ashley as I was fitting her shoes. Angel looked suitably bored in the women's department, though we were actually in the children's bit then. We bought Ashley her shoes and made our way to get something to eat when we passed the front of another shoe store where something caught my eye. I changed direction to look in the window. They were such a great pair of shoes. They were simple black and strappy but there was something about them. I realised it was probably because they were designer that they looked a little different. I had some similar ones at home in LA but these were gorgeous. "Wow, I love those shoes." I said; I could hear Angel chuckling. "Something funny about that?"
"No, they're great shoes Buffy, come on." He said starting to walk away.
"I'm going to get them." I told him. I heard what sounded like. "Ppfftt." That came from Angel's direction.
"Buffy, they're too expensive you know that. If you need some new shoes I'm sure we can find some like that, you know, ones that won't bankrupt us." He sounded amused, as if it was a joke. I didn't think it was so funny though.
"No Angel."
"Buffy, I'm sure they'd look great, I have no doubt but we can't afford them." I wasn't in such a great mood after that. I'd have been able to afford those shoes at home but no, I couldn't have them here. I suppose it didn't really matter, they were only shoes after all. After a while I was back in a better mood, we had a bit to eat at a café and James entertained us all when he started throwing food, though we told him not too. We left pretty quickly after some had hit the back of this old lady's head.
I felt a tug on my jeans and looked down from the kitchen side where I was preparing the meal to where Ashley was standing pulling gently. I smiled,
"Hey Ash, what's up?" I asked and she took my hand, leading me over to where the calendar was hanging on the other side of the room. She stretched up as far as she could and pointed to the date a week and a half away. It had the simple letter 'A' marked on it and I frowned what was that meant to mean. "Is that your birthday?" I asked her quietly and she shook her head. She pointed to Angel who was sat on the couch in the living room next door and then back at the calendar. "Angel? Anniversary?" I asked, realising and she nodded at me and satisfied that her little mission was done she went back to playing with her doll. It was our anniversary next week. Thank god, Ashley had told me, it would have been pretty bad if I hadn't known. I'd have to think about what to get him. But when I went back and put the roast in the oven for Sunday lunch I knew what I'd do. I smiled to myself, forming a plan.
The morning of the anniversary I woke up early. I couldn't really sleep, going over in my mind exactly what was going to happen. After a while I couldn't wait and got up to organise a special breakfast.
"Morning." Angel said sleepily coming into the kitchen.
"Happy anniversary!" I told him as he set eyes on the table, set with fruit salad, fresh croissants and other bread, some exotic fruits, coffee and orange juice and the usual cereal and toast for Ashley and James. His face went ashen and I had this sudden horrible feeling.
"You forgot?" I asked quietly, not sure if I was even allowed to get mad or feel hurt by it; I wouldn't have known if Ashley hadn't pointed it out to me. A wicked grin appeared on his features and I knew he was messing with me. "That's not funny!" I told him, playfully swatting him with the hand towel before he took me in his arms, kissing me in the way Angel has that makes me forget everything else. That was until there was a,
"Icky!" That came from Ashley who appeared at the doorway to the kitchen, she was already dressed and gave me a little knowing smile before she sat down at the table. Angel still had a mile wide smile on his face,
"Happy Anniversary." He whispered. I heard James start to cry so I started to go,
"I'll go."
"No, have a good breakfast, we won't be long." And I went to see James.
"Do you want to open you present now?" Angel asked a bit later, his face betraying his excitement.
"Well, since you can't get yours until tonight when we go out I don't know if it's fair." I told him, sipping my morning coffee.
"I'm still not sure about you organising this evening out. I should be doing that, I'm the guy."
"Angel" I chided him, "That's so sexist!" He grinned, I'm not sure whether he'd been joking or not, but I let it go.
"Anyway, since we are going out tonight, I want you to have the present now." He got out a beautifully wrapped box and I wondered how it had to do with going out. I unwrapped it to discover the shoes that I hadn't been able to get that weekend at the mall.
"Angel." I hugged him, "Thank you." I said into his ear and kissing it lightly. "So, are we bankrupt?" I asked, half joking but knowing that the shoes were very expensive.
"No, I've been saving for your present." I smiled and admired the shoes a little more. We both went into work briefly, I had one class and Angel had to make sure his employees were okay by themselves; I think it was a new guy he'd hired.
"So, where we going?" Angel asked me as I drove through Sunnydale.
"I'm not telling you, you'll figure it out soon enough." I told him, "And that cute puppy face isn't going to work either. I hope the kids are okay."
"They'll be fine, they always have been when we've been out before. It's because it's a new sitter isn't it?" I nodded, aware that Willow had recommended her but I was still feeling a bit weird about leaving them. "They'll be fine, Willow said she's a good sitter." I knew he was right and let it go.
By the time we got to LA and I'd parked the car I finally told him we were attending an art exhibition evening at one of LA's finest gallery's.
"You're kidding, the tickets to those are so hard to get." He looked at me as if I'd worked a miracle or something, while I tried to look completely unknowing. The owner of the gallery made comments about the artists and individual pieces as we were guided around the gallery, while we sipped champagne. Angel looked to be having far the better time than I was, but that was what I'd hoped. As an artist himself he was far more interested. As we entered a different room the owner gave me an almost imperceptible nod and I smiled in anticipation, careful to make sure I'd see Angel's face when he realised.
"These next pieces are by a relatively new artist with huge potential. As you can see Liam Leighton has amazing talent and.." I didn't quite catch the rest of what he was saying because Angel had stopped dead and since my arm was in his I also stopped; a little too quickly as I almost spilt the champagne on my new shoes. I turned my head to look at Angel whose expression was a mixture of both shock and disbelief as he looked at his own work. He looked at me as the huge grin I'd been trying to suppress all evening burst onto my face. He looked from me to the paintings and repeated the gesture, making sure what he was seeing was reality. Liam Leighton was his artist name.
"You did this?" He whispered, a smile taking over from those other expressions. I nodded, not able to trust my voice to tell him right now. The smile was the last thing I saw before he took me in his arms and proceeded to care less about having a public display of affection; not that it bothered him normally but we were at a prestigious art gallery's special evening. That smile remained on his face for the rest of the evening, and then some.
"Happy anniversary darling." I told him as we carried on with the rest of the party. He squeezed my hand and still continued to look at his own work in something very close to disbelief as we saw them on exhibit. It turned out that they and Angel were very popular. During the beautifully prepared meal and after, Angel talked art with a lot of people. Some were fellow artists and other dealers and gallery coordinators. I had fun just watching Angel talk about the art that he loved and then his own work. Several people were interested in exhibiting or buying his work, and by the end of the evening, a lot of business cards had been exchanged. Angel gave me that great smile again when I handed him a small wad of his own cards that I'd brought with me just in case. It was an amazing night.
"I love you, thank you." Angel told me as we stood on the steps outside after we left.
"I'm glad you approve, there was this little bit of me that said you might be mad."
"No, I couldn't have done it myself but I'm so glad you did." For an anniversary that I didn't remember the event that had given us it, it went very well, beyond that. Before I even knew it two more months had passed by. It barely even registered that this wasn't my world anymore. I loved it too much. I loved Angel, when did I not? And I loved the children, my children. It felt so right and I stopped wondering about the reason I was here. It was where I belonged, what more did I need to think about? The truth was that I didn't want to think about it at all. It was harder to accept the notion of non-permanency the longer I was here. On one of our regular trips to the park Angel had been sitting with James on a bench and Ashley and I had been playing tag. When she managed to catch me we both collapsed on the grass giggling and I hugged her. She looked at me with those big brown eyes and my hair and with an expression on her face well beyond her years she told me,
"I knew you'd come back." I smiled and hugged her again. I was 'back' and I almost felt like I'd always been here.
"I love you Ashley." Being a Mom was nothing like I thought it might be. But then I'd kind of given up on the idea after I wasn't with Angel anymore. I loved those children so much; I'd never imagined that I could love my children so much. Ashley and James showed me that being their mother was better than anything else in the world, well being with Angel was right at the top of the list as well. I had my family, it wasn't perfect but life never is and I couldn't have imagined it being better. I finally realised what being happy was and I wasn't letting it go.
Tbc........
I still love Feedback! You never know, I might forget to post the final part if I don't get anymore. -*evil grin*- Would you like a little preview? Okay, twisted my arm.
From part 5..
Things never last I guess. I should probably stop trusting the world to allow us our happiness'. Then of course, those who do get it have to go through inevitable heartbreak and pain and everything just to have a chance at happiness. The system sure doesn't work for some people, or if it does; it's damn screwed up..
- Becca.