Chapter 3
"Bored, bored, bored." Buffy said. She was sitting on the couch, a bowl of pretzels lying between her legs, and watching Passions. Spike had been right; the show really drew you into it. She liked that Ethan guy, he was a honey! And that whole thing with Theresa, now THAT was a story line. But Buffy was getting tired of just sitting there and watching TV soap operas. She wanted to get out and do something! Angel was out busting a nest that Spike had informed him of a few nights ago and Buffy wished that she were there. She missed the action of fighting demons and winning. Buffy hadn't realized how much she had taken slaying for granted until Angel had taken the duty away temporarily. Willow was at class with Tara, Xander was probably working, Dawn was at school, Faith and Spike were helping Angel, and no one really knew where Anya was these days.
"That's it! I can't take this anymore!" Buffy shouted to no one in particular. She stood up as best as she could with the huge bulge of her stomach and went to the door to get her coat. She was going out even if it killed her! She had no clue what she was going to do, but she was going to do something! Angel didn't really want her out of the house much because of the three nerd boys on her tail. But he didn't have much say now, did he?
Buffy headed out and walked downtown. She was headed towards the Espresso Pump for some coffee. Maybe someone from school, college or high school, didn't matter, would be there that she could say hey to. *Hey, people can dream.* she thought to herself as the little open walled coffee shop came into view. As she headed up on to the curb, a familiar figure blocked her way.
"Riley?" Buffy blurted. The tall guy turned around and looked down at her, his blond hair shining in the sunlight.
"Buffy! Hey!" Then his eyes widened as he saw her round stomach. "Whoa!"
"Yeah, you're telling me!"
"When did this happen? Last time I was here, and that's not too long ago, you're stomach was flat!"
"It happened before you came back actually."
"Really? Who's.Who's is it?"
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
"Angel's."
"Angel's? I thought you two couldn't.you know."
"Well, evidently it can."
"So, you were pregnant before I came to town, but you didn't know it?"
"Yup."
"And you're married too I see." He motioned to her left finger with the shining claddagh ring on it.
"Yup."
"You want to sit down? You look tired."
"I am, and thanks. I was just about to get a coffee."
"Cool. I think I'll join you. You can tell me all about this," he indicated her abdomen, "and then tell me what else happened in the short time I was gone."
"Ok, then you can tell me what you're doing in Sunnydale again agent Finn."
"Sounds like a plan."
They headed over to the counter and ordered their drinks and Buffy's food then went to sit down at a table with high stools. Riley, being the chivalrous gentleman that he was, helped Buffy up into her stool. As soon as they were settled and Buffy was nibbling on her blueberry muffin, Riley started the conversation.
"So Buffy, what's new?"
She smiled and finished the bite she was chewing. "Two things you can see, obviously."
"Yes, I do see that! You have stories; I have two ears to listen with. Start telling."
"Ok, well. After I was brought back and Angel found out that I was, he called and set up an arrangement for us to meet somewhere between LA and Sunnydale. I left, giving not much of an explanation, and headed to the little motel that Angel had suggested."
Buffy pulled up in the black Jeep and spotted Angel's black convertible. She looked around and spotted him skulking in the shadows not far from the car. She turned the engine off, pocketed the keys, and got out walking up to him. As soon as she reached him, he pulled her into the tightest most loving hug she had ever received from him.
"Buffy, God, Buffy!" he said frantically running his hands up and down her back, checking to see if she was really there in his arms, alive and well. He kissed her neck, shoulders, cheeks, nose, anything that he could find to kiss on her face.
Tears welled in her eyes as he hugged her and a knot got caught in her throat. She couldn't speak. All she wanted was for him to hold her and kiss her like he was right at this moment.
"Buffy, are you really here?"
"Yes, lover, I'm really here." She finally managed to choke out between sobs and fast falling tears. Her legs didn't support her though and she would have fell except for Angel's strong arms that held her up.
"I've got you baby. Don't worry." He picked her up and took her to a room not far from the cars. When he finally managed to get the door closed without hurting her, he took her to the bed and laid her down. She wouldn't let his neck go, so he was forced to climb into the bed with her. There they laid for hours, Buffy letting all her frustrations out through her tears and sobs like she had only done for Angel, and Angel laying there, holding her tightly to him.
After a time, Buffy slowly grew silent and then her breathing became calm and regular. Angel realized that she was asleep. He silently and stealthily climbed out from her embrace around his neck and off the bed, slipping out of the hotel room. When he returned, Buffy was awake and looking frantically around the room.
"Where were you? I thought you had left me again!" Buffy cried, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Shh, love. I'm right here. I went to get you some food. By the looks of you, it's exactly what you need."
"No, no, no. I need you, not food!"
"Buffy, baby, calm down."
"Promise me you won't do that again!"
"I promise."
After a short spell, Buffy looked up and said timidly, "What'd ya bring me?"
He smiled and walked over to her with the bag from the restaurant. When Buffy opened it and saw the contents, she let out the first genuine smile since she had been brought back. She pulled out a bag full of fries, a box of fried chicken tenders, a diet coke, and four things of honey mustard. Her favorites! Angel really knew how to spoil a girl!
"I.I remembered your favorite and when I saw they had it in the restaurant here, well, you know. I don't know if the honey mustard is exactly like what you like, but I got it anyway, just in case." Angel said, standing away from her.
"Come here." She stated simply.
He obeyed and sat down beside her. She pushed the food over to him and her gratefully took a fry, even though he didn't really need it like she did. She smiled watching him eat the fry and then she continued eating. Every now and then Angel would pick up a fry and feed that to her. She liked this: the very nearness of him.
"It went on sort of like that for about three days." Buffy told Riley.
"Wow. He really does love you. More than me even." Riley said.
"Yes, he does."
"But what does this story have to do with." he gestured to her stomach.
"I'm getting to it. Anyway, on the third night we took a walk out in the gardens that were behind the motel hiding the pool."
"Wow, a motel with a garden." Buffy said.
"Yup. It is beautiful for a motel." Angel replied.
They were walking hand in hand through the gardens. The last couple of days had been the best of Buffy's life after death. She had spilled every last detail to Angel about where she had been and how she felt, even now. She was miserable, but she was coping. Her friends didn't know, only Spike. With Angel, though, things were different. She felt like she had never died and been dragged out of heaven. She felt as if she and Angel had never broken apart.
Soon they were headed back to the room. When they reached it, they were kissing fiercely. Angel shut the door and drew the shades while his lips were still locked with Buffy's. He knew that he shouldn't be doing this. Something could happen, but something was off. Why wasn't he stopping all this? He led her towards the bed, clothes being stripped off so fast that he could have sworn that he heard they being ripped off. They broke away long enough for Buffy to take a breath or two of air before they resumed. She sat down on the bed, all the while Angel following her. He straddled her as she sat there and then she fell gently back on the bed. He of course followed her down and kissed her stretched out stomach, leaving a trail from there up to her neck. She was in heaven, only not literally, and so was he.
"And as they say, the rest is history." Buffy finished.
"Wow." Riley said.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I said when I found out that I was pregnant a month and a half later."
"I thought slayers couldn't get pregnant."
"So did I, but when I went to tell Angel that the baby was his, Wesley found a prophecy about 'the two warriors of the light shall came together and make one.' Trust me, it is a long and complicated thing."
"So when did you two get married?"
"About two weeks after I gave Angel the news and about a week and a half after he proposed."
"That was fast."
"We spent that whole time trying to decide if we wanted to do the big wedding or just go to Vegas and elope."
"What did you decide?"
"Well, I always wanted to go to Vegas."
"Oh! So it was just you two?"
"And a bunch of strangers getting married there too."
"How did he propose? Did he make a big scene like I did with Sam, or was it more private?"
"I was patrolling one night and I could feel this familiar presence. Angel had told me that he was going to stay in LA for a little while before he came to move to Sunnydale. Anyway, it was a really slow night and."
It was late and Buffy was tired. She was ready to head home and make sure Dawn was asleep in her room. There hadn't been much activity and Buffy was overdue for a little time off. As she headed towards the gates of Sunnydale Cemetery something rustled behind her. Vampire. Buffy tensed and reached for her stake. She turned around and there was Angel.
"Hey." He said as she quickly withdrew the stake and put it back in her pocket.
"Angel! You almost fit into a dust buster."
"Nice to see you too."
"Oh, I'm sorry! Hi. I thought you weren't coming for another week."
"Again nice to see you."
"Nice to see you too."
"I decided to come early. I had some business in town that I needed to get to and I thought tonight would be as good as any."
"Oh, what kind of business?"
"Nothing major."
"As in nothing that concerns Buffy major?"
"Buffy."
"I was just joking. Geez, give the pregnant girl a break here. I've got hormones comin' out the whazoo!"
"How are you?"
"We're fine. I'm about three months now. Too late for an abortion." She saw the hurt look on Angel's face when she had said that and quickly amended. "I didn't mean that Angel. You know I would never. This," she laid her hand protectively over her stomach, "this is ours. We made it together. I would kill everyone on the face of the earth and then count the grains of sand stained with their blood before I would kill OUR baby."
"I know. I feel a little guilty though."
"Why? About what?"
"You have enough to worry about, you don't really need a baby when you have a teenager to watch out for."
"Angel, I don't care about that. I know that you're going to be here to help me along. And so are my friends."
"Have you told them yet?"
"No, not yet. I kind of wanted to wait until we could both tell them together. You know, that way we can also tell them we're getting back together." Angel looked down at his shoes. "Whoa, wait! We are getting back together, right? I mean you and I were planning on that not even a week ago. Was I just hallucinating?"
"No! You weren't, and yes we were. I just. well, this is. um." When he couldn't find the words, he just dropped to one knee and reached into his pocket, pulling out an engagement ring. Buffy's eyes widened as she stared at the huge rock sitting on the dainty golden band.
"Angel." she breathed.
"Buffy, I love you, and that's our child growing inside you. I want to be with you forever, so, will you marry me?"
"Angel, I." she stopped, a huge lump growing in her throat and not allowing her vocal cords to function properly. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she stared at the sparkling brown orbs looking so hopefully up at her, waiting for her to answer. She couldn't speak, or really nod for that matter, so she sprang into his arms and they fell to the ground a kissing, hugging, and crying tangle of limbs.
"Just like that huh?" Riley asked when he was sure Buffy had finished this more recent tale.
"Yup. About a week and a half later, we packed out stuff and headed to Vegas for three days." Buffy answered, sipping her drink. Her muffin was long gone by now, so if she wasn't sipping out of it, she was chewing on the straw. "So, I've answered all you're questions, time to answer my one: What are you doing back in Sunnydale again?"
"Vacation."
"Vacation?"
"Yeah, Sam and I went to Iowa and then to Colorado and then we decided to come here and see out friends."
"Oh, Sam's here?"
"Yeah, she's visiting Willow at the UC Sunnydale campus."
"Oh."
"Where's Angel?"
"Probably on his way home right now to wash vamp dust out of his hair. Hmm." Buffy's eyes started to glaze over as the thought of Angel in the shower tempted her. For effect, Buffy looked at her watch. "Listen Riley, I gotta go. Dawn, will be home later and I have some.stuff.to do. So bye."
"Can I come by and see you?" he called to her retreating form.
"You know where I live!" she called back, hurrying off to make it home before Angel did.
"Bored, bored, bored." Buffy said. She was sitting on the couch, a bowl of pretzels lying between her legs, and watching Passions. Spike had been right; the show really drew you into it. She liked that Ethan guy, he was a honey! And that whole thing with Theresa, now THAT was a story line. But Buffy was getting tired of just sitting there and watching TV soap operas. She wanted to get out and do something! Angel was out busting a nest that Spike had informed him of a few nights ago and Buffy wished that she were there. She missed the action of fighting demons and winning. Buffy hadn't realized how much she had taken slaying for granted until Angel had taken the duty away temporarily. Willow was at class with Tara, Xander was probably working, Dawn was at school, Faith and Spike were helping Angel, and no one really knew where Anya was these days.
"That's it! I can't take this anymore!" Buffy shouted to no one in particular. She stood up as best as she could with the huge bulge of her stomach and went to the door to get her coat. She was going out even if it killed her! She had no clue what she was going to do, but she was going to do something! Angel didn't really want her out of the house much because of the three nerd boys on her tail. But he didn't have much say now, did he?
Buffy headed out and walked downtown. She was headed towards the Espresso Pump for some coffee. Maybe someone from school, college or high school, didn't matter, would be there that she could say hey to. *Hey, people can dream.* she thought to herself as the little open walled coffee shop came into view. As she headed up on to the curb, a familiar figure blocked her way.
"Riley?" Buffy blurted. The tall guy turned around and looked down at her, his blond hair shining in the sunlight.
"Buffy! Hey!" Then his eyes widened as he saw her round stomach. "Whoa!"
"Yeah, you're telling me!"
"When did this happen? Last time I was here, and that's not too long ago, you're stomach was flat!"
"It happened before you came back actually."
"Really? Who's.Who's is it?"
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
"Angel's."
"Angel's? I thought you two couldn't.you know."
"Well, evidently it can."
"So, you were pregnant before I came to town, but you didn't know it?"
"Yup."
"And you're married too I see." He motioned to her left finger with the shining claddagh ring on it.
"Yup."
"You want to sit down? You look tired."
"I am, and thanks. I was just about to get a coffee."
"Cool. I think I'll join you. You can tell me all about this," he indicated her abdomen, "and then tell me what else happened in the short time I was gone."
"Ok, then you can tell me what you're doing in Sunnydale again agent Finn."
"Sounds like a plan."
They headed over to the counter and ordered their drinks and Buffy's food then went to sit down at a table with high stools. Riley, being the chivalrous gentleman that he was, helped Buffy up into her stool. As soon as they were settled and Buffy was nibbling on her blueberry muffin, Riley started the conversation.
"So Buffy, what's new?"
She smiled and finished the bite she was chewing. "Two things you can see, obviously."
"Yes, I do see that! You have stories; I have two ears to listen with. Start telling."
"Ok, well. After I was brought back and Angel found out that I was, he called and set up an arrangement for us to meet somewhere between LA and Sunnydale. I left, giving not much of an explanation, and headed to the little motel that Angel had suggested."
Buffy pulled up in the black Jeep and spotted Angel's black convertible. She looked around and spotted him skulking in the shadows not far from the car. She turned the engine off, pocketed the keys, and got out walking up to him. As soon as she reached him, he pulled her into the tightest most loving hug she had ever received from him.
"Buffy, God, Buffy!" he said frantically running his hands up and down her back, checking to see if she was really there in his arms, alive and well. He kissed her neck, shoulders, cheeks, nose, anything that he could find to kiss on her face.
Tears welled in her eyes as he hugged her and a knot got caught in her throat. She couldn't speak. All she wanted was for him to hold her and kiss her like he was right at this moment.
"Buffy, are you really here?"
"Yes, lover, I'm really here." She finally managed to choke out between sobs and fast falling tears. Her legs didn't support her though and she would have fell except for Angel's strong arms that held her up.
"I've got you baby. Don't worry." He picked her up and took her to a room not far from the cars. When he finally managed to get the door closed without hurting her, he took her to the bed and laid her down. She wouldn't let his neck go, so he was forced to climb into the bed with her. There they laid for hours, Buffy letting all her frustrations out through her tears and sobs like she had only done for Angel, and Angel laying there, holding her tightly to him.
After a time, Buffy slowly grew silent and then her breathing became calm and regular. Angel realized that she was asleep. He silently and stealthily climbed out from her embrace around his neck and off the bed, slipping out of the hotel room. When he returned, Buffy was awake and looking frantically around the room.
"Where were you? I thought you had left me again!" Buffy cried, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Shh, love. I'm right here. I went to get you some food. By the looks of you, it's exactly what you need."
"No, no, no. I need you, not food!"
"Buffy, baby, calm down."
"Promise me you won't do that again!"
"I promise."
After a short spell, Buffy looked up and said timidly, "What'd ya bring me?"
He smiled and walked over to her with the bag from the restaurant. When Buffy opened it and saw the contents, she let out the first genuine smile since she had been brought back. She pulled out a bag full of fries, a box of fried chicken tenders, a diet coke, and four things of honey mustard. Her favorites! Angel really knew how to spoil a girl!
"I.I remembered your favorite and when I saw they had it in the restaurant here, well, you know. I don't know if the honey mustard is exactly like what you like, but I got it anyway, just in case." Angel said, standing away from her.
"Come here." She stated simply.
He obeyed and sat down beside her. She pushed the food over to him and her gratefully took a fry, even though he didn't really need it like she did. She smiled watching him eat the fry and then she continued eating. Every now and then Angel would pick up a fry and feed that to her. She liked this: the very nearness of him.
"It went on sort of like that for about three days." Buffy told Riley.
"Wow. He really does love you. More than me even." Riley said.
"Yes, he does."
"But what does this story have to do with." he gestured to her stomach.
"I'm getting to it. Anyway, on the third night we took a walk out in the gardens that were behind the motel hiding the pool."
"Wow, a motel with a garden." Buffy said.
"Yup. It is beautiful for a motel." Angel replied.
They were walking hand in hand through the gardens. The last couple of days had been the best of Buffy's life after death. She had spilled every last detail to Angel about where she had been and how she felt, even now. She was miserable, but she was coping. Her friends didn't know, only Spike. With Angel, though, things were different. She felt like she had never died and been dragged out of heaven. She felt as if she and Angel had never broken apart.
Soon they were headed back to the room. When they reached it, they were kissing fiercely. Angel shut the door and drew the shades while his lips were still locked with Buffy's. He knew that he shouldn't be doing this. Something could happen, but something was off. Why wasn't he stopping all this? He led her towards the bed, clothes being stripped off so fast that he could have sworn that he heard they being ripped off. They broke away long enough for Buffy to take a breath or two of air before they resumed. She sat down on the bed, all the while Angel following her. He straddled her as she sat there and then she fell gently back on the bed. He of course followed her down and kissed her stretched out stomach, leaving a trail from there up to her neck. She was in heaven, only not literally, and so was he.
"And as they say, the rest is history." Buffy finished.
"Wow." Riley said.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I said when I found out that I was pregnant a month and a half later."
"I thought slayers couldn't get pregnant."
"So did I, but when I went to tell Angel that the baby was his, Wesley found a prophecy about 'the two warriors of the light shall came together and make one.' Trust me, it is a long and complicated thing."
"So when did you two get married?"
"About two weeks after I gave Angel the news and about a week and a half after he proposed."
"That was fast."
"We spent that whole time trying to decide if we wanted to do the big wedding or just go to Vegas and elope."
"What did you decide?"
"Well, I always wanted to go to Vegas."
"Oh! So it was just you two?"
"And a bunch of strangers getting married there too."
"How did he propose? Did he make a big scene like I did with Sam, or was it more private?"
"I was patrolling one night and I could feel this familiar presence. Angel had told me that he was going to stay in LA for a little while before he came to move to Sunnydale. Anyway, it was a really slow night and."
It was late and Buffy was tired. She was ready to head home and make sure Dawn was asleep in her room. There hadn't been much activity and Buffy was overdue for a little time off. As she headed towards the gates of Sunnydale Cemetery something rustled behind her. Vampire. Buffy tensed and reached for her stake. She turned around and there was Angel.
"Hey." He said as she quickly withdrew the stake and put it back in her pocket.
"Angel! You almost fit into a dust buster."
"Nice to see you too."
"Oh, I'm sorry! Hi. I thought you weren't coming for another week."
"Again nice to see you."
"Nice to see you too."
"I decided to come early. I had some business in town that I needed to get to and I thought tonight would be as good as any."
"Oh, what kind of business?"
"Nothing major."
"As in nothing that concerns Buffy major?"
"Buffy."
"I was just joking. Geez, give the pregnant girl a break here. I've got hormones comin' out the whazoo!"
"How are you?"
"We're fine. I'm about three months now. Too late for an abortion." She saw the hurt look on Angel's face when she had said that and quickly amended. "I didn't mean that Angel. You know I would never. This," she laid her hand protectively over her stomach, "this is ours. We made it together. I would kill everyone on the face of the earth and then count the grains of sand stained with their blood before I would kill OUR baby."
"I know. I feel a little guilty though."
"Why? About what?"
"You have enough to worry about, you don't really need a baby when you have a teenager to watch out for."
"Angel, I don't care about that. I know that you're going to be here to help me along. And so are my friends."
"Have you told them yet?"
"No, not yet. I kind of wanted to wait until we could both tell them together. You know, that way we can also tell them we're getting back together." Angel looked down at his shoes. "Whoa, wait! We are getting back together, right? I mean you and I were planning on that not even a week ago. Was I just hallucinating?"
"No! You weren't, and yes we were. I just. well, this is. um." When he couldn't find the words, he just dropped to one knee and reached into his pocket, pulling out an engagement ring. Buffy's eyes widened as she stared at the huge rock sitting on the dainty golden band.
"Angel." she breathed.
"Buffy, I love you, and that's our child growing inside you. I want to be with you forever, so, will you marry me?"
"Angel, I." she stopped, a huge lump growing in her throat and not allowing her vocal cords to function properly. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she stared at the sparkling brown orbs looking so hopefully up at her, waiting for her to answer. She couldn't speak, or really nod for that matter, so she sprang into his arms and they fell to the ground a kissing, hugging, and crying tangle of limbs.
"Just like that huh?" Riley asked when he was sure Buffy had finished this more recent tale.
"Yup. About a week and a half later, we packed out stuff and headed to Vegas for three days." Buffy answered, sipping her drink. Her muffin was long gone by now, so if she wasn't sipping out of it, she was chewing on the straw. "So, I've answered all you're questions, time to answer my one: What are you doing back in Sunnydale again?"
"Vacation."
"Vacation?"
"Yeah, Sam and I went to Iowa and then to Colorado and then we decided to come here and see out friends."
"Oh, Sam's here?"
"Yeah, she's visiting Willow at the UC Sunnydale campus."
"Oh."
"Where's Angel?"
"Probably on his way home right now to wash vamp dust out of his hair. Hmm." Buffy's eyes started to glaze over as the thought of Angel in the shower tempted her. For effect, Buffy looked at her watch. "Listen Riley, I gotta go. Dawn, will be home later and I have some.stuff.to do. So bye."
"Can I come by and see you?" he called to her retreating form.
"You know where I live!" she called back, hurrying off to make it home before Angel did.