September 6th, 2003

Dawn opened her eyes slightly when she heard the sound of two little feet creeping across her bedroom floor. A small noise escaped from her mouth as the bright morning light that came in through her window fell upon her face, yet she didn't move. Dawn could almost feel the extreme efforts of Ella to suppress the giggles that were rising up through her small body. Then, Dawn braced herself in her bed the best she could for what was to come.

"Wake up sleepy head!!!" Ella giggled as she pulled herself up onto Dawn's bed and began to jump up and down.

"Oh, come on El, five more minutes?"

Ella whined and sat down on the pillow next to Dawn's head. "But it's late, and I'm hungry, and I missed you."

Dawn smiled but then looked thoughtful, "You missed me in the 9 hours you've been sleeping?"

Ella giggled some and then nodded, " Of course I missed you very much. Will you come with me downstairs now....pwease?" She tugged on Dawn's hand.

"Alright kiddo, give me a second." She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Isn't Willow making pancakes? That's what she usually does."

Ella shook her head, "No silly, Willow's taking Uncle Giles to the airport member? He's goin back to London for a few days to take care of some beeswax."

"Business." Dawn corrected.

"For some business." Ella nodded proudly.

"Alright," Dawn said as she pulled her legs out from under the covers and stood up. "Let's get you some food in that tummy before you starve." She winked at the child and Ella giggled.

"Can I have a piggy back ride?"

Dawn thought for a second and then turned her back towards the bed where Ella was eagerly waiting. "Hop on."

Ella continued to chatter loudly as Dawn exited her room and went into the hall.

"Shhhh." She pressed her finger to her lips, "Remember El, Buffy needs extra rest for the babies, I bet she's still sleeping."

Ella was instantly quieted by this and pressed her finger to her lips in the same fashion as Dawn. Once Dawn reached the bottom of the stairs with Ella and was assured they were far enough away from her sister's bedroom, she began to talk with the child again.

"Shhh!" Ella said pressing her finger to her lips.

"What? Buffy can't hear us down here."

Ella pointed to Xander's room, " But Xander never gets up before 12 if he doesn't have to. We should be quiet for him too."

Dawn smiled at the child, "He paid you to tell me that didn't he?"

"Five dollars is a lot!"

Dawn smiled, "Okay kid, we'll be quiet, but not as quiet."

When Dawn reached the kitchen with Ella, she tried to set the child down, but Ella's grip around Dawn's neck just tightened.

"Come on El, get down."

"Nuh, Willow always lets me sit on the counter and so does Xander and Anya and...."

"Okay El, get the picture." She placed the child on the counter. "Now let's see what we've got here. What are you hungry for?"

"Pancakes!!"

"Pancakes it is then." Dawn began to dig through the pantry for the pancake mix. "Ah, here it is." She pulled it out and placed in on the counter next to Ella.

"You need eggs."

"I know, but first..." Dawn continued to dig through the pantry pulling out various items, "Peanut butter, jelly, strawberry syrup, sprinkles, chocolate chips...."

Ella's eyes grew wide as Dawn's pile of various food continued to grow, " That's not how Willow makes pancakes."

"Yeah, I know, but I like to experiment in the kitchen."

"Mmmmm, okay if you're sure."

"I'm positive El." Dawn said as she began mixing the various ingredients in a big bowl.
"Mmm." Buffy groaned a little a rubbed her stomach, her eyes still remaining closed, "it's my kicking alarm clock."

"Morning beautiful." Angel said as he reached up and brushed some of her hair off her forehead.

Buffy smiled and opened her eyes, "Morning, how long have you been watching me sleep?"

Angel smiled a little and Buffy could have sworn that he blushed, "A while." He lowered his head down to hers and their lips met for a lingering kiss, "how are you feeling? No contractions right?"

"Nope, just lots of kicking. I feel pretty good."

"Good." Angel pulled the covers back a little and lifted Buffy's shit to reveal her swollen belly, "Morning my little baby girls, did you wake your mommy up? How are you doing this morning?"

"They're very hungry, let's go downstairs and get some breakfast." She said smiling.

"Okay, you go on down without me, I'll be down in a little bit." He said getting up long enough to help Buffy out of bed.

"Love you." She said kissing him.

"I love you too babe."

Buffy half walked half waddled down the stairs into the living room when a strange smell entered her nose.

"What the hell is that?" she said as she sniffed the air. She thought for a second, "Oh, Dawnie must be cooking." She walked into the kitchen and found Ella sitting on the counter poking a strangely colored pancake.

"Buffy!!" Ella squealed and held out her arms to the slayer.

"Good morning sweetie." She said wrapping her arms around the child and giving her a gentle squeeze.

"Morning Buffy, morning babies." She said lowering her head to Buffy's stomach and giving it a gentle kiss. Buffy smiled.

"So what have you got to eat there?"

"A Dawncake."

"How is it?"

Ella shrugged and crinkled up her nose at the concoction apprehensively. "It smells funny."

"Yeah, well, Dawn's like me, not big on the domestic. Let's just put this aside and I'll fix you something else." Ella happily pushed the plate aside. "Where is Dawn anyway?"

"She went outside to get the paper, but I think she went to go talk to that boy, I saw him walking by."

"Cody?"

"Mmmhmmm, that one!"

"Well, let's just let Dawnie talk. So what do you want?"

"Hmmm, what are you and babies going to eat."

"Well... I think the babies want some Oreo's and milk."

Ella looked shocked, "For breakfast?"

Buffy smiled at the small girl and nodded, "We can't deny them what they want can we?"

Ella shook her head and her brown curls danced around, "No way!"

"Alright then, let's eat, just...don't tell Angel or Uncle Giles okay?"

"Deal!" Ella said smiling, her eyes growing wide and she dipped a cookie into the milk.

"Hey Buff, you're up!" Dawn said coming into the kitchen.

"Morning Dawn." She said kissing her sister on the cheek.

"Sleep okay?"

"I slept alright, these little babies are pretty active most of the time."

"And how are my two little nieces?" Dawn asked placing her hand on her sister's belly. The babies gave their obvious reply with a swift and hard kick to the response of Dawn's touch.

"Active and strong." Buffy said wincing a little.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just starting to hurt when they do that."

"Awww," Dawn rubbed her sister's stomach, "Be nice to mommy girls."

"We're eatin' cookies!" Ella exclaimed happily, Oreo's smeared over her mouth.

"I see that." Dawn said smiling, "Gimme!" Dawn reached for an Oreo and dunked it into her sister's glass of milk.

"Twist?" Buffy asking holding one side of an Oreo up, offering the other side to her sister.

"Sure." Dawn took the other half of the cookie and twisted.

"Ha! I got the cream!"

Dawn whined, "You always get the cream!"

"The babies need it."

" Sure they do." Dawn said jokingly.

Ella pouted a little, it was obvious the child was feeling left out of the sisterly bonding. "Twist Dawnie?" She said copying the motions of Buffy.

"Of course El, gotta give me a kiss first though!" She said scooping the child up and ticking her. Ella giggled happily.

"We love you El, you know that right sweetie?" Buffy asked touching some of the child's soft curls.

Ella nodded, "Love you too."

"So what do you want to do today kid?"

Ella looked thoughtfully for a moment, "Can we go swimming?"

"Are you sure?"

Ella nodded, "yes, I want to go swimming."

Buffy and Dawn looked at each other, "Well, it's a little cool, but there's that heated pool."

"I read swimming is great exercise for pregnant women."

"Yeah, it might take some of the pressure off my back."

Dawn looked at Ella, "Okay kid, swimming it is. But let's wait for Willow to get back and Xander to wake up."

"K." Ella said, obviously pleased.
Later that day Buffy sat in Ella's room helping her put her swimsuit on. The child was capable, but sometimes she had problems telling the front from the back.

"Okay El, step in." She said from her place on the floor where she held the bottoms of the child's two-piece suit."No, other foot El." The child reached out for Buffy's shoulder for support and put her right leg in the correct hole.

"Are you sure you're alright to go Buffy?" Angel asked from where he stood in the doorway to Ella's room.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Angel, I'm fine, I'm pregnant, I'm not dead. I haven't had any contractions and I'm not going to." She said helping Ella get her top on, "Right El?"

"Right!"

"I know, I just worry." Angel said walking to his girlfriend and offering her a hand to help her stand.

"I know you do, but we're FINE, really!." She said taking his hand and placing it on her swollen belly.

Angel nodded and kissed Buffy. A giggled escaped from Ella's mouth.

"Alright you, you're all ready, take your flip flops and go find Dawnie, we'll be down in a second."

"Okay!" She said skipping out of the room.

Buffy came downstairs to join the rest of the gang in the living room followed by Angel, she was wearing a stylish maternity tankini and Angel was wearing brightly colored swim shorts and a Hawaiian style shirt, very out of character for him.

"Everybody ready?"

"Yes, I am very much ready for a fun filled day in the sun with the talkative little child." Anya's statement attracted some glances from the group.

"I think what Anya's tryin to say is let's go."

"I've got the snacks." Dawn said walking out the door with the cooler.

"I've got the sunscreen." Willow was always in charge of the sunscreen due to the extreme fairness of her skin.

"I've got the drinks." Anya said as she followed Willow out the door.

"Well kid, Angel's driving and Buffy's already in the car, guess that means I've got you huh?"

"Yep, can I ride on your shoulders?"

"Sure El, you know Uncle Xander's all about fun, let's go." He said scooping up the small child with ease and putting her on his shoulders.
"Will you help me with my arm floaties?" Ella asked extending her arm to Buffy who was resting on a lawn chair.

"Sure sweetie, come a little closer." She blew up the pink arm flotation devices with ease and sent Ella on her way to the water.

"Aren't you gonna come swimming?"

"Of course, I'm just going to sit here in the sun for a little bit, it feels nice. There's Dawn, you go splash her okay?"

The child grinned and skipped off to where Dawn was already swimming.

"Don't let her out of your sight okay?" Buffy warned Dawn from where she sat.

"I won't."

"Catch me!!" Ella squealed before jumping into the water. Dawn was not quite prepared to catch the child so Angel stepped in.

Ella laughed, "that was fun!"

Xander, Angel, Dawn and Ella played in the water while Buffy, Anya, and Willow sat around discussing plans for the baby shower and other various "girl talk" conversations.

"Adult swim!" The lifeguard's whistle warned.

"Come on El." Dawn said picking the girl up and carrying her out of the water.

While Dawn walked off with Ella, Buffy found adult swim as the perfect opportunity to get in the water and enjoy some time with Angel.

"Hey babe." He whispered into her ear, pulling her body close to his. "How are you feeling beautiful."

"I'm fine, this water feels great." She paused for a moment, " You still think I'm beautiful?"

"Of course."

"Look at me I'm huge."

"The only part of you that's gotten any bigger is your stomach and that's all babies." Angel was right, besides Buffy's growing abdomen, unless you saw her from a profile you'd never know she was pregnant.

Buffy smiled and kissed him, "You're too kind, I love you."

"I love you too."
Dawn walked holding Ella's hand as they walked through the garden that was next to the pool.

"You're real lucky."

"Why's that El?"

"Cause you gots a sister."

Dawn smiled a little, " Buffy's pretty cool huh?"

Ella nodded and tears began to form in her beautiful blue eyes, "I wish I had a sister, I wish I had a family."

"Oh sweetie," Dawn said as she sat down and pulled the girl into her lap, "You miss your mommy and daddy don't you?"

The child nodded, "I love Uncle Giles but I really miss them."

"I know El." She said kissing the child's forehead. "But you know, you do have a family."

"I do?"

"Yes, you have me, Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander, Anya, Spike, your Uncle Giles, we all love you very much. We're your family."

"Really?"

Dawn nodded and choked back some of her own tears, "Believe me kiddo, all you need for a family is love, not blood, I know that better than anyone. In fact, you could be my little sister."

"Really?"

Dawn nodded, "Your family's where your heart is, I learned that lesson from a very special person on her birthday."

Ella looked at Dawn for a second and then wrapped her arms around the teen's neck, "I love you lots Dawn."

"I love you too Ella."

The child released Dawn from her grip and sat back for a moment looking at Dawn.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Okay El."

"What are those?" She asked running one of her tiny fingers along one of the scars on Dawn's stomach that were now revealed by her swim suit.

"I got cut."

Ella frowned, "Bad?"

"It was a few years ago El, I'm fine now."

"Did a bad monster hurt you?"

Dawn thought for a second on how to respond to the child's question, "Yeah, but don't worry about it, there are lots of people here to protect you from everything. And like I said, I'm FINE now, they're just scars."

Ella tipped her head as she considered Dawn's answer and nodded, "Okay."

"Come on, let's go back and swim with everyone else." She said as she took Ella's hand and began walking back to the pool.
Later that night, an exhausted Buffy lay on her side, a body pillow supporting the weight of her stomach. Angel was rubbing her back lovingly.

"Mmm, that feels good, what would I do without you?"

Angel smiled, "Pay your sister?"

Buffy laughed, "Probably."

"Are you alright, you don't look so great."

Buffy sighed, "For the millionth time today, I'm fine Angel." Her expression softened when she saw the hurt look on his face. "I'm sorry, It's just hormones, plus your two little daughter's who play soccer with my bladder and other important internal organs. I'm sure you're sick of hearing that by now." She smiled, "I'm just exhausted."

"Think you maybe overdid it a little today?"

Buffy nodded, "Maybe a little, just getting Ella into bed with the help of Dawn was exhausting. What if I can't do this? Ella exhausts me and we've only had her for today. And she's three, what am I going to do with two little girls? I'm going to be a horrible mother."

Angel stroked her hair, "No you aren't, you're wonderful with Ella, and you are NOT going to be a horrible mother."

"But I'm a Slayer and my instincts are to kill and hurt and hunt."

"Babe, those are only your instincts because you do it to protect the one's you love. You know that. Besides, look at Dawn, you've nurtured her wonderfully, and she's not even your daughter."

Buffy slowly turned over to face Angel, "You think?"

"I know, Dawn's grown in to this beautiful, wonderful woman."

Buffy smiled, "She's pretty great huh?"

Angel nodded and bent to kiss Buffy but they were interrupted by a loud, shrill scream.

Buffy's eyes filled with terror as she looked at Angel, "That's Ella." Before the words had even come out of her mouth, Angel had jumped out of bed and ran out of the room, rushing to Ella's bedroom. Buffy followed, and when she reached Ella's room she found Willow, Angel, and Dawn all kneeling by the child's bed. Her face was tearstained and she was still screaming.

"What's wrong sweetie?"

"Are you okay?"

"Did anything hurt you?" Ella was surrounded by questions from the adults. She just sat there, half crying half screaming.

"Back off a little you guys." Buffy said walking into the room. "Come here baby." She said as she approached the bed and the small child held out her arms to her. Buffy's motherly instinct took over and she picked Ella up, her screaming stopped as she buried her face in Buffy's shoulder, but she continued to cry.

"Buffy, careful, you shouldn't be lifting her."

"It's fine Angel, I've got her." She said as she ran her hand up and down Ella's back. "You're okay sweetie, I've got you." She slowly walked around the room with Ella.

"I'm going to call Giles, see if she's done this before." Angel said quickly leaving the room, concern for the child lining his face.

"Dawn can you go get El some water? And Will, could you check around the room a little? Make sure there are no real monsters under the bed or in the closet."
"Of course."

"Shhh, come on baby, let's go back to my room." Buffy said as she left the room with Ella.

".....It happens sometimes, just check her out and make sure she's not hurt. Tell her I love her."

"God Giles, I don't think I can do this, be a dad, when I thought someone had hurt Ella tonight I felt like the animal in me was coming back and she's not even my child."

Angel heard a half laugh half sigh escape from the Watcher, " Angel, that doesn't mean you'll be a bad father or become a vampire again, it means you'll be a great father. Those are perfectly normal feelings for anyone when someone they love is put in danger. I appreciate that you care for Ella so much, it means a lot to me."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you. And don't worry, you'll be a wonderful father, you're great with Ella. She really loves you."

"She's a great kid."

"I miss her terribly."

"I'm sure you do, you'll be home soon though."

"Where is she? Is she alright now?"

"She's stopped screaming, Buffy's got her."

" Okay good, if you need me just ring."

"I will, goodnight."

At the same time of Angel's phone conversation, Buffy sat with Ella on her bed. Tears still rolled down the child's face.

"You're okay Ella." She said as she ran her thumb gently over the child's cheeks, wiping the tears away. Ella sniffled. "Nothing hurts right, no monsters came and hurt you?"

Ella shook her head and whispered, "no."

"Come here." She said patting the place on the bed closest to her. Ella quickly crawled closer and gladly snuggled up next to Buffy. "Just get scared sometimes huh sweetie?" She asked rubbing the child's back.

"Is she okay?" Willow asking bursting into the room followed by Dawn.

"Here's her water."

"She's okay." She said motioning for Dawn and Willow to come sit on the bed.

"Hey sweetie, you scared us." Willow said bending over to kiss Ella's cheek.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I'm just glad you're okay." Willow said before saying her goodnights and heading off to bed.

Dawn sat down on the other side of Buffy and leaned on her sister, "You scared me too kiddo." She said as she reached out to brush a tear from Ella's cheek.

"Scares all around tonight, it's all okay now. Let's just lay here."

Ella gently rested her head on Buffy's growing stomach and closed her eyes while Buffy rubbed her back.

Dawn looked hopefully at her sister, "Rub mine too?"

"Alright Dawnie." Buffy said as she took her free hand and started to rub her sister's back.

"I think El's asleep." Dawn whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, her breathing's changed."

"Good, she can just stay here with me for the night."

Angel came walking back into the room; he paused and smiled, "Got company?"

"Yes, and some of our company is sleeping so shush."

"I called Giles he said she has Night....."

"Terrors, I know, knew as soon as I saw her. Dawnie used to have them all the time, just wake up screaming and crying."

"Oh yeah, I did didn't I?" Dawn asked picking up her head and looking at Buffy.

Buffy nodded, "Scared mom to death a couple of times."

Dawn smiled and put her head back down.

"I don't have the heart to move Ella, I'll go sleep on the couch."

Buffy nodded and smiled, "Thank you."

"Does that mean I can stay too?"

"Okay Dawn." "So we're all okay? Ella's fine, babies are fine?" Angel asked coming closer and softly placing his hand on her belly.

"Yeah, we're all fine." She said before kissing him.

"You're going to make a great mother." He whispered.

"And you're going to make a wonderful father." She whispered back at him.

"I love you beautiful."

"Love you too." They were interrupted by Dawn making fake gagging sounds and giggling.

"Goodnight Dawn." Angel said before leaving the room.

"Goodnight lover boy." She giggled.

"Bitch." Buffy whispered after Angel had left the room.

"You know you love me."

"Sure do, Goodnight Dawnie."
**Sorry this took SO long to update, I've been very busy and my best friend was in the hospital. Look for more chapters more Buffy/Angel centered to come. It's getting close to baby time! And there are a few more surprises on the way! Keep reading and responding!**