Chpt. 9- Fathers

Summary- Ok in this chapter Buffy and Angel both have to deal with their fathers. Buffy's dad comes for a visit and Angel's father asks for a second chance to be in his children's lives. Is he sincere? Read to find out

Disclaimer- Everyone from the BTVS and Angel worlds aren't mine. Everyone you never heard of before is.

AN- I was gonna update earlier but I was watching the football game and right now my entire city is in a state of depression because the Eagles lost (me included), If you aren't from Philadelphia you don't understand the passion we have for our sports. Things at the Vet may get ugly.



"Has anyone ever noticed that Riley Finn has a keen resemblance to a fish?"

"Actually yea I have"

"Me too", Buffy, Angel, and William walked side by side by side down the sidewalk towards Buffy house. It was mid November and the three were basically inseparable. Buffy and Angel's relationship was strong and William liked Buffy as a new addition to their group. She was like a sister to him. They spent a lot of time at Buffy's house just for the sheer reason that her mom was such a nice lady. She had taken to the two boys like her own sons. Angel's grandmother had never met Buffy and Angel didn't plan on introducing her any time soon. Wills parents weren't very much like parents at all. He lived with his father and his mother was currently in jail for drug possession. As they got closer to the house suddenly Buffy stopped dead in her tracks.

"What's wrong baby?" Angel asked seeing that is girlfriends face had gone as white as a ghost. He followed her eyes and saw that there was an unfamiliar car in her drive way. It was an expensive looking shiny red sports car.

"That's my dad's car," she said quietly. For a minute she felt like she was back in L.A coming home from school and afraid that her dad was home. She had no idea hat he was doing there but she didn't want to go in the house. Angel had heard a few stories about Hank Summers. Namely that he was a drunk.

"Maybe your sister is here," he said trying to lift her spirits. Buffy's eyes immediately brightened. Angel knew how much Buffy missed her sister.

"You guys come in with me?" she asked quietly

"Of course that's what friends are for" William re-assured her with a goofy grin. Angel took her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly as she opened the front door. Buffy was scared. Scared of her father. She peered around and heard voices coming from the living room. There were three voices but only one mattered at the moment. She let go of Angel's hand and dashed into the other room.

"Crystal?" she asked entering the room. Her sister was standing by the couch near her mother. She turned to Buffy with a bright smile and ran over to embrace her sister. Angel and William entered behind her and saw the scene. Angel looked closely at the middle aged balding man who sat on the cough with his arms crossed over his chest in an angry manner. Buffy pulled away from her sister and Angel smiled at the smile on his girlfriends face. She was beaming. That is until her gaze drifted to the couch and she noticed her father sitting there.

"Dad...hi" she managed to squeak out. Her father had a way of intimidating her and making her feel incredibly small without even saying a word to her. He had said enough in the past.

"Buffy how are you?" he asked without getting up from his seat.

"Fine dad"

"And who are these two?" Hank asked gesturing to Angel and William. He looked at them both closely. The taller dark haired one was wearing a black t-shirt and black cargo type pants with zippers on them. The smaller one had on a black sweatshirt and baggy jeans. The taller one had dyed red hair. He gave them a disgusted looked and then turned to Buffy expectantly

"This is my boyfriend Angel and my friend Will" Buffy said quietly. Crystal broke into a smile

"Your boyfriend? Hi...I'm Crystal" she reached out and shook Angel's hand while Hank Summers jumped to his feet

"This little hoodlum is your boyfriend...no way. What were you thinking Joyce you must be insane. No you are you're just a dumb little bitch" the man exclaimed angrily at Joyce. Angel and Will were both taken back while Buffy and Crystal just stepped back and put their heads down

"You two little dirt bags get out of here," Hank said getting in Angel's face. Angel didn't flinch

"I don't think so. I'm not leaving them here with you" Angel said crossing his arms. Buffy stepped behind Angel and Hank looked around angrily

"Come on Crystal were leaving!" he yelled

"No she isn't. Crystal is staying her with me and if you want to argue take me to court. We have witnesses of your behavior Hank. Just leave" Joyce Summers said staying as calm as possible. Hank looked around once before storming out slamming the door behind him.

"He used to beat us...call us names...he's a drunk and he has a bad temper" Buffy explained to her boyfriend and best friend as they reclined on her bed. She was resting against Angel's chest trying not to cry. Crystal sat at Buffy's desk listening to her little sister explain her fathers behavior. Crystal was so glad to be home. Sure this wasn't her home and she'd never been there before but wherever her sister and mom were, her home was. Joyce wasn't her real mom but she loved her like she was.

"It's okay" Angel promised wrapping her in a hug and kissing the top of her head. Buffy sighed and let herself be comforted. Angel made her feel extremely safe. The way he had stood up to her father had been the biggest relief. She wasn't sure what would have happened if they had been alone with her father. He was capable of anything.

"So...you staying here?" William asked Crystal. Crystal looked a bit like Buffy in the nose but she had dark hair and blue eyes. William found her quite beautiful

"I guess...I hope. I'll be eighteen in three months and after that I can stay wherever I want" the older Summers girl said.

"I have to go home," Angel whispered in Buffy's ear. She didn't want him to go but she got up and let him stand.

"If you have to" she put her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss. When they finally broke away Angel said his good-byes and left the room leaving William, Buffy and Crystal to talk.



As he walked home his mind kept drifting back to how scared Buffy had looked when she had saw her fathers car in the driveway. It made his heart break for her. He could only imagine how horrible it had been being alone with that man everyday. It made him angrier then he had ever been to imagine anyone hitting his Buffy. He walked inside his house and as he was kicking his shoes off Trey and Shelly approached him. They said nothing but just handed him an envelope addressed to all three of them.

"What's this?" he asked seeing that it was already opened

"Just read it," Shelly said and Angel noticed the tears in her eyes and the anger in Trey's. He pulled the piece of loose leaf from the envelope and started to read

Dear Angel, Trey and Shelly,

I've wanted to write this letter for quite a while, but I have never had the guts to do it until now. I'm writing this letter to ask for a second chance. I miss and love all three of you. After your mother passed I couldn't deal. Life was too hard. I never meant to stay away for so long. My wife has encouraged me to do this. We have a four-year-old daughter. Her name is Aimee. I loved your mother very much please know that. I know I don' deserve another chance but I hope you can find it in your heart to at least meet with me. I will be at the restaurant on Fifth Street near our old house at four o'clock on the 26th. If you don't show up I'll leave you alone and never bother you again. Sincerely, Your Father

Angel gripped the paper tightly and took a deep breath.

"What are we going to do?" Shelly asked quietly.

"I...I don't know...I don't know if I'll be able to see him" Angel admitted angrily. He wasn't sure if he would be able to go see the man that had left them. Especially now so many years alter. His father was married and had a new family and he just expected them to love him again?

"Well we need to decide. The 26th is two days from now," Trey said



"What should I do?"

"I don't know" Buffy answered truthfully from where she sat next to Angel on her front porch. He had showed up that morning seeming very preoccupied with something. Then he had told her about the letter him and his brother and sister had received.

"I can't just forgive him. I mean after everything he did does he just expect us to show up and be happy to see him?" he asked angrily. Buffy could hear the insecurity in his voice. She knew it must hurt. For your father to leave and then start a whole new family and never even bother to call until eight years later.

"Angel I don't know what you should do and I can't tell you what to do but... you told me everyone deserves a second chance right? Well maybe he really is sorry. Maybe if you give him the chance you'll be glad for it" she said softly. Angel nodded. Her words made sense.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. Right now I just want to sit here with you" he leaned over and captured her lips with his

"Sounds good to me" Buffy murmured



November 26th

"I'm going", Angel and trey looked up from where they sat on the couch. Shelly as wearing a pink skirt and a white top and had her hair curled neatly around her face, "I don't even remember him. I need to see him," she explained. Neither of her brothers said anything and Shelly walked out. Angel couldn't go. He could not find it in himself to forgive and he didn't think he ever would. Trey did not feel any need to meet his father.



Angel entered the restaurant and scanned the tables. He spotted her sitting alone at a table in the back. He had gotten a call from one of the waitresses who had asked Shelly for her phone number because it was obvious the fourteen year old wasn't going anywhere. He hadn't shown up. The bastard hadn't shown up. He kneeled down in front of Shelly and she immediately fell into his arms crying.



Buffy heard a tap at her window and turned around quickly to see Angel seated on her roof. She walked over and opened it and for the first time saw the tears on his face.

"He didn't show. Shelly went and he didn't show. That bastard didn't show," he sobbed. Buffy immediately knew whom he meant and pulled Angel inside and wrapped him in a hug wishing she could kill Mr. Donnelly herself.