Chapter 4

"Oh, God. How do I look?" Buffy asked. Angel stared at the outfit his wife wore. It was the Prada top that she loved so much that had loose sleeves with the slits going down the middle. She wore dressy looking jeans and a pair of black, extremely high, chunky-spike heeled shoes with one strap going across just below the toes and tying around the ankle. Her hair was down and loosely curled. Her makeup was simple and dark. Perfect for her pale complexion of late.

"You look stunning." Angel said, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek.

"It's just, I haven't seen my dad in a long time and to make things worse, he's bringing my godfather who I haven't seen since mom's funeral. I've grown up a lot and I just want to give a great impression that my life is perfect." Buffy looked down at her shoes. "Maybe I should change these."

"Why?"

"Because if something happens, God forbid, I can't fight in these heels."

"Have a pair handy as a just in case."

"How can you be so calm?"

"Because I'm the groom. The bride's always nervous at the rehearsal dinner."

"I hate that." Buffy picked up a pair of chunky heeled boots and they walked out the door, headed for the lobby.

"You'll be fine. We'll be fine. Everything will be fine."

"If you say I promise, I'll stick a heel in your butt."

"Oh, kinky." Buffy stared at him and then cracked a smile. "See, we'll be fine."

They reached the bottom of the stairs and Buffy set the boots behind the counter. The lobby was nicely decorated and a long table was set up in the middle of it. The new caterers were bustling about, making sure the plates and silverware were correct and that the placecards were in the right spots. Willow sat with Kennedy, who was visiting for the wedding, over on the couch. The two waved when they spotted Buffy and Angel and then went back to their conversation. Lorne was talking with the chef and Wesley while Gunn walked in with Fred and Giles. They had gone to the airport to pick Giles up.

"Giles!" Buffy said.

"Buffy, you look spledid." Giles said, hugging his blonde Slayer. "Hello Angel." Angel shook the Watcher's hand.

"So, how's Cleveland?"

"Demonic, but it's not just the monsters."

Buffy smiled and Angel said, "It's great that you came."

"Of course I wouldn't miss it."

"I'll take your bags upstairs." Gunn said.

"I'll come with. I'd like your opinion on something."

"Cool." Gunn and Giles walked up the stairs and Buffy looked at Dawn who was talking with Faith and Robin Wood.

"Hey Buffy!" Dawn said.

"Where's dad?" Buffy asked.

"He'll be here in a little bit. He just called and said that he was on his way. Don't freak out."

"I think I have every right to freak out. Everytime something big goes on for the wedding, something bad happens to us." Buffy looked at Faith and Robin. "You're on your guard, right?"

"Always am, B." Faith said. "But pipsqueak here's right. You just need to chill."

"No chilling. Wigging."

"Come on, I'll get you something to drink." Angel said, leading Buffy away. He took her into the large, industrial kitchen and poured her a glass of water.

She drank it gratefully and then looked at him. "You couldn't give me something stronger, could you?"

"No alcohol until the wine is served."

"Dawn's not getting any. Do they know that?"

"Yes, they've marked the cards so they know who doesn't get any wine."

"Good." Buffy looked around. "What are we having?"

"House salad, Penne Normandie, and chocolate mousse served in martini glasses." Lorne said, walking up with the chef. "Buffy, Angel, I'd like you to meet Mr. Levangie. He's the chef tonight."

"How do you do, Mr. Levangie?" Angel said, shaking hands with the man.

"It is a pleasure to be here. And don't worry Mrs. Summers, everything is in good hands." The chef said in a think French accent.

"Thank you." Buffy said. Lorne and the chef walked away. "Don't you think it's odd no one notices that Lorne is green and has little horns?"

"They think he's from a TV show and we like his makeup, so he wore it in honor of us." Angel said. "They were told that anyone who looked strange was from the same TV show."

"Oh." Buffy walked out of the kitchen and back out to the lobby.

Wesley caught up with them. "Guys, there's a demon by the name of Clem here."

Buffy and Angel looked past to see Clem standing at the door giving Dawn a hug. He spotted them and waved. "Thanks Wes." Buffy said, walking over to Clem. "Clem! It's so great that you came."

"I hope I'm not too much trouble." Clem said, motioning to himself.

Angel understood what he meant. "It's ok. They think it's makeup from a TV show."

"Good. I didn't want to cause a panic." Clem hugged Buffy. "Congratulations to you guys. You both earned this."

"Thank you Clem."

Dawn nudged Buffy's ribs. "What?" Buffy asked.

Dawn pointed over to the main doors. "Look who's here."

Buffy turned. A tall handsome man with short, slightly spikey hair and a bright blonde woman stood on the stairs. It was her godfather Hugh and his wife Debbie. "Hugh! Debbie!" She walked over to them and gave each of them a hug.

Hugh smiled. "Wow, you look more mature since the last time I saw you."

Buffy smiled back. "Thank you. That was only three years ago. And I really have."

"Makes me look old."

They laughed. "Oh! Hugh, you remember my husband Angel." Buffy took Angel's hand. "Angel this is Hugh's wife wife Debbie."

They shook hands. "It's a pleasure Angel." Debbie said.

"You too. Nice to see you again." Angel said, shaking hands with Hugh.

"Hugh and I used to be extremely close. We both got a little busy and almost lost touch." Buffy said. "We talked to each other a few times each year."

"I would never lose touch with my goddaugter."

Buffy smiled and hugged Hugh again. Her nervousness was melting away. There was only one person left to arrive. Hank Summers. The only guest that didn't know what Buffy, Angel, and the rest of the group knew. Buffy had told Hugh a long time ago. He had come to Sunnydale to celebrate Christmas before Buffy's 17th birthday. He had come to pick her up from the Bronze as a surprise and Buffy and Angel had been in a nice little fight with a couple of vampires in the alley. Hugh had been extremely surprised, but strangely acceptant. He had said that it explained a lot in the world and why Buffy was the way she was. Then he had been there when Angel had turned in Angelus. He had comforted her as a father when Buffy's real parents couldn't because they didn't understand. Debbie had found out because she had dated a Watcher a long time ago and she had been attacked by a vampire and her boyfriend's potential Slayer had killed the vamp. *Ah* Buffy thought, *My life is truely complicated.*

"Where's your father?" Hugh asked.

"He's...."

"Right here." Hank stood behind Buffy and Angel.

Buffy jumped and turned. "Dad!"

"Hey sweetie." The two hugged. "I came in the back way, I hope that's ok."

"Yeah, it's fine."

"Hey Hugh, Debbie, Angel."

"Hi." They said.

"I guess we can get started now." Buffy said. She took Angel's hand and they headed over to the table. Everyone noticed that they were starting to sit, so they walked over and joined them. Dinner went smoothly and now everyone was sitting around the table laughing and telling stories.

"And then Buffy showed me Dawn's butchered hair, which Buffy'd cut herself, and told me that she wanted to be a haircutter because she'd done such a great job on Dawn's hair." Hank said. Everyone laughed and Buffy blushed slightly. "Now look at her. She owns a law firm and a private detective agency with her husband. Sweetie, how did you end up with a law firm?"

"Um...." Buffy looked at Angel for help.

"We bought it. They were looking for a new, uh.... management." Angel said.

"And they talked to us because we've helped them out so much in the past. So, we bought it from them."

"Wow." Hank said. "And to think that it's Wolfram and Hart!"

"Yeah." Buffy and Angel said dryly.

Hank looked at Lorne and Clem. "So, how long does it take to get your makeup on? I hear it takes hours."

"Oh, um.... well, I get spraypainted, er..... Airbrushed green. And they attach the horns and they I just put on my costume." Lorne said.

"Those contacts look like the hurt."

"Oh, no. They're feel like my natural eyes I've been wearing them for so long."

"I thought the show just started."

"It did, but...."

"Lorne's always worn contacts dad." Dawn said.

"Yeah. The producers loved the contacts and decided to use them."

"Wow." Hank said.

Buffy looked at Angel with a smile that died when she saw the concerned look on his face. "What?"

"Something's not right." Angel said, cocking his head.

"What is it?" Faith asked on his other side.

Suddenly, all the glass in the hotel lobby shattered and demons poured into the hotel. Buffy, Angel, Faith, Robin, Kennedy, Willow, Xander, Gunn, Fred, Wesley, Giles, and Dawn were on their feet, preparing to stand off. Hank looked around in confusion and then at his daughter who took on a demon twice her size. She took it down with ease and then moved over to Hugh and Debbie. She ran them to the office and told them to lock the doors. Hank cowered under the table and watched as Buffy and her friends took on the demons. After an hour of battle, the remaining demons ran out of the hotel. Buffy and her friends looked a little battered and Buffy and Angel had a couple of cuts that seemed to bleed more than they should. Buffy walked over to the table and helped her father up.

"Buffy, what's going on? Are you ok?" Hank asked.

"I'm fine." Buffy looked around, met Giles and Angel's eyes, and then back at Hank. "Dad, there's something I have to tell you."

"What? What's going on?"

"Dad, I'm a Vampire Slayer."

"What?"

"Kennedy and Faith are Vampire Slayer too. There are a lot of Vampire Slayers in the world now."

"Buffy, I don't understand."

"I fight vampires and demons. It's my job. I've been doing it for over eight years now."

"Is this some joke?"

"Damn it dad! Look around! Does this look like a joke to you?" Buffy exploded. "This has been my life for eight years!" Angel walked up and put his hands on Buffy's shoulders.

"This is rediculous! There's no such thing as vampires or demons."

"You need anymore proof than the demon bodies laying on the ground? Do you need anymore proof that someone as little as me could take something that large out with my bare hands? If you need more proof, just let me know. I can provide it."

"Fine, I need more proof."

"Angel?"

"Buffy, no." Angel said.

"He has to know Angel. There's no passing this off now."

"Buffy...."

"Angel, just show him!" Angel stared at her a minute and then looked at Hank. He allowed his vampire visage come foreward. Hank gasped and drew away, trying to pull his daughter away. She held firm. "Need more proof?"

"Buffy, you knew about him? You knew about all of this?" Hank asked.

"I've known for eight years."

"Did your mother know?" Buffy nodded. Hank looked around then his eyes found Hugh, not shocked by any of it. "And you knew?" Hugh nodded. "For how long?"

"Six years almost." Hugh said.

"And all of you? Is there anythng else I should know?"

"Willow's an extremely powerful witch, Giles and Wesley are my Watchers, Lorne and Clem are good demons, and everyone here but Hugh and Debbie fight vampires."

"Dawn?"

"She fights them too."

"You expect me to just accept this?"

"You kinda have no choice here."

Hank stared at everyone. "You're all crazy!"

"What?" Hugh exploded. "Hank Summers, you're the one that's crazy! You're daughter is an amazing person. You probably would have known about all of this sooner if you'd spent more than ten minutes with her every time you saw her. I've been the closest thing to a father next to Mr.Giles that she's had growning up."

Hank was silent. Instead of making a comment, he just turned, grabbed his coat, and left. Buffy watched him leave and then broke down in tears. Angel wrapped her tightly in his arms and Hugh rubbed her back getnly. They tried to calm her down. She felt like an orphan now. Her mother was gone and now her father had walked out on her. She didn't want to keep feeling like that. Instead of continuing her tears, Buffy stood and walked to the counter, slipped her shoes off and put her boots on.

"I'm going to go find him. You guys clean up here." Buffy said, then she walked out the door. Angel follwed, but out in the street they found a note tied to a brick. Buffy read it and then turned to Angel. "He's been kidnapped."

Angel took the paper and smelled it. "Demons."

"What else? Ok, gather the troops, we're going dad hunting."