San Francisco was beautiful as the city lights began twinkling in the early twilight. Buffy was gazing out of the window at the sight, and to the stars beyond.
Jon walked in, about to ask Buffy to help him with his medals when he saw her on the window seat, staring into the night. She was wearing a pale green robe and it barely covered her pregnancy. Her hair was done in an elaborate French braid and she had the earrings on that he had bought her in Risa. She had gained weight and her face glowed from her pregnancy. As he stared he could feel the love for this woman who had so changed his life, squeeze his heart
"Hey Beautiful." He said and she turned to meet his loving eyes.
"Hey Admiral. Have I told you that I love you?"
"Never enough."
He watched as she walked over to him and rearranged his medals, smoothing them with a gentle hand before meeting his wry grin.
"Aren't you glad I'm here?" she asked. He kissed her hungrily, feeling their son kicking against him.
"Always."
Buffy looked at the time, "Yipes, I have to get dressed!" She dashed into the dressing room. He watched her with a smile and wondered what would have happened to his life if Buffy hadn't been sent to his time. He walked to the window and watched the stars shine, remembering the adventures that they had together out there. They were so incredibly lucky.
He wished his Dad were there to see their success, and their son. "I miss you Dad." He said quietly. Hearing a noise he turned around and smiled.
Buffy had come out, elegant in a rose colored gown that framed her advanced pregnancy, especially her full breasts.
"Buffy, you are gorgeous!" Jon said sincerely, making her blush.
Before she could answer there was a pounding on the door, "C'mon! You guys better not be doing hanky panky, we're gonna be late!" Came Trip's voice.
Jon opened the door with a chuckle. Trip shook his friend's hand then looking Buffy over, he whistled, "Wow, Mrs. Archer, you are somethin' else!"
Both men were resplendent in their dress uniform and Buffy smiled, "You guys look pretty handsome yourselves."
Angel had found a spot where he could see all of the new arrivals. He was sipping a glass of tomato juice, noticing the admiring glances at his wife. He turned to her and smiled.
"You look lovely Cordy."
"Thank you Angel." She was incredibly nervous. She was going to see Buffy for the first time in over 150 years, knowing that she would always have the first place in Angel's heart. She hoped that her own heart could take it.
Angel was trying to figure out the best way to tell Buffy about the new watcher he had found for Annie. It was going to be complicated.
The crew of the Enterprise was there, including Dr. Phlox who was about ready to head home to Denobula. Ambassador Soval was there with a contingent of Vulcans, on the other side of the room was a small group of blue skinned Andorians. There were representatives from several other planets that the Enterprise had met, all in honor of Admiral Archer.
The door at the top of the stairs opened, the boatswain's whistle was heard, then the announcement, "Admiral and Mrs. Jonathon Archer, Starfleet." And Angel had the first look at the woman who would always hold his heart, carrying another man's child.
Buffy was very nervous but she looked into Jon's amber eyes and let her doubts slip away.
They walked carefully down the stairs to clapping and a wolf whistle she was sure was from Travis. Yep, there he was, the brat, not more than a breath of space between him and Hoshi.
Retired Admiral Forrest and his wife met them at the bottom of the stairs, "Congratulations Admiral. Mrs. Archer, I don't believe I ever seen someone so pregnant before, when are you due?"
Buffy laughed delightedly, "Tomorrow." She said wickedly and Jon snorted as the Admiral paled slightly, "Buffy that's not very nice."
"Sorry, no, it's actually a few more days, I'm not going to go into labor here." She said, though feeling the twinge at her back didn't exactly reassure her.
Admiral Forrest laughed loud and long, then composed himself and led them to where they would stand in the reception line. Travis stood slightly behind and between them to announce each guest from the cards in his hand.
"Admiral and Mrs. Curtis." Travis announced.
Jon would invariably know them and introduce them personally to Buffy. This went on until, "Angel O' Connell and his wife Cordelia."
Buffy's easy smile dimmed and the pounding in her back hurt more. Jon stiffened as his wife's eye's met those of her first love.
"Angel! How nice to see you again." Buffy smiled, taking his cool hands and kissing his cheek, memories flooding her for a moment. She pulled back and saw his heart in his eyes. Her eyes went to her old high school nemesis and sometime friend, "Cordy, you look as beautiful as ever. I'm sorry I missed you last time I was in LA. How are you?"
Cordelia could see that Buffy had really matured. "I'm doing wonderfully. Congratulations belatedly on your marriage and early on your baby." She watched Buffy's face glow with happiness.
Buffy smiled, "Thanks Cordy." She turned to her husband, "Jon, there are my oldest friends, literally and otherwise. Angel and his wife Cordelia." Cordy laughed wryly at this dig. 'Ok, sort of mature.'
Jon kissed Cordy's hand graciously, aware that Angel had not stopped looking at Buffy. "She told me about your prom and trying to be queen together." He teased.
Cordelia smiled and rolled her eyes at Buffy, "Buffy, you brat." She didn't know why she had been so nervous. Buffy was still Buffy.
Jon turned to Angel and finally was acknowledged. His amber eyes calmly measured the man who had once held his wife's heart.
"Nice to meet you finally, Angel."
"You too Admiral." Angel replied in a subdued voice. Angel could see what Buffy saw in this man. Strength, compassion, fierce dedication and loyalty to his crew, and the love that blazed from his eyes for Buffy.
Travis cleared his throat, the reception line was being held up. The men released each other's hands and Angel stood back with a nod.
"We'll talk later Buffy." Cordelia said and towed the unresisting Angel over to an unoccupied alcove.
"Angel." She said quietly and he met her eyes, "I have nothing to say Cordy." And turned his back on her to stand on the balcony alone.
Buffy felt like she passed with flying colors and took the glass of cranberry juice that Trip brought her.
"I owe you." She said gratefully as she rewetted her dry throat. She pinched the bridge of her nose, then looked over at Jon.
"He still loves you Buffy." Jon said, his eyes on where Angel was standing.
Trip jumped, "Me?" he squeaked.
Buffy laughed at this, "No Trip. You're not the guilty party."
Jon grinned at his best friend, "I meant Buffy's friend Angel." Trip turned to where the Captain had been looking, noticing the broad shouldered man in the nicely cut suit. Jon's eyes were pensive as he surveyed the man who had been Buffy's first lover. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if Buffy had given Angel the slightest hope that Angel would have taken her and disappeared.
Buffy sighed and tapped Trip to hand him her drink, "Here." He watched as she faced his best friend, a very serious look in her eyes.
She reached up and took Jon's face in her hands. "Look here." Her eyes positively shone with her love. "You, me, the baby? I love you heart and soul. Angel was my past, you and this baby are my future."
"You are the air I breathe." Jon said quietly and let her bring him down for a kiss.
Angel had turned away to look out the window when he heard a British voice, "Now that's what kept us on the straight and narrow." The uniformed man was talking to a crewmate and Angel looked up to see Buffy talking seriously to her husband, then the kiss. He knew she was happy, that's all he could hope for.
Buffy pulled back and wiped a smudge of lipcolor off his lip and smiled into her husbands' eyes, "Travis, you're free, go see Hoshi before you burst."
"Thanks Buffy! See you Sir, Commander." And Travis was gone in a shot.
The Admiral came over, "Buffy I need to steal your husband and the Commander away to meet some dignitaries."
"Better you than me." The men laughed at this and walked off.
She watched the man she loved and his best friend walk away with a smile. She loved both of the men so much. She hoped that Trip would meet someone nice on Earth, in fact she had a Slayer in mind for him, though he wouldn't appreciate her hand in his lovelife…too bad. For him.
Hoshi came over and Buffy hugged her first friend from the Enterprise. "You look so great Hoshi! How's Travis treating you?"
"Like a queen, and I deserve nothing less." Hoshi replied, making Buffy laugh delightedly.
"Totally no question about that."
Hoshi looked over, her eyes thoughtful, "Did I see Angel here?" Buffy involuntarily looked over to where Angel stood, just visible through the balcony doorway.
"Yeah."
"Are you ok?" Hoshi looked at Buffy who was frowning in thought.
"Yep, I'm ok. I feel bad for Angel, he has a lot of unresolved stuff going on but I've moved on." Buffy shrugged, "He's my oldest friend and important to me, we'll work it all out. He's got nothing but time."
Hoshi snorted a laugh, "I guess you could say that." And the girls both broke up into laughter.
