THIS
AGAIN
NOTE: I don't own Angel or Buffy but I will gladly take position of them if Joss ever takes the big plunge.
A/N: I came up with this story talking to one of my friends. It just hit me in the head somehow. Anyway, here's the rundown. This takes place during the should be season eight of Buffy and the fifth season of Angel. Angel finally succeeds in saving the world so he is given the chance of a lifetime and I don't just mean W&H law offices. You'll see. Well, please enjoy.
Warning: Major cuteness in this chapter.
CHAPTER 2Angel woke up to complete warmth the next morning and what sounded like chirping birds. He cracked one eye open and then the other before slowly looking around, forgetting for a moment everything that had happened the previous night until it shot him like a bullet to his head. Angel looked next to him at a happily sleeping Buffy.
When the slayer's hazel eyes finally opened she realized that Angel was staring at her. "Hey," she smiled softly. "You feeling any better?"
Angel thought about it and just decided to go along with everything, at least for a while. "Yeah. I feel... good."
Buffy kept her smile as she got out of bed to change her clothes.
Angel glanced around the room, as he hadn't gotten a very good look at it the previous night. Angel rested in a large sleigh bed with a navy comforter and black sheets, the walls were paneled with a dark wood, there were two medium sized dressers, more than like one for him and the other for Buffy, and three windows, all with thin blue curtains, the sun shining brightly through them.
He climbed out of the bed and wondered over to the windows, pulling back a curtain from the middle one. The sun's light glowed brightly on his complexion, a sensational rush running through him.
"Angel." The vampire was taken away from his moment by Buffy's voice. "Come on. Pick out what you're going to wear. You cannot make your own daughter late for her birthday party."
Angel nodded as Buffy left the room in search of a shower.
Angel wondered over to his dresser, knowing which one it was, and looked through it. He finally decided on a pair of dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt that looked tight enough to hug his skin.
When Angel wondered out of his room he waited outside of the bathroom that he heard running water coming from. The door soon opened, revealing Buffy clad in a short jean skirt and a red blouse that showed off her shoulders. Her blonde curls went pass her shoulders.
"Well, look who finally came out of the land of the dead," Buffy smirked at him. Angel smiled softly. "Now change while I go see if Rachel is awake."
"OK," Angel dipped his head. As Buffy headed for Rachel's door Angel called after her. "Hey, Buffy?" She turned back to him. "I...um... you look so beautiful," he finally smiled.
Buffy kept her smirk as she touched Rachel's doorknob. "Don't even try the sweet talk thing." She opened the door, going inside.
Angel spent a while in the shower and took his time changing into the outfit that he'd picked out. When he exited the bathroom Buffy rushed up to him, glancing at her watch.
"Angel, we better make with the speed," she said. "The others are going to be at the magic charm soon."
Angel raised an eyebrow. "The what?"
Buffy rolled her eyes and put her hands to her hips. "Here we go again with the amnesia. Angel, the magic charm is our business," Buffy explained as if she were talking to mental patient. "You know. People phone in with calls, we save their lives for, in Anya's words, a small monetary fee, and then we sell them shiny, magic like things. You all up to date now?"
Angel nodded slowly. "Yeah. Uh, thanks."
Buffy stared at him suspiciously. "I think I'll drive. Now get Rachel, please." She buzzed downstairs.
Angel watched her go then proceeded into Rachel's bedroom. He looked around at the white walls with pink throw rugs on the floor, stuffed animals everywhere, including the dresser, a few in the one large window, and some on the floor. An adorable little girl with brown hair sat on a pink and white twin bed, holding a rag doll in her arms. Angel slowly went over and sat next to her.
"Hey, Rachel," he smiled at her. "Um, you ready to have fun?"
Rachel looked up at him and shook her head. "No."
"Oh? Why not?" Rachel stayed quiet. Angel found himself pulling the child into his lap and holding her closely. "Don't you want to tell me why?
Rachel looked up at him again, revealing a pair of hazel eyes. "Daddy, am I pretty?"
Angel stared at her like she was insane. The child was so adorable that he just wanted to keep her in the position forever, never moving. She looked a lot like Buffy, especially in the eyes but she also held a few of Angel's features as well. Rachel definitely had his brown hair even though hers wasn't gelled and styled.
"You're beautiful," Angel finally told her.
"But I don't feel beautiful," Rachel sulked.
"Why don't you?" Angel asked softly.
"I don't know. I just don't. Is that bad?" Rachel looked at him seriously.
"No, it's not bad," Angel answered. He lifted her up and brought her to her child like vanity mirror, sitting her down. "What do you see, Rachel?"
Rachel stared at hers and Angel's reflections. "A yucky girl."
"No," Angel told her, stretching the word. He knelt down to her chair. "You wanna know what I see?" Rachel nodded. "I see a beautiful little girl in a hello kitty shirt and jeans." The girl giggled a little. "Oh, and there's a smile that's almost as beautiful as she is." Angel looked her in the eyes. "That's what I see."
Rachel hugged him around the neck. "Thanks, Daddy."
Angel slowly hugged her back but as he held her he relaxed and found it very natural. Daddy, that one word had changed so much. Angel suddenly felt new emotions and what seemed like memories flowing into his mind and it felt... wonderful.
Angel finally pulled back from the hug and looked at her. "Now are you ready for fun?"
"Yeah," Rachel replied now enthusiastic. "Let's do it!"Angel smiled and raised her up, carrying her downstairs.
As Buffy drove along Angel took the time to take in the sites leading away from their home, realizing that he actually knew some of them. When Buffy finally stopped the car it was in front of a medium sized building with the following words printed on the window in red letters: The Magic Charm. Beneath it Angel read what was printed under the sign as well.
"Hey, Buffy, does that say you bring us the charm, we give you the magic?" Angel asked his wife.
"Yeah," Buffy replied, opening Rachel's backseat door. "Fred and Willow's idea."
"Fred..." Angel nearly gasped her name.
Buffy led the way inside, Rachel right behind her, and Angel coming up the rear. When they got inside good the threesome saw Fred, Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Anya, Spike, and a little girl about Rachel's age all grouped up. Above them, on a staircase was a large sign reading Happy B-Day, Rachel.
"Happy birthday," they all exclaimed at once, some more enthusiastic than others.
Rachel practically burst with delight.
The other little girl, who had light brown skin, and black hair walked up to Rachel, carrying a small box. "Here." She handed Rachel the box. "Happy birthday, Rachel."
"Thanks, Natalie," Rachel squealed, giving her a little hug.
Angel looked down at the unknown child. "Who is that?" he whispered to Buffy.
Buffy gave him a little glare. "Natalie, Gunn and Fred's four-year-old daughter?"
Angel couldn't believe it. "Gunn and Fred have a..." He peered over at Fred and suddenly rushed up to her, hugging her. "Oh, Fred, thank God you're OK!"
Fred hugged him back, confused. "Um, thanks, Angel."
Angel seemed to hug Gunn and Wesley at the same times. "Guys, it's so good to see you. I thought you were dead."
Gunn and Wesley shared a confused look as Angel let go of them.
"Dead..." Gunn nodded. "Yeah, sure, Angel." He suddenly laughed.
Wesley snickered as well. "I think you've been slipping into the ale again, mate."
Buffy walked up then. "You'll have to excuse him. He got hit hard last night and he's still a little loopy in the head. You know more so than usual."
"Guys," Angel said to Fred, Gunn, and Wesley. "We need to talk. We—"
Lorne walked out of a back room then, dusting off his gold, linen suit then looked around at the others, spotting Rachel. "Oh," he groaned. "I missed it? One potty break and you miss out on everything."
"That's OK, Uncle Lorne," Rachel smiled, walking up to him.
"Hey." Lorne lifted her up. "Happy birthday, Chelly," he said, using the girl's nickname.
"Lorne," Angel smiled. "You made it, too."
"Of course I made it, Angel cakes," Lorne said then turned back to the little girl he held. "I wouldn't miss little Chelly's birthday for all the gigs in Vegas."
Angel shook his head. "No. That's not what I mean."
Before Angel could say another word the door opened, revealing a short teenaged girl with a long, brown ponytail. She wore a black and red t-shirt with a pair of dark jeans, and a pair of pristine white tennis shoes, a pair of headphones about her neck, blasting her music.
"OK, here I am," she announced herself, boredom registered in her voice.
"Late enough," Wesley grumbled, shooting a look of pure aggravation at the girl.
"Wes, don't start," Willow said to him, putting a hand on her husband's shoulder.
"What's going on?" Angel asked, once again to Buffy.
"Leah showed up late again," Buffy answered.
Angel still looked confused. "Who is she?"
Buffy looked at him. "How long were you out of it last night? She's Leah! You know Willow and Wesley's daughter, age thirteen."
"Wait. Willow and Wesley—" Angel started.
"Yeah. They did the marriage thing, too. Just like you, me, Fred, and Gunn. Oh, and Xander and Cordelia."
Angel stared at her in disbelief. "Xander and Cordelia are married?"
Buffy felt his forehead. "We're checking your temperature after the party."
Soon everyone's attention was dragged away from Angel's foolishness as Rachel's large chocolate birthday cake was wheeled out. It had five tall candles stuck on top of it, all of them burning brightly. They all sang the usual birthday song when the cake came out.
"Bet you can't blow 'em all out," Natalie said to Rachel.
"Yes, I can," Rachel shot back.
"Nuh uh!" Natalie continued.
"Yeah huh!" said Rachel.
"No, you can't!" Gunn hauled up Natalie then.
"Let's see her in action," Gunn said, giving his four-year-old a firm look.
Rachel, in one breath, blew the candles out instantly, getting a round of applause from everyone in the room. She shot a smug look at Natalie. Soon they were all sitting around the furniture they had on the first floor, eating cake.
Rachel looked over at Buffy from where she sat, in
a mini throne Xander had built her. She wore a small paper crown on her head
that Fred had made. "Mommy?" Rachel asked. "Can I open the presents now?"
"Sure," Buffy smiled at her from where she sat next to Angel.
Cordelia indulged in the cake she ate. "I need more," she told the room.
Xander sat on the arm of Cordelia's armchair. "That's your third slice. Don't you think you've had enough?"
Cordelia gave him a glare. "Watch it, super boy. It's enough you did this to me," she said, rubbing her chubby stomach.
Angel stared at her belly. "Cordy, you're pregnant?"
"Duh," Cordelia replied crossly. "What else am I gonna be, naked?" She shot Xander another glare. "That's not a very good image of me anymore, is it?"
Xander got up and headed towards the table. "I'm gonna get you some more cake."
Cordelia smiled triumphantly. "Oh, hey." She reached next to the armchair and picked up a box wrapped in red wrapping paper. "Open mine first, Rachel."
Rachel nodded and went over to get the box, silently dreading it, knowing it would probably be clothes instead of anything fun. She tore apart the paper and opened the box lid and, indeed, it was an outfit from Kids Gap.
"Thanks, Aunt Cordy," Rachel forced a smile.
Buffy detected her daughter's disappoint and was proud of her for not whining over the gift.
When the gifts were all distributed Rachel ended up getting a pair of roller blades from Xander, a telescope from Fred, a doll from Gunn, a little leather jacket from Spike, a guide to business for dummies from Anya, a doll house from Willow, a mini microphone and tape recorder from Lorne, a set of children's story books from Wesley, a Barbie from Natalie, a hello kitty plush from Leah, and a new bicycle with training wheels from her parents.
Rachel sat on her new bike, hugging her doll from Willow, and wearing the jacket Spike had bought her. "These were the best presents," she told the room.
"You haven't opened mine, yet." Rachel looked up and saw Giles, who handed her a small box.
Rachel opened it and saw a charm bracelet inside. "Wow. It's pretty!" she squealed, slipping it on. She hugged Giles around the legs. "Thanks, Pop," Rachel said, using her nickname for him.
"You're welcome," Giles smiled, patting her head.
Spike pulled Rachel over to her and examined the jacket. "Looks nice on you, pet."
Rachel sat on his lap and flashed the bracelet in front of him. "Look. It has tiny crosses."
Spike quickly sat her hand down. "Yes, that's nice." He looked at her jacket again. "You know I wanted to get you the little motorcycle to go along with this."
"Spike," Buffy stretched his name disapprovingly.
Spike looked over at her. "What? She'd ride great on it."
Anya picked up the business guide she had bought Rachel off the table and handed it to her. "Now you take care of this and maybe one day you, too, can buy stock."
Rachel looked at the book skeptically. "Uh... OK, Aunt Anya."
Leah went over to where Wesley in Willow sat on a different couch. "OK," she whispered to them. "I had cake, I left a gift so can I go?" She slipped her headphones back around her ears.
"Why?" Willow asked her.
"Because, as cute and stuff as this is I'd rather be watching MTV," Leah told her.
"You know you did show up late," Wesley hissed at her. "The least you could do is stay a while."
"But, Dad—" Leah started then got cut off by a glare from Wesley. "Fine." She turned, walked off, and sat down grumpily in a chair. She turned her music up just a little louder.
"Xander?" Cordelia said sweetly. He looked at her. "I think baby wants more ice cream."
Xander groaned. "Again, Cordy?" Cordelia just patted her stomach and looked at him. "Fine." Xander stood up and grabbed his coat, leaving out in search of the nearest store.
Natalie sat in Fred's lap, looking at the Barbie she had bought Rachel for her birthday. "Can I get all these presents when I'm five?" she asked.
"Of course, honey," Fred smiled, stroking her hair.
"If you're good like Rachel," Gunn added slyly.
Natalie stuck her tongue out at him and Gunn did the same.
Rachel watched Lorne play with her mini microphone and giggled. She went over and squeezed in between Angel and Buffy on the couch they sat on, still watching Lorne do a solo to Elvis.
Buffy put an arm around Rachel. "You having fun?" she asked.
"Yep," Rachel replied happily then looked at Angel. "Daddy, Pop got me a bracelet." She showed it to him. "Isn't it pretty?"
"Not as pretty as you," Angel said, tickling the tip of her nose.
Angel looked around at everyone, talking, and smiling, and some, mainly Cordelia, still eating cake. It was a nice picture to behold and Angel wished he had a camera just for the moment. If this was a reward then he would try to earn them more often.
A/N: Fluff, fluff, fluff galore. You guys have to know that I love that stuff. Anyway, I'd like to thank Pyro Bear for giving me a helping hand with this. Please review.