"What are they doing up there?"  Xander sat between Willow and Cordy.  Oz sat beside Willow, while Angel paced.

"It's been almost four and a half hours, how long does it take to stabilize a pregnant lady?"  Cordy was obviously worried.  They all were.

"Well she is the slayer, I mean shouldn't she have extra…tolerance powers?"  Willow wrung her hands nervously.

"I haven't known Buffy as long as the rest of you, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say if she does, it's not that high."  Oz looked the calmest of them all, but he was still just as worried.

It had been almost four hours since Xander had transported Angel, Buffy and himself back from the factory.  Willow and Oz had removed a tracer from Angel's back, and Willow had taken the spell off of Xander.  Giles and Jenny had rushed an unconscious Buffy upstairs, and now they were all waiting.  Suddenly they all turned as they heard a key slip into the front door's lock.  They all took defensive stances, ready for a fight.  The door swung open, and to everyone's complete surprise, Joyce Summers walked in.  At the sight of four teens and Buffy's college tutor, she dropped her bags in surprise.

"What are all of you doing in my house at this hour?  Where's Buffy?"

"This is so not our night!"  Groaned Xander.

"Mrs. Summers, uh, there is something we have to tell you!"  Willow started towards Buffy's mother.  Just then Giles and Jenny came down the stairs, seeing Joyce.

"Ah Joyce, good you got my call."  The five slayerettes standing in the living room, stood stunned.

"Yes that was quite a lot to learn on the phone, there's still some I'm not clear on, but right now I just want to see my daughter."

"She's upstairs in her room."  Jenny moved away from the stairs, as Joyce started towards them.  Just before she went up, she turned to the still shocked scoobies.

"When I get back, we have a lot to talk about."  And with that she went to Buffy.

"Wha?  Huh?"  Xander was at a loss for words.  "Ziahwhehuh?"

"Maybe you should all sit down, we'll talk while Buffy and her mother talk."  Giles ushered the children to chairs and seats.  Angel and Jenny were left in the hall.

"Maybe, I should?"  Angel was clearly unsure of what to do.

"When Joyce and Buffy are finished, give them some time."  Jenny smiled then led Angel into the living room with the others.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Joyce pushed open the door to Buffy's bedroom.  Her little girl was lying on her side, facing her, her eyes closed, breathing lightly.  Joyce's eyes roamed to the large bump on her daughter's stomach.  Joyce sucked in her breath.  It amazed her that in just two months, Buffy had managed to get pregnant and was still as strong and beautiful as ever.  Joyce walked over to her daughter and sat on the chair beside her bed.  She lightly brushed a strand of hair out of Buffy's face.  Buffy stirred, opening her eyes, which went wide with happiness at the sight of her mother. It made Joyce's heart warm.

"Mom!"

"Hey baby, I'm here!"  Joyce took Buffy's hand in hers, and Buffy squeezed back.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!"  Tears slid down Buffy's face.

"What are you sorry about?"

"Getting pregnant, I'm so sorry!  I know you must be really disappointed in me."

"Oh, Buffy!  I'm proud, you not only had the strength to go through with the responsibility, but you have remained strong all the way through.  Buffy, my only regret is that I didn't find out about your being the slayer before."  Joyce had started to cry now.

"Mom!"

"Oh Buffy, wait till you hold that baby in your arms.  It is the most amazing feeling."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So let me get this straight."  Giles and Jenny had just finished explaining what had just happened with Joyce.  "You called, told Mrs. S about Buffy being the Slayer, Willow and Jenny being Wicca's', Oz a werewolf, and you her watcher.  And about Angel being a vampire with a soul.  About Buffy being pregnant with Angel's child.  And finally about everything that happened since Buffy first moved here till now?"

"Yes."  Answered a very calm Giles.

"And she just accepted this?"

"Yes."  Answered Jenny.

"Ok, then!"  Xander let out a breath and fell back on a chair.

"Wow!"  Willow was clearly impressed.  Just the Joyce came down the stairs and walked into the living room.  They all looked at her expectantly.

"My daughter and I had a nice little talk, now that's what we're going to do."  She looked in turn at each of the people sitting in her living room.  "But first."  She turned to Angel."  She wants to see you!  We'll talk later!"  Joyce touched Angel's arm and he headed up stairs.

"Now!"  She turned back to the rest of them.  "Let's hear the truth!"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Angel walked to Buffy's room, and knocked on her door, pushing it open as he did so.  She looked up and smiled him.

"Hey!"

"Hey, can I come in?"

"Always."  Angel walked in and sat on the chair beside her bed. 

"I thought I lost you tonight."  The look in his eyes almost broke Buffy's heart.  He looked like a little boy who had just been lost, but was now found and never wanted to leave again.

"But you didn't."

"How are you?"

"Better."  Angel smiled at Buffy.

"We did good.  Craig's gone now."

"How can you be sure?"  Buffy looked frightened at the mention of Craig's name.

"About an hour ago, police found his body, dead, two pairs of bite marks.  He won't rise."

"Spike and Dru?"

"Yes!"

"The will have left then?"

"Most likely."

"That's good, we did good!"  Buffy smiled as Angel smiled back at her.  Suddenly, Buffy cringed, her hands left Angel's and wrapped protectively around her belly.  "Angel!"

"Buffy?  Buffy, what is it?"  Angel was suddenly worried.

"Angel…it's time, now, get Jenny!"

Angel yelled for Jenny, who came running, with the rest of the gang.  As soon as she saw Buffy, she and Giles ushered everyone out.  Angel did not want to leave, but Joyce persuaded him.

"Angel, I, more than anyone want to be with my daughter right now, but if we love her, we have to let Giles and Jenny work."  And with the help of Oz, Xander, and the girls, Joyce led Angel downstairs to wait.

It had been nearly three hours, plagued with Buffy's cries, Jenny and Giles running out to gather supplies.  It was tearing into all of them to hear Buffy suffer.  Around 2 am, Buffy's cries stopped.  All of the scoobies looked up at the ceiling, trying to see through the plaster.  Suddenly a baby's cry rang out through thee house, and everyone's faces broke out into smiles and sighs of relief.  They hugged each other and congratulated Angel.  Joyce surprised everyone and went and hugged Angel, who hugged her back.

"They heard foot falls on the stairs and hurried to the hall to see Giles coming down the stairs.  In his arms he cradled a small bundle, swathed in a deep white blanket.  He smiled down at them, and they cleared a path to Angel who was standing next to Joyce.  Giles placed the bundle in his arms, pulled back the blankets, and gave Angel his first look at the baby inside.  The others crowded around as Giles spoke.

"Angel, say hello to your baby girl."

Angel took in a breath he didn't need as he looked down at the tiny face staring back at him.  The big emerald eyes, he knew were Buffy's.  The pale brown hair, that was his, the tiny mouth, nose, and fingers.  Angel was in that moment overwhelmed with the feeling of need, the need to protect this little girl at all costs.

"She's beautiful."  Joyce breathed.  She smiled warmly as Angel slid the tiny girl into her arms.  In turn, each of the friends held the tiny figure, each offering words of advice, protection or promises of things to come.  Finally they put her back into Angel's arms and he climbed the stairs.  He passed Jenny who smiled warmly at him, then left him alone with Buffy. 

One look at Buffy, and Angel gasped for the second time.  She looked so beautiful, propped up with pillows, her hair spread around her.  Angel went to her, laid their daughter in her arms, sat down beside her and kissed her forehead.  They both stared lovingly at the life they had created, filled with love and happiness.

"She will have to have a name."  Said Buffy finally.

"What do you propose?"  Asked Angel, grinning at Buffy.

"The name, I dreamt it!"  Buffy held her daughter, but her attention was else where, remembering.  Angel studied her face, curious. 

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since I first became pregnant, every night, I dream of her.  Of her through the ages, of the woman she will become.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't supposed to.  It was a secret not to be told!"  Buffy was still gazing off into the distance.

"Alright then, what is her name to be?"

Buffy turned to Angel, staring straight into his eyes, and said.  "Taryn."

"It's beautiful, what does it mean?"

"Thunder!"

"It's perfect.  May I suggest the middle name?"

Buffy smiled at Angel.  "It is your job."

"Taryn Anna Finnagan."  Angel bent and kissed his daughter then Buffy.

"I like it, especially since it has your name attached."  Buffy kissed her daughter.  "You'd better send the others in before they break the door down."  Angel laughed and walked to the door and opened it.  The two were not at all surprised to see their friends standing outside acting if they were completely innocent.

"Hey guys!"  Buffy beckoned them in.

"So what did you name her?"  Asked Willow.

"Yeah, we couldn't hear from the door!"  Cordy sat down near Buffy.  "Ow."  Xander elbowed her.

"We weren't really listening, Buff."  At a look from Willow, he crumbled.  "Ok, yeah we were listening, but we couldn't hear anything."

"So what did you name my granddaughter?"  Joyce cam and sat beside Buffy on the bed.

"Angel!"

"Everyone I'd like you to meet Taryn Anna Finnagan."

"Finnagan?  Does this mean what I think it means?"  Asked Jenny.

"I think it does!"  Buffy gazed at Angel who sat on her other side, with an arm around her and the other around the baby.  "I think it does.