A/N: Sorry it's taken so long for me to update everyone, I've been really
busy with finishing year twelve and studying for my upcoming exams.
Part 8.
Willow and Tara were waiting for them when they walked in the door. Two people Buffy didn't know were also with them. She felt like she'd met the woman though.
Angel smiled. "Hey. I didn't expect you two to come down. How's things in LA?"
"Good," answered the strange green guy. Buffy swore she could see horns poking out of his forehead. "We thought we'd come and check on all of you guys. We both missed Conner." Green guy looked her up and down, appraisingly.
Buffy forced herself not to react.
"This is Lorne," he gestured the green guy, "And Kate." he gestured to the blonde woman. "They both help us out in LA."
Buffy felt a spark of realization come over her. Kate was the police detective who arrested Faith.
"Hi, I'm Buffy." she said pleasantly.
"You were there when I wanted to arrest Angel." Kate said to her.
Buffy nodded, remembering. She sneaked a peek at the clock on the wall. "Will, have you see my car keys? I have to go and get Dawn in a second, and I'm going to be late."
Willow smiled at her. "On top of the refrigerator."
Buffy flashed her a smile. "Thanks. See you everyone, nice meeting you all." Angel chuckled as she dashed out the front door.
"She's in a good mood." Lorne observed.
"A little too good." Willow amended. "What did you two do today?"
"She slept, then we took Conner to the park. We only just got back." Angel answered her. He fumbled with the clip and picked Conner up. "How's everyone's day been?" he offered Conner to Lorne, who cooed over him, chatting away in baby talk.
"One of my professors gave out a heap of reading and an assignment to do." Willow groaned.
Tara patted her hand. "I'll help you. No assignments for me, just a bit of reading."
"How was the drive down?" Angel asked Kate.
"The drive wasn't too bad." She answered. "Traffic was really fast."
He nodded. "Good. We're all staying in Sunnydale for a few days. You both look like you need vacations."
Kate nodded. "I'll be glad for the break."
Several minutes later Dawn bounded in through the front door. "Hey everyone."
Buffy walked in behind her, carrying Dawn's school bag. "Didn't you forget something?"
Dawn spun and grabbed her bag from Buffy's hand. "Thanks, Buffy."
"Now take it upstairs." Buffy prodded gently. "Then you can come visit with everyone."
Angel chuckled as Dawn raced up the stairs, and dumped her bag, before racing back down to sit down next to Buffy.
"Guess what?" Dawn teased them all happily.
"What?" Buffy asked, leaning over to tickle her sister.
Dawn shrieked with laughter. "Stop it, stop it, stop it." Buffy laughed as she relented.
"The nominees for class president were announced today. I got nominated." she answered shyly.
Buffy hugged her. "That's great. I'm proud of you."
"I didn't win yet." Dawn chuckled, shocked at all of the fuss.
"Doesn't matter. I'm still proud of you." Buffy insisted.
Angel nodded. "What do you have to do?"
"I have to give a speech in front of my class. All of my class." Dawn looked a little nervous at that thought.
"You'll do just fine." Tara reassured her. "You like talking to people."
Dawn smiled again. "Thanks guys. I better go up and do my homework."
Buffy smiled after her.
"If you need a hand, call." Willow yelled after her.
"Well, if you guys want to keep an eye on Conner, Angel and I will see about moving the crib and whatever." Buffy said.
Lorne looked at Angel. "You don't mind me looking after him?"
Angel shook his head. "It wasn't your fault."
Seeing the confused looks on the girls faces Lorne explained. "I was looking after Conner when he was kidnapped."
Buffy smiled gently at him. "I'm sure it wasn't your fault." He seemed to take heart from that.
She dragged Angel off the couch. "Come on."
She led him up to the attic. "If there's anything in here you think you'll need, go ahead."
Angel looked around, shocked. Directly in front of him stood a bassinet, high chair, changing table, pram, a folded up playpen leaned against one of the walls, all of it was covered with plastic sheets. Like the crib, everything looked brand new.
Suddenly, in his mind he could hear Buffy saying, 'It's too dangerous for me to have children of my own.' and 'I don't want to talk about it.' Then there was all of this brand new baby furniture she was offering him.
Things clicked in his mind. "When did it happen?" he asked her gently.
She closed her eyes for a second. "I was only seventeen."
He wrapped his arms around her. "You never told the others did you?"
"I couldn't. I wanted to wait until I was ready, when the fight with you, Spike and Drusilla was over. Mom was the only person who knew. I- I just couldn't tell them, not even Dawn." she paused, "The baby was a girl. She was ours."
"Why didn't you tell me, when I got back from hell at least?" he asked, still trying to be gentle.
"You were already in so much pain, I didn't want to add to it. I didn't want to hurt you." Her voice was pained.
"How did it happen?"
"I was patrolling. Vampires got in a lucky kick. It got me right in the stomach. I miscarried. Mom took me to the hospital, and then after that I spent a few days at home. Mom knew I hadn't wanted to tell anyone until I was ready. She let me deal with it in my own way. I couldn't return all of this though." she waved her hands, indicating all of the baby furniture. "When I found out mom and I went a little overboard."
He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I know how hard it must've been. Sort of."
They stayed there for a while.
"Did she have a name?" Angel asked.
"Antonia."
"Priceless." he said to her.
Buffy nodded. "She was. Every baby is."
She got up, "We should get started, is there anything here you need?"
"I'll let you know. Why don't we start moving that crib."
Buffy and Angel were both very quiet as they lugged the crib downstairs.
Everyone noticed, but no one said anything.
Xander and Gunn, back from his sightseeing with Fred and Cordy, helped them lift it into the rear of the jeep. As Buffy had predicted, it fitted in nicely.
After that it was only a short drive to the mansion.
"So how long are you guys planning on staying in Sunnydale?" Xander asked Gunn, in the back seat. They'd become firm friends.
"No idea." Gunn answered. "Better ask the boss."
Angel turned around to face them from the front seat. "I thought we'd just take and open ended vacation. When we get bored, or broke, we'll go home."
Buffy said nothing, just turned on the radio.
"Buffy," Xander whined, "Why do we have to listen to classical music?"
"I like it." she answered him, "And I'm driving."
Xander sighed with relief when she pulled in the mansion's driveway.
It didn't take them long to get the crib out, and moved into Angel's room.
Buffy walked over towards the fireplace. She said nothing, just faced the fireplace.
Angel laid his hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
She smiled at him, "Do you remember when we studied here?"
He nodded his head, remembering the times they had spent in front of a roaring fire, with her textbooks spread out in front of them.
"I got a B in history, and a B+ on English." she smiled at him.
From across the room Xander and Gunn watched them.
"What are they doing?" Gunn hissed.
Xander raised his eyebrows. "Reminiscing about the past, most likely. They were still head-over-heels when he lived here."
"It must be nice," Gunn began, "To be such good friends with your ex."
Xander chuckled. "Those two will never really be ex, they still care about each other. The only reason they aren't together is that he wanted her to have a normal life."
"That's gotta be tough on them."
Xander nodded. "I don't really know the whole story. Just that he left her before our high school prom, and after the Mayor's Ascension he left town. She's only seen him twice since he left. Both times were in LA."
Buffy turned to face them. "We should have a pizza party here tonight."
Xander nodded, "We'll head back to your place to pick everyone else up, then I'll make my famous call to the pizzeria."
"Sounds good to me." Gunn agreed.
Part 8.
Willow and Tara were waiting for them when they walked in the door. Two people Buffy didn't know were also with them. She felt like she'd met the woman though.
Angel smiled. "Hey. I didn't expect you two to come down. How's things in LA?"
"Good," answered the strange green guy. Buffy swore she could see horns poking out of his forehead. "We thought we'd come and check on all of you guys. We both missed Conner." Green guy looked her up and down, appraisingly.
Buffy forced herself not to react.
"This is Lorne," he gestured the green guy, "And Kate." he gestured to the blonde woman. "They both help us out in LA."
Buffy felt a spark of realization come over her. Kate was the police detective who arrested Faith.
"Hi, I'm Buffy." she said pleasantly.
"You were there when I wanted to arrest Angel." Kate said to her.
Buffy nodded, remembering. She sneaked a peek at the clock on the wall. "Will, have you see my car keys? I have to go and get Dawn in a second, and I'm going to be late."
Willow smiled at her. "On top of the refrigerator."
Buffy flashed her a smile. "Thanks. See you everyone, nice meeting you all." Angel chuckled as she dashed out the front door.
"She's in a good mood." Lorne observed.
"A little too good." Willow amended. "What did you two do today?"
"She slept, then we took Conner to the park. We only just got back." Angel answered her. He fumbled with the clip and picked Conner up. "How's everyone's day been?" he offered Conner to Lorne, who cooed over him, chatting away in baby talk.
"One of my professors gave out a heap of reading and an assignment to do." Willow groaned.
Tara patted her hand. "I'll help you. No assignments for me, just a bit of reading."
"How was the drive down?" Angel asked Kate.
"The drive wasn't too bad." She answered. "Traffic was really fast."
He nodded. "Good. We're all staying in Sunnydale for a few days. You both look like you need vacations."
Kate nodded. "I'll be glad for the break."
Several minutes later Dawn bounded in through the front door. "Hey everyone."
Buffy walked in behind her, carrying Dawn's school bag. "Didn't you forget something?"
Dawn spun and grabbed her bag from Buffy's hand. "Thanks, Buffy."
"Now take it upstairs." Buffy prodded gently. "Then you can come visit with everyone."
Angel chuckled as Dawn raced up the stairs, and dumped her bag, before racing back down to sit down next to Buffy.
"Guess what?" Dawn teased them all happily.
"What?" Buffy asked, leaning over to tickle her sister.
Dawn shrieked with laughter. "Stop it, stop it, stop it." Buffy laughed as she relented.
"The nominees for class president were announced today. I got nominated." she answered shyly.
Buffy hugged her. "That's great. I'm proud of you."
"I didn't win yet." Dawn chuckled, shocked at all of the fuss.
"Doesn't matter. I'm still proud of you." Buffy insisted.
Angel nodded. "What do you have to do?"
"I have to give a speech in front of my class. All of my class." Dawn looked a little nervous at that thought.
"You'll do just fine." Tara reassured her. "You like talking to people."
Dawn smiled again. "Thanks guys. I better go up and do my homework."
Buffy smiled after her.
"If you need a hand, call." Willow yelled after her.
"Well, if you guys want to keep an eye on Conner, Angel and I will see about moving the crib and whatever." Buffy said.
Lorne looked at Angel. "You don't mind me looking after him?"
Angel shook his head. "It wasn't your fault."
Seeing the confused looks on the girls faces Lorne explained. "I was looking after Conner when he was kidnapped."
Buffy smiled gently at him. "I'm sure it wasn't your fault." He seemed to take heart from that.
She dragged Angel off the couch. "Come on."
She led him up to the attic. "If there's anything in here you think you'll need, go ahead."
Angel looked around, shocked. Directly in front of him stood a bassinet, high chair, changing table, pram, a folded up playpen leaned against one of the walls, all of it was covered with plastic sheets. Like the crib, everything looked brand new.
Suddenly, in his mind he could hear Buffy saying, 'It's too dangerous for me to have children of my own.' and 'I don't want to talk about it.' Then there was all of this brand new baby furniture she was offering him.
Things clicked in his mind. "When did it happen?" he asked her gently.
She closed her eyes for a second. "I was only seventeen."
He wrapped his arms around her. "You never told the others did you?"
"I couldn't. I wanted to wait until I was ready, when the fight with you, Spike and Drusilla was over. Mom was the only person who knew. I- I just couldn't tell them, not even Dawn." she paused, "The baby was a girl. She was ours."
"Why didn't you tell me, when I got back from hell at least?" he asked, still trying to be gentle.
"You were already in so much pain, I didn't want to add to it. I didn't want to hurt you." Her voice was pained.
"How did it happen?"
"I was patrolling. Vampires got in a lucky kick. It got me right in the stomach. I miscarried. Mom took me to the hospital, and then after that I spent a few days at home. Mom knew I hadn't wanted to tell anyone until I was ready. She let me deal with it in my own way. I couldn't return all of this though." she waved her hands, indicating all of the baby furniture. "When I found out mom and I went a little overboard."
He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I know how hard it must've been. Sort of."
They stayed there for a while.
"Did she have a name?" Angel asked.
"Antonia."
"Priceless." he said to her.
Buffy nodded. "She was. Every baby is."
She got up, "We should get started, is there anything here you need?"
"I'll let you know. Why don't we start moving that crib."
Buffy and Angel were both very quiet as they lugged the crib downstairs.
Everyone noticed, but no one said anything.
Xander and Gunn, back from his sightseeing with Fred and Cordy, helped them lift it into the rear of the jeep. As Buffy had predicted, it fitted in nicely.
After that it was only a short drive to the mansion.
"So how long are you guys planning on staying in Sunnydale?" Xander asked Gunn, in the back seat. They'd become firm friends.
"No idea." Gunn answered. "Better ask the boss."
Angel turned around to face them from the front seat. "I thought we'd just take and open ended vacation. When we get bored, or broke, we'll go home."
Buffy said nothing, just turned on the radio.
"Buffy," Xander whined, "Why do we have to listen to classical music?"
"I like it." she answered him, "And I'm driving."
Xander sighed with relief when she pulled in the mansion's driveway.
It didn't take them long to get the crib out, and moved into Angel's room.
Buffy walked over towards the fireplace. She said nothing, just faced the fireplace.
Angel laid his hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
She smiled at him, "Do you remember when we studied here?"
He nodded his head, remembering the times they had spent in front of a roaring fire, with her textbooks spread out in front of them.
"I got a B in history, and a B+ on English." she smiled at him.
From across the room Xander and Gunn watched them.
"What are they doing?" Gunn hissed.
Xander raised his eyebrows. "Reminiscing about the past, most likely. They were still head-over-heels when he lived here."
"It must be nice," Gunn began, "To be such good friends with your ex."
Xander chuckled. "Those two will never really be ex, they still care about each other. The only reason they aren't together is that he wanted her to have a normal life."
"That's gotta be tough on them."
Xander nodded. "I don't really know the whole story. Just that he left her before our high school prom, and after the Mayor's Ascension he left town. She's only seen him twice since he left. Both times were in LA."
Buffy turned to face them. "We should have a pizza party here tonight."
Xander nodded, "We'll head back to your place to pick everyone else up, then I'll make my famous call to the pizzeria."
"Sounds good to me." Gunn agreed.